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The Best Starbucks Coffee Beans (2024 Guide)

Charl Joost
Last Updated: February 8th, 2024

It’s estimated that around two-and-a-quarter billion cups of coffee are consumed every day around the world.

While it may be true that many coffee lovers might not concern themselves with the subtleties of flavor, body, and aroma – the average person might be happy with any ol’ hot cup of mud to kickstart the day – there is nothing better than savoring the satisfying taste of a freshly brewed, whole-bean coffee from Starbucks.

Starbucks’ most popular and successful coffee beans can now be enjoyed from home, and we’ll give you the lowdown on the best of them below.

In this article, we look at some of the best Starbucks coffee beans that will transform your daily cuppa into something quite special. These products are available both online and in your nearest Starbucks store.

starbucks coffee beans

Starbucks Coffee Beans

  • Blonde Roast
    • Starbucks Veranda Blend
  • Medium Roast
    • Breakfast Blend
    • Pike Place Roast
    • House Blend
  • Dark Roast
    • Sumatra
    • Caffè Verona
    • French Roast
    • Italian Roast
    • Espresso Roast

home coffee roasters on the market

 

Blonde Roast

Starbucks Veranda Blend

This is Starbucks’ lightest roast and one of their most popular fusions which have taken blenders more than 80 attempts to perfect.

It has wonderfully gentle cocoa and toasted-malt-and-nut notes that are carried in a very smooth and soft body. These timeless, mellow flavors sparkle through a medium acidity and will evoke the tranquility of a sunrise viewed from your porch.

Be aware though, this is a very strong coffee clocking in at 360mg of caffeine per 16-ounce serving.

Great from your drip brewer or coffee press and paired with an almond or chocolate pastry. The Veranda Blend also pairs very well with vanilla-flavored drinks as it offers the least bitterness of the Starbucks range.

Medium Roast

Breakfast Blend

A stronger medium roast that is light in body but big in character.

People who prefer a more intense brew to get the day going will love the bright and tangy balance of sweet citrus and brown sugar that is propelled by a whopping 375g of caffeine per 16-ounce cup.

Breakfast Blend is the perfect coffee to bring the morning alive with its clean and bright orange fruit notes that can be enjoyed either black or with a dairy finish.

This is a versatile brewing bean and can be steeped or filtered depending on your preference or why not try a refreshing cold brew made in a coffee press with a course grind?

Pike Place Roast

Celebrating where it all started for Starbucks at Seattle’s Pikes Place Market, this timeless medium roast is perfect as your everyday drinking Joe.

A variety of Latin American coffees have been masterfully blended to create layers of cocoa and toasted nut flavors that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.

Although not as heavily caffeinated as the Breakfast blend, 16 ounces of Pike Place will still deliver 310g of cupped lightning, which could be considered near the higher end of the Starbucks caffeine scale.

Great for use with a coffee press or drip brewer, Pike Place is also perfect for iced coffee drinks.

House Blend

The first-ever blend created by Starbucks, this is for people who love higher-octane coffee, Starbucks House Blend packs a lively, full-bodied, caffeine-rich punch.

This is a no-nonsense kick start to your day with rich toffee and caramel tones wrapped in a slightly smoky note.

Strong and dark with a sweeter intensity than the Breakfast blend, this is a very versatile bean that is a perfect alternative to the Espresso blend for making a cappuccino or latte.

Or why not try something different and make your own cold brew in a mason jar using this delicious Starbucks original?

italian coffee beans

Dark Roast

Sumatra

As mysterious and alluring as the island from which it comes, Sumatra dark roast delivers bold earthy flavors with a hint of dried herbs and spice.

Sumatra has a notable caffeine payload, which is great if you’re looking for a morning or afternoon boost.

Being low in acidity, this is perfect for people who aren’t partial to the bitter notes normally associated with darker roasts and may be an alternative for those who are more digestively sensitive.

This is a robust but very smooth and full-bodied coffee perfect for sipping and its spiciness pairs it very well with sweet desserts.

Caffè Verona

So loved is this coffee that it was named after the Italian city that gave us Romeo and Juliet. Caffe Verona is a dark roast that is perfectly balanced and presents to you hints of chocolate and browned sugar.

Although strong in taste, the caffeine content of Caffe Verona is moderate, tipping the scales at 260mg per 16 ounces and the chocolatey notes will appeal to a large number of palates.

There probably isn’t a better taste or aroma to get you going in the morning!

A stovetop moka pot and medium ground Caffe Verona are the perfect way to supercharge your coffee experience.

French Roast

It doesn’t get darker than this.

Roasted longer than other dark roasts for a richer flavor and color, Starbucks French roast will appeal to people who like a bold, malty, and smoky taste.

Although not as caffeine-rich as lighter roast stablemates, the strong flavors do have an intense and elegant complexity.

If you’re looking for a more robust hit of caffeine though, you’d be better served by the blonde or medium roasts such as Veranda and Pike Place.

French roast beans are commonly used for making drip coffee although they do also make a nice punchy espresso and are, as you’d expect, particularly suited to brewing in a French press. Find yourself transported to a romantic Parisian coffee shop as you sip this love letter to the French café.

Italian Roast

Roasted darker than its Espresso peer, Italian roast simmers with intense caramel and chocolatey flavors that are suspended in a very heavy body.

The bitterness of the very dark, almost black beans is balanced by a light acidity that lets a nutty spiciness shine through and will be enjoyed by people who like an imposing dark roast whose taste can prevail over dairy toppers.

Italian roast might be enjoyed at most times of the day as it has a relatively modest caffeine content chalking up to 260mg per 16-ounce cup.

Why not try it as a delicious iced pour-over coffee, ideal to keep you cool on those hot summer days?

Espresso Roast

The espresso dates back to the 19th century but nothing of its character has been lost in this Espresso Roast which is rich in flavor with a hint of sweetness that is underpinned by notes of caramel and dark chocolate.

This roast is perfect for people who expect a coffee with a noteworthy presence; deep satisfying aromas and the silky smoothness delivered by its medium acidity make the modestly caffeinated Espresso roast the perfect choice at any time of day.

Espresso is also the foundation of many popular drinks; combine a shot with steamed milk for a cappuccino or macchiato, chocolate and cream for a mocha, or top your favorite coffee with it for a red eye.

Although best brewed in an espresso machine, it’s possible to create delicious espresso drinks using an aero press, a coffee press, or even a stove-top moka pot.

About The Author

Charl Joost

Charl is a trainer, public speaker, and professional writer. While he has been coached to niche down, he has many passions. These include golf, gardening, technology, and a decent cup of coffee or two. Charl loves to learn about new products and tries everything he writes about.

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