Starbucks Red- Great Cause….but…
October 5, 2009 by Marye Audet
Filed under Coffee
First of all..yes I do rag on Starbucks a lot. I have reasons for it besides personal, middle aged angst and the need for a scapegoat. So if you are feeling all Starbucks-Warm-Fuzzy then you probably just want to move on…
Starbucks Red is an awesome idea. It is an African blend and for every (::cough:::overpriced::::cough) pound of it you buy they send a dollar to support treatment for adults and children with Aids in Africa. This is not the only way to support that cause, nor is it the best way. So if that is why you are buying it stop now and find a really good charity.
The flavor of the coffee was rich and I liked that. It was redolent of dried fruits and spices…and it was bitter and kind of soapy. So basically the feeling I came away with was that I was drinking Thanksgiving dishwater. The myriad of flavors was interesting (as Thanksgiving dishwater might be) but totally unappealing together (also a characteristic of dishwater).
Interestingly I found I liked the flavor better when it was cool and room temperature. If this was a Holiday relative it would be the grim spinster aunt that had had a fascinating career when she was young but had soured into a kaleidoscope of untold stories held in check by her determination not to saying anything nice or interesting. I got the idea that the coffee had a lot of potential but that it was not sharing.
I give it a 2.0 out of a 5. I would not buy it again, I did not like it, and I still don’t understand the Starbucks hype.
image: marye audet
I’m not a big fan of any of the Starbucks coffees (I stick to the super unhealthy espresso/sugar drinks) that I’ve tasted recently. I thought the VIA was above average, but is it really a good thing that their instant coffee tastes just like their regular coffee? That’s not how I’d be advertising it. As far as what the hype is…I don’t know if there’s any hype anymore. It’s more like they’re on every corner and unless your fortunate to have alternative coffee shops, there isn’t much of a choice.
I know..that is why we go too. But there is a new indy shop that just opened nearby and i am hoping to scope that out this week.
It’s strange – I don’t really like their coffees that much (actually prefer some of the cheaper ones like Dunkin Donuts *gasp*). I do, however, really enjoy their espresso. Go figure. In most cases, if you want to support a charity, it’s better to go directly to a charity and skip the brand-name charity products, anyway.
Absolutely Jen. I agree. I get tired of the companies that are like, here buy this overpriced item and we will donate 10 cents to a charity!
I’ll have to start a new tradition at my home, The Drinking of The Thanksgiving Dishwater! Just have to stop the dishwasher halfway through and scoop out a shot.
Thanks for the vivid flavor description…I think I’ll pass on the Red. I find they are losing their brand. Once based on quality and sustainability, has now evolved into mass production and overpriced dirt juice.
there ya go, Nate. YUMMY. And you know, you have saved yourself some money too.