With over 200 different coffee blends, it is easy to see why Starbucks is one of the most popular coffee shops in the world. It all started, however, with their first blend Sumatra.
Though Sumatra was the first blend released by Starbucks, it was not actually the coffee that propelled them to fame. Continue reading on to learn more about the history of Starbucks and its famous Sumatra coffee blend.
The Starbucks Origin
Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker were the three original Starbucks founders, and the first Starbucks was located at 2000 Western Avenue in Seattle, Washington. Its official opening date is unknown, however, it is often assumed to be March 30, 1971.
The three founders argued about what to call their company. It was almost named Pequod or Cargo House. Starbucks got its name from the classic Moby Dick, as Starbuck was the first mate on the ship Pequod.
Jerry Baldwin was fortunate enough to learn how to roast coffee from Alfred Peet, the founder of Peet’s Coffee and Tea, and famous roastmaster in the Seattle area. Before roasting and grinding their own blends, the company acquired coffee straight from Peet’s. This only lasted about a year before Alfred Peet began training Jim Reynolds, the new roast master hired by Baldwin.
Starbucks Sumatra, The First Blend
In June of 1971 Starbucks finally released their first blend, Sumatra, for an asking price of $1.75. This was an extremely high price for coffee in the 1970s and for a while was only purchased by serious coffee aficionados.
Sumatran coffees demonstrate how a variety of elements influence the flavor of a coffee. Sumatra is a Southeast Asian island that appears to be perfect for cultivating Arabica coffee. Sumatran coffees have particular qualities due to the unique processing method, wet hulling, adopted by most farmers.
The most frequent processing method in Sumatra is wet hulling, also known as Giling Bashan. Despite the fact that coffees processed in this manner are frequently referred to as natural or dry-processed, wet hulling differs from natural processing methods utilized in other parts of the world, such as Ethiopia.
Characteristics of Sumatran Coffee
Wet hulling is responsible for the majority of Sumatran coffee’s distinct qualities. Coffees with subdued flavors and smells are produced as a result of the modified natural processing procedure and extended drying time. Rather than being known for their notes, Sumatran coffees are known for their substantial bodies and low acidity.
The odors and flavors they do have are unusual: earthy, peppery, wild, mossy, and mushroomy. Depending on who you ask, they could taste like a mossy forest mushroom or your grandfather’s old leather shoes.
Most roasters, like Starbucks, roast Sumatran choices dark to accentuate the coffees’ distinct qualities and to compensate for the considerable variance created by a multi-stage processing approach and the use of homemade hulling machinery. This imparts heft and a roasted-induced richness to the beans.
While a few coffee drinkers like the region’s earthy tones, low acidity, and heavy body, most coffee enthusiasts today dismiss it as an inferior product, even though it is still quite popular for die-hard Starbucks fans.
Other Popular Starbucks Blends
Starbucks didn’t stop with their first blend and today have hundreds of different coffee blends available on their menu. Some of the more popular blends are French and Espresso Roast, Verona, Italian, Breakfast blend, Verona, Morning Joe, Blonde Sunrise, and the beloved Pike’s Place Blend.
Verona Blend
Caffè Verona was designed by Starbucks for a Seattle restaurant to be coupled with a decadent chocolate cake dessert. Jake’s Blend was the moniker given to it in 1975. Customers began to request the distinctive coffee in Starbucks locations.
When Starbucks first began blending coffee for customers, it was simply known as the 80/20 Blend. This name came from mixing 80% Yukon and 20% Italian Roast. With so much affection for this unique coffee, it was named after Verona, Italy, the scene for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Morning Joe
Morning Joe, which used to be called Gold Coast, is a deep roast packing a powerful punch. The Morning Joe blend is instantly recognized by its heavy sweetness, almost caramel scents, instead of deep, bitter, burnt flavors that are found in a lot of the chain’s dark roast blends.
While some may think this roast isn’t dark enough, others believe it’s a sleeper hit that doesn’t garner nearly enough attention. This coffee blend is dark, with a smooth texture and a balanced and even whole-tongue experience. It leaves a pleasant aftertaste. It’s the ideal, delightful cup of coffee.
Blonde Sunrise
Starbucks Blonde Sunrise Blend was created to shine from the outset, with an appealing taste and a smooth body. It’s a blend of Latin American beans that have been roasted lightly for a well-rounded, expressive cup. Every sip is smooth and chocolate-flavored.
Pike’s Place Roast
For good reason, Pike Place is Starbucks’ best-seller. Its beans have been medium roasted which combines the richness of Starbucks coffee with toasted nut and chocolate notes. It has one of the highest caffeine concentrations of any Starbucks coffee and a flavor that customers adore.
This blend manages to strike the perfect mix between being smooth and balanced while yet having a powerful and intense flavor. And, as the house blend at Starbucks locations (instead of the actual House Blend), it’s also extremely aromatic from the moment it begins to percolate.
Italian Roast Blend
The Italian Roast is one of the most popular dark roasts that Starbucks has because of its balance. It has the bitter flavors that one would anticipate from the chain’s heavier blends, but it is not smoky and doesn’t have the burnt flavor that you find with the French Roast. It also has a touch of sweetness (dubbed “caramelized sugar” overtones by Starbucks) and some chocolatey traces that carry through even when milk or creamer is added.
Take note, aficionados of coffee with a highly severe olfactory hit: the flavor of this coffee is significantly stronger than its gentler fragrance. Most coffee connoisseurs agree that the sweetness of this mix, as promised by Starbucks, is extremely light.
Overall, if you like a dark roast that doesn’t taste scorched, this blend might be for you.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.
