Starbucks Coffee

Finding the Perfect Cup of Starbucks Coffee

Who doesn't love a good cup of coffee in the morning? Luckily, shopping for Starbucks Ground Coffee and Coffee K-Cups is as fun as it is to drink them.

A few basics about coffee

What is the difference between Starbucks Ground Coffee and Starbucks Keurig Cups?

Starbucks ground coffee features loose coffee beans ground and ready for brewing into the perfect cup. Meanwhile, Starbucks K-Cups feature your favorite coffee bean blends in convenient K-Cup plastic single-serve pods ready to be popped into any Keurig K-Cup brewing machines.

Are ground coffee and coffee K-Cups the same as instant coffee?

No. Instant coffee products contain powdered coffee derived from brewed coffee beans that instantly dissolve in water. Ground coffee beans do not dissolve in water and are removed from the beverage before consumption. K-Cup pods also use ground coffee beans.

What are the different types of Starbucks coffee roasts?

Starbucks master roasters categorize roasts depending on how long the coffee beans are roasted and their ensuing flavor. Coffee beans roasted for longer grow darker in color and flavor, while beans roasted for less time taste milder and are more caffeinated.

• Blonde Roast (i.e. light roast): Light-bodied and mellow
• Medium Roast: Smooth and balanced
• Dark Roast: Fuller-bodied and bold. Starbucks' espresso beans are dark roasted.

What is Arabica Coffee, and why does Starbucks use 100% Arabica?

Arabica is one of the two main coffee species most commonly cultivated and sold. Arabica coffee is considered a higher quality coffee than its alternative, Robusta, which is easier and cheaper to farm but at a cost to flavor. Folgers Classic Roast is a blend of both.

How long do coffee beans last?

Roast coffee loses its flavor the longer it's exposed to air and moisture. It's ideal to replace coffee in an opened bag weekly, though storing it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place will prolong shelf life. That said, coffee in an unopened Starbucks FlavourLock bag, which uses a special one-way valve to release carbon dioxide from the freshly roasted beans without allowing flavor-robbing oxygen into the bag, will stay fresh for several months.

What should I know about Starbucks Ground Coffee?

What is ground coffee?

Fresh coffee is brewed by steeping loose, ground coffee beans in water. Different grinds are appropriate for different coffee makers—for example, French presses call for a coarser grind to keep coffee grounds from running through the filter into your drink, while espresso machines require a fine grind to prevent espresso shots from brewing too quickly and weakly.

Starbucks ground coffee is ground to a universal grind, which can be used for standard drip coffee makers, coffee presses and pour-overs.

Do I need a coffee maker to brew ground coffee?

A universal grind means you can easily brew Starbucks ground coffee with electric drip coffee makers, coffee presses and pour-over methods such as paper filters.

All Starbucks coffees are packaged with brewing directions on the bag. The rule of thumb is to brew 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 ounces of water. Add more coffee for a darker, stronger brew or add more water for a milder cup.

Which blends of Starbucks coffee are sold at Sam's Club?

Sam's Club offers five ground coffee blends:

• French, Dark Roast: Intense and smoky, with a light body and low acidity
• Caffe Verona, Dark Roast: Well-balanced, full-bodied and rich with a dark cocoa texture
• Pike Place, Medium Roast: Named for Starbucks' first storefront in Seattle's Pike Place Market
• Holiday Blend, Medium Roast: Blend of bright Latin American and earthy Indonesian coffee beans with sweet, layered notes of herbs and maple
• Pumpkin Spice, Blonde Roast: Notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Specially crafted for the holidays. Add creamer and sugar for a lovely Pumpkin Spice Latte

We also sell whole bean coffee, which you can easily have ground at your nearest Starbucks or supermarket.

• House Blend: Signature Starbucks blend with hints of cocoa and nuts
• Espresso Roast: Beans from Latin America and Asia/Pacific roasted to a caramel sweetness

What should I know about Starbucks K-Cups?

What are Keurig K-Cups?

K-Cups refer to coffee pods used specifically with Keurig single-cup brewing systems. Each Starbucks K-cup consists of a plastic cup with pre-measured amounts of ground coffee, a filter and an airtight foil lid.

Simply pop the K-cup into your Keurig K-Cup brewer and the machine will automatically pour a cup of single-serve coffee for you.

Starbucks K-Cups sold by Sam's Club do not contain creamer nor sugar. All Keurig and K-cup products are trademarks of Keurig Green Mountain.

Which blends of Starbucks K-Cup coffee are sold at Sam's Club?

Sam's Club offers six Starbucks coffee K-Cup blends:

• Sumatra Coffee, Dark Roast: Spicy, low-acidity Indonesian coffee with earthy and herbal notes
• Veranda Blend, Blonde Roast: Mellow and flavorful with a nice softness
• French Roast Coffee
• Pike Place Roast Coffee
• Holiday Blend
• Pumpkin Spice