Blonde takes me back to Bolivia circa 1968 when I discovered that coffee was more like a meal and had nothing to do with the weak acidic energy drink Americans perked up every morning. I have yet to find an equal when I brew it with my Aeropress. Blonde is the coffee connoisseur's final destination.

I love this coffee. It is my favorite roast by far. I was never a black coffee drinker before I started working for Starbucks. Though I enjoy mixing flavors and creamers with all my coffee I drink, I can enjoy the simplicity of black coffee. Veranda is my favorite not just because its a lighter roast but because it helped me to be able to recognize the actual flavor notes and taste of coffee. Not just bitterness. I enjoy trying every Starbucks brew I can but Veranda is the only one I keep stocked at home and enjoy more than 8oz of. Love it and I'd like to see more of it!

Truthfully, I'm not a great fan of Starbucks darker roast coffees, save for the occasional specialties (Casa Cielo, i.e.) & assorted espresso drinks (Americano particularly tasty); I just never understood the accolades for the standard brewed daily choices. The thing that always cemented me as a regular was that Starbucks coffee is a consistently reliable brew - the quality control & care is the hallmark of this great company. My tepid response to the coffee offerings changed dramatically - spectacularly - after my of Veranda! I prefer to brew my own at home - somehow it tastes so much better from a French press of 193-degree water for roughly 2 minutes - but I am not disappointed anymore when I can get a cup at a store (although, it still tastes darker, most probably because they use more coffee than I do.) One proviso: the pour-overs consistently suck! All that said, Veranda (and, to a lesser degree Willow) is a basic mainstay of my coffee life. There isn't even one bean of bitterness, aftertaste, nor "graphite/ash acridness" when brewed freshly. The cupping notes of a haunting of cocoa, a so-subtle cloud of chocolate, freshly dug soil on a summer's day, a sapid infusion of something akin to nuttiness, and a vigorous-but-mellow-brightness collaborate to create just DELICIOUS frottage across the tastebuds! There are very few coffees with such an immutably consistent pleasure to the palate, no matter how many times one drinks it. I love this coffee.

Coffee started to taste all the same to me; I bought a pound of this when I was in a store to buy gift cards and remembered that I still had a gift card of my own. Had them grind it for me for percolator (I know, I see coffee snobs cringing) and found it flavorful but not acidic. I bought a new grinder and started getting this regularly. I AM disappointed that this is not labeled as 'bird friendly' since there is a hummingbird on the label. In fact, NO current Starbucks blends are--it's a designation created by the Smithsonia for coffees that are organic and shade-grown, in places that do not cut trees needed for migrating bird habitat. It does make a difference. But, I like the coffee--I wish Starbucks would make more of an effort to find bird friendly suppliers.

Overall not bad. Better than any instant coffee other than Via. Disappointed in the beans. It's about 65% whole beans and the rest just pieces of beans. I like my Starbucks really strong so I wouldn't get this again. I do recommend it for anyone who doesn't like too strong a cup of coffee.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Starbucks Caffe Verona coffe has a good flavor to it. The pre ground bag came just a little too corse for an espresso machine however. The pre ground does work well in my drip coffee machine. I would recommend this coffe but if possible get the whole bean and grind it your self.

Normally I prefer the bolder tasting coffees of Starbucks, but I've become hooked on the "blond" roasts. The total price was less than I expected (maybe because of gold card?). Shipping was very quick. My only disappointment was the tiny size of the gift cup.

So far I have thrown out 2 small bags and soon to be a large bag of ground veranda Blend. The initial reaction was that the coffee was stale. That happens, so off to another, same result. Then to the store for "fresh/new" coffee and absolutely the same taste. You're make us consider running on another brand (wink wink)

The coffee is good, but an absolutely unreasonable number if the K-cups fail while brewing. The filter inside breaks ( I cut a couple of them open) and it fills my cup full of grounds or plugs the cup drain tube on my Kuereg making the grounds come out the top of the cup and into the machine. I think I will just stick with the Members Mark K-cups, they always work

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have to have my coffee every morning and this one is fantastic! The flavor is robust and calming at same time! No need for creamer as I love the flavor and just add small amount. Sweetener to it. If you love your coffee this is a must have.