Instant Coffee from Starbucks?

If you want your coffee cheaper and quicker than your local Starbucks barista can pour it, keep your eyes peeled for a new offering from the coffee chain. Starbucks is planning to launch an instant version of its coffee in the not-too-distant future. The instant coffee – which Starbucks reps say replicates the taste of its fresh-brewed drip – has been in development for 20 years and is being produced by a company called Via. Reportedly, the instant coffee will sell at its cafes for $2.95 for a pack of three, and $9.95 for a pack of 12.

This might not be the best time for Starbucks to release another supermarket type of coffee, since their preground coffees did not fare well in a recent Consumer Reports taste test. That said, instant coffees (like Nescafe) are very strong internationally, so it’s entirely possible that even if the product isn’t a big success in the US, it could still be a success for the company in general.

There’s no release date scheduled for the instant coffee, but CEO Howard Schultz has said that the product will get a significant marketing push when the time comes.

No decaf drip after noon at Starbucks

I know a few people who prefer to drink decaf coffee in the evenings. They order decaf after dinner in restaurants and brew it at home after dinner parties. These people might be a little bit concerned to hear that Starbucks is planning to stop automatically brewing fresh decaf in the afternoons. But not to worry, decaf-drinkers. If you want decaf coffee, the baristas will brew a fresh pot for you. Your coffee will not only be decaf, it will be extra-fresh in about 4 minutes. You’ll still be able to get decaf espresso, as the shots are always pulled fresh. If the 4-minute wait for brewing is off-putting, you can always order a decaf americano.

The change – which may not be done at stores where there is an unusally high demand for decaf drip in general – is a cost- and labor-saving measure. Ordinarily, Starbucks brews fresh pots of coffee every 30 minutes. They end up throwing away lots of decaf – far more than regular drip – because it is ordered less frequently.

Deal on Peet’s “Lighter” Drinks!

To celebrate the launch of their new “lighter” drink options, Peet’s Coffee and Tea put out a coupon that allows you to buy one “light” drink, get another drink (of your choice) for free! The coupon can be found here and is good through January 18th.

The lighter drinks are made with sugar free syrups, which are a new addition to the regular lineup of flavor options at the West Coast coffee chain. The syrups are available in Chocolate and Vanilla flavors. While I tend to prefer the full-sugar syrups when I’m having a flavored drink, it’s great that they’re offering these because I hear lots of requests for them from customers.  That being said, I’ve only had bad experiences with sugar free chocolate syrups in the past and a free coupon is perfect way to try one and see if Peet’s new drinks stand up to the rest of their strong coffee lineup.

Starbucks Holiday Sale

The only time that Starbucks puts anything on sale is when they’re clearing out post-promotion merchandise to make room for new season items. But, probably thanks in part to the economy, they’ve changed their tradition this year and are putting all of their retail merchandise and whole bean coffee on sale for 20% off. The sale runs through December 15th. Drinks, unfortunately, aren’t on the sales list, but this is a great time to pick up some holiday gifts, like a tea or coffee sampler. I’m appreciating the price drop on the whole bean coffee, too, since I love to brew my beans at home.

Starbucks is (Red) for the holidays

While a lot of Starbucks fans eagerly look forward to holiday favorites like the eggnog latte, there is something else to look forward to in the company’s holiday offerings this year. A portion of the sales from company’s three promotional holiday drinks – Peppermint Mocha Twist, Gingersnap Latte and Espresso Truffle – will be going towards the Global Fund. Five cents from the sale of each of the Starbucks(Red) drinks will be donated. Today, December 1st, is World Aids Day and until the stores close tonight the program will be extended and five cents from the sale of every drink on the menu will go to the Global Fund.

The Global Fund is an organization that supports programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in over 100 countries around the world and is currently working to raise awareness of – and ultimately eliminate – AIDS in Africa. The (Red) program works to raise awareness and financial support for the Global Fund. It organizes the Product(Red) program that lets companies, including Starbucks, The Gap and other retailers, show their support, bring the Fund into the public eye and raise money for the charity.