Your guide to Christmas Blend and holiday coffees at Starbucks
Here’s the scoop on Starbucks holiday coffees and Christmas Blend, a beloved part of the season since 1984.
Before Peppermint Mocha, before red holiday cups – there was Christmas Blend. This beloved holiday coffee was introduced in 1984, back when Starbucks only sold whole bean coffee, tea and spices. The new coffee blend showcased Starbucks artistry in roasting and blending with an expert combination of lively Latin American beans and mellow Indonesian coffees. The finishing touch was the addition of rare, spicy Sumatra beans that were painstakingly aged for three to five years for a full-bodied, spicy and rich cup of coffee.
Customers quickly snapped up the hand-scooped bags of Christmas Blend, and the air in stores was soon filled with its roasty-sweet aroma. The roasting plant ramped up production to meet the growing demand and shipments arrived at stores each morning still warm from the fresh-roasted beans inside.
Ever since that very first holiday, Christmas Blend has become a cherished part of the season, whether it’s shared around a table or given as a perfectly wrapped gift. Its legacy continues with this year’s vintage, created by Starbucks team of expert coffee developers to honor its rich heritage while bringing in new coffees from Latin America, Africa and Indonesia and also considering brewing methods such as iced and cold brew.
All of Starbucks coffees are made with 100% arabica coffee, verified as ethically sourced by Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices. Here are the holiday coffees you can enjoy this year from Starbucks – with that warmth, that spice, and that richness that has been enjoyed for nearly four decades:
Starbucks Christmas Blend
Starbucks® Christmas Blend features aged Sumatra blended with dark-roasted beans from Papua New Guinea, Guatemala and Colombia. Its rich, robust flavor complements traditions new and cold, with sweet, velvety notes of spiced chocolate and spruce tips.
Available in Starbucks stores as whole bean, decaf and ground coffee.
Starbucks Holiday Blend
For those who love an elegantly balanced cup of coffee, Starbucks® Holiday Blend is just the right combination of sweet and toasty notes. This seasonal blend combines bright Latin American beans with rich Sumatran coffee – roasted to perfection. It features notes of sweet maple and herbs that balance the rich flavors of this full-bodied, vibrant cup.
Available as whole bean coffee at Starbucks stores. Also available (in festive red packaging) where groceries are sold and online in ground, K-Cup®* and Nespresso® for Vertuo formats.
Starbucks Reserve Christmas
Starbucks Reserve® Christmas 2023 is a vibrant, modern expression of the holiday, with savory spice notes and a bright sweetness. This year’s Starbucks Reserve® Christmas brings you a blend of three remarkable coffees: Hacienda Alsacia® from Starbucks farm in Costa Rica, joins rare aged Sumatra and coffee from the Aceh region of Indonesia to create a savory spice and sweet brightness for the holidays. It features notes of lemon zest, maple and candied ginger.
Available at Starbucks Reserve Roastery locations and select stores in the United States and Canada.
* Keurig, K-Cup, and the K logo are trademarks of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., used with permission.
