Starbucks Coffee: What Type of Bean Do They Use?

Everyone loves a good cup of coffee, and as far as taste and quality go, you cannot beat Starbucks. Starbucks believes that an exceptional java cup lies in the quality of the coffee beans.

The coffee bean arabica is the main feature of Starbucks coffee. They choose denser beans that boast more complex flavors than other types of coffee.  

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Arabica is the most widespread kind of coffee in the world. Arabica beans will provide you with the best cup of coffee you could imagine. Read this article and learn about Starbucks coffee and their type of bean.

What Type of Coffee Beans Does Starbucks Use?

Starbucks uses a type of bean called Arabica. It is the most prevalent bean used in commercial coffee, such as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts™. Arabica beans are harvested from the cherry berries of the Coffea arabica tree.

They are one of two kinds of beans, as the other type of bean is called Robusta. Arabica beans have less caffeine and are less acidic than Robusta beans. Some coffees are a blend of both types of beans, which cuts down on costs. Some of the best-known arabica coffee beans come from:

  • Costa Rica
  • Columbian Supremo
  • Jamaican Blue Mountain
  • Tarrazu
  • Guatemalan Antigua
  • Ethiopian Sidamo

Arabica coffee tends to be a bit on the sweet side. It has a lighter and cleaner taste compared to Robusta coffee. Some of the flavor notes in Arabica coffee include:

  • Caramel
  • Nuts
  • Chocolate
  • Berries

The aroma of Arabica coffee is delicate and floral. It generally has a better flavor than the Robusta coffee bean, which is more bitter and acidic.

As a whole, you have many different choices for your cup of coffee. Starbucks is awesome because you can customize your drink to satisfy your taste.

What Are the Different Bean Blends Available at Starbucks?

Starbucks uses a blend of Arabica beans to make their signature coffees. Starbucks gets their coffee beans from many different suppliers. Starbucks' objective is to meet the demands of its customers. They do not use just one kind of coffee bean or provider.

The following are the different coffee blends that Starbucks utilizes:

Blonde Roast

Blonde roast coffee is commonly referred to as the lightest roast of coffee. Starbucks played a tremendous role in popularizing this type of roast. An excellent blonde roast will offer the coffee lover the subtle essence of the coffee cherry. It has been said that the blonde roast has a hint of fruitiness.

Blonde roast usually tastes best with arabica coffee beans because the lighter roasting process that the blonde roast undergoes preserves its fruity undertones. In total, the roasting process only enhances its natural flavors.

Medium Roast

The name says it all. Medium roast coffee is just that; it is more balanced with medium acidity and body. Medium roasts are also a bit darker and sweeter. They are a universal pleasure, as most coffee places that produce their house blends are typically medium.

Medium roasts are more robust than light roasts, and they are also less acidic. Some of the flavor notes of medium roast coffee include:

  • Caramel
  • Roasted Peanuts
  • Stone Fruit
  • Dark chocolate

In addition to these flavor notes, there is also a hint of smokiness. Medium roasts are roasted for far less time than dark roast beans.

However, they are roasted for longer than light roast beans. Medium roast is more versatile than the other roasts, as it tends to please more people overall. 

Dark Roast

The dark roast coffee bean is richer and darker. Starbucks is responsible for some of the most impressive full-bodied dark roast coffee. Darker roasts contain less caffeine than lighter roasts; however, they pack a powerful punch in terms of the energy and vigor they provide.

The energy seems to come from the intensity of the dark roast. Dark roast coffee is roasted for the most extended amount of time, and it is also oily. It has the most body and lowest acidity than the other coffee roasts. The lower edge makes it easier on the stomach than the different roasts of coffee.

Starbucks makes quality roasts of all the different blends. Below is a chart of the different types of coffee and which variety of roasts they come from:

COFFEE NAME BLONDE ROAST MEDIUM ROAST DARK ROAST
Fall Blend
Holiday Blend
Toasted Graham
Sunrise Blend
Breakfast Blend
Sumatra
Morning Joe
Bright Sky Blend
Veranda Blend
Columbia
House Blend
Espresso Roast
Italian Roast
Pikes Place
French Roast ü

The chart shows that most coffee blends are medium roast, as you can see directly above. Blonde roast is the underappreciated roast, as it is not as common as the others.

What Are the Health Benefits of Arabica Beans?

The most valuable benefit of drinking coffee made from Arabica beans is its plethora of health benefits. Coffee contains some mighty healthy ingredients. Arabica beans contain the following:

  • Vitamin E
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • B Vitamins

Arabica beans are multi-tasking, as they are not just making our morning cup of coffee. The health benefits of Arabica beans come from their wide variety of nutrients and vitamins.

Coffee has long lost its reputation for being bad for your health. It has now been researched and proven that coffee is good for you in moderation for many reasons. There are even more health benefits to the arabica bean.

Coffee has antioxidants, which help your body combat free radicals. Free radicals are a by-product of digestion and play havoc on the body. Studies show that coffee can help, or at least, not harm the following situations, including:

  • Cancer
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Combats mouth bacteria
  • Helps with mood
  • Helps with focus
  • Decreases stress
  • Helps with energy and wakefulness
  • Diabetes
  • Alzheimer's
  • Promotes skin health

With the many possible health benefits, it would be foolish not to visit Starbucks more often. Arabica coffee will keep you awake and moving throughout the day and could prevent many health ailments.

Conclusion

Arabica coffee is considered top-quality coffee. Starbucks uses Arabica beans in their coffee, which helps to make Starbucks one of the most sought-after coffee places in the world.

Arabica coffee has a unique flavor profile, as it has notes of fruit and chocolate. Arabica beans have many health benefits that coffee drinkers can enjoy with their cup of java.

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