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Starbucks first opened its doors as a coffee roaster in 1971, quickly making its mark with its medium- and dark-roasted coffees. But its master roasters have never shied away from the full roast spectrum � and in 2012 introduced Starbucks® Blonde Roast, its shorter roast time bringing out softer, more mellow coffee flavors.  

“Blonde Roast isn’t just the same coffee roasted lighter,� said Anthony Carroll, senior manager of coffee quality. “Each coffee bean requires a balance of temperature and time to reach its individual peak of aroma, acidity, body and flavor.�

Customers in the United States now have a new lighter-roast brewed coffee to discover with 2017 Starbucks® Blonde Roast Ltd., available for a limited time. The blend was recently introduced to Canada as Starbucks Blonde® Espresso as a second core espresso option and quickly gained a loyal following.

“We first set out to create a blonde roast that would bring out the lighter side of espresso beverages,� Carroll said. “To our surprise, the recipe was also exceptional as a brewed coffee with its creamy body and bright sweetness.�

The result is a balanced blend of Latin American coffees, which give it a round, smooth body, and East African beans with complex acidity and citrus notes.

“We found that it was both a great, lighter profile for espresso beverages and the perfect juicy, lush and verdant brewed option for spring,� Carroll said.