Starbucks Introduces New Pricey Coffee
Starbucks has introduced a new and expensive kind of coffee called Costa Rica Finca Palmilera. A Grande-sized cup of the chain's "reserve" line will cost around $7, making it the most expensive black coffee ever offered in Starbucks' history.
Leslie Wolford, a "coffee specialist," described the flavors of the new coffee as "lush, tropical, hints of white, not yellow, peach," according to SeattlePI.com. "A little bit of pineapple," she continued. "Herbal complexity. Super-clean. Vibrant. Sparklingness."
Today, a half-pound bag of Starbucks' Finca Palmilera beans is available for $40. Cups of the coffee are being sold in 48 Starbucks locations throughout Washington State and Oregon.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"The price is based on rarity, demand, and green coffee prices," explained a spokesperson for Starbucks to Yahoo! Shine. "This coffee is not widely available, so, like an opportunity to try a wine where there is limited production, demand is high."
Finca Palmilera coffee comes from the few farms that produce red-berry-colored beans known as Geisha. The rare varietal of coffee beans is highly sought-after due to their mild and fruity aroma.
"We have loyal Reserve customers who are interested in any opportunity to try something as rare and exquisite as the Geisha varietal," the Starbucks spokesperson added.
The Seattle-based company boasts the highest quality coffee and has coffeehouses in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the U.S. alone. Along with their drip brew coffee and espresso drinks, Starbucks also offers salads, sandwiches, and snacks, as well as many other items.
In recent years, the coffee house has offered a variety of limited-edition seasonal coffee flavors, such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte and the Eggnog Latte. Moreover, Starbucks has made strides toward offering customers healthier food and drink options.
Earlier this year, the company began using "natural" dye in its Strawberry Frappucino as part of reducing the use of artificial ingredients. The fruit blended drink contains cochineal extract, which consists of thousands of crushed insects that give it the rosy-pink hue. The cochineal bug's extract has been used as a coloring agent since the 15th century and produces hues such as deep crimson, scarlet, pink, and orange. The natural dye has been deemed safe by the FDA and is often used in jams, marinades, and several other food products.
"At Starbucks, we strive to carry products that meet a variety of dietary lifestyles and needs," the company explained in a statement. "We also have a goal to minimize artificial ingredients in our products."
