I got really excited about an article that I read the other day. It was talking about how an independent coffee shop called Penny University – located off Shoreditch High Street (in London) – has opened and only serves freshly filtered coffee. Check out the article here! I visited it yesterday with some of my fellow coffee masters – it was amazing.

It is fantastic to see a coffee company really showcasing how great coffee can be interesting and fun to drink using loads of different techniques.

This gets me excited because it’s something that we have been talking about for years at Starbucks. In all of our stores we serve freshly filtered coffee everyday.

We actually brew up a fresh batch every hour to make sure that you get the best tasting coffee, and we change the blends every week so that you get to taste as many of our over 20 blends of coffee as possible. Our blends cater for all manner of tastes from mild coffees like Guatemala Antigua to my favorite which is Sumatra. I remember the days when I worked in my store in Dublin and Mick, who was a regular customer, came in to my store to get a French press of Sumatra every week and we would sit and chat about everything and anything over a great cup of Sumatra. Good times!

Why don’t you visit your local Starbucks store and get them to make up a cafetiere of your favourite coffee for you? Or try this week’s coffee and let us know what you think!

Alan H., UK and Ireland coffee ambassador – follow Alan on Twitter @StarbucksUKCA

What good can a cup of coffee do? A lot, we think.

In fact, we believe coffee has the power to change the world. And (STARBUCKS)RED East Africa Blend is part of our commitment to making it happen. This incredible blend of East African coffees delicately balances a gentle acidity with complex floral and citrus notes. But even more special than the exotic flavours it displays is the hope that it gives.

For every bag of (STARBUCKS)RED East Africa Blend sold in the UK , we’ll contribute £1 to the Global Fund to help people living with AIDS in Africa.

As one of the finest coffee-growing regions in the world, Africa holds a special place in our hearts. The relationships we have with coffee farmers and their communities run deep. They are integral to our success and we want to do everything we can to help them thrive. (STARBUCKS)RED East Africa Blend is just one way we’re giving back.

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