House Blend is one of those coffees often forgotten by people who favor more “exciting” blends like Gold Coast Blend® or Caffè Verona®. However, House Blend is a special coffee all on its own and it holds an important place in our lineup.

In addition to it being a blend of the fine Latin America beans, it is a perfect balance of body, acidity and flavour that makes it easy to drink. It’s also a perfect introduction to our whole bean coffee offerings.

One of my favourite experiences to share with House Blend is a coffee tasting. New Starbucks partners (employees) compare House Blend brewed in a coffee press to a commercial coffee – the kind our parents and grandparents drank. It is this tasting in particular that helps people develop an appreciation for our coffee – it’s when you first realise there is something special in the cup. Even the most inexperienced coffee drinkers identify the difference in colours, smells and flavours as they slurp. I often hear the commercial coffee smells like “hay” or “grass.” When you smell House Blend, it smells like a roasty, sweet cup of delicious coffee.

The House Blend tasting demonstrates what a high-quality arabica coffee should taste like, and what our roast can do to enhance the character of the coffee. It also starts to build your confidence when tasting coffee because you can easily identify what sets a Starbucks coffee apart from the others. I would encourage everyone to try this tasting; it is something you can easily do at home or in your favourite Starbucks store. Let the journey begin!

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.

Looking for other ways to get involved? Here’s how.

Jess S., coffee master and store manager, London

As a true Starbucks fan, I am always excited to try anything that Starbucks creates. I am thrilled that Starbucks UK will launch Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew, an amazingly innovative coffee that is going to make having a quality cup as easy as tear, tip and tap! To have the ability to offer customers great coffee when they cannot see us in store is fantastic. The Taste Challenge weekend (12-15th March) is a great chance for customers to try VIA™ for themselves and talk to their barista about having great coffee, anywhere.

Having sampled VIA™ with over 150 partners (employees) in the last week, I am certain that it is going to be another great coffee in our lives. Each person had the chance to pick their favourite and many reflected on how it would create additional coffee moments in their day, and the days of their friends and family. My personal favourite is the Bold Italian Roast with its rich flavour with a hint of sweetness. I guarantee you can find a sachet of VIA™ in every bag I own. (For those times when I need a Starbucks fix on the go!)

Can’t wait to see you in stores for the Taste Challenge next weekend!

By Alan Hartney, Starbucks UK & Ireland Coffee Ambassador

Over the last four weeks I have made over 1,000 Flat Whites as I have toured around the UK and Ireland training our partners how to make the perfect Flat White. I have visited places like Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, and of course, my home town, Dublin. It was great to spend time with the teams who were only too happy to show off their amazing skills at making Flat Whites (check out this awesome one from Kat in Edinburgh!). Not only did I get to share some tips and tricks, but I have taken some away with me too.

In case you haven’t heard about the new Starbucks Flat White, it comes from New Zealand or Australia (depending on who you talk to) and is made with two shots of our 100% Fairtrade Espresso and some seriously creamy steamed whole milk which makes it a short drink that packs a punch. If you like your coffee strong, you will like this.

It was a really proud moment for me when we took Flat White national on the 25th January. All the hard work, passion and training was well worth it – especially when you see a customer enjoying your creation. It’s been great. I hope you enjoy your Flat Whites as much as we enjoy making them!

Alan Hartney is the Coffee Ambassador for Starbucks in the UK and Ireland. His role is quite simply the envy of coffee-lovers: to drink it, talk about it, find foods that match it, and travel the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland talking to people about it.

Alan Hartney is the Coffee Ambassador for Starbucks in the UK and Ireland and holds one of the most revered roles within Starbucks. Alan’s role is quite simply the envy of coffee-lovers: to drink it, talk about it, find foods that match it, and travel the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland talking to people about it. Alan was named Coffee Ambassador after competing against over 700 of the company’s Coffee Masters, before being awarded the title at Starbucks Annual Conference in 2009.

Alan, who is from Dublin, has been with Starbucks for almost five years and has earned the title of Coffee Ambassador through years of learning everything he can about coffee. The Black Apron, which is worn by Alan and all Starbucks Coffee Masters, signifies a proven passion and in depth knowledge of coffee, a fine palate and most importantly the ability to help customers find their perfect coffee for every occasion. Alan also works closely with nine regional Coffee Masters, each representing a region in the UK and Ireland, and supports new store openings with training sessions for new partners (employees).

A background in wine gave Alan an early advantage in realising the similarities between coffee and wine tasting, and he is passionate about sharing this knowledge with customers and partners to help them deepen their appreciation of the unique flavours and aromas captured in Starbucks coffee.

The Starbucks Coffee Master Programme – boot camp for bean lovers!

Just like some people are passionate about languages or beautiful landscapes, others exist who hold a deep passion for coffee. We like to think anyone can be swayed by the call of the bean, and that’s why we open our Coffee Masters program up to anyone who joins Starbucks as a Barista; even if they don’t know crema from their cappuccino.

From their first day, partners (employees) are shown the ropes and led down the tantalising path of taste and texture. We take them on a journey to the different growing regions around the world and help them develop a true connoisseurs palate from the start. Not only do they learn the basics about coffee and its rich history, but they are able to craft their own coffee and demonstrate this knowledge to you in-store.

For some Starbucks partners, however, this is simply not enough. They want to breath, sleep and dream coffee and are interested in achieving our highest level of recognition – the Coffee Master. These diligent partners will have to pass five rigorous levels of Coffee Master training, be judged by experts in the field, create perfectly composed drinks and even speak at the annual Starbucks conference.

Because for Coffee Masters, this is their lifeblood, their passion and their mission.

Luckily for you, these masters of overflowing knowledge are also tremendously helpful and willing to guide you to your perfect coffee. Best yet, they’re present in your Starbucks across the UK. So learn about coffee from the best – come meet our Coffee Masters and discover your perfect beverage. (You can spot a Coffee Master in your local Starbucks, as they’re the ones in the black aprons.)