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!

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.

DID YOU KNOW?

To test the consistency of hot caramel, chefs dip their hand in ice water before giving it a pinch.