Starbucks is probably the most famous coffee brand in the world. Their coffee is renowned for its aroma, smooth texture, and rich flavors.
Quick Answer: Where does Starbucks get its coffee beans?
Starbucks gets its coffee beans primarily from Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa. The company sources coffee from 30 countries out of the 70 that produce coffee, offering its customers a wide variety of unique coffee flavors.
Starbucks selects regions renowned for their coffee production to source its coffee.
However, they only buy from farms that meet their ethical production and labor standards.
This article explains why the company prefers to purchase its coffee from multiple farmers!
How many countries does Starbucks buy coffee in?
There are about 70 countries that produce coffee, and Starbucks buys its coffee beans from at least 30 of them.
Despite its sources in more than 30 countries, the coffee giant favors three regions above all: Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.
Region and climate significantly impact the taste of coffee. Each country adds its own flavor to the beans. That is why Starbucks imports its coffee from several places.
Getting coffee from various countries ensures a consistent supply. Moreover, importing beans from all over the world enables the company to offer a diverse range of flavors.
Each region has its own unique way of planting and harvesting coffee, which gives the beans a distinct flavor. Starbucks’ ability to retain these flavors is what sets it apart from its competitors.
Starbucks’ favorite regions for getting coffee beans
Let’s see what kind of coffee Starbucks gets from its three favorite regions:
Latin America
Starbucks purchases approximately 3% of the world’s total coffee supply, with the majority of it originating from Latin America.
The beans from here are featured in many Starbucks blends. The region produces high-quality beans with an unfailing flavor.
Even within Latin America, each country has a distinct climate that influences the flavor of coffee.
For example, the coffee beans the company imports from Costa Rica vary slightly in taste compared to Brazilian beans.
Latin America is known for three trademark flavors: coca, soft spice, and nuts.
Latin American coffee beans are crisp with acidity, making the coffee “zesty.” The acidity comes from volcanic soil, which is abundant in countries like Costa Rica.
Another factor contributing to the acidic taste is the fermentation process used by coffee plants in the region.
Asia-Pacific
Starbucks purchases a substantial portion of its coffee from the Asia-Pacific region. The coffee flavor here is unique and not available anywhere else.
The company uses these flavors in many of its signature blends.
Asian Pacific coffee is full-bodied, smooth, and moderately acidic. It's earthy, herbal, smooth, and syrupy.
Africa
The company gets its exotic flavors from Africa, home to some unique flavors. Some African countries, such as Ethiopia, are renowned for their coffee exports.
Africa gives the coffee giant its citrusy aromas. African coffee has a distinctive flavor profile that combines notes of citrus, chocolate, and berries.
Where does Starbucks Reserve coffee come from?
Starbucks Reserve coffee program sells single-origin flavors. It sells these flavors at its high-end Starbucks coffee bars and roasteries.
This program is designed for coffee connoisseurs who prefer specific flavor profiles.
The company purchases coffee beans for Starbucks Reserve from a specific farm or region for each batch. Each location sells its reserve coffee in small batches.
You can check out this complete article to learn more about Starbucks Reserve and how it differs from a regular Starbucks store.
Why does Starbucks not buy coffee from one place?
There are several reasons why Starbucks doesn’t buy its coffee from only one place:
A variety of flavors
As mentioned, each region gives a unique taste to its coffee beans. Factors such as soil and climate impact the taste.
To add more flavors to its blends, the company sources its coffee beans from the world’s finest farms. It allows them to offer customers a wide variety of native flavors.
Any coffee lover will tell you that Colombian flavors have a nuttier taste, whereas Indonesian flavors are more earthy in character.
There is definitely a noticeable difference!
Sustainable supply
Different suppliers are an excellent way to ensure a sustainable and uninterrupted supply of coffee beans.
Problems like bad harvests, crop infections, natural calamities, or man-made disasters can strike any region at any time.
If one of the suppliers cannot maintain normal production levels due to these reasons, the company can rely on other countries to continue its supply.
Moreover, as each country harvests coffee at a different time of the year, buying from different countries also ensures a regular supply throughout the year.
It means Starbucks won’t run out of coffee beans during any season.
The biggest coffee chain in the world must have an uninterrupted supply of coffee.
Why doesn’t Starbucks buy coffee from the USA?
Starbucks sources its coffee from various parts of the world and brings the beans back to its roasting facilities. The coffee beans are roasted in the United States.
However, it doesn’t buy any coffee from its homeland.
The reason is simple: though the leading coffee importer in the world, the USA doesn’t produce coffee in substantial quantities. There are several reasons why:
Climate
Most of the climate in the USA isn’t suitable for growing coffee. The coffee plant requires a tropical climate, prevalent in regions closer to the equator, known as the “bean belt” or “coffee belt.”
Let’s understand the kind of climate coffee plants need:
The temperatures must not fluctuate too much, even throughout the day and night. The plant also doesn’t like direct sunlight, so it's essential to shade it from the sun.
And it's not enough for the area to be warm: it must not be susceptible to frost and should resist large-scale pest invasions.
Another important climatic factor is the rain. The USA doesn’t have many places with predictable rainfall.
The coffee plant requires an even distribution of rainfall throughout the year, typically 1 to 1.5 meters annually.
Labor
The labor cost is another reason why sourcing coffee from outside the USA is a better option for Starbucks.
Labor is costly in the USA compared to the leading coffee-importing countries. Moreover, there isn’t enough in-field labor to support huge coffee plants.
The company’s sheer size would make coffee production in the USA extremely expensive.
However, Starbucks ensures that it buys its coffee from farms where workers receive fair wages, and the farm owners adhere to ethical codes.
Starbucks ethically sources 99% of its coffee, a huge milestone for an operation of its size.
From where does Starbucks get its famous Pike Place blend?
The Pike Place is Starbucks’ signature blend. It is a smooth, full-bodied, and strong dark-bean blend. The aroma in Starbucks cafes usually comes from the Pike Place roast.
The 100% Arabica blend is Kosher-certified and sourced from Asia-Pacific and Latin America. It is a tribute to the coffee giant’s first-ever Seattle location.
Some of the most famous Starbucks blends and their origin
As we all know, The Pike Place is the company’s leading blend, but there are plenty of flavors that keep the customers returning.
It’s time to talk about some of the most popular coffee roasts that Starbucks buys from different parts of the world for you.
The Breakfast Blend
The Breakfast Blend is a household name and quite a favorite for its tangy, bright flavor. Starbucks sources its beans from Latin America and roasts them to a medium level.
The coffee used for this blend is 100% Arabica, providing a soft, spicy, nutty, and sweet flavor. The Breakfast Blend is an excellent choice for home brewing.
- Starbucks delivers exceptional coffee cup after cup with this 18-ounce bag of Breakfast Blend medium roast whole bean coffee
- Notes of brown sugar and sweet orange mingle in our lightest medium roast coffee
Caffé Verona
Caffé Verona is a popular choice for coffee lovers who prefer a dark roast. The full-bodied blend has multiple origins in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific.
It is suitable for home brewing if you prefer your coffee strong, with a not-too-bitter and not-too-sweet taste.
With Caffé Verona, you get a delicious flavor of caramel and dark cocoa.
- Starbucks delivers exceptional coffee cup after cup with this 18-ounce bag of Caffè Verona dark roast whole bean coffee
- A well-balanced and rich dark roast coffee, Starbucks Caffè Verona blend is a storied dark roast with notes of dark cocoa and caramelized sugar
Pike Place Decaf
Starbucks has you covered if you love Pike Place but prefer a decaf option. The blend’s origin is similar to that of Pike Place, originating from Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.
However, this coffee won’t keep you up at night. The decaf flavor is less bitter than the dark blend, offering a nutty chocolate taste.
- Decaf Pike Place Roast is well-rounded with subtle notes of cocoa and toasted nuts balancing the smooth mouthfeel
- Enjoy the Starbucks coffee you love without leaving the house
Starbucks Brazil Blend
As the name suggests, this blend comes from Brazil. The coffee has fruity and bright notes, along with an acidic flavor.
However, the downside of this blend is that it is pretty hard to find.
You may be able to order it online from the official Starbucks website, but your local grocery store may not have it.
Conclusion
Starbucks goes above and beyond to offer a variety of coffee flavors.
They've achieved this by importing coffee beans from a wide variety of countries in Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, and Africa.
The company believes in retaining each region’s native flavors and uniqueness in its roasts.
They have suppliers worldwide to ensure a consistent supply of coffee to all their locations.
The beautiful aromas and flavors show the company’s commitment to offering the most authentic flavors to its customers.
