Starbucks celebrates International Coffee Day with Milano Duetto: one coffee, two distinct roasts
Starbucks Milan Duetto Credit: Starbucks
In honour of International Coffee Day today, Starbucks stores in the US and in select markets around the world are introducing Starbucks Milano Duetto — one coffee blend expressed through two distinct roasts.
Starbucks Milano Duetto is one coffee blend, expressed through two bold, contrasting roasts to highlight the duality between tradition and innovation:
• Starbucks Milano Sole (light roast) pays homage to the vibrant Milanese coffee culture, featuring medium to high acidity, and a medium body, and notes of creamy vanilla custard and sweet pomegranate with hints of nutmeg.
• Starbucks Milano Luna (dark roast) is an ode to the heritage of Starbucks roasting, featuring medium to low acidity, and a medium to full body; it displays bold notes of dark chocolate truffle and roasted black walnut.
“For Starbucks, coffee has always been a lens through which we see the world – a world rich in diversity, tradition, and innovation,” said Michelle Burns, executive vice president, global coffee and sustainability. “Milan’s rich coffee culture – which served as the inspiration for Starbucks coffeehouse culture – and Starbucks 50+ year history and expertise in coffee roasting have inspired this new line of limited-release, special edition coffees, Starbucks Milano Sole and Starbucks Milano Luna.”
The Starbucks Milano Duetto blend is crafted from coffee grown in Colombia and Sumatra, where Starbucks has worked and sourced from trusted smallholder farmer communities for many years. The processing method of the South American coffee contributes heightened acidity and a clean finish while the semi-washed method of the Sumatra coffee contributes a distinctive full body and earthy, herbal flavour notes.
During the creation of Starbucks Milano Duetto, the Starbucks Coffee Development team experimented with a range of roasts by stopping at various points in the roasting cycle. After nearly a dozen iterations, the result is something the team is excited for partners and customers to try.
“The best way to understand the nuances and the effect roasting has on the coffee creation process is to compare the same blend roasted two different ways,” said Sergio Alvarez, a coffee developer and 15-year employee who was part of the team that crafted Starbucks Milano Duetto. “Our hope is that after tasting these coffees, our partners and customers are inspired, and perhaps have that ‘aha’ moment that many baristas have when tasting coffee. The moment where one wants to learn more.”
First introduced at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milano for a limited time, throughout October, Starbucks Milano Sole and Milano Luna will be the featured light and dark roast brewed coffee in Starbucks stores in the US as well as available for purchase as packaged whole bean coffee.
Throughout the month of October, Starbucks customers in select markets across Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, can purchase Starbucks Milano Sole and Milano Luna as packaged whole bean coffee, and in select regions it will also be available as hot brewed coffee while supplies last.
Although Milano Sole and Milano Luna will be the featured brewed coffee in Starbucks stores this month, Alvarez, at a tasting event for press at Starbucks Empire State Building Reserve store in New York City in September, said both blends work well as espresso and as cold brew, as well as with dairy and non-dairy additives.
Select US Starbucks stores will also host tastings of Starbucks Milano Duetto with customers. To find a participating store, customers can inquire with their local store for details.
