• Pike Place Roast is a new blend of Starbucks coffee that was introduced during a special 30-minute free giveaway period on April 8, 2008. The blend was named after Seattle's Pike Street Market with the intention of returning to the company's roots.

    Starbucks has not divulged its sources for the new blend's beans, but they are purported to be fresher than the average coffee bean; shipment from source to store takes inside of seven days. Pike Place Roast will be offered every day and will not be alternated with other blends. Stores will also be transitioning to a 30-minute hold time, with smaller batches of coffee made on a regular basis.

  • Fast Facts:

    1. Free giveaway: April 8, 2008, 9am PDT
    2. Simultaneous nationwide taste testing
    3. Campaign based on customer feedback
    4. 1,000 customers interviewed over 1,500 hours

  • Quote:

    1. "Pike Place Roast truly represents the best of who we are, showcasing our new quality standards for freshness—freshly roasted, hand-scooped, freshly ground and brewed with shorter hold times."—Howard Schulz, chairman, president and CEO of Starbucks

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