First Look: Starbucks cards, tumblers, food and returning favorites 2021

Its 53 days to Christmas. I know youre feeling christmassy already =)  This season, Starbucks lets people in to experience waves of joy and gratitude to ignite a wonderful encounter in each one’s life. “The presence of Starbucks has been continuously felt in the holiday celebrations of Filipinos,” shared Keith Cole, Starbucks Philippines Head of Marketing and Category. 

 

Happy Holi-yays!

Tasting the first sip of one’s favorite holiday beverage marks the anticipation of the hopeful season that lies ahead, and coffee lovers would enjoy the new and returning favorites from Starbucks. The new Jolly Baked Apple Latte sparks multi-sensory delight with its creamy blend of espresso and spiced apples that is topped with a delicate drizzle of apple sauce and candied apple sprinkles. The fan-favorite Toffee Nut Crunch Latte also returns to bring the familiar and comforting layers of buttery toffee with notes of sweet and toasted nuts. A catalyst for the season, the icy and minty peppermint Mocha now celebrates its 18th year of carrying the holiday joy with its flavorful taste inspired by traditional holiday candies.

 

All the Starbucks holiday beverages will be available in hot, iced, and blended formats.

 

People who work in the safety of their homes can also feel the coziness of starting their morning with the ready-to-drink Starbucks beverages. The canned Starbucks Doubleshot embodies deep and invigorating espresso flavors, in both the sweet Milky Espresso and the chocolatey Dark Mocha. Coffee lovers can also power through their day with the bottled Starbucks beverages, such as the Caramel Frappuccino for a buttery taste, or the Vanilla Frappuccino for an enjoyable treat with a low-fat milk option.

 

Those who want to be an at-home barista can master their craft as Starbucks brings back the Starbucks Christmas Blend and Starbucks Christmas Blend Espresso Roast. The Christmas Blend has been masterfully roasted to create a sweet cup with cedary spiced layers. This whole bean comes in VIA and Origami variants, as well as ground version so coffee lovers can discover the brewing methods that fit them best. The Christmas Blend Espresso Roast, on the other hand, features a deeper, darker blend and complex flavor profile with plummy sweetness and earthy spiciness.

 

Back for the holidays is the Starbucks Reserve Christmas 2020 with the new inclusion of Sulawesi coffee. These hand-selected beans from Indonesia bring about a delicate aroma of butterscotch sweetness. These flavors evoke memories of the holiday’s past while one celebrates the joys of the present. The Starbucks Reserve Christmas 2020 blend is exclusively available in Starbucks Reserve stores.

 

Oh, Starry Bites

What better way to delight in the coffee nestled snug in one’s hands than indulging in classic and heartwarming Starbucks bites? Chocolate lovers can indulge in Starbucks returning favorites like the 17-layer Chocolate Crepe Cake with Belgian chocolate filling, and the big and chewy Chocolate Overload Chip Cookie. There are also new flavors in store, such as the Triple Chocolate Cake, a three-layer creation veiled in a velvety dark and milk chocolate mousse, and the Chocolate Chip Doughnut that combines the goodness of a cookie and a doughnut. 

 

Those in search of meatier pairings can also opt for the returning Chicken Fajita Roll, the new Italian special Prosciutto Cotto and Mozzarella Panzerotti, and the slow-roasted Holiday Ham, Eggwhite, Cheese on Croissant Bun. Meat-free breakfast delights are also available at Starbucks, including the crispy and light Mushroom Bun, and the buttery Cheesy Spinach Tree.

 

Starbucks also brightens the season with more new options that deliver tidings of cheerfulness and joy. Loaded with apples and three kinds of berries, the Apple Berry Crumble Cheesecake is a smooth and creamy treat topped with delicious butter crumbles. Well-suited for coffee fans, the Starbucks Holiday Coffee Cake brings in layers of moist espresso confection, with a light meringue and creamy coffee mousse. Another sumptuous treat for those on-the-go is the PBJ Doughnut, which comes with creamy peanut butter filling and strawberry jam covered in confectioner’s sugar.

 

Merry Little Cards

There’s nothing like reuniting with those that one holds dear in their hearts. Show love and thoughtfulness with Starbucks holiday cards, which will be available in four designs — the Maligayang Pasko card, the Snowman Card, Holiday Tree Card, and the Holiday Animals Card — for an initial activation amount of ₱300. Meanwhile, a special Red Cup 2020 Card will also be released for an initial activation amount of ₱500.

 

Starbucks helps make the Earth a little greener

I started living sustainably around the house 2 years ago. I turn off the lights when I go out. I chose to handwash my clothes if I have a few to clean. I always bring an eco bag wherever I go and a spare tumbler if I have to order a drink from my favorite coffee shop- Starbucks. I also bring my personal straw with me. Single-use items such as straws,  plastic grocery bags, paper towels, and even toilet paper are all called single-use items. They are costly to the environment. if you have to cut down on them, you should start today.

To encourage reusability on Earth Day and to inspire its customers to make more sustainable choices all year long, Starbucks will launch reusable hot and cold cups in the Philippines. Reducing its environmental footprint and positively impacting the communities it serves has always been important to Starbucks. Starting April 22, the reusable cups and straws will be available at all Starbucks® stores in the Philippines.



Interestingly, the reusable cup is nearly identical to Starbucks iconic white cup and is made from polypropylene, a plastic which is widely accepted into global recycling infrastructure. The new reusable cups are designed to make the cup sturdier than paper and is a more sustainable approach to single-use packaging.

                      Pro-environmental choices celebrated through new reusable cups and straws

As Starbucks continues to works towards creating a more sustainable planet, it also empowers others to join the cause and help organizations with the same vision. From April 22 to 26, customers who will bring in their reusable cups, personal tumblers or mugs of at least 16oz. in size or higher will be given the option to donate their Php5 cup discount to their choice of environmental organization from the given NGO partners. Upon choosing an organization to donate to, customers will receive a complimentary upsize.

Customers may choose between the World Wildlife Fund for Nature Philippines or the Haribon Foundation, two organizations dedicated to preserving life and nature. By the end of the promo, Starbucks commits to shoulder the amount needed to match the donations between the two organizations.



Globally, an estimated 600 billion paper and plastic cups are distributed annually. Although Starbucks cups only account for around 1% of that total, it is committed to bring more sustainable solutions to
reduce waste. Since 2014, Starbucks has offered the reusable cup in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. and so far the company has sold more than 25 million globally.

Last year, Starbucks also announced its goal of removing all plastic straws in its store globally by 2020. In the Philippines, the coffee brand has also begun taking steps towards this goal with the Skip the Straw initiative. At local stores, customers are offered to skip the straws, disposable utensils and napkins for their orders and are provided more sustainable options including specially-designed sipping lids and compostable straws.

“We’ve seen an increase in public awareness and concern for the plastic waste issue in recent years. We’re proud to provide a reusable option in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines without making sacrifices to our customers’ daily coffee needs,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing, category and QA, Starbucks Philippines. “While there is still a long way to go, we’re excited to work with others to find global solutions and encourage our customers to choose reusability whenever possible.” 

Download the Starbucks PH App for access to a wider range of experiences and connect to an exciting network of flavors and rewards

Everything is now accessible through an app. You can shop online through an app, order your food, do your grocery, shop for your makeup.  How about browsing the latest menu and checking your card balance to your favorite Starbucks stores?

This is good news to all coffee lovers out there. Starbucks launches the Starbucks PH App, where you can track your card balance.

Starbucks Philippines today announced the expansion of the company’s industry-leading digital ecosystem with the launch of the Starbucks PH App, a mobile app providing a fast and convenient payment method for customers at more than 300 stores across the market.

The first coffee retailer to offer this innovation in the Philippines, the Starbucks® PH App integrates the popular Starbucks Card payment method and My Starbucks Rewards® on customers’ mobile devices.

“We are pleased to introduce the Starbucks PH App to our My Starbucks Rewards customers as they earn stars and engage with Starbucks online,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing, Starbucks Philippines. “This is the latest Starbucks innovation which aims to provide an enhanced experience and meet customers’ needs in the digital space, while continuing to provide an exceptional experience in our stores.”

Extending the Third Place

A feature called “Shake to Pay” allows customers to shake their phones to bring up a barcode within the app that can be scanned to pay and redeem. The app is linked to their My Starbucks Rewards account so balances are automatically updated whenever the app is used.

The Starbucks PH App keeps customers in the loop, making sure they are the first to know the newest product offerings and promos.  Customers are notified whenever new messages are received on the app. Starbucks PH App users are also in for a treat as they receive special offers and event invitations straight into their app inboxes. As an added bonus, users can also share these offers with friends through email and social media accounts.

Register to a My Starbucks Rewards account and easily track your Stars and rewards on your phone with the Starbucks PH App. Pool your Starbucks Cards into one account and deactivate a lost Starbucks Card within the app. Users can even view past transactions and track their balance real time. A feature called “Shake to Pay” allows customers to shake their phones to bring up a barcode within the app that can be scanned to pay and redeem. The app is linked to their My Starbucks Rewards account so balances are automatically updated whenever the app is used.



The Starbucks PH App also helps Starbucks lovers enjoy their favorite beverages anytime, anywhere with its store locator feature. Here, they can be directed to the nearest store along with a list of other recommendations in the vicinity as they search by store name, Starbucks Reserve store, drive-thru store, or stores open at the moment.



The app also includes a menu of beverages, food options, packaged whole bean coffee, as well as seasonal offers and a newsfeed with the latest merchandise that Starbucks customers can easily explore.



Download the Starbucks  PH App on App Store or Google Play Store for access to a wider range of experiences and connect to an exciting network of flavors, rewards, and conveniences right at your fingertips.

Innovating our Digital Flywheel

Starbucks consistently innovates to elevate the coffee experience for its customers. When it opened its first store in the Philippines in 1997, the Starbucks Experience was born. Coffee was redefined for many Filipinos from an ordinary drink that was prepared as part of a morning routine to a perfectly handcrafted beverage, made just the way you like it.

In 2013, after years of serving delicious cups of coffee to Filipinos, the global brand changed the game once more by turning the simple act of enjoying your favorite Starbucks beverages into an even more rewarding experience with the My Starbucks Rewards loyalty program.

With My Starbucks Rewards, customers are able to collect Stars, redeem rewards, receive the latest updates on new products, limited-edition merchandise and exclusive events and experience convenient cashless payment with their Starbucks Cards.

Starbucks introduces a color-changing Cold Brew coffee lemonade

This season, Starbucks Philippines serves up a striking, color-changing beverage to intrigue customers. Introducing beautifully layered coffee beverages featuring unique fusions of Signature Espresso and surprising ingredients like butterfly pea flower tea and Tahitian vanilla. 

Cherish the wonderful moments of the season with these artistic creations handcrafted by Starbucks baristas.

The newest Butterfly Pea Lemonade Cold Brew beverage is a refreshing thirst-quencher that will bring you an eye-catching surprise! The espresso beverage combines butterfly pea flower tea, a popular ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine renowned for its natural blue hue and mesmerizing color changing properties, with tangy lemonade and the deep notes of Starbucks Cold Brew.
Meanwhile, the fan-favorite Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato is also returning for a limited time.

Butterfly Pea Lemonade Cold Brew

This favorite beverage is coffee-forward, combining Tahitian Vanilla syrup and velvety steamed milk, topped with Starbucks Signature Espresso, vanilla bean specks and drizzle of vanilla syrup.

“At Starbucks, we continue to explore ways to elevate the experience for customers who are looking for new and sophisticated twists with their coffee favorites," said Keith Cole, head of marketing for Starbucks Philippines. “We are constantly experimenting with coffee craftsmanship, including brewing methods and ingredient selection to bring customers something new.” 

Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato 

Starbucks celebrates the season of Spring

Our newest Spring Season Blend celebrates a time of year marked by new beginnings and renewal. This seasonal blend combines customers’ all-time favorite coffees to deliver a complex, yet balanced profile, including Ethiopian sun-dried beans with a striking flourish of dark cherry; aged Sumatra, loved for its syrupy body and cedary spice notes; juicy herbal and complex coffees from Papua New Guinea; and our Colombian coffee, bright, balanced and nutty. The Starbucks Spring Season Blend will be available in whole bean, Starbucks VIA Ready Brew and Starbucks Origami

Cherry Blossom Collection
This year, Starbucks shares the excitement of the spring season with limited-edition merchandise, featuring design elements inspired by the cherry blossom night viewing tradition and the blushing cherry blossom. Launching on February 20, this captivating collection will include a selection of mugs, tumblers, water bottles and other merchandise in two design themes; a lovely pink petal design against the midnight backdrop and petal-inspired embellishments in a blushing pink blossom theme. Both collections are available for a limited time only.
Don’t miss out on the exciting surprises from Starbucks.

Grab their new handcrafted beverages in all Starbucks stores starting February 20. 

Starbucks Treats for the Lunar New Year of the Earth Dog

Are your ready for Starbucks new exciting signature espresso mix whisks with Okinawa brown sugar from Japan?

The coffee brand hypes up the celebration for its 20th anniversary, with decadent servings of flavor and a variety of exciting items on the menu.

Starbucks is complementing its signature Espresso Roast with sophisticated flavors like salted caramel and Okinawa brown sugar, expertly crafted into an assortment of beverages.

Starting January 9, Starbucks mixes in one of Japan’s most popular culinary ingredients, the Okinawa Brown Sugar, to create Okinawa Brown Sugar Latté. The elegant drink highlights the hint of molasses found in the sugar and fuses in light caramel for a less sweet, coffee forward drink.

A returning favorite, the Salted Caramel Mocha Crumble, combines deep chocolate and espresso flavors with toffee nut syrup, layered with a delicious combination of whipped cream and caramel sauce. The beverage is topped with a blend of turbinado sugar and sea salt for a perfect sweet and savory taste.

 “We love to constantly surprise our customers with new flavor combinations. This season’s beverages complement our signature Starbucks Espresso and whisks in premium ingredients, like Okinawa brown sugar from Japan, for a modern twist.” said Keith Cole, head of marketing for Starbucks Philippines

Starbucks treats for the New Year
Apart from the double offer of flavor innovations, Starbucks also gives a preview of the fun that 2018 has to offer.

For one, the adorable barista bear collectible has two new looks for the upcoming season. The 20th Anniversary Bearista Bear wears the classic black apron with the 20th anniversary logo of Starbucks Philippines. The Bearista Bear also dons a Philippine Flag inspired Frappuccino® pin. On the other hand, the Bearista Bear Dog is all about the onset of the Lunar New Year.

Collectors will enjoy the pup illustrations on the Lunar New Year merchandise as it highlights this year’s Chinese zodiac which is the Earth Dog.  With these specially-designed tumblers, mugs, and Starbucks Card, coffee fans and dog lovers alike have something incredible to look forward to.

As 2018 is a special year for Starbucks Philippines, the coffee brand goes all out for its big 20th anniversary treats. Starbucks Kape Vinta Card holders will earn the chance to win one of the 20 Starbucks for a Month and 20 Starbucks for a Year, when they activate their card anytime in January. Winners of these big anniversary treats will be announced on January 22 for the Starbucks for a Month, and February 12 for the Starbucks for a Year.

Don’t miss out on the many, flavorful surprises from Starbucks. Grab their new signature espresso beverages in all Starbucks stores. Find out more on how to savor your coffee and the best of 2018 by visiting www.facebook.com/StarbucksPhilippines/.

Bring home the Hacienda Alsacia special brew this Christmas

Most would hold their coffee mugs with much passion, enjoying the scent of the coffee granules melting in hot water. Some would even say they won’t trade that precious time for anything. Yet only a handful would reach an understanding that, in between sips and slurps, they would be enjoying the fruition of a three-to-five-year process.

This Christmas, Starbucks shares its coffee story with Filipinos. By bringing in store the Hacienda Alsacia—a prized coffee harvest from the company’s own farm in Costa Rica—the global coffee brand encourages its customers to appreciate their favorite handcrafted beverages from the seed and discover in its markings the work poured into it by farmers.

The Hacienda Alsacia is sourced from the company’s first-ever farm in South America, acquired by Starbucks in 2013 as an investment to the coffee industry’s sustainability. In this 240-hectare lot, agronomy experts work alongside farmers to develop coffee varieties, improve yields, and overcome diseases in crops.

“We are very much honored to have this Roastery exclusive coffee to share with our partners and customers in the Philippines, in time for the 20th anniversary celebration year,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing for Starbucks Philippines. 

Planting the future of coffee
The Costa Rica farm investment is a historic move for the coffee brand, as it brings the global name on ground and knee-deep into the experience of farmers. From planting in nutrient-rich places and protecting the crops from weather and disease, to meticulously handpicking the cherries and drying and milling them for the seeds, Starbucks follows the trail of coffee planters.

Given the care and growth period coffee needs, farmers would often be challenged into choosing other crops to provide for their families. To better understand how to help these farmers, Starbucks put itself in their shoes by joining the movement for coffee sustainability back in 2004.Since then, it has reached Nicaragua, Mexico, Rwanda, Tanzania, and China farms in pursuit of more robust and resilient farms.

Hacienda Alsacia, a Tribute to Coffee Farmers
As Starbucks Philippines carries on the celebration for its 20th Anniversary, it transports a cherished piece of this venture: beans grown right from the first Starbucks farm in Costa Rica. Previously served exclusively at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Seattle, the special pack will be available for purchase at Starbucks stores nationwide.

Unassuming as the Hacienda Alsacia may seem, the coffee brings in something equally precious as the recently released 20th Anniversary bejewelled mugs and tumblers collection this Christmas: the brand’s commitment to help farmers sustain their livelihood and vocation. 

Bring home the Hacienda Alsacia special brew this Christmas, and savor the taste of beans that nourish the future of coffee.

Your #TeaReimagined with the New Starbucks Teavana Frozen Teas

Starbucks PH introduces their Starbucks New Teavana Frozen Teas following their successful Teavana Asia launch last year.

To those who love their teas frozen,  healthy and packed with antioxidants. Starbucks PH launches their refreshing, icy-smooth handcrafted beverages Starbucks New Teavana Frozen Teas on Sept 2 at Starbucks largest branch Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard with media. We got to try mixing and customizing our own frozen teas with the help of Starbucks barista Ms. Roma.

It was a fun whirling afternoon mixing our own concoctions. I customized mine with a little syrup and lots of pomegranate pearls. Yummy!!

My personal favorite is the new Starbucks Teavana Frozen Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls. 

Starbucks Teavana Frozen Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls

This refreshing beverage combines floral notes of hibiscus flowers and rose petals with the tropical flavors of papaya and mango, enhanced with hints of cinnamon and lemongrass. The beverage is topped with glistening, jewel-like pearls of pomegranate juice that burst on the tongue.

I also did my version of  Starbucks Teavana Frozen Chamomile Tea with Kyoho Grape and Aloe. I was generous with the toppings. The kyoho grapes goes well with chamomile tea. It was a perfect combination.

It is made with chamomile tea blended with honeyed white grapes and aloe cubes delivering a cool, lightly sweet taste. The beverage is generously topped with skinned and pitted whole Kyoho grapes – a popular variety from Japan known for its distinctive sweetness and generous size.

Following the successful Asia launch of Starbucks Teavana last year, which brought Starbucks modern tea experience brand to Asia for the first time, Starbucks today announced the introduction of new Starbucks Teavana Frozen Teas. These refreshing, icy-smooth handcrafted beverages combine the finest Teavana teas and botanical blends with premium ingredients like Kyoho grapes and pomegranate pearls.

“We want our customers to experience tea like they’ve never imagined. Drawing our inspiration from a love of tea in Asia and from popular new flavors. This year, Starbucks takes innovation in flavors and texture to the next level with a unique Frozen Tea platform to satisfy the growing sophistication of consumer preference.” said Keith Cole, head of marketing for Starbucks Philippines.

Starbucks Teavana Frozen Teas have been developed exclusively for customers across Asia, delivering a sophisticated and modern tea experience. Starbucks is committed to investing in Teavana in the region as it remains a strong growth driver for the brand.

Commenting on the growing interest in frozen beverages, Davina Patel, global food and drink analyst at Mintel, the global market intelligence agency which follows food and beverage trends in Asia, said: “Our research shows that consumers in Asia continue to gravitate towards beverages with textural and visual appeal, which has led to a growing interest in frozen products. Moreover, consumers are increasingly exploring the world of tea through flavor and variety, with preference shifting towards botanical teas such as herbs, fruits and spices.”

It was truly a fun afternoon of surprises as we arrived to our own gallery of snapshots (posted at the venue) taken at Starbucks teavanas launch last year.

We also tried to customize our own Starbucks pouch with lots of doodles and drawings. Talking about creativity. I am a minimalist so I just stenciled mine with colored hearts. This is how it went!

Starbucks Teavana Frozen Teas will be available for a limited time only starting September 12.


As a special treat, Starbucks Card customers can enjoy Starbucks Teavana Frozen Teas ahead of its public launch. Customers will just need to pay the full amount of the beverage using their Starbucks Card from September 9-11 to avail of the early access promo.

For more information about these new Starbucks Teavana Frozen Teas and the aforementioned promo, visit www.starbucks.ph.