SEATTLE; USA – On May 9, Starbucks launched Starbucks Green Apron Blend, a one-of-a-kind blend created by partners, for partners. According to the company “The new coffee is a symbol of Starbucks rich coffee culture and what’s possible when we work together.”
When developing Green Apron Blend, Starbucks received nearly 24,000 idea submissions from partners sharing their ideas for the unique blend, including which coffee regions to include, the flavor and roast profiles, the name of the coffee, the packaging – even when what happens with part of the proceeds.
The result? A light and lively Starbucks Blonde roasted coffee, with hints of Honeybell orange and graham crackers, that pays homage to Ethiopia as the birthplace of coffee, as well as the retail partners across the globe who customers often referred to as a “bright moment in the day.”
You can read more about the partners who helped developed Green Apron Blend here.
Partners also identified the Caring Unites Partners (CUP) Fund as a recipient of a portion of the blend’s proceeds. The CUP Fund is a Starbucks program that provides grants to eligible Starbucks employees in times of need.
Since its inception in 1998, the program has benefited more than 71,000 partners with a total more than $51 million in grants, and there is a story behind each one, which you can read here. As part of Starbucks continued commitment to its partners, the company is designating $5 per bag and, for a limited time, $0.10 per brewed cup of Green Apron Blend sold to the CUP Fund.
Green Apron Blend is available at company-operated stores in the U.S. as a 1 lb. bag of whole bean coffee year-round, and starting May 9, will be available as a daily brewed hot coffee for a limited time.