Nerd Fuel: Starbucks – Mountain Blend

You know me. I’m a sucker for new flavors and varieties. That’s why I get excited every time I come across a limited time release on the coffee aisle. Today’s review is no exception. Recently, I was browsing the grocery store and I saw a new limited edition coffee from Starbucks, their Mountain Blend. So, without hesitation, I snapped up a box and brought it home.

The name made me think of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, and for a moment, that’s what I thought I was going to get. However, once I got home and took a better look at this blend, I realized that’s not the case. Instead, what we have here is a blend of beans from Africa and Latin America. Being an early-year limited release, I probably should have guessed this. This time of year is correct for coffee beans harvested in these regions. Plus, these beans are known to compliment each other quite well.

This blend is a medium roast and it smells absolutely delightful during the brew process. The flavor is nice and mild, with a prominent cocoa tone. There’s just a hint of sweet citrus (orange) to brighten up the finish, but it’s not very prominent in the flavor profile at all.

I found this blend to very pleasant and neutral. It’s the perfect morning cup of coffee and it should appeal to almost any coffee drinker. However, I can’t say it’s unique enough to stand out against most other house blends. It’s delicious, and certainly worth checking out if you’re a coffee snob. But the average person is probably not going to find anything special here.

Score: 3 out of 4

Would buy again?: Yes. Without a doubt this is a quality coffee and it’s been my morning choice since I brought the box home. However, there’s nothing about it that really jumps out and makes me say “WOW!”. Still, I always enjoy various blends and varieties. So, it was a fun purchase.