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Starbucks Guatemala Casi Cielo

Do you remember the first coffee that you loved?  Maybe you’ve been drinking coffee for most of your life, but there was a specific blend or single-origin offering that flipped your coffee-fanatic switch.  For me, I’m not ashamed to say it was Starbucks Guatemala Casi Cielo.  I’ll be the first to admit that Starbucks’ offerings can be far from perfect for the educated coffee intelligentsia, but as someone who was used to grocery grade coffee compost, this whole bean selection blew me away.

The Facts: Starbucks Guatemala Casi Cielo sells for $12.95 per pound at your local Starbucks store.  It’s available during the months of January and February.  Starbucks creates the blend from several single origin farm in the Antigua Region of Guatemala and roasts the coffee into 2nd crack.  It’s definitely not among their darkest roasts, but remember this is Starbucks, so the roast remains in the dark spectrum.  The term “Casi Cielo” means “almost heaven” in English.  A Chef at the Canlis restaurant in Seattle worked with Starbucks to develop this coffee to be served with fine dining desserts.  I believe it’s available year round at the restaurant, but Starbucks offers it to the general public in the first months of each year.  On their website Starbucks mentions the collaboration and explains:

Together, we created a remarkable coffee with a depth and versatility perfect for a variety of gourmet entrees and desserts – particularly those with savory herbs or cheeses, rich chocolate or berries.

So let’s find out for ourselves; is Casi Cielo really as great as Starbucks says it is? Continue Reading…