New Starbucks Flavored Coffees & Food Gal Contest for Coffee Lovers
Over the years, many flavored coffees have left me feeling much like I do about yesterday’s grounds — wondering why they were still around and hadn’t been thrown out or used as compost yet.
You’ve probably experienced the same — coffee flavored like Christmas or your favorite ice cream sundae topping, where you couldn’t taste the coffee at all, and instead were left with this way too strong, rather artificial taste in your mouth.
That’s why I was pleasantly surprised by the new Starbucks Natural Fusions. The three new coffees come in Vanilla, Caramel and Cinnamon flavors.
I hesitantly tried the samples I received, only to find myself smiling at what was in my cup. These flavored ground coffees are made with real-deal ingredients — ground vanilla bean and Indian sarsaparilla root in the Vanilla; cinnamon, orange peel and nutmeg in the Cinnamon; and licorice root, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg in the Caramel.
The flavors are subtle, which is nice because you can still taste the robust coffee, which is what we, true coffee lovers, want anyway, right? The Cinnamon has the strongest fragrance, hitting you the moment the hot water meets the grounds. It has a nice added warmth on the back of your throat from the spices. The Vanilla and Caramel are more elusive. They don’t taste like you’ve stirred in vanilla extract or caramel syrup into your coffee cup. It’s more as if you’d just nibbled on a vanilla cookie or sucked on a caramel candy, then taken a sip of coffee afterward.
The Natural Fusions sell for $8.99 per 11-ounce bag at Target stores. But they won’t be widely available at more retailers until September.
Contest: Five lucky Food Gal readers will get a chance to win one bag of each of the three new coffee flavors, along with a nifty French press. Contest is open only to those of you in the continental United States. Deadline to enter is the end of the day on July 31. Winners will be announced Aug. 2.
How to enter? Just answer this question: “Without coffee in the morning, I am….”
The five best, most creative responses will win the coffee and French press.
Here’s my own answer to that question:
“Without coffee in the morning, I am an ogre. Not quite like Shrek. But even if I don’t look green, I feel disorientingly green and blah-blue without my wake-me-up caffeine fix.”
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Monday, 26. July 2010 6:36
Those coffee blends must taste haeavenly! I really have to pay a visit to the closest Starbucks around…
Cheers,
Rosa
Monday, 26. July 2010 6:47
Without coffee in the morning, I am almost entirely unable to speak or see. Unfortunately, I don’t have a coffee maker at the moment, so I have to rely on “office coffee” which is not as good as I always want it to be… A french press at home would be heavenly!
Monday, 26. July 2010 6:51
Without coffee in the morning, I’m not myself. The fun, friendly, nice Andrea only comes out after consumption of two cups of coffee. It’s like I’m two different people (just ask my hubby and kids!). I try to only show the caffeinated Andrea to the world…
Monday, 26. July 2010 6:56
I bought a Nespresso machine early this year so I am somewhat retricted to use the Nepresso capsules. This does look interesting but like you, I am also generally skeptical about flavoured coffee. If it ever gets to Singapore, I will definitely give it a try.
Monday, 26. July 2010 7:52
Without coffee in the morning, I am… not able to comprehend or understand this question. I can’t answer this simple question, my mind is a total blank and is practically non-functional.
After two sips of coffee, I’m ready to tackle the problems of the world. BRING IT ON!
Monday, 26. July 2010 8:18
Without coffee in the morning, I am surprisingly lucid. I am not however, warm and fuzzy. Douse me with the liquid and I have a smile on my face! And warm hands! (Particularly useful for summer in San Francisco).
Monday, 26. July 2010 9:53
Oh! Every morning I get up looking forward to my cup of coffee
I normally do not care for the flavored ones, but always open to try new things 
Monday, 26. July 2010 10:05
Without coffee in the morning I am a total MESS! The sounds coming out of my mouth don’t make sense and I can barely make out anything I see. I stumble around until I find my coffee pot and after that first sip, my world is good again!
Monday, 26. July 2010 10:22
Without coffee in the morning, I am still five layers beneath my covers, immobile. Unshowered. Late. Woeful. Fast forward a few hours, and without coffee in the morning, I am succinctly fired. Let’s just say it’s a job preserver.
Monday, 26. July 2010 10:55
based on my first-hand experience… without coffee in the morning… a native Colombian’s day goes seizmic–hand tremors, knee jerks, clouded thinking and ballistic hair day…
Monday, 26. July 2010 11:15
LOL! your comment! don’t enter me, i gave up coffee for a while. i know i know gasp, shock, the horror! but it’s been 3 and a half weeks and i’m ok, no docs or therapy needed. just wanted to say your ogre comment was hilarious. my hubbys nickname is ogre.
Monday, 26. July 2010 13:03
Without coffee in the morning I am not myself!!!
Monday, 26. July 2010 13:29
Still waiting for my French press to be “moved” here….for now, we just survive on instant coffee which is really yucky! Starbucks instant coffee is too steep for everyday drinking
Without coffee in the morning, I am just a walking zombie.
Monday, 26. July 2010 13:42
Without coffee, I’d have the top score for running over pedestrians and taking out other cars during my morning commute.
Monday, 26. July 2010 14:35
Without coffee in the morning, I am a complete idiot. There has got to be extra brain cells hidden in coffee beans, I see no other explanation.
Monday, 26. July 2010 15:16
Without coffee in the morning I am Grouchy! I left my French Press in New York City!
Monday, 26. July 2010 16:06
Without coffee in the morn-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz….
Monday, 26. July 2010 19:35
unable to get out of bed. coffee makes it worth getting up!
Monday, 26. July 2010 19:45
Without coffee in the morning, I am…. never going to let that happen. I SHALL ALWAYS BE EQUIP WITH CAFFEINE GOODNESS ^^cheers
Monday, 26. July 2010 20:58
Without coffee in the morning, I fear for my life since I become the clumsiest person this green earth. If I make it to the kitchen for that first heavenly cup without running into walls, tripping over my feet, and falling over one of my cats, then I know its going to be a good day. =) Coffee is life….’Nuff said!
Monday, 26. July 2010 22:06
Unfortunately, I am in Kuching and unable to enjoy the French press or the flavored coffee. I’ve only ever enjoyed one flavored coffee–the vermont maple one sold at harry and david’s.
But my answer to your question would’ve been:
Without coffee in the morning, I would just continue to drink my Earl Grey (or Lady Grey). However, without my tea in the morning, I am bereft.
I do like a cuppa every so often though and hopefully, when we get back to the states, we can meet up to have a cup of coffee and CUPCAKES!
Monday, 26. July 2010 23:33
Without my morning coffee, I am at a loss for words, yet have plenty to say. My eyes become laser beams that haphazardly hunt anything in sight until sufficient caffeine levels have been met.
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 0:01
cinnamon coffee!?!? be still, my ever-racing heart.
if i don’t have coffee in the morning, i’m useless. i might as well stay in bed–my mind is fuzzy and my limbs don’t work correctly, and these things combined can lead to some dangerous and painful maneuvers.
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 1:32
They sound very different, do you know if we can purchase those bags in Australia? or at Starbucks stores down here?
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 2:48
I would enter….but I’m not a Starbucks fan and I think that there are many, many more that would love this gift more than I ever could.
p.s. Have you tried Blue Bottle? First coffee place I ever truly liked.
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 3:21
I’m not a coffee drinker, but I’m going to have fun reading the comments!
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 3:53
Without coffee in the morning I am incomplete, anemic, wan. My blood type is French Roast, Black.
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 4:15
Without coffee in the morning I would be grumpy, slow and slightly ill. I take my soup mug of very strong French roast with me out to milk Molly cow and add a couple of warm, rich, frothy squirts right into my coffee cup and all is well.
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 4:24
Oy. Without coffee in the morning, I am a mute. I can’t form a sensical sentence. At all. Don’t talk to me before I have my coffee. Trust me.
I love some flavored coffees, like New England Coffee…but I hate the Dunkin Donuts ones. I would love to try these Starbucks varieties!
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 8:16
Joyti: Oh, Blue Bottle is FANTASTIC. So fresh and smooth tasting. Truly a cup to savor.
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 9:07
I’m not sure what I am without a morning coffee. The few times that has happened to me, I have blanked it out of my memory – mercifully. That first sip of coffee is such sweet heaven, its the official start of my day.
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 9:17
J.S.Bach said “Without my morning coffee I am just like a dried up piece of roast goat.” While I wouldn’t go that far, I would say that without my morning coffee, I am a potential road hazard. That means a lot in NJ.
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 11:24
Without coffee in the morning, I am not a happpy camper!
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 18:34
Without coffee in the morning, I have pearly white teeth! But my teeth don’t mind being covered with delicious coffee as new flavors such as vanilla, cinnamon, and caramel are soothing to both my teeth and body! I love coffee in the morning, especially Starbucks!
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 18:38
I should be flying over! lol! but if I do, I prefer to share a few cup of coffee with and enjoy our great chats!
Tuesday, 27. July 2010 19:24
Without coffee in the morning, I am worse than a junkie looking for my next caffeine fix.
Wednesday, 28. July 2010 21:07
Without coffee in the morning, I wouldn’t stay awake long enough to make my daily 10:00 AM coffee break, or my daily 12:00 PM coffee break…
…the work day’s long.
Friday, 30. July 2010 1:47
Without coffee in the morning, I am my mother’s daughter – the rule in my house growing up? Don’t DARE ask Mom a question until she’s on her second cup!
And that’s who I’m entering for – my mother. I’m abroad, but she’s in the States (and much farther into her coffee addiction than I). That’s right – I’m an enabler… or does that just make me a good daughter? Hm…
Saturday, 31. July 2010 14:50
Without coffee in the morning, I spill the beans.
Saturday, 31. July 2010 15:40
Without coffee in the morning I am a total bear. Don’t even bother looking at me until my mug is empty!
Sunday, 1. August 2010 13:11
Contest is now closed. Come back tomorrow to see who won.
Monday, 2. August 2010 5:30
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