Starbucks Dark Cherry Mocha Review

by Mike on March 11, 2010 in Coffee Reviews

The Drink: Dark Cherry Mocha From Starbucks
Type: Espresso Based Drink
Overall Rating: Four Out Of Five Coffee Mugs

I’ve been craving Dark Cherry Mocha for what seems like forever. I had a feeling that I was going to love it from the minute that I first read about it on the Starbucks Melody site in December. However, back then it was only available at Starbucks overseas. Recently, it became available in the United States. Robb over at Coffee Obsessed picked one up in February at his local Starbucks in Georgia. It was getting closer, but it was a tease because none of my local Starbucks had it until this week. Tonight I was able to give it a shot and it was definitely worth the wait.

On the drive home from Starbucks tonight, my car filled with the aroma and my mouth started to water. The Dark Cherry Mocha has the distinctive chocolate aroma that I love in their Mochas. It’s mixed with a light cherry scent.

The first sip put a smile on my face. It was pure sugary deliciousness. It had the familiar rich, milk chocolate flavor, followed by a wave of sweet cherry. I couldn’t put the drink down.

I loved it, maybe even more than my treasured Peppermint Mocha. I keep going back and forth about which is better, I don’t think I could choose just one. It earns a well above average four out of five on the Daily Shot Of Coffee scale.

The Dark Cherry Mocha is like a dessert in a coffee cup. Coffee snobs aren’t going to love it, but if you like the Peppermint Mocha, you’re going to love the Dark Cherry Mocha. It makes for a great after dinner treat.

I have two questions for Starbucks. Why did you make me wait so long? And is it a permanent part of the menu?

Have you tried it? What did you think?

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Tagged as: Starbucks

Article by Mike Crimmins

Mike Crimmins is the highly caffeinated blogger behind Daily Shot Of Coffee. Besides drinking way too much coffee, he's obsessed with the Yankees and getting dirty on his mountain bike.

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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }

Robb Sutton March 11, 2010 at 8:31 pm

Just like Cella’s Chocolate Covered Cherries. I don’t praise Starbucks very often…but I really like this one.

Doesn’t beat a really good cup of freshly ground black beans from a boutique roaster, but it is a nice touch that is available at every street corner!
Robb Sutton´s last blog ..Coffee Rituals and Coffee Life

Mike March 11, 2010 at 8:42 pm: I’m not a big fan of their coffees, but I have to agree with you, they do drinks like this pretty damn good.

I love freshly ground coffee from some of my favorite roasters, but it is a nice change of pace every once in a while. However after a venti, I now feel like I have to go a few extra miles on my bike next time I ride it.

Reply

nicole schwartz March 11, 2010 at 8:56 pm

i do love it, and i fear it came in as part of the seasonal promotion (like the salted caramel) and will go again, i hope i am wrong
nicole schwartz´s last blog ..amazonv: RT @SbuxMel: RT @shotofcoffee @Starbucks Dark Cherry Mocha Review http://tinyurl.com/y8dq7k8 #Starbucks

Mike March 11, 2010 at 10:18 pm: I hope you’re wrong too! I missed out on the salted caramel…why do they only do the good things for a limited time?

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Gerry March 12, 2010 at 5:16 am

I am not a huge fan of Starbucks, however after reading Mike’s article here I will treat myself to a Dark Cherry Mocca later on today and give you my comments. I am not a coffee snob however I find the larger chain’s of coffee shops often a little too limited in their choice of coffee bean and I get bored – it is of course possible I drink too much coffee and will fall into the coffee snob/bore trap.
Gerry of coffee beans´s last blog ..About us.

Kim Randall March 12, 2010 at 6:50 am

This sounds like something I could definitely enjoy. My next trip to Starbucks will be to get one of these
Kim Randall´s last blog ..Tweeting With Your Location

Steve March 12, 2010 at 10:27 am

I haven’t been in a Starbucks for months and I’m not too interested in sugary coffee, but what a great treat to take home for my wife. She will love it. Also, thanks to you, my blog is starting to get some traction. Steve…
Steve´s last blog ..The Art of Grooming

JamesB March 12, 2010 at 12:32 pm

You had me at “cherry”! I love anything with a hint of cherries and it sounds like a rich brew to be savoured. Trouble is – no Starbucks near me so it will have to wait.
JamesB´s last blog ..Big Oil’s big Future

Donna March 12, 2010 at 3:43 pm

Starbucks was giving out samples of the dark cherry mocha at the mall this past weekend, and I tried it and was shocked to really, really like it. You are right dessert in a cup, about sums it up. I ended up ordering a tall lite dark cherry mocha frappacino because I liked the sample so much and it was yummy. In fact i’d rather have one of those than a hot fudge sundae. Love the chocolate curls they put on the whipped cream they really made the drink- – unfortunately for my waistline I’ll be back for more.

Dustin March 12, 2010 at 5:55 pm

Ehh.. After seeing the review I want to give mine the benefit of the doubt and hope that it was made wrong. Not have a particular taste for children’s vitamins I didn’t care for it at all. I like chocolate cherry’s but this took me back to my childhood, not in a good way.

gservo March 12, 2010 at 7:06 pm

not a big fan of starbucks but i would try that

Nour El-Zibdeh March 12, 2010 at 7:15 pm

I love how you’re describing your coffee! I get similar feelings when I’m into my coffee…

You make me want to check my local Starbucks. But actually, I prefer Caribou Coffee. Their mocha drinks are made with real chocolate, not the syrup, and they are just heavenly.

Amy March 13, 2010 at 5:28 pm

I LOVE my Starbucks hot chocolate, I know it’s blasphemy but I’m not particularly a coffee fiend – that honor goes to my better half. I had the dark cherry syrup added to my tall skinny hot chocolate a few weeks ago though and it was ah-mazing!
Amy´s last blog ..Mink Chocolates Hot Chocolate Bar Review

howard March 18, 2010 at 9:22 am

my wife and i have both tried this and enjoy it.
gotta say this is much more a chocolate/mocha experience
than a coffee experience. i can only take a medium as the
venti size gets a bit too much. we have had the hot
versions so far.
the Starbucks website says it DOES have espresso in it
but that taste.flavor seemed overshadowed by the
flavors and wha-tnot. that seems to be the point
in the flavored drinks Starbucks prepares.
so… we both like this and i think it’s a bit too sweet.
i’d actually like the option to have non sugary cherry
flavor in mine if anyone from Corp. reads this.
by the way, the local city is thinking of enacting
a sugar beverage surtax on pop and soda and
it’s like 2cents per ounce or in that range.
add an extra 40cents to the tab (before sales
tax?) on this idea which i think is a good reason
to have the no sugar in my sold coffee approach.
if we/i want sugar, let us add it later and avoid
the jackup costs.

Patty Reiser March 18, 2010 at 6:32 pm

I was fortunate enough yesterday to enjoy one of these. It. Was. So. Good. Thank you for reviewing and sharing about it. I hope Starbucks will keep these around all year long!
Patty Reiser´s last blog ..Storybooking

BaristaOnDutY March 19, 2010 at 12:04 am

Not Much Of A Flavored Coffee Guy, I Do Dig The Chocolate Or Mocha If You Will. My Question Is The Syrup For The Drink, Is It 2 Different Syrups, Or 1 With The Combined 2 Ingredients? I’m Almost Certain With The Correct Amount Of Limu (Cherry) N The Chocolate From Yirgacheffe Or Harrar Dash Of Vanilla Syrup.. I May Be Own 2 Something |_|B
BaristaOnDutY´s last blog ..BODY Save The Planet ~ A Conscience Coffee Cause ~ Apr, 1- 30- 2010

Mike March 19, 2010 at 9:41 am: I believe it’s two different syrups, but I’ll pay more attention next time I buy one there and let you know if it’s different.

Reply

Mike @ Chronos Coffee March 22, 2010 at 7:17 pm

I know I’m an exception however I am not a fan of chocolate and cherries.

Mike April 1, 2010 at 4:03 pm: I’ve heard that a couple of times actually. I don’t understand myself, but you’re not alone.

Reply

Ali March 23, 2010 at 9:28 pm

Hi i bought the syrup and used it to make cherry coke it turned out well and i also love the drink!

Mike April 1, 2010 at 4:03 pm: I could go for a Cherry Coke like that right about now.

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GServo March 30, 2010 at 7:25 pm

Four Out Of Five Coffee Mugs, i have to disagree, i guess it was more of a novelty coffee to me, just give me a more simple cup of coffee, less sweet and i am happy. I guess Dark Cherry Mocha From Starbucks was just not my style.
GServo´s last blog ..RBC NYC/Coffee house photo-Fu

Mike April 1, 2010 at 4:04 pm: Yeah, I’d say it’s more my style. If you actually liked it, it would’ve really thrown me off.

Reply

Allie July 22, 2010 at 1:27 am

I just tried it today for the first time, I really liked it. I am a huge fan of chocolate covered cherries, guess thats why. I got it iced, though, not a huge fan of hot drinks. Two thumbs up