Starbucks Enters The Flavored Coffee Market: Starbucks Natural Fusion Vanilla Review
The Drink: Starbucks Natural Fusion Vanilla
Type: Ground Flavored Coffee
Overall Rating: 3.75 Out Of 5 Coffee Mugs
This week, I took a sneak peek at Starbucks’ new Natural Fusion coffees. Later this year, they’ll be on grocery store shelves across the country. It’s their first time diving into the flavored coffee market and the flavored coffee fan in me couldn’t wait to get started with their Vanilla flavored coffee.
But before the first sip, I did some research and learned what makes Starbucks Natural Fusion Vanilla different from most vanilla flavored coffees. They don’t use a chemical to make the coffee taste and smell like vanilla. Instead, Starbucks uses vanilla beans ground into the coffee. Vanilla beans were even listed in the ingredients, I was impressed.
However, natural flavoring doesn’t mean anything if the coffee isn’t drinkable, so I brewed up a batch in my good ol’ drip coffee maker.
A few minutes later, a smooth, sweet vanilla aroma floated out of my coffee mug. I swear that I could smell the vanilla bean. Also, it wasn’t too strong or overwhelming like too many flavored coffees.
A strong (but, not too strong) medium dark roast lead off the taste. Around the edges, a mellow vanilla flavor blended in. The after taste had a darker roast flavor.
The flavored taste was better than almost any others that I’ve sampled. It wasn’t too flavorful and it didn’t taste like it like chemicals. I might take of a small percentage of point because the nutty coffee flavor could’ve been a bit more entertaining. It was slightly, just slightly on the bland side of things.
Overall, Starbucks Natural Fusion Vanilla earns a well above average score of 3.75 on the Daily Shot Of Coffee scale. It’s a coffee that flavored coffee fans will like and I even heard a non-flavored coffee fan saying she liked it.
I still have their Caramel and Cinnamon flavors to try. Of course, I’ll share with you those results.
Category: Coffee Reviews
About the Author (Author Profile)
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.Subscribe
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The Starbucks Natural Fusion Vanilla sounds great. I have a weakness for vanilla and really like it in my coffee. I am impressed that they actually use vanilla beans in the coffee. I will have to add this to the list of coffees to try someday.
Thanks for a great review!
Ciao,
Ardee-ann
It’s one of the few companies that I’ve ever heard of using all natural flavoring, really makes a difference that can be tasted.
I admit it. It is a good coffee, even though it was flavored.
I’m glad you liked it.
first – this one was/is on our shelves now.
i feel special.
i cheated (it’s non organic) and bought it because
my girl wanted it badly. and the front panel
on the bag did mention natural flavors which
is a plus over other vanilla coffee where they
don’t tell you aaaaanything.
since SHE has the bag, i haven’t seen it.
this must mean she is keeping it for herself.
thus…i must get another one and keep it
for myself in the same covert manner to try
and let you know ‘sup’…
if it hadn’t been up to her non coffee expert
standards Mike, trust me, it would have been
relegated to the …’here…take this to work’… category.
It’s worth hoarding, it was a stand out coffee that took me by surprise.
That was a great read, and well done review! I love hearing that it got such a high score! I haven’t yet tried any of the Infusions yet, despite that they’ve now been out for several weeks. I am not usually much of a flavored-coffee fan but I will keep an open mind when trying it. One thing I love about what you wrote was what your said about the vanilla aroma – That’s very tempting! Makes me want to go try it asap.
Thanks! Melody
I hope you get a chance to try it soon. It really impressed me.
stopped in at the local mega SB here and had them
brew me this coffee. i have to admit Mike,
it was pretty good for a flavored coffee.
the vanilla flavor rolled back on my tongue
instead of just rasping over it as an
artificial flavor might.
i agree with your ranking.
the aroma of the grounds was even a
bit better than the actual coffee.
They definitely did a great job with the vanilla in this one. I’m glad you liked it too.