Starbucks

Coffee news: Alaska Airlines to swap Starbucks for Stumptown

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For years, Seattle-based Alaska Airlines has been brewing and pouring Seattle-based Starbucks coffee on Alaska and Horizon Airlines flights.

But on or around December 1, 2023, the in-flight coffee will switch over to a custom roast from Portland-based Stumptown Coffee that’s a spinoff of Stumptown’s best-selling Holler Mountain.

Alaska says its custom Stumptown blend was specially crafted to be enjoyed at 30,000 feet, where tastebuds react differently. And that it was approved only after months of development and in-flight testing.

That’s how serious Alaska Airlines – and travelers – are about coffee.

“Alaska’s medium-dark blend uses the same clean and sweet base as Holler Mountain, but with a primary focus on a roast that mellows acidity and introduces just enough toastiness to please a wide range of palates,” the airline said in a statement. “It’s exceptionally smooth and balanced, with aromatic notes of toasted marshmallows, browned butter, and toffee with delicate hints of citrus and cherry. Additionally, Stumptown dialed in this roast to be delicious when served black or with the addition of creamer or oat milk” which is also offered on Alaska flights.

We’ll reserve judgment until we taste the coffee for ourselves. With and without those tiny Biscoff cookies.

Souvenir Sunday: coffee from 1st airport Starbucks

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One thing air travelers need is coffee.

And many airports have Starbucks coffee shops where weary fliers can grab an espresso drink between flights.

Where – and when – did that trend start?

You guessed it: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where HMSHost and Starbucks Coffee Company just celebrated the 25th anniversary of not only the first airport Starbucks, but the first Starbucks licensed location, which opened in 1991.

 

 

 

 

Sculptures made of Starbucks cups at JFK Airport

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Carnival Float sculpture made of Starbucks cups by Francesca Signori. Courtesy Delta AIr Lines

As part of Delta Air Lines’ announcement that it will now be serving Starbucks coffee on board its airplanes, the airline commissioned artists in London, New York and Sao Paulo to create sculptures using Starbucks cups.

Look for the cup sculptures, which depict Big Ben in London, Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple in the historic district of Asakusa and a carnival float in São Paulo, Brazil in Terminal 4 at New York’s-JFK International Airport.

Delta Cup Contest

London’s Big Ben, by Shotopop artists Carin Standford and Michael Crozier – made of Starbucks cups. Courtesy Delta Air Lines

Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple – made of Starbucks cups, by Jeff Nishinaka. Courtesy Delta Air Lines

 

Rewards for voting

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Election Day is finally here, so get out there and vote.

Need a little incentive to go stand on line at the polling station? How about free stuff?

My local cupcake shop is giving voters free baby cupcakes today and my local Starbucks is participating in the nationwide promotion offering a free cup of Tall drip coffee to all voters.

Sadly, the free coffee offer doesn’t extend to Starbucks outlets in airports (or bookstores), but that’s just one more reason to vote – and grab a cup of free coffee – before you head to the airport.

It doesn’t seem like any airlines are offering freebies to voters, but a few cities are offering free bus rides.

In Austin, Capital Metro will offer free rides today and Charlottesville Transit Service (CTS) will offer free service on all CTS buses.

Need more incentive to vote? Participating Ben & Jerry scoop shops (but probably not those in airports) are giving away a free scoops of ice cream between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Many Krispy Kreme branches are offering free star-shaped doughnuts.

As outlined in this USA TODAY article, several other national brands are offering free stuff as well.

So VOTE!