Starbucks And My Love For Coffee : Part V

The holidays came and went and I can't even believe it's February 1st! One of my favorite things about the winter months is switching to hot coffee and drinking more tea and hot chocolate. Starbucks has so many options of beverages that you'll never go thirsty again. These are all available where you buy groceries, so it's very convenient, and easy to find them, even if you're not near a Starbucks. I am in love with their Via Instant coffees and lattes- especially the white chocolate mocha and peppermint mocha flavors. These are so easy to make- all you do is put hot water in with your packet- and voila- you have your drink!


Whether it's holiday entertaining, or just having a morning cup- Starbucks makes it easier to get through the long, wintery days ahead. All you need is a nice warm cup of your favorite drink, and you can snuggle up and stay warm. 

 

Details: Starbucks Travel Cup / Starbucks via Instant Peppermint Mocha / Coffee stamped spoon / Starbucks Hot Cocoa / Holiday Blend Coffee / Hot Chocolate Salted Marshmallow / Holiday Mug

Starbucks and My Love For Coffee : Part IV

Thanks to Starbucks, I got to enjoy a nice little picnic this fall. Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good pumpkin spiced latte just like every other girl out there. These little instant packs have been pretty much a lifesaver for me this season. I never thought instant coffee could taste so delicious, and honestly, it's just like going in the store and having one there! What I love about their instant coffees is how easy they are to carry around, and all you need is some hot water, and boom-you're ready!

For me, the Fall stands for a lot of things. It means the leaves changing, it means the temperatures are starting to change, it also means that it's getting closer to my birthday- and that gets me really excited! Coffee is such a huge part of my day to day life, and I honestly don't know where I would be without it. 

When the Fall comes around I switch from iced coffee to hot on some days, and this Fall blend is just delicious. It's the perfect amount of hearty, with some fresh spice notes to really leave a nice flavor on your palate. 

What are you drinking this Fall?

Starbucks And My Love For Coffee Part III

The Summer season is meant for picnics, and time spent outside. Although the heat wave has been insane in NJ, we still have been making time to be outside, and enjoy the sunshine. For those of you who have followed along for a while, you know that I am obsessed with iced coffee. I LOVE Starbucks iced coffees for so many reasons. They're delicious, and perfect for running around. I love being able to reach into the fridge and grab one before the gym, or even before work.

My new favorite has to be the S'mores Frappuccino. It's so tasty and delicious, and isn't overly sweet-which I enjoy. Even Oliver was trying to drink it! The Starbucks double shot protein vanilla coffee is also packed with 20g of protein in each can. I love that they introduced this type of iced coffee into the mix, especially because protein filled diets are really important to those who are health conscious.

What's your favorite starbucks coffee drink of choice? Do you prefer iced or hot?

Starbucks & My Love For Coffee: Part II

It's no surprise that I am a coffee obsessed woman. I'm so excited to share my love for coffee and Starbucks again today on the blog. As part of their blogger community I get a chance to taste some delicious coffee and I get to try out some of their goodies too. In this package I received rare single-origin coffees , a stainless steel kettle, an awesome dip-glazed mug and the cutest tribal kitchen towel. 

The coffees (my favorite part) are all premium single-origin which basically means that the beans get their distinguishing characteristics from the soil, climate and elevation where they are cultivated, which gives it a very unique flavor. There are chocolaty notes from Guatemala, sweet liveliness from Rwanda and spiciness from Timor. The coolest thing is they're all from different locations so each one has a distinct taste. 

I really loved the Timor Mountain Ramelau the best. I loved the hint of spice and the roasted aftertaste. The Guatemala Laguna de Ayarza was also really delicious, I love the citrus notes throughout the cup. The Rwanda Rift Valley was definitely the most different cup I tasted out of all three. I definitely could taste the chocolatey notes throughout and the aroma was very intoxicating. 

Throughout this experience I can honestly say that I have learned so much about coffee, but also about my own personal tastes. I went from not being a huge coffee drinker to loving and enjoying a good cup of coffee. I also love being able to tell the difference between quality, and not-so good quality. 

For those of you who asked last time, Ryan and I own a Jura Impressa F50 which makes our coffee taste even more delicious. If you're a big coffee lover I highly recommend getting a quality machine to make your brewing needs even easier.

My parents grew up having coffee multiple times a day throughout most of my young life. In Greece and Cyprus the day revolves around going for coffee with friends, having coffee to socialize and also making it for your family. Drinking coffee here, in my home, brings me a little closer to my roots no matter how far they may be. It's funny to say that something as silly as making a cup of coffee reminds me of my family but it does. I remember vividly sitting and watching my Grandma make coffees for the whole family once we'd be done with dinner. It's a fond memory I won't ever forget. Although I don't know how to make authentic Greek coffee, I still make sure I offer everyone who comes through my door a fresh cup.

Starbucks & My Love For Coffee: Part I

I have always been an on and off caffeine drinker since college, but for the past year coffee has been one of the most important parts of my morning. I love the boost it gives me- and even more-so the flavor and options there are to choose from. I am teaming up with Starbucks today (and a few more times throughout the year!) to talk about some of their coffees, products and up and coming things to look for in their stores. 

I truly couldn't be happier to have this collaboration because it's something I am passionate about and I know that coffee is also very important to so many of you as well. I want to start off by saying that this Christmas I invested in a Jura Impressa F50 (this thing is the bees knees) and I haven't looked back ever since. I have saved money on running to the store every day to buy coffee and honestly, if you get good beans, it can be just as good at home.

My rules to the perfect cup? Get yourself a good coffee machine, use Starbucks coffee beans & grounds, and of course start the coolest mug collection (below are some of my favorites). I really love the Veranda Blonde blend because it's on the lighter side, and very mellow. The medium blend is very balanced and smooth. The Cafe Verona dark roast features a fuller body and a more robust flavor. This is the roast I didn't use in our machine because the bean itself is a little bit oilier. Oilier beans tend to clog the Jura so I opted out of doing that and used the pour over brewer for that cup of coffee.

To use a pour over brewer you need to make sure you have the proper materials, and cone filters. You also have to make sure you use coffee grounds (not the full bean) for this. It's pretty cool, and I had never heard of this technique before but it's definitely a different-fun way to brew. There's a tiny hole in the white mug that filters the coffee right into the mug you put it over.

In my package from Starbucks I also received this awesome little coffee passport book. This book explains everything a coffee lover needs to know. It describes the four steps of tasting coffee, the fundamentals of brewing and more information about the coffee and how it is produced.

What's In My Beach Bag? With Bottled Starbucks® Iced Coffee

When I hear Summer, I immediately think of the beach. I haven't made it to the beach as much as I would like this year, but the few times I have gone, I always bring pretty much the same things with me. Something that stays truly consistent with my beach trips, is wanting to stay hydrated, and energized. The beach is about 45 minutes away from my home in NJ, so these Bottled Starbucks® Iced Coffees are perfect for the ride down. I save one for the ride down, and then the other one is saved for being on the beach. I love the flavors and I love the energy boost that Bottled Starbucks® Iced Coffee gives me, especially on a hot beach day!

So what's in my beach bag?

1. Saltwater Sandals to shield your toes from that hot sun! I love these vintage inspired salt waters because they are the perfect color for summer. Comfortable too!
2. Big floppy hats! If you don't have an umbrella, a hat is the next best thing.
3. Shades for your beautiful eyes.  These fun ones are from Urban and I love bringing them out every Summer!
4. Sun Bum SPF tanning lotion. Self explanatory of course. Always stay protected from the sun!
5. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Quest bar. It's a perfect meal replacement when you're on the go, and it's healthy too. High in fiber & protein, these bars are my favorite.
6. Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat/UV primer for hair. This stuff is perfect for wet hair, especially hair being exposed to the sun. Spray it in after you've had a swim in the ocean or pool, and let it work its magic.
7. My favorite Bottled Starbucks® Iced Coffee. Caramel is my favorite flavor and Vanilla is a close second! I am running on coffee all day long and these bottles fit easily into a beach bag on the go. I really love how consistent the taste is, and how it doesn't need any added sugar.
8. Headphones - extremely necessary when laying on the beach. I get bored very easily so these are important to have, and make sure you stock up on your favorite music too, soundcloud & spotify are my favorite music apps!

 

Bottled Starbucks Iced Coffee beverages are the perfect blend of premium Starbucks coffee and 2 percent milk. Available in four delicious offerings: Coffee + Milk, Low Calorie Coffee + Milk, Vanilla, and Caramel, Starbucks Iced Coffee ready-to-drink beverages are the perfect on-the-go refreshment to get you through the daily commute, big projects such as spring cleaning, or an exciting road trip with friends. Look for it at major grocery and convenience stores, available nationwide.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Starbucks Coffee Company via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Starbucks Coffee Company.