by Nigel Ong
Starbucks is probably the most popular coffee house in the world, serving millions of cups of coffee every day worldwide. It also sells its coffee roasts, so you can make your favorite cup of Starbucks at home.
One of Starbucks’ most popular roasts is the House Blend, which I will review here. In this post, I will brew the coffee in several ways and see how it tastes. Then I will compare it against similar coffee roasts and see how it stacks up against them.
Finally, I share who I think will enjoy this coffee the most and if you should consider giving this coffee a try.
About Starbucks House Blend
Starbucks House Blend is as old as Starbucks itself. Starbucks started as a small coffee shop in 1971 in Seattle and one of the first roasts it sold? The House Blend.
But the best thing about it is that Starbucks’ kept the original recipe until today, which showcases how popular this roast is. It would not be an understatement to claim that millions of people have enjoyed a cup of Starbucks’ House Blend coffee.
Starbucks House Blend is a medium roast coffee, roasted to about 8 in intensity. Starbucks has a roast intensity meter, measured from 4 to 12. 4 is a blonde roast, while 12 is your dark roast.
Starbucks House Blend is made with 100% Arabica beans. These beans are sourced from the Americas and blended by master blenders to resemble the original 1971 taste. You can purchase them as grounds or whole beans.
The coffee bag I have in my hand has a design for the Asia Pacific market. The packaging is slightly different in the US, but the coffee tastes the same.
How Does Starbucks House Blend Taste?
The coffee bag itself gives some brewing instructions. It advises you to keep to a 1:18 coffee-to-water ratio and to use hot water. Since it does not mention any temperature, I’ll stick to the recommended temperature of around 185°F (about 85°C).
I will brew the coffee three ways: the French press, pour-over with filter paper, and espresso. I think these brewing methods allow me to sample the coffee more thoroughly.
First Impressions
When I opened the coffee bag, I was hit by the aroma of the coffee. This is probably because the coffee is 100% Arabica, which should have a strong aroma. It is slightly acidic, with a citrus-like aroma.
I also detected some cherry tomato and mayonnaise-like smell, which is quite appetizing to me. It does have a bit of smoke, but not as strong as the Pike Place Blend.
French Press
My first brewing is using the French press. This brewing method should allow me to enjoy the coffee with all its oils and particles. With this one, I expect a murky, full-flavored coffee with sediments at the bottom of my cup.
I use my trusty Bodum Caffettiera French press for this one, although you can always use your French press of choice. If you prefer a cheaper option. Check out IKEA’s Upphetta French press.
The brewed coffee has a great aroma, although the acidic smell has given way to a more earthy tone. It definitely does not smell as smoky as the Pike Place Blend.
The first sip gives me a mellow impression, like sipping your McCafe coffee. It does not smash my palate with smoke or bitterness, which makes the coffee quite light to the tongue.
The smoke and bitterness only come after a few sips and are lighter in intensity. I also picked up some bittersweet notes, which I’ll describe as caramel and toffee-like. This is consistent with the flavor notes Starbucks makes on its packaging.
I can see myself happily sipping on this after a meal, as it satisfies me. I feel as if I have gotten my craving for coffee quenched.
Pour Over With Filter Paper
My next brewing method is to pour over with filter paper. This best simulates the regular coffee brewer most of us have at home. Plus, the filter paper helps to filter away coffee particles and some coffee oils, allowing me to enjoy a ‘cleaner’ version of the coffee.
For this, I use the following gear:
As expected, the pour-over coffee tastes lighter and less ‘dirty’ than the French press brew. It has even less smoke and is also less bitter. This may be because the filter paper removed some coffee oils and particles.
The coffee retains its rich, satisfying taste and flavor. In fact, with the smoke and bitterness removed, I tasted more flavor notes. The coffee seems earthier, with a stronger cherry tomato flavor.
The sweet components in the bittersweet flavors also popped out more, making this a nice coffee to drink compared to the French press brew.
As I sipped along, I noticed this roast’s longer, drier finish. I again sipped the French press brew to confirm this and detect something similar.
You may want to have a glass of water around this kind of coffee. After several sips, you’ll want to sip and cleanse your palate to reset it. This should help you appreciate the coffee better.
Espresso
Starbucks House Blend is a medium roast not commonly used to make espresso. However, making an espresso shot should help me sample the coffee’s flavor even better since it will be in a concentrated form.
I grabbed my Wacaco Minipresso GR and pulled a shot. The coffee ground is coarse, so I first ground it to a finer consistency.
What I get is a fresh-smelling espresso with rich, thick crema. The crema does not smell smoky and has a stronger cherry tomato-like aroma. The acidic smell also reminds me of mayonnaise.
As I took a sip, I was pleasantly surprised by the toffee bittersweetness. I think it is more noticeable in the espresso brew. The smokiness is also stronger than a French press or pour-over of a brew, but it still does not knock my palate over.
This is a refreshing cup of espresso, lighter and more fragrant. This will be a great option on hot days when strong espresso just feels too much and intense.
What Flavorings Work Best With Starbucks House Blend?
I decided to further sample the coffee with flavorings since many like adding things to their black coffee. I experimented with sweeteners, milk, cleaner, and some ice.
Sweeteners
For sweeteners, I made two full cups of pour-over brew. I added two drops of Equal artificial sweetener and a stick of brown cane sugar on the other.
Regular sugar helps to make the coffee silkier and smoother to drink, and the sweetness helps to enhance the toffee notes. I don’t think it jives well with the smokiness of the coffee, though.
As for the Equal, the aspartame sweetener also helps to enhance the toffee notes. It also helps give the coffee a smoother finish, with a longer sweet aftertaste lingering on my palate. However, it does not alter the texture of the coffee, unlike sugar.
Milk
Milk usually helps to add some fat to the coffee, making it creamier. The lactose also helps sweeten the coffee slightly, giving it a more natural sweetness than sugar.
I added a shot (about 30ml) of fresh, whole, UHT cow’s milk into a regular cup of pour-over brew. I then stirred the coffee slightly to even it before sipping.
The taste is as I expected. The slight sweetness from the lactose feels natural to my palate. The creaminess from the milk also blends well with the smoke without overpowering it. I think it jives well without feeling too artificial.
Creamer
With the creamer, I added two sticks of Coffee Mate creamer to another fresh cup of pour-over brew. Coffee Mate is a non-dairy creamer made of palm oil, which should make the coffee creamier.
The coffee now tastes richer, creamier, and thicker. I think the fat in the creamer also made the coffee silkier and smoother to sip. Their creaminess suppressed the smoke flavor slightly, making it easier to drink.
I usually enjoy creaminess and fat with my coffee, which made me love this. I took a cheeky sip here, which explains why there wasn’t much coffee left when I took the picture here.
Iced
Finally, I thought I’d make iced black coffee here. Again, I used the poured-over brew and poured it into a glass I stuffed full of ice.
The iced version of the coffee is deeply bittersweet, with a stronger toffee note. The smoke is also slightly enhanced, making this a deeply satisfying iced coffee. The acidic notes are lessened too.
I can see Starbucks House Blend making great cups of iced Americano for many to sip on, especially on hot summer days.
Starbucks House Blend vs. Popular Medium Roasts
Starbucks House Blend is a medium roast blend, which means I should be able to compare it against other coffee of similar style.
These include the Pike Place Blend and also McCafe’s Premium Roast. I picked these two since they are also the ‘bread and butter’ roasts popular with coffee drinkers.
For the comparison here, I brewed both coffee using the French press. I sipped them with a glass of cold carbonated water to cleanse my palate.
Starbucks House Blend vs. Starbucks Pike Place Roast
When comparing the two, I would immediately say that the Pike Place Blend is much smokier than the House Blend. Pike Place Blend may be on 7 on the intensity scale, but it is blended to produce a smokier flavor.
The House Blend also has a stronger bittersweet note, which I think should appeal to more drinkers. You may also detect more flavors in the House Blend than in the Pike Place – the smoke may cover up many flavor notes.
If you have sipped the House Blend and want more smoke in your coffee, the Pike Place Blend will satisfy that desire. Chances are you will find the House Blend more comfortable to sip on and less ‘edgy’ in taste and flavor.
Starbucks House Blend vs. McCafe’s Premium Roast
With these two, I would say that my palates seem to prefer McCafe’s Premium Roast. The reason? It has less smoke, seems to be a heartier coffee to sip, and pairs better with food.
Starbucks House Blend is a nice coffee with some smoke and toffee-like sweetness. But it does not open my appetite to bite into something, which means it may be better off as a digestif coffee, something you drink after a meal.
McCafe’s Premium Roast makes a great aperitif or sip-along coffee. It makes me crave something savory, like a fry-up breakfast or a BLT sandwich.
Is Starbucks House Blend Better Than Regular Coffee?
The Starbucks’ House Blend is a properly roasted and brewed coffee. This alone makes it taste much better than your regular gas station or convenience store coffee.
It has more depth and fullness in flavor and should do more than just satisfy your desire for coffee. Many regular coffee has a flat, boring taste. Some may even have a strong watery taste, which may mean the coffee is diluted.
I am confident if I am to blind test you with a cup of Starbucks House Blend against a regular gas station coffee, you can tell the difference.
Who Should Enjoy Starbucks House Blend?
The Starbucks House Blend is a comfortable, easy-to-sip type of coffee. It has some smoke but also has the bittersweet toffee notes many drinkers will find enjoyable.
You will enjoy the coffee as a digestif or drink after a meal or snack. It adds that oomph that should satisfy you after finishing your food.
Starbucks House Blend should also work well for new coffee drinkers, as it is not too edgy in taste. I would also highly recommend it as an iced coffee on hot days or a lighter espresso drink.