Does Starbucks serve a Hanukkah Blend in some Jewish neighborhoods?

Gothamist.com senior editor John Del Signore writes: "I have a question for the Starbucks Gossip community! Someone tells us he bought a 'Hanukkah Blend' at an Upper West Side (NYC) Starbucks and the barista said Starbucks was selling it during the holidays in certain Jewish neighborhoods in NYC. I'm skeptical, but he did send us a photo of the cup (at left). UPDATE: Starbucks says in a statement... "For our customers celebrating Hanukkah, we offer a selection of Hanukkah themed merchandise including mugs and tumblers. We do not offer Hanukkah blend coffee, nor do we carry blue to-go cups in our stores." || Read "Starbucks Hanukkah Blend, The Sasquatch of Coffees"

Comments

[GlenFeliz Regular]

Why not have a Hanukkah Blend? That picture looks Photoshopped to me however!

[Chucktown Barista]

AdRants picked up the story too, but did not cite locations. Looks suspicious to me: consider the cost of creating a special blend and printing separate cups, just for a two week run in certain neighborhoods in NYC? Unlikely.

[seventysix [76]]

Chucktown Barista,

Are you a barista in Charleston, SC? If so, it's possible we know each other. :)

[RawrBaristaLinds]

that pic is sh00ped, you can see the red reflect on the white lid and around the fingers..fail

nice try politically correct citizens..

[Anony]

I was a little surprised that there is not a Holiday Blend this year (afaik). It would have been pretty bad if they had gotten rid of Decaf Shade-Grown Mex. and Yukon, but kept Holiday Blend.

[Ashley]

today, while home from school for break, at another store in the MOST jewish area... xmas blend is refereed to as holiday blend... and they also have hanukkah merchandise, that i know was not available in any stores near my home store...

[:)]

Anti-semitic much? It's not being special its about being treated equal. If Christmas wasn't so commodified, Starbucks, and every other corporation for that matter, wouldn't manufacture "Christmas Spirit."

[tall guy]

there is a holiday blend sold in a gold bag with a blue dove on the front. not all stores get it, in fact very few do. as for hanukkah blend - never heard of it.

[former sm]

I know that last year stores in jewish neighborhoods had holiday blend. Which is just christmas blend with another label. They also receive hanukkah merchandise. I would assume the same is true this year

[barista bear]

We sell Holiday Blend and Christmas Blend at my store (Dallas, TX) and we sell the Hanukkah tumblers and mugs as well.

The Holiday Blend has a blue bird on the gold packaging. However I have never seen those blue cups. There is no such thing as 'Hanukah Blend', someone just got confused there with the name.

For those who don't know: Holiday Blend is the same as Christmas Blend, just different packaging.

[Bladerunner]

So where is my Festivis Blend? Do I get a small aluminum pole for a stir stick?

[Some Jew]

That cup is an obvious fake. And a bad fake at that because the menorah is missing two candles!

More, the Gothamist checked around and confirms in an update that it's fake.

[ashley]

uhh... u realize that only hanukkah menorahs have the 9 candles... it doesnt mean its a fake just b/c it only has 7... it just means someone who is uneducated as to the proper menorah designed the cups... or does it? O.o

[Some Jew]

Ashley - Starbucks has confirmed it's a fake.

Seven branched menorahs actually do exist within the Jewish tradition but they are not at all common, and they are not used in conjunction with Hanukkah.

Honestly, the candelabra on the blue cup actually appears to be a kinara from the Kwanzaa celebration.

So it may have been an honest mistake by whoever made the cup or photoshopped the picture. But if that were a genuine Starbucks cup, that's a mistake they never would have made.

[Phil]

Weirdness. I just had a coffee in one of these cups.
It wasn't a Hanukkah blend. I got a decaf. But it was definitely the same cup as the one shown in the Gothamist article.

[Mike B.]

If the Hanukkah Blend was real it would be available at http://www.starbucks.com/shoponline/

The story is a fake and the cups are definatly photoshopped.

[inopethflames]

anybody know how long the winter drinks are going to be on the menu for?

[Chucktown Barista]

Hey seventy-six [76] you got that right, I'm at the Coleman Ave store, Mt P. Won't be for long, tho - can't afford to work @ Starbucks any longer. Where you at?

[imabarista]

Yeah.
"Doing more with less" --- Been there, done that.

The next thing to happen is a pay freeze. Get your reviews in early.

Phil, you should get off these drugs.

These cups do not exist. At least not at official starbucks stores. So how could you have had a drink in one of them??????

[Sheik]

Honestly -- *who* goes to the trouble to photoshop a cup for a measily article?!?

Really.

[seventysix [76]]

Chucktown,

I work at South Windermere. :)

[staci d. kramer]

haven't been able to read this whole thread but, in addition to some Hanukkah merchandise, Starbucks does offer Holiday blend in some stores (including one near me in University City, MO, that also uses kosher equipment). It has a blue label and is meant for people who don't observe Christmas. I appreciate the option.

There is a group named "Pachyderm & Buck" who is claiming responsibility for this.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Pachyderm-Buck/665025017

Yeah, really. There are tons of other winter holidays besides Christmas that people drink coffee during. Christmas just happens to be most profitable. Holiday blend is a good idea, I think. Solstice blend would be fun...

[NJ_rookie]

I live in a very Jewish suburban area in NJ, and we have tons and tons of Xmas blend, and we brew Xmas blend all day, but we offer plenty of "Holiday blend" with the blue dove on the gold bag, and all the Hanukkah mugs, tumblers, etc...

While I'm here...let me see what you all think of this...I'm a fairly new barista (less than 2 months in) but I think I'm pretty well adjusted at this point. My store is ALWAYS super busy, both inside and at the DT.

Right after I punch out after my shift today, a woman comes in asking to speak to a manager because she says "Every time I'm at the drive thru they forget to give me something...one time it was my card, last time it was my sandwich...it's always something...why does that keep happening to me??"
My ASM is standing right there and starts to say whatever reasonable thing she can think of to say to this woman, and she looks at me to see if I recognize her or anything, or for some kind of suggestion...so somehow with a straight face, in such a nice tone even I was shocked, I respond,
"Well...honestly...just make sure you have everything before you drive off..." (COMMON SENSE, NO??)

So she says, "Yeah but people start honking, and I don't want to hold up the line..."

1) I don't think I've ever heard anyone honk in the DT line, even when it's 10 cars deep. 2) I say, "So let them honk. It's not your fault. Don't worry about it. We'll deal with them."

She just made a face...and said, "Yeah but..."

Well, I pretty much just said, Okay, and went on my merry way home and let my ASM finish talking to her...

What would you have done/said to this customer??

[IllinoisShift]

There is also a "Winter Blend" that is sold at groceries stores. It is exactly the same as Christmas and Holiday Blend. Don't know if they sell it this year (as I don't get my coffee at the grocery store), but they definitely had it last year, preground 1lb bag. It was blue, with snow flakes. So kind of like a "Solstice Blend" :)

[MeNotLikePike]

On the topic of blends (how about that for a smooth transition to something off-topic), I send a note to customer service about how I missed the daily pick and got a response today that said, in part:

"However, if you would prefer to drink a coffee with a specific profile other than what is currently brewed, our stores will be happy to prepare a French press or a drip brewed coffee of your choice at your request. There is a 4-5 minutes wait time for a French press or drip request of a different brew. Please note there is no additional cost for either request."

That's interesting because not once in the times I asked for something (anything!) other than Pike Place was I offered those choices. This is particularly surprising because the note makes it sound like it's available anytime not just in the afternoons.

Is this new or is it just not well known? And does a french press correspond to a particular size of drip?

[Mike Stern]

Boca Raton, Fl has a very high Jewish population. I've seen a "Holiday Blend" in the past, but hot a Hanukkah Blend.

[Melody]

@MeNotLikePike: That is the exact policy that you quoted - word for word exactly what was posted on MSI this summer - That policy was adopted by Starbucks in June or July this year, as I recall. But you should be finding Christmas Blend brewing in stores until 5 pm right now.

However, if you would prefer to drink a coffee with a specific profile other than what is currently brewed, our stores will be happy to prepare a French press or a drip brewed coffee of your choice at your request. There is a 4-5 minutes wait time for a French press or drip request of a different brew. Please note there is no additional cost for either request."

On the topic of Hanukkah Blend - Honestly, I have no idea if there is a Hanukkah Blend, but truthfully I wouldn't be totally surprised. Starbucks repackages their Christmas Blend as both Holiday Blend AND also Winter Blend (in limited areas I think), and it wouldn't be totally weird to me if they created yet another packaging for the same thing ...

to menotlikepike. The baristas are suppose to make you a pot of your choice bean french press and then charge you for the cup size you ordered or for the full pot if you want the whole thing. If you do not want the whole pot we are then suppose to sample the press to others in the store In the recent past I would have told you that most baristas do not know this or are just to lazy to do this. Today, I will honestly tell you the baristas do not have the extra time to get a french press to you within 3-4 minutes realistically with the lack of help it is more like 15 minutes at best. I no like pike either.

[Will]

If you hassle the staff to make you a french press when there are other customers behind you, you are a grade A douche.

[Tracy]

Will -

Why? Why is someone a douche for wanting something they are entitled to? Even if it's just a tall coffee - that's still 2.00 they could be spending somewhere else.

[Torontodude]

Will:

I disagree that a French press is an unreasonable request unless you are alone in line. I would never order one if there is a line out the door. But I often order a French Press when there are a 4-5 other people in line.

I've learned few baristas know how to ring it up. They used to have to consult someone else. Sometimes every employee would gather around. But I've since learned to say "I'd like
an eight cup French press of Guatamala Antingua -- it's under miscellaneous." Sometimes they have to make sure they have the coffee and open a new bag. But I've never had to wait more than five or six minutes.

With tax, the French press costs $4.10 for two Venti-sized cups. I always pay with a five dollar bill and leave the change as a tip. (I used my Starbucks card for free refills on my drips.)

Drips and French presses are the only things I order at Starbucks. They are the healthiest and best value. I get my americanos at an Indie place...which has better quality and consistency. If Starbucks stopped doing French presses, it would lose about $500 a year in revenue from me.

[IllinoisShift]

The 8 cup press at my store costs only about 3.50...but it doesn't fill two Ventis, only two talls. It is still a better deal to buy two talls, rather than the whole press, but only by a few cents. Presses take no time at all to do, provided the press is already clean. I'd much rather get an order for a press than for a traveler! Sadly, the spur of the moment traveler request happens a lot more frequently.

[Joe]

Starbucks offers three blends for the holidays.
Christmas Blend - Gold bag Red Tree
Decaf Christmas Blend -Gold bag Green Tree
Holiday Blend - Gold Bag Blue Tree

You can also find Christmas Blend in the grocery stores packaged as Winter Blend

[Melody]

@Joe - I believe that there may be yet another packaging of Christmas Blend: I'm referring to "Winter Blend".

http://www.v2v.net/actions/winter-blend-1/multimedia

^ Take a look at the image there. I've never seen Winter Blend (this year) but a participant on MSI who is in Arizona was adamant that right now they sell "Winter Blend" in Arizona (in select grocery stores only??). The funny thing is that I recall seeing a "Winter Blend" last year at Costco.

I think, Starbucks DOES re-package their Christmas beans into Winter Blend for certain limited retail vendors. ??

Maybe there really is a Hanukkah Blend?? I don't know.

[An Awesome Homosexual Partner in Washington]

Joe just said that you can find winter blend in stores, Melody. You're in the Seattle area too, right? I've seen Winter Blend in a few Safeways.

[Melody]

Oops! Sorry Awesome Homosexual Partner in Washington! My bad!

No need to be sorry Melody!
:)

[Susie]

I have a question for the partners.

I got a couple of customized Starbucks cards to include with some Christmas gifts. The gift isn't so much the card, but the fact that it's personalized -- has their name, their drink, etc. They're pretty neat!

Now I'm thinking I want one for myself. But then I thought, I wonder what they think of you behind the counter when you've got one of those custom cards? I mean, it's kind of narcissistic, no? Isn't it?

Melody,
We have Winter Blend in Southern Illinois. It is not Christmas Blend repackaged. I have had both. In fact, I have purchased several pounds of Winter Blend and put in my freezer because I like it better than any other blend I have tried and I know it will go away soon. I would be happy to send you some if you want to try it. The package is light blue with a winter scene. My daughter likes it and she is a tea drinker!

[Kathy]

Sorry,
forgot to put my name on last post

[Melody]

@Anon - Thanks for the tip! I know it sounds silly but when I make wrong assumptions, I do want to be corrected! I had assumed that Winter Blend and Christmas Blend were the same.

I had looked at my local QFC for Winter Blend and didn't see any, but I remember for sure seeing it last year at Costco - So I will definitely go looking there before leaning on someone to send me some! But thanks for the offer! :)

[Hirayuki]

@Susie: I'm not behind the counter, but as someone with a personalized card myself (not that it looks that much like me, but you know), I've only gotten positive comments--stuff like "Oh, a custom card! Cute!" Now, whether that's just lip service...

[spence]

Susie,
I'm a partner. We love seeing the personalized cards. They are fun!
My favorites are when they actually put their drink on the card.
Buy yourself a card. You'll enjoy it.

[drive]

We get a lot of Orthodox Jewish customers and my manager always makes fun of them. It bothers me.

I've never seen nor heard of Winter Blend in the stores. However I saw it in 2 lb packages in CostCo tonight. Label only said it is a blend of Indonesian and Latin American coffees, which is what most Starbucks blends are so it didn't really give me any ideas as to what it woul dbe like. But I am not going to buy bulk coffee when it is double mark out week.

[the doc]

I am sitting here in a starbucks in south florida, in a predominantly jewish neighborhood. There is no hanukkah blend, no mugs, etc. The store is decorated for christmas, and "holiday" (i.e. christmas) music is playing.
I don't need alternate packaging, but do feel it would be appropriate for stores to display a menorah with their holiday decorations. Why don't they? I assume Mr. Schultz is jewish.

[Kat]

All I'm seeing in my area is Christmas blend, and I'm hardly seeing any holiday type merchandise at all, a couple of cups and that seemed to be it. And no decorations! That's kind of bummer, I do enjoy seeing stores done up for holidays.