Ethiopia Harrar Coffee Returns to Starbucks; Black Apron Exclusives Coffee Assortment Builds...

SEATTLE -- Great things come to those who wait. Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq:SBUX) today introduces Ethiopia Harrar to its stores through its exceptional Black Apron Exclusives(TM) line of coffees.

"It's been five long years since we have been able to find a Harrar that meets

our high quality standards, and throughout that time, it has been the single most requested coffee from our customers and partners," explains Dub Hay, Starbucks senior vice president of Coffee. "Great Ethiopia Harrar coffees -- with that signature blueberry note found only in naturally processed Harrar coffees -- are the result of a perfect melding of sun, air and soil. But that's only half the story. We had the good fortune to discover this phenomenal coffee right as that moment transpired. These exquisite flavors could only have flourished with the attention and care lavished upon the coffee by proud Ethiopian farmers."

The people and country of Ethiopia have a long history with coffee. In fact, it is widely believed that Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. Legend has it that a young goat herder discovered the coffee plant when he noticed his normally sedate herd became excited and lively after eating the cherries growing upon it. The coffee plant -- which is known in Ethiopia as buni -- was "discovered" and exported by Dutch and other explorers during the Sixteenth Century, but even today the people of Ethiopia consume about half of the coffee they grow. Many homes celebrate daily coffee ceremonies, during which the beverage is brewed and consumed with great reverence.

Grown on small farms and naturally processed in the sun, Starbucks(R) Ethiopia Harrar reminds many customers of a fruity, memorable wine. Harrar is a lush, exotic coffee revered for its sweet and intense blueberry notes, hints of rum and unmistakable berry aroma. Its scarcity and intense flavor make it a perfect coffee to continue the Black Apron Exclusives(TM) lineup.

"A common myth is that there are blueberry trees growing next to the coffee trees in the Harrar region, but that is simply not true," explains Hay. "The intense blueberry aroma is the result of serendipity -- the perfect combination of tropical breezes, warm sun and rich soil -- and devotion of the coffee farmers. Simply put, it is the taste of the place."