Celebrate International Coffee Day with Starbucks Milano Duetto

One Coffee, Two Distinct Roasts

In celebration of International Coffee Day, Tuesday, October 1, Starbucks participating stores around the world will introduce Starbucks® Milano Duetto.

Created by Starbucks master roasters in Milan and Seattle, Starbucks Milano Duetto is one blend, expressed through two bold, contrasting roasts – a light roast, Starbucks® Milano Sole, and a dark roast, Starbucks® Milano Luna – highlighting the duality between innovation and tradition.

Throughout October, Starbucks Milano Sole and Starbucks Milano Luna will be the featured light and dark roast brewed coffees offered in participating Starbucks stores around the world.

“For Starbucks, coffee has always been a lens through which we see the world – a world rich in diversity, tradition, and innovation,” said Michelle Burns, executive vice president, Global Coffee and Sustainability. “Milan’s rich coffee culture - which served as the inspiration for Starbucks coffeehouse culture – and Starbucks 50+ year history and expertise in coffee roasting have inspired this new line of limited-release, special edition coffees, Starbucks Milano Sole and Starbucks Milano Luna.”

Even now, after more than 50 years of building expertise in coffee roasting, Starbucks master roasters are still challenging themselves to take their craft to the next level. While Starbucks has long offered a variety of roasts that appeal to the broad range of customer tastes, Starbucks Milano Sole and Starbucks Milano Luna represent coffee innovation and craft.

The Starbucks Milano Duetto blend is crafted from coffee grown in Colombia and Sumatra, where Starbucks has worked and sourced from trusted smallholder farmer communities for many years. The processing method of the South American coffee contributes heightened acidity and a clean finish while the semi-washed method of the Sumatra coffee contributes a distinctive full body and earthy, herbal flavor notes.

During the creation of Starbucks Milano Duetto, the Starbucks Coffee Development team experimented with a range of roasts by stopping at various points in the roasting cycle. After nearly a dozen iterations, the result is something the team is excited for partners and customers to try.

"The best way to understand the nuances and the effect roasting has on the coffee creation process is to compare the same blend roasted two different ways,” said Sergio Alvarez, a 15-year partner employee and coffee developer who was part of the team that crafted Starbucks Milano Duetto. “Our hope is that after tasting these coffees, our partners and customers are inspired, and perhaps have that ‘aha’ moment that many baristas have when tasting coffee. The moment where one wants to learn more.”

Starbucks Milano Sole

This light roast, Starbucks Milano Sole, pays homage to the vibrant Milanese coffee culture, featuring medium to high acidity, and a medium body, melding notes of creamy vanilla custard and sweet pomegranate with hints of nutmeg. Complementary flavor pairings include citrus, caramel and cinnamon.

Starbucks Milano Luna

The dark roast, Starbucks Milano Luna, is an ode to the heritage of Starbucks roasting, featuring medium to low acidity, and a medium to full body; this coffee displays bold notes of dark chocolate truffle and roasted black walnut, making it a lovely pairing with cheese, almond and maple flavors.

Just as art can deepen and beautifully change perceptions, the Starbucks designers who created the art on the packaging for Starbucks Milano Sole and Starbucks Milano Luna wanted to invite customers on a visual journey that deepens their perceptions of coffee roasting and craft.

The art was inspired by the city of Milan and the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milano. The components feature shapes and textures of the terrazzo floor, roastery cask, and coffee botanicals. These iconic elements are intertwined with bright colors and make a meaningful connection between Starbucks, coffee, coffeehouse culture and art.

First introduced at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milano for a limited time, Starbucks Milano Sole and Starbucks Milano Luna whole bean will be available to purchase in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Vietnam, while supplies last.