One of the best parts about the holidays is the waiting and anticipation – for the first snowfall, for the arrival of loved ones from far away, for “Santa” to arrive and the rest of your cherished traditions and celebrations. That same anticipation is part of what has made our Christmas Blend coffee so special for the past 29 years. A limited-time blend perfect for the season, Christmas Blend is available around the globe in ground and whole-bean, regular and decaf, as well as in VIA, K-Cup and Verismo Pods.

This week, through 12/8, select Starbucks Christmas Blend Coffees are available in participating stores and at StarbucksStore.com for 25% off, making it the perfect time to stock up on this perfect gift for yourself or a loved one. It’s guaranteed to help you get into the spirit of the season!

Brief Q&A about Christmas Blend with one of our Coffee Masters, Anthony Carroll

How did the team come up with the idea for Christmas Blend, and why did you pick these flavors?

When we decided to make a Christmas Blend coffee, we wanted to not just compliment the food of the season but really to celebrate and reflect all that’s great about the holidays. The coffee is a big spicy blend that comes from rare Sumatra beans that have been aged three to five years. In that time they develop a wonderful spicy, cedary and syrupy flavor that is worthy of a spot at any holiday table, and can also stand on its own.

When do you start working on Christmas Blend each year?

To get the perfect Christmas Blend we actually start the cupping process in March. That’s when we try different variations of the Aged Sumatra beans and through this process we select the perfect beans to be included the final production of our Christmas Blend coffee for the upcoming holiday season. Even though it’s nine months until the holidays, we all get really excited when it’s Aged Sumatra cupping season at Starbucks!

What do our partners (employees) and customers tell you about Christmas Blend?

Our partners and our customers love it! It is definitely one of the most anticipated limited-time coffees of the year. I think what makes it so special is that it signals the beginning of Christmas. Our stores turn red, you smell the Christmas Blend being brewed and it helps create that excitement and anticipation for the holiday season. What I love about Christmas Blend is that everyone has something to say about it – customers and partners associate it with great holiday memories, and just say that it “tastes different” for that reason. I think more than any other coffee, Christmas blend enhances these special moments in time, it embodies flavors of a season that represents so many special things.