Starbucks’ Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino® Debuts

Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq: SBUX) will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Frappuccino® blended beverage by offering a fresh twist on an iconic summer flavor combination--mint and chocolate. The 10th anniversary flavor, Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino® blended coffee, is a handcrafted, blended coffee beverage with mint chocolate flavor and rich chocolate chips, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate. This new summer flavor will be available in Starbucks stores in the United States and Canada through August 30.

“Throughout the past decade, Frappuccino® blended beverages have become a favorite summer pleasure for many of our customers,” Michelle Gass, senior vice president, Category Management for Starbucks, said. “Our 10th anniversary flavor, Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino® blended coffee, is both cool and indulgent and celebrates one of the classic flavors of summer.”

To build upon the excitement of the 10th anniversary flavor, the North American Coffee Partnership (NACP), a joint venture between Starbucks and Pepsi-Cola Co., will introduce Mint Mocha Frappuccino® coffee drink, a bottled version of Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino® blended coffee. For the first time in history, a seasonal Frappuccino® blended beverage and Frappuccino® coffee drink will be offered in the same flavor at the same time. The bottled Frappuccino® coffee drink is available now through August in grocery stores nationwide and in select Starbucks coffeehouses.

In addition to the new Mint Mocha Chip flavor, customers will be able to order any Frappuccino® blended beverage (coffee, crème or light) ”Affogato Style” by finishing the beverage with a drizzle of rich caramel or mocha sauce and a shot of espresso poured on top. Poured as customers watch, the espresso shot lingers on the top, then cascades down the beverage, turning any Frappuccino® blended beverage into a sophisticated coffee indulgence. “Affogato Style” will be offered year-round.

Originally introduced in 1995, the Starbucks Frappuccino® blended beverage has become a beloved summer beverage for millions of Starbucks customers. Frappuccino® blended beverages originated in a Starbucks store in Santa Monica, California, as local baristas began to blend cool, summer drinks for their customers. The drinks were a hit and in 1995, Starbucks officially introduced the Frappuccino® blended beverage nationally in two flavors, Coffee and Mocha. Since 1995, Starbucks has introduced more than 25 innovative Frappuccino® blended beverage flavors and three blended beverage families-coffee, crème and light.

The following fun facts provide a lighthearted glimpse into the popularity of Frappuccino® blended beverages:

• If all of the Frappuccino® blended beverages sold in 2004 were placed in a line, they would stretch for 14,000 miles, more than halfway around the world.

• Starbucks store No. 8944 in Moreno Valley, California sells more Frappuccino® blended beverages than any other store in the United States and Canada.

• Saturday is the busiest day of the week for Frappuccino® blended beverage sales.

• Caramel Frappuccino® blended coffee is currently the number one selling Frappuccino® blended beverage flavor.

• The record for the most Frappuccino® blended beverage sold on a single day in both the United States and Canada occurred on Saturday, July 17, 2004.

Starbucks Corporation is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 9,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim.

The company is committed to offering the highest quality coffee and the Starbucks Experience while conducting its business in ways that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for communities in which it does business. In addition to its retail operations, the company produces and sells bottled Frappuccino® coffee drinks, Starbucks DoubleShot® coffee drink, and a line of super-premium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships. The company's brand portfolio provides a wide variety of consumer products. Tazo Tea's line of innovative super-premium teas and Hear Music's exceptional compact discs enhance the Starbucks Experience through best-of-class products.