Coffees, Pastries, Cookbook Debut This Fall At Starbucks

This fall season, Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) is collaborating with renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson to give customers a taste of its new campaign, "Coffee Is Culinary". Starbucks is introducing two new exquisite coffee blends, delectable bakery items and a cookbook exclusively offered in stores featuring Samuelsson's epicurean expertise.

Through a collaboration between two culinary experts- Samuelsson and Starbucks Master Blender Andrew Linnemann- two exquisite coffee blends have been created that will elevate the coffee experience to a flavorful new level. The Starbucks® Joya del Dia Blend™, meaning "Jewel of the Day", is delicately flavored with a soft cocoa finish, representing distinct flavors found in the finest Latin American beans. Starbucks® Ubora Blend™ offers layered complexity of delicate floral, citrus and herbal notes that celebrates the amazing flavors of East Africa.

Each blend perfectly pairs with the two fall bakery items also developed in conjunction with Samuelsson. Chocolate Cinnamon Bread is complemented by the Joya del Dia Blend™, resulting in an intensified, rich cocoa taste. The flavor of Caramelized Apple Pecan Coffee Cake is enhanced by the Ubora Blend™. The tartness of the apples accents the coffee's soft floral and spice notes.

"The partnership between Starbucks and Marcus [Samuelsson] is a natural fit for us," Linnemann said. "After first joining together at last summer's Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, we recognized that Marcus had the same passion for his cuisine that we had for our coffee. We wanted our customers to enjoy Marcus' inspired recipes that would also enrich the coffee experience. And as a result of this unique relationship, we created coffee and bakery items which complement each other perfectly."

In his cookbook, Discovery of a Continent: Foods, Flavors and Inspirations from Africa, Samuelsson shares his stories of the land, the people and the traditions of Africa through his artfully prepared dishes. Any one of his creations can be paired with Starbucks® coffee to enhance the rich flavors of both the cuisine and the coffee experience. Additionally, Samuelsson selected five original recipes for inclusion that were developed by Starbucks store partners (employees).

Starbucks will donate $1 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF for every copy sold in participating Starbucks stores in the U.S. during the promotion period, August 28 to October 1, 2007 with a minimum donation of $50,000. To further celebrate this collaboration, Samuelsson on a 10-city tour will visit select Starbucks stores around the United States. The "Coffee is Culinary" tour will come to New York City's Rockefeller Center on September 20, providing a taste of what's brewing in stores this fall through coffee and food pairing education sessions, as well as a live cooking demonstration.