Have you ever seen a green bean?

Unless you work in the coffee world, you've probably never seen green coffee -- that is, beans before they get roasted. These rather homely jade drops, randomly selected specimens, are pebble-hard and seemingly inert. Yet lurking inside are all the brain-stoking bouquets and body-embosoming brios of the Beautiful Beverage.

Starbucks Plans to Introduce Instant-Coffee Product Next Week

By Courtney Dentch

Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Starbucks Corp., the world’s largest coffee chain, plans to introduce instant coffees in its shops next week.

Starbucks has spent 20 years developing an instant product that replicates the taste of its brewed coffee, Vivek Varma, senior vice president for public affairs, told employees in a memo today. Seattle-based Starbucks plans to unveil the drink at events in New York and other cities next week.

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American Barista & Coffee School Announces New Latte Art and Sensory Skills Workshops

PORTLAND, OR - Two new half-day latte art and sensory skills training workshops will be held concurrent with this year's United States Barista Championship in Portland at the American Barista & Coffee School on March 5th.

The Latte Art Workshop led by American Barista & Coffee School Director of Training Matt Milletto will teach students fundamental principles and advanced techniques necessary to pour consistently great latte art. This 3-hour intensive program will cover a wide range of pour types from the basic rosetta design to multi-art pours.

The Sensory Skills Workshop led by Andrew Hetzel, licensed Q-Grader and Director of Hawaii-based consultancy, Cafemakers, is a 3-hour course open to food and beverage professionals of all skill levels wishing to participate in exercises that improve taste and aroma identification proficiency.

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Did Coffee Fuel the Age of Enlightenment?

Americans scaling back from premium coffees

We know the recession is hurting purchases of big-ticket items such as cars and flat-screen TVs, but even life's seemingly small luxuries, such as that morning latte, are being hit hard. Indeed, an Advertising Age study found that 60% of Americans have scaled back from premium coffees in the past six months, with the mighty Starbucks experiencing a flattening of its froth. Enter Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's, which both upped their coffee-marketing efforts in 2008, hoping to steal some of Starbucks' share.

According to Optimedia's Antony Young it's hard to discuss these two marketers' approaches to coffee without pondering Starbucks' year. The Seattle-based company has just about single-handedly democratized specialty coffees in the U.S. market since it went public in the early 1990s. Of late, however, the company has experienced Venti-size issues with investors, citing a loss of focus, overexpansion and the recession as contributing to its woes. Starbucks saw a 3% decline in same-store sales and a 53% profit drop in fiscal 2008. It also sought to close down unprofitable stores at the end of a transition year, in which former CEO Howard Schultz took back the reins of the company.

Starbucks, long admired by many for building its brand with only a passing interest in traditional advertising, faced a wave of activity last year from two very well-drilled media marketers in Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's, which were looking to gain ground in this high-margin business.

Dunkin' Donuts is not new to coffee, having served cappuccinos and lattes since 2003. Despite its name, it earns 65% of its revenue from beverages. Its strong national media push in 2008 directly targeted Starbucks in a high-profile comparative ad campaign that included a blind taste test reminiscent of the Pepsi/Coke wars.

Not to be outdone, McDonald's aggressively promoted its own coffee as a value proposition; increased the availability of coffee facilities across its nationwide restaurant network; launched new products such as iced coffee and sweet tea; and rolled out a regional program to support openings of its branded McCafes.

Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s: Coffee Rivals Fight Breakfast War

By Katherine Glover

In an economy that increasingly favors cheap deals, Starbucks has been flailing while its competitors take advantage. McDonald’s is expanding its McCafe into more and more markets, while Dunkin’ Donuts is running various promotions as well as investing in advertising and new stores. Both companies are aggressively targeting Starbucks customers.

But Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz this week announced an offensive play: the company is launching its own value meals. The details are still vague — Schultz said only that there will be “several breakfast pairings” at “attractive” prices.

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Tully's Coffee schedules shareholder vote on Green Mountain bid

Seattle coffee company urges shareholders to accept $40 million deal for wholesale business.

By Melissa Allison

Seattle Times business reporter

Tully's Coffee could go out of business if shareholders do not approve the sale of its wholesale business to Green Mountain Coffee Roasters of Vermont, the Seattle-based coffee chain said in a securities filing today.

In a report the day after Tully's announced plans in September to sell the business for $40.3 million to Green Mountain, "our auditors stated that our recurring losses and accumulated deficit raised substantial doubts about our ability to continue as a going concern."

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Tim Hortons, Cold Stone to Form 100 Co-Branded Stores

By Courtney Dentch

Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Tim Hortons Inc., Canada’s largest restaurant company, and ice-cream chain Cold Stone Creamery will create 100 co-branded stores in the U.S. to expand sales throughout the day.

A three-month test of two stores in Rhode Island led to a double-digit percentage gain in sales, said Kevin Blackwell, chief executive officer of Cold Stone parent Kahala Corp. The companies are also developing menu items that incorporate products from both restaurants.

Tim Hortons is looking to broaden its American presence after a third-quarter loss in the U.S. prompted them to shut 15 locations in New England. The coffee-shop chain competes with McDonald’s Corp., Starbucks Corp. and Dunkin’ Donuts Inc. at its 500 U.S. locations. Cold Stone, which allows customers to choose from a variety of toppings to mix with their ice cream, wants to expand customer traffic during mornings and midday.

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