Starbucks Teavana launched in Asia including the Philippines

Starbucks is launching Starbucks Teavana Handcrafted Beverages and Full Leaf Tea Sachets as a core offering in more than 6,200 Starbucks stores across China and the Asia Pacific region, including the Philippines starting September 14, 2016.

Who would have thought that Matcha and Espresso is one of the best combinations ever?!

Starbucks Philippines' introduction of this modern tea experience with the world’s finest teas and botanicals is great for its growing customers looking for new, different and exciting tastes and experiences from Starbucks.

Starbucks Teavana Full Leaf Tea Sachets

This modern tea experience provides all of their custimers the opportunity to enjoy a range of unique iced and hot tea beverages with bold, layered flavors, handcrafted the way only Starbucks can. Starbucks is offering three new Starbucks® Teavana™ Handcrafted Beverages:

1. Iced Shaken Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls (Tall ₱130, Grande ₱145, Venti ₱160) - The combination of the hibiscus Starbucks Teavana tea and busting pearls of real pomegranate juice gives a  refreshing beverage that has a kick of flavor. Pomegranate juice is a good source of antioxidants.
2. Iced Shaken Black Tea with Ruby Grapefruit and Honey (Tall ₱130, Grande ₱145, Venti ₱160) - Combines a traditional western black tea experience with a creative twist that is delicious iced with bites of pomelo fruit, grapefruit and honey for a touch of added sweetness. The beverage contains star ruby grapefruit, which is a good source of vitamins A and C and is rich in bioflavonoids and antioxidants
3. Matcha & Espresso Fusion (Tall ₱155, Grande ₱170, Venti ₱185) - Easily my favorite, this drink combines Starbucks' Matcha powder layered with milk and our Espresso Roast creates a beautiful layered beverage and is an inventive combination of coffee and tea, to be enjoyed hot or iced. Matcha is full of catechins, which are some of the most potent and beneficial antioxidants.

Also coming out in the Philippines this September 14, 2016 are the new Starbucks Card, the Autumn Leaf Cards and the Mid-Autumn Festival Card. In a press release Starbucks welcomes "another change in season with these delightful leaves in every shade of the autumn spectrum - red, yellow, orange, brown and green. These cards are available for an initial consumable load amount of ₱500 per card. On the other hand, in celebration of the Moon Festival or the Mid-Autumn Festival, where the time of the year when the moon is at its brightest and fullest, Starbucks celebrates with everyone with the release of a card dedicated to the festivities. The card is available for an initial consumable load amount of ₱300.

Purchase limit of two (2) activated Autumn Leaf Cards and (2) activated Mid-Autumn Festival Card per customer per day.

Starbucks Philippines releases new Autumn Card, Seasonal Lattes

The Starbucks Autumn Card, or more commonly called "Burst of Fall" in other countries, has reached the Philippines. This September 16, Tuesday, the new Starbucks Card will be released in all Starbucks Philippines stores nationwide. "Capturing the colors and coziness of fall, this card is a great gift to give for any occasion or an addition to your own collection," Starbucks Philippines noted.

Together with this, they are rolling out a Starbucks Card Load promotion. From September 16 to 22, every ₱300 loaded onto a Starbucks Card will automatically receive one (1) Beverage Star. This promo applies to newly activated cards and existing cards for reloading.

Moreover, also on September 16, Starbucks Philippines will be offering new seasonal beverages, the French Vanilla Latte and the Dark Caramel Latte. Starbucks wants us to embark on a journey into espresso bliss as they invite us to rekindle our love for the perfect latte. Both the French Vanilla Latte and the Dark Caramel Latte are delightful in taste, and are available hot or iced.

The Dark Caramel Latte is made of espresso, steamed milk and creamy dark caramel sauce, finished with whipped cream and a custardy caramel flan drizzle make for a delicious treat. Available in Tall (₱145), Grande (₱160), and Venti (₱170). The French Vanilla Latte, on the other hand, is made of steamed milk and creamy French Vanilla sauce with mild custard notes complement the roasty, sweet taste of our signature Espresso Roast. Whipped cream, vanilla bean specks and dark chocolate curls top this indulgent beverage This beverage is available in Tall (₱165), Grande (₱180), and Venti (₱190).

These new drinks will be available until November 2, 2014 in the Philippines.

New Starbucks Reserve® Coffees & the Pour Over Brewing Process

Starbucks Reserve® is our new brand of exotic, rare and exquisite coffees that allows our customers an opportunity to taste coffee like never before: explosions of one flavor, delicate notes of another.

Many coffee lovers believe that the manual coffee brewing system invented by Melitta Bentz in 1908 is one of the best ways to brew delicious coffee. This single‐serving brewing system regulates flow to allow the full extraction of coffee flavors. This amazing brewing system is called the Pour Over method.

The pour over method is designed to extract the unique flavors and highlight subtle nuances of coffees in our Starbucks Reserve® stores.  Our coffee masters are able connect with customers over coffee in a new way by having conversations about coffees on the Starbucks Reserve® menu and showcasing these rare and exclusive beans by the cup.

The new Starbucks Reserve® coffees are available exclusively at the following Starbucks Reserve® stores:

• Starbucks Reserve®Tomas Morato, Quezon City  
• Starbucks Reserve® 8 ForbesTown, Fort Bonifacio,Global City  
• Starbucks Reserve® Keyland Centre, Makati City
• Starbucks Reserve® Central Square, Fort Bonifacio, Global City

You may also enjoy the Starbucks Reserve® coffee experience in the following store that will be brewing soon:

• Starbucks Reserve® Signa, Makati City

Starbucks Coffee Holiday Beverages and 2014 Starbucks Planner

November usually comes in with the cool breeze, the sight of Christmas lights, and the scent and memories of the flavors of our favorite holiday drinks from Starbucks Coffee! This is the time to enjoy the much awaited holiday red cups, and the delectable new and returning food items from Starbucks.

For Starbucks, the holidays are a time "to create wonder and share joy" with sweet traditions rooted in more than four decades of passion for coffee, food and the holiday spirit. Indulge, reminisce and make new memories this year with delicious holiday treats and the much-anticipated return of handcrafted holiday beverages at Starbucks.

Until January 8, 2014,  everyone can enjoy Toffee Nut Latte, Peppermint Mocha, and Gingerbread Latte. :)

Enjoy the flavor of freshly baked gingerbread combined with perfectly roasted espresso and steamed milk. Classically topped with whipped cream and ground nutmeg, this signature handcrafted latte, Gingerbread Latte, is sure to perk up the senses this Christmas season. (Tall - ₱160, Grande- ₱175, Venti - ₱185) 

 

Peppermint fans, this one is for you! Enjoy the warm combination of espresso, steamed milk, bittersweet chocolate and peppermint flavor in this seasonal favorite. Topped with classic whipped cream and crushed candy cane, the Peppermint Mocha is brimming with Christmas cheer that is sure to please. (Tall - ₱160, Grande- ₱175, Venti - ₱185)

 

A flavorful holiday beverage, the Toffee Nut Latte has the rich, buttery flavor of sweet toffee combined with toasted nuts, blended with our smooth espresso and velvety steamed milk. Topped with whipped cream and toffee-flavored sprinkles, it’s no surprise that this warm, heavenly beverage is sure to put you in the mood for Christmas. (Tall - ₱160, Grande- ₱175, Venti - ₱185) 

 

Starbucks Philippines Christmas tradition returns with the 11th edition of the Starbucks Planner. 

This year’s theme is “Coffee Perfection” and will be highlighted throughout the planner. Coffee perfection begins with the journey of coffee, from the farmer to the buyer, roaster and barista. Each and every bean has a story that is unraveled by many pairs of caring hands before it becomes part of your perfectly handcrafted cup of coffee. Every turn of a page tells the story of how your cup of coffee has journeyed and was crafted perfectly for you.

The Limited Edition 2014 Starbucks Philippines Planner will be available in four (4) leather covers ( yellow, brown, magenta and black) and comes with a coffee icon bookmark. The colors of the leather covers are inspired by the roast profiles of whole bean coffees at Starbucks – Blonde Roast (yellow), Medium Roast (brown), Dark Roast (magenta) and Starbucks Reserve Coffees (exotic, rare and exquisite coffees) (black). New additions this year are the roast profile and coffee stamp stickers which customers may use once they experience the whole bean coffees. Also, the planner has turned digital through the use of QR codes that feature videos that will help customers with their coffee journey. The planner has fourteen (14) coupons with different Starbucks treats that can be shared with family, friends and loved ones. The coupons may be redeemed at any Starbucks store in the Philippines during a specified period in 2014.

A customer can avail of a 2014 Starbucks Philippines Planner promo card from November 2, 2013 to January 8, 2014. One (1) sticker is awarded for each Starbucks beverage purchase. Holder must accumulate a total of eighteen (18) stickers , nine (9) Christmas beverage plus nine (9) core beverages except bottled drinks) to redeem one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Philippines 2014 Planner.

Starbucks launches a New Coffee Journey

Starbucks Philippines will launch this July 16 two new beverages with a twist, redefining your Starbucks coffee experience. Starbucks will take you to a cool coffee journey with its Dark Mocha White Chocolate Pudding Frappuccino Blended Beverage and Green Tea White Chocolate Pudding Frappuccino Blended Beverage.

The soft chewy texture of the White Chocolate Pudding adds a twist to your regular blended beverages. The Dark Mocha White Chocolate Pudding Frapp is a real treat for chocolate lovers as it combines the deep flavor of dark chocolate with that of a velvety and smooth white chocolate pudding, Starbucks' signature Frappuccino Roast coffee, chocolate chips, and milk, blended with ice. It is topped with whipped cream and chocolate powder.

The Green Tea White Chocolate Pudding Frappuccino perfectly blends the refreshing aromas of premium green tea, with the sweetness of the white chocolate pudding in a soft creamy texture, topped with whipped cream.

The Dark Mocha White Chocolate Pudding Frappuccino sells at PhP 190 for Tall, PhP 200 for Grande, and PhP 210 for Venti, while the Green Tea White Chocolate Pudding Frappuccino sells at PhP 180 for Tall, PhP 190 for Grande, and PhP 200 for Venti.

Besides the two new Frappuccino Blended Beverages, Starbucks Philippines introduces to the market the East Africa Blend, which offers an exotic blend of unique flavors of citrus, spice and berries, not found in coffee from any other region.

This is a medium roast blend which is bright and medium-bodied, striking an invigorating balance between citrus and spice notes from Kenya, and the subtle floral aromas and crisp from Ethiopia. Starbucks has been buying coffees frim East Africa since 1971.

Get your Starbucks Pen with your 2013 Starbucks Planner

Now that most of you have your Starbucks 2013 Planners already, one must have Starbucks item is the Starbucks Pen! Regular price of the pen, which comes with 2 free refills, is P295, but if you redeem your planner, it's yours for only P195. Limited time offering while supplies last.

Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso and Bottled Frappuccino

Now available in your nearest Starbucks Philippines store, is the Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso Drink. Starbucks introduced the delicious intensity of rich espresso mellowed by a touch of cream. "Starbucks Doubleshot® is a convenient, bold, authentic Starbucks coffee experience. Take it with you. Enjoy its concentrated flavor; plus the high quality and premium espresso experience you expect from Starbucks whenever and wherever you want it." It comes in a 6.5 ounce can, which is best served chilled. "No mess, no fuss." It tastes really good. It's not that strong, but gives you that kick to start a busy day and get you going.

Other two new addition to the display are the Mocha and Vanilla Starbucks Bottled Frappuccino. It is made of sweet, creamy, and low-fat blend of Starbucks coffee and milk in every bottle. It is for me a perfect buddy when you are on the go! Of course, it is best served chilled.

Thank you to Starbucks Philippines for the samples and the photo.

New Nescafe Dolce Gusto Machines: Genio and Melody 3

No mess, no fuss, and a perfect cup every time. This is the promise of the two new machines that NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto brings to the market this November. The all-new automatic machines brew the right cup for you all in just one click – so pop, lock, and drop away without the wait.

Introducing the new additions, the Genio and the Melody 3, which come in compact, modern, and smart designs. What makes the two stand out, apart from the obvious stylish touch, are their automated preparation of drinks through the Flowstop Technology, which lets you get the perfect cup each and every time. They come with a selection wheel and a built-in LED that recommend the dosage to make the perfect drink.

The Genio looks like a hybrid of the classic Piccolo machine, only smarter and equipped with Flowstop Technology. The only tasks you have to take control of are turning it on, filling up the water tank, deciding the flavor you like to brew, inputting the recommended dosage, and you can leave the rest of the work to this genius.

Similar to a coffeehouse machines, the Genio has a 15-bar pressure system equipped to provide you with a foamy froth, rich créma, and a delectable flavor. Believe it or not, this machine just knows how to please any coffee drinker.

The first and the original Melody machine comes even more alive with its 3rd generation. The Melody 3 has evolved from its classical look into a more sophisticated machine. It is definitely eye-candy on the kitchen worktop, or on any office station with its sleek curves. Similar to the Genio, it has 15 bars of pressure, which is ideal to brew your steaming cup of espresso.

These NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto machines can handle both hot and cold drinks, but for those who like it hot, these machines come with the exclusive Thermoblock Technology, which heats water fresh every time, in less than a minute. They also let you save energy with its automatic switch-off feature.

Don’t feel a little less powerful though, because you can still maneuver the machine. It allows you to take control as you scroll the selection wheel to customize the coffee strength and mixture. This works best for multi-capsule drinkers who like switching from coffee, tea, to chocolate drinks. So go on and experiment with the strength, just like a boss.

Now giving you a wider selection to meet your high-quality coffee needs, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto gives you four machine variations that meet the requirement of providing the closest thing to a barista-brewed drinks. The brand has been innovative with its selection of 9 capsule flavors, and now offering the market with new machine options.

Jump into Rich Indulgence with Starbucks' Salted Caramel Mocha

Starbucks Philippines introduces the Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha, in hot, iced, and frappuccino blended beverages. As the weather becomes colder, Starbucks Philippines wants us to jump into rich indulgence with these signature espresso offerings, with the salty and sweet flavors of the new Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha.

SALTED CARAMEL MOCHA
The warm and indulgent flavors of Salted Caramel Mocha are a perfect companion for a cold afternoon or evening. Experience uplifting warmth with this creamy mix of espresso and velvety steamed milk, blended with mocha sauce and flavored syrup. Topped with whipped cream, buttery caramel sauce and a mixture of turbinado sugar and smoked sea salt, this flavorful beverage is sure to make your day.


ICED SALTED CARAMEL MOCHA
With the same delicious flavor as the Salted Caramel Mocha in an icy cool format, the Iced Salted Caramel Mocha offers a cool and indulgent treat perfect for a warm day. Espresso and fresh milk are combined with mocha sauce and flavored syrup, served over ice and topped with whipped cream, buttery caramel sauce, and a mixture of turbinado sugar and smoked sea salt, hitting the perfect note.


SALTED CARAMEL MOCHA FRAPPUCCINO® BLENDED BEVERAGE
Rich mocha sauce and flavored syrup blended with Starbucks® Frappuccino® Roast coffee, whole milk, and ice. Finished with whipped cream , buttery caramel sauce and a mixture of turbinado natural cane sugar and smoked sea salt, it’s the perfect indulgent mid-day treat, and sure to be a favorite.



Moon Festival Tumblers Offer
Purchase any moon festival tumbler and get a chance to win a Salted Caramel Mocha Party for four! Promo runs from September 11 to November 2, 2012. Terms and conditions apply.

New Starbucks Refreshers Beverage Now Available!

Starbucks has reinvented how you know coffee today with the Starbucks Refreshers Beverage, which forms part of a new and unique line of innovative thirst-quenching beverages. The Starbucks Refreshers beverage comes from green coffee extract, which is a source of caffeine that will surely revitalize your day.

Green coffee extract is an entirely new way to experience coffee - one that tastes nothing like coffee, but packs almost the same energy when you drink coffee. It is sourced from green, unroasted high-quality arabica coffee beans.


The Starbucks Refreshers beverage comes in two new exciting flavors, the Very Berry Hibiscus, which is made from real fruit juice, green coffee extract and whole blackberries. It is hand-shaken with ice to create a perfect moderate-calorie, thirst-quenching drink.

The other flavor is the Cool Lime, made from real fruit juice, green coffee extract, and a real slice of lime, all hand-shaken with ice also.

New Starbucks Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino

Have you tried the new Starbucks Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino blended beverage? It's the newest addition for the season to Starbucks' Frappuccino Blended Beverage line-up. It combines chocolate cookie bits with Starbucks' signature Frappuccino Roast coffee for an intensely yummy twist on the classic Mocha Frappuccino Blended Coffee. This new recipe is made with rich mocha sauce, vanilla syrup, milk and ice, finished off with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and a cookie crumble topping.


If you are not the type who does not like coffee that much, try Starbucks' Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino blended beverage, which is made of a classic recipe from strawberry sauce, milk, blended with ice and topped with whipped cream. This beverage can be free from dairy, when you order it without whipped cream. :)


You can enjoy more of the classic and new Starbucks' Frappuccinos with Starbucks' newest promo, the Frappuccino Happy Hour. All Mondays from April 30 to May 28, you can enjoy half-priced "However-You-Want-It" Frappuccino blended beverages from any Starbucks branch from 2pm to 6pm. So this May 21 and May 28, head out to any Starbucks branch and enjoy your favorite Starbucks Frappuccinos. "Customers can personalize their Frappuccino blended beverage just like their favorite hot drinks at Starbucks. With thousands of options, choose from a variety of milks or soy, request the coffee intensity and pick any combination of syrups or toppings."

A SLICE of life from Pia Cayetano

SLICE: A Slice of Life in Every Bite is the newest baby, a product of the "creative and entrepreneurial mind and spirit," of Senator Pia Cayetano. The restaurant cafe, which will open around first week of March, will serve breakfast all day, and desserts at the top of the menu. It's basically a cafe which serves healthy offering at the same time something worth indulging in, to make life more fun and worth it.



Right now, it has a stall or cart cafe right outside their space which serves Paninis, Muffins, Cookies, Granola and Coffee. I saw the senator's Tweets about Slice the day before yesterday, and asked her about it. Since it triggered the foodista in me, I decided to have dinner and try it out with Ly, my friend from college, and now my colleague at the Department.



We ordered Panini for dinner. Ly got the Quatro Formaggio with Pesto (Php 150), while I got the Turkey and Cheddar (Php 120). The Quatro Formaggio and Turkey and Cheddar are definitely a must try for cheese lovers. Both of them are tasty and filling, definitely a nice treat to end the day.




We also got the Deep Dish Cookies at Php 50 each. We tried both the Chunky Peanut Butter and the Chunky Chocolate Chip. Both are equally lovely, and perfect paired with coffee. I personally like the Chunky Chocolate Chip, but it really depends if you like chocolate better than peanut butter. I can vouch that both cookies won't fail your expectations.



We also tried the Muffins (Php 60 each - see MUFFIN MENU here), courtesy of Sen. Pia (thank you!). We had the Sprinkle Me Cinnamon, which is actually her favorite, and the Choco Monkey PB. I am really picky on my muffins because those that I have tried before tend to be dry and "lifeless" or dull, but this is different. The two muffins really stand out because of their flavor, consistency and overall finish. Oh, I heard that they will be offering Red Velvet this February!

The Sprinkle Me Cinnamon is another banana overload muffin, with the "irresistible aroma and taste of cinnamon spice," which when "taken with high carb food lessens impact on blood sugar level. It's high manganese content is good for the bones. Recommended for those watching their blood sugar."



The Choco Monkey PB on the other hand is a "delightful blend of everything nice from chocolate chips, peanut butter to banana." Not only is it high in fiber, but it is also loaded with antioxidants. "Both chocolate and peanut butter are anti-oxidants, which peanut butter is also a good source of protein."

Right now, they also serve Granola (Php 70 for 80g), which has oats, grains, nuts, and dried fruits. Granola is a good source of fiber and vitamins. This sure is a good breakfast treat. I am actually eating this now as I type :)



Slice offers original and borrowed recipes which Pia herself likes and wants to share with others. With the help of a chef consultant, because of obvious reasons (busy schedule with her work as a public servant), she manages the cafe personally.

Asked to describe what's the inspiration behind SLICE, Pia says it "is the product of my imagination, dreams, travels, food cravings and a desire to share my ideas on healthy eating with occasional indulgences."

Ever since, she has been a fan of social entrepreneurship, healthy living, and teaching her already grown-up daughter and kids these values which she had grown-up with, and which made her what and who she is today.


If I'm not doing what I am doing right now, I would probably be a chef. Beyond the love of trying new food, and tasting new things, I have a desire to cook and recreate yummy and wonderfully created dishes. I try. :)) I someday dream of having my own cafe or restaurant, some place to chill, have friends over, eat good food, and celebrate life.

SLICE will be open until around 11pm on weekdays, and 12 to 1am on weekends. It is located at the new extension wing of the Bonifacio High Street (BHS), The Fort, in Taguig (right beside Jamba Juice). Grab a healthy muffin paired with their cappuccino or brewed coffee, a perfect pairing for a perfect hard earned day's end, or start, in your slice.

Will Starbucks Philippines go Blonde?

Starbucks in the US recently introduced a "lighter-bodied and mellow" coffee called the Starbucks® Blonde Roast, which gently awakens the senses. It has said to be "subtle and soft with mellow acidity, and delivers an approachable and flavorful cup with slight hints of roast."

"The new coffees included in this category are Starbucks Veranda Blend™ (Delicate nuances of soft cocoa and lightly toasted nuts await you), Starbucks Willow Blend™ (Sparkling flavors in a breezy, delicious cup), which is also available in Decaf, and the Veranda ViaReady Brew.

As foodie Lori Baltazar asked on Twitter, "I wonder if Starbucks' new Blonde Roast will be offered in the Philippines?" I ask, will Starbucks Philippines go Blonde? That will be something worth the wait, and the guessing. She adds that, "a 'weaker' brew might encourage more Pinoys to drink it black." Let's see this first quarter, shall we?

Blog Christmas Giveaway #2 - Starbucks Philippines ♥

Thank you to all those who have joined, and those who have yet to join my Blog Christmas Giveaway # 1 - FILED 2012 Planners. Now, The Philippines and Beyond has a lot more in store for you. Watch out for more Christmas giving and sharing in the days and weeks to come.



Everyone knows by now that I am a coffee addict. And when it comes to coffee, the brand I trust the most with my fix is no other than, STARBUCKS. I love their coffee, their ever changing variety of pastries & food, and of course, their awesome blog and promotional events. Truly, Starbucks has grown a place not only in my tummy, but also in my heart. This is why, I would like to share some Starbucks ♥ to you, my dear readers, or at least to 10 of you, who will be lucky to be randomly picked to receive a Starbucks Christmas Gift Card each. :)

To: YOU :) The Philippines and Beyond Reader,

It is the season of sharing and loving! Everyone should be happy :) With these reasons, I share with you, dear readers, these Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards as a token of my love and gratitude to YOU for being with me and my blog for almost more than four (4) years now. In the spirit of the season, I hope you become a blessing to others as well. Thank you...

Fr: Brian Ong http://brianong.blogspot.com/

Don't worry. There will be more giveaways ahead. If you want to give a Starbucks Christmas Gift Card to your loved ones and coffee addict friends this season, the Starbucks Christmas Gift Card can be purchased from any Starbucks Philippines store nationwide, until supply lasts, at Php 160 each.

HOW TO WIN THE STARBUCKS CHRISTMAS GIFT CARDS:

(1) Like The Philippines and Beyond official Facebook page.

(2) Like the STARBUCKS PHILIPPINES official Facebook page.

(3) Share this blog post via Facebook: "@The Philippines and Beyond is giving away 10 Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards (post URL) @(tag 3 friends)" or via Twitter: "@briankingong is giving away 10 Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards (post URL) @(tag 3 friends)"

Example: Facebook - "The Philippines and Beyond is giving away 10 Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards http://brianong.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-christmas-giveaway-2-starbucks.html @Friend1 @Friend2 @Friend3" or Twitter - "@briankingong is giving away 10 Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards http://brianong.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-christmas-giveaway-2-starbucks.html @Friend1 @Friend2 @Friend3"

(4) Leave a reply at my comment box below with the answer to this question; complete the reply with your NAME and E-MAIL ADDRESS. Failure to do so automatically disqualifies the entry. QUESTION: How do you like the 2013 planner (next planner after the 2012 Starbucks Planner) to look like? Share some of your insights ;)

(5) This contest is open to all readers in the Philippines. One entry per person only. Winners will be chosen via electronic raffle. This contest will run from December 08, 2011 to December 10, 2011, 11:59PM. There will be ten (10) winners, getting one Starbucks Christmas Gift Card each. I will be notifying the winner via email and will also announce it here in my blog. The Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards will be delivered to the winners.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's CBTL single serve beverage system

I usually start my day with a cup of coffee, which I brew, or get at at the nearest coffee shop. Nearing the end of the day though, I interchange my coffee intake with some tea selection. Admittedly, I am a Starbucks fan. :) But, more importantly, I am a coffee lover.

Recently, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf presents "the future of coffee and tea," as they say, through a personalized, single-serve, coffee and tea beverage system called the CBTL. CBTL is The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Caffitaly's combination of flavor and taste with Italian design and espresso making expertise. Ooohh!


Red Kaldi
"The CBTL was created as a response to how The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf understands and anticipates the needs of its customers. The growth of the specialty coffee industry in the last few years has been overwhelming, but consumption trends and customer desires have also shifted," expains Walden Chu, president of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Philippines. "Customers want the same cafe experience beyond the time they spend in our stores, and we want to make sure that we give it to them while staying true to everything that The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stands for," he adds.


Silver Kaldi
CBTL delivers only the world's top 1% of specialty grade arabica coffee and tea through a complete beverage system. People will get to enjoy espresso, americano, cappuccino, flavored lattes, brewed coffee and tea, tea lattes as well as the hot vanilla and chocolate options that they have come to know and love from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

"The same flavor, taste and consistency that you expect from any hot drink you purchase from our stores is what you get from CBTL. One perfect cup, with just a single push of a button," says Walden.


Blue Kaldi
Current selection offers four brewed coffee and four espresso varients, as well as four of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's top selling tea blends, with the promise of more to come. (Brewed: French, Viennese, House, House Decaf; Espresso: Italian, Premium, Continental, Premium Decaf; Tea: Chai, English Breakfast, Tropical Passion, Moroccan Mint)

The capsules, readily available across all branches, are all vacuum-sealed to maintain freshness and full flavor; and once inserted to the machine, dispenses a steaming drink in less than 30-seconds.


The Kaldi - A more vibrant incarnation of the classic style, the Kaldi stands out with its dynamic colors and designs that bears its own distinct personality. The Kaldi comes in four different colors - Red, Blue, Silver and Gold, each has its own personality and appeal.