When Starbucks first opened back in 1971, it only sold whole bean coffee. Starbucks^® small team of master roasters has more than 150 years of combined roasting experience. Coffee is 98% water so it’s best to brew with fresh filtered water for a great tasting coffee. Starbucks only uses 100% arabica beans. They make for a great tasting cup of coffee. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and Africa is home to some of the world’s most unique coffees. Coffees from Africa bring lush flavours ranging from citrus to berry. Coffees from Asia / Pacific have big bold flavours and herbal, earthy notes. A coffee’s taste ‘profile’ is made up of four characteristics: aroma, acidity, body and flavour. The right proportion, grind, water and freshness are the four fundamentals to brewing great coffee. Starbucks^® Signature Espresso Roast has been the foundation for Starbucks^® beverages since 1984. Latin American coffees have notes of nuts, cocoa and soft spice.