The term “aged” refers to green coffee stored in a warehouse for three to five years to develop flavor. Most green coffees do not benefit from extended storage, and in the case of washed Latin American Coffees, the process can reduce brightness and acidity.Indonesian coffees like Sumatra, however, can benefit from extended storage and often develop a spicy complexity as they age.
Starbucks buys coffee specifically for aging and stores it in a warehouse in Singapore. The bags are rotated,flipped, brushed and vacuumed by hand throughout the year. This ensures the coffee is aging consistently throughout the bags and allows for checks on quality-inhibiting factors such as mold and insects.
Tastings are conducted by the quality teams to monitor the taste profiles of these aging coffees. This allows Starbucks to select coffee beans that are appropriate for single-origin usage and those that contribute to the signature flavors of Starbucks Christmas Blend, Starbucks Anniversary Blend and Starbucks Tribute Blend