Starbucks holiday blend vs. Christmas blend: which one is easier to brew?

Holidays at Starbucks are a time to celebrate, and the company lightens the celebratory mood by introducing something new to the menu. Not only does Starbucks has seasonal drinks that we all love, but it also has holiday blends for those who want to make their coffee at home. Starbucks holiday blend and Christmas blend are two seasonal blends I get from Starbucks for my homemade coffee. This article will help you learn the primary differences between the two blends.

What are the differences between Starbucks holiday blend vs. Christmas blend

Feature	Starbucks Holiday Blend	Starbucks Christmas Blend
Ingredients	Latin American and Indonesian coffees	Latin American beans and Indonesian coffees
Taste profile	Sweet and layered, with nice maple sweetness and delicate herbs flavor notes, and complementary food flavors of herbs, maple and cheese.	Strong, rich and enticing, with sweet and spicy coffee flavor notes; and complementary food flavors of nutmeg, orange, cinnamon and clove
Availability/ Accessibility	It is a seasonal blend, thus, it is not available at all Starbucks stores throughout the year.	It is a seasonal blend, thus, it is not available at all Starbucks stores throughout the year.
Roast level	Medium roast	Dark roast

Starbucks holiday blend vs. Christmas blend – How They Compare.

Ingredients

Starbucks holiday blend is made with Latin American and smooth Indonesian coffees. Specifically, Starbucks combines Latin American whole coffee beans with rich Sumatran coffee roasted to bring forth its complex flavor.

Similarly, the Starbucks Christmas blend is made with Latin American beans and Indonesian coffees. Specifically, Starbucks combines Sumatran beans with dark-roasted beans from Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, and Colombia. 

Both blends use Latin American beans and Indonesian coffees; thus, this category is a draw.

Taste Profile

Starbucks holiday blend is sweet and layered, with nice maple sweetness, delicate herbs flavor notes, and complementary food flavors of herbs, maple, and cheese.

On the other hand, the Starbucks Christmas blend is robust, rich, and enticing, with sweet and spicy coffee flavor notes; and complementary food flavors of nutmeg, orange, cinnamon, and clove. Every sip of Christmas blend is a feel to the warmth and wonder of the Christmas season.

This category is a draw because the two blends boast unique coffee flavors and complementary food flavors that are both hard to beat. 

Availability/ Accessibility

Starbucks explains that its Christmas blend is available in its stores as whole bean, Starbucks VIA Instant, and decaf.

Starbucks holiday blend is also available as whole bean coffee at the company’s stores and in festive red packaging in grocery locations in K-Cup, Nespresso, Ground, and Starbucks VIA Instant formats.

However, both the Starbucks holiday blend and Christmas blend are seasonal coffees and may not be accessible throughout the year.

Therefore, this category is a draw since both are seasonal and are primarily available during the holiday season. 

Roast level

Starbucks holiday blend is a medium roast. Medium roast is in the middle of the Starbucks roast spectrum, and the coffee is balanced and smooth.

On the other hand, Starbucks’ Christmas blend is a dark roast. Thus, it is bold and fuller-bodied with robust flavors and the essence of an intense roast.

Starbucks holiday blend wins in this category since it is a medium roast; thus, it is smooth, balanced, and less bitter as it is roasted for a shorter time. 

Starbucks holiday blend vs. Christmas blend: A comparison overview 

Starbucks holiday blend – Overview

Starbucks introduced its holiday blend in 2013. I got holiday blend and brewed it at home using the recommended brew method, pour-over, and I liked that the process extracts more flavor, although it requires a longer brew time. I also loved that it is sweet and layered, with maple sweetness and delicate herbs flavor notes.

Starbucks holiday blend is best suited for people who love an elegantly balanced cup of coffee.

What I liked;

• The pour-over brewing method extracts more flavors.
• It is sweet and layered, with maple sweetness and herbs flavor notes.

What I didn’t like;

• It is a holiday blend and may not be available throughout the year.

Who it’s best suited for.

• It is best suited for people who love an elegantly balanced cup of coffee.

Starbucks Christmas blend – Overview

Starbucks introduced Christmas blend in 1984. I got the Christmas blend and brewed it at home using the recommended brew method using a drip machine, and I liked that it was quick and efficient. I also loved that it is robust, rich, and enticing, with sweet and spicy coffee flavor notes.

It is best suited for people who love bold and fuller-bodied coffee with robust flavors that invite you to feel the season’s wonder.

What I liked;

• The brewing method is quick and efficient.
• It is robust, rich, and enticing, with sweet and spicy coffee flavor notes

What I didn’t like;

• It is a seasonal blend and may not be available throughout the year.

Who it’s best suited for.

• It is best suited for people who love bold and fuller-bodied coffee with robust flavors that invite you to feel the season’s wonder.

Final Verdict: So, Which is better? – Starbucks holiday blend vs. Christmas blend

Starbucks’ Christmas blend is better. This is because it is easier to brew and the brewing method that uses the drip machine is quick and efficient.

FAQ Section

Which one tastes better between a Christmas blend and a holiday blend?

The two blends boast unique coffee flavors and complementary food flavors that are both hard to beat.

What is the main difference between Starbucks Christmas blend and a holiday blend?

Both blends use Latin American beans and Indonesian coffees, but Starbucks’ Christmas blend is a dark roast, while Starbucks’ holiday blend is a medium roast.