Starbucks willow blend vs. Veranda: Which One is better?
Willow blend and Veranda blends from Starbucks are excellent coffee blends. Although both have great flavors, you sometimes wonder which one is better. I, therefore, decided to research the best blend. In this post, you will learn various features of the two blends, their differences and similarities, and ultimately understand which one is better
What are the differences between Starbucks willow blend vs. Veranda
Features |
Willow blend |
Veranda |
Ingredients |
Latin America and East Africa Arabica coffee |
Latin American coffee |
Taste profile |
It is delightful and full of flavor. It has juicy lemon notes characteristic of African coffee and has a crisp finish |
It has a rich coffee flavor and can be described as pleasant soft, and mellow. It has notes of mild spices and cocoa. |
Caffeine content/ Nutritional value |
A 16 fl oz has 340mg calories, 10 calories, 0g fats, 0mg cholesterol, 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, and 1g protein |
A 16 fl oz has 360mg calories, 5 calories, 0g fats, 0mg cholesterol, 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, and 1g protein |
Availability/ Accessibility |
It is available in stores and groceries across the country |
It is readily available and easily accessible |
Roast level |
It is roasted lightly at blonde roast levels |
Blonde roast to release mellow flavors |
Starbucks willow blend vs. Veranda – How They Compare

Ingredients
Willow blend coffee is made from Arabica coffee from East Africa and Latin America. The two regions produce some of the world’s best coffee. It has less caffeine and yields coffee with unique flavors.
The veranda blend is made from coffee harvested in Latin America. The Latin American soils are rich and produce some of the best-tasting coffee in the world. The coffee has a balanced taste and is rich in coffee flavors.
The willow blend is the winner in this category because it is made from coffee from Latin America and east Africa. Mixing the coffee from the two regions produces rich, unique flavors, which are better than when only coffee from one area is used.
Taste profile
The willow blend has a sweet taste and rich coffee flavors. It is unique because it has special juicy lemon notes that characterize coffee from East Africa. It also has a lovely crisp finish that originates from Latin American coffee. The coffee has no hint of a bitter taste and therefore is more balanced and lets you enjoy the rich coffee flavor.
Similarly, the Veranda blend has a delicious and coffee-rich flavor that is soft and mellow. It is sweet and has a balanced taste. It has special notes of mild spices and cocoa.
This category has no winner because both coffee blends have a sweet taste, unique flavor notes, and are mellow. They have no bitter taste that is common in solid coffee.
Caffeine content/ Nutritional value
A 16 fl oz made from willow blend coffee has 340mg caffeine. The caffeine is strong because it significantly exceeds the average caffeine in most Starbucks beverages. The caffeine level is very high for several reasons, including the light roast level. Higher roast levels reduce the amount of caffeine. The calories are significantly low, contributing minimally to the daily average adult need. It has no fats or cholesterol and is therefore well suited for individuals losing weight.
The Veranda blend has a slightly higher caffeine content at 360 mg. the daily caffeine limit for an average adult is about 400mg. Therefore, a Grande serving of the coffee is slightly short of the daily limit. Taking more than one serving of a Grande beverage made from coffee may have long-term negative health impacts.
There is no winner in this category. The two blends of coffee have equally high quantities of caffeine. They have low-calorie counts and have no fats or carbs. They both have 1g of protein. Due to their high caffeine content, they are equally unhealthy.
Availability/ Accessibility
The willow blend is available in Starbucks stores, groceries and you can order it online from various stores
Similarly, the Veranda blend is readily available, and you can purchase it from any retail store across the country.
There is no winner in this category because both blends of coffee are readily available and easily accessible.
Roast level
The Willow blend coffee is roasted at a light roast level described as the blonde roast. The coffee produces excellent flavors at this roast level with a less bitter taste. The coffee, however, has more caffeine than those at higher roast levels.
The Starbucks Veranda has a blonde roast. It is a light level of roast that produces nice coffee flavors and a distinct sweetness. The flavors are more balanced at this level, and coffee rarely tastes bitter. Individuals drinking coffee for the first time can enjoy such levels of roast because it produces a mildly sweet and mellow drink.
This category has no winner because both blends have the same roast level.
Starbucks willow blend vs. Veranda: A comparison review
Starbucks willow blend – Overview

The willow blend is a splendid coffee blend that produces excellent flavors of coffee from East Africa and Latin America. It is sweet and makes a sightly light-colored coffee appealing to the eye. You will experience the rich coffee aroma with every sip. The high caffeine in this coffee is an excellent stimulant and will help you focus on attention-demanding tasks. You, however, should avoid taking too much of the coffee because it is highly addictive.
What I liked;
- I liked the juicy lemon notes that make the coffee taste unique.
What I didn’t like;
- I did not like the high caffeine content due to the negative health impacts it is likely to cause.
Who it’s best suited for.
- It is best suited for everyone, especially those who work long hours and need a strong stimulant to keep them awake.
Starbucks veranda blend – Overview

The Starbucks veranda coffee has a unique taste marked with notes of soft spices and cocoa. It has a sweet and delicious flavor that keeps you begging for more. If you are a beginner in coffee, this blend will give you a delightful experience, and you will not have to put up with the bitter taste of coffee, as is typical with higher roast levels.
What I liked;
- I liked the notes of soft spices and cocoa.
What I didn’t like;
- The high caffeine contents
Who it’s best suited for.
- It is best suited for everyone and especially those with high attention-demanding tasks
Final Verdict: So, which is Better? – Starbucks willow blend vs. Veranda
The two coffee blends are equally good. The two blends of coffee are similar in most aspects. Their differences are negligible; hence, none can be termed as better than the other.
FAQ
Is Starbucks willow blend stronger than Veranda?
No, both have the same roast level and the same caffeine range. The willow blend may be slightly stronger because it has a slightly higher caffeine content
Is Starbucks willow blend darker than Veranda?
They have the same color range since they have a blonde roast level
Which one tastes better between the willow blend and Veranda?
They have the same taste profile.