Starbucks is undeniably one of the best coffeehouses in the market today, so it’s no surprise that even their available roasted beans quality is nothing short of first-grade. And If you’re a dark roast lover, then Caffe Verona and Sumatra are must-haves in your coffee cabinet. But, which one is best for you? Let’s compare them!
Sumatra Vs Verona Key Differences:
Here is a little side-by-side comparison so you can have a quick overview, before getting into the in-depth analysis of both products.
| Differences | Caffe Verona | Sumatra |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | Regular | Regular |
| Profile | dark chocolate, rich flavor, bitter cocoa |
Earthy, herbal, Bold taste |
| Roast | Dark | Dark |
| Intensity | 6 | 5 |
| Texture | Smooth | Smooth |
Sumatra
While Sumatra is one of the best tasting premium coffee products, you will particularly love it if you prefer to keep your coffee drink’s acidity at bay.
Starbucks Sumatra has relatively low acidity but just managed to keep it at the border, adding interest to its complex taste and making it a great choice for people with sensitivity to organic acids in coffee.
The blend has quite the earthy flavor to it with distinct herbal tones and a smooth texture.
As a matter of fact, Starbucks considers Sumatra to be their most treasured blend, being bold enough to stand out on its own. They have also named it after the very island it is grown on, in the west-central region of Indonesia.
Sumatra coffee itself makes our list of the best coarse grounds for a cold brew this year and is considered one of the top specialty coffees available in the market today. The altitude at which it is grown varies between 2500 to 5000 feet.
Sumatra coffee taste
Sumatra’s coffee has an earthy and herbaceous flavor to it, and because it is dark roasted, you will notice a complex savory taste with a bold finish. I’ll go far as to say it doesn’t fit your regular coffee profile, albeit in a good way.
So, if you do enjoy that rich and bold flavor, chances are that you’ll love the way Sumatra coffee tastes.
That being said, the taste does exhibit sweet tones of chocolate with a tinge of other spice-based flavors which are basically herbs, cinnamon, cardamom… The result is ultimately a rejuvenating and fresh-tasting java.
And if you are in for a stronger brew you might want to go for a french press or even a cold brew, just make sure you pick the coarse grind size option, fine grind won’t be efficient in this case.
Sumatra coffee K cups also pack quite the strong punch, boasting anywhere between 75 to 100 mg of caffeine per cup. (Source)
In any case, don’t be afraid to experiment with Sumatra, if you get it right you may not go for any other type of coffee.
Pros
- Available in whole bean, ground, and K-Cups.
- Also Available in Decaf
- Consistent flavor every time
- Earthly taste with a hint of spices
- Low on budget
Cons
- Can taste quite bitter if not extracted properly. The taste will be dependent on the amount extracted. Try Adjusting the coffee to water ratio to your desired value.
- Considering it’s a dark roast; the complexity of the strong taste is not all there.
- You will have to add sugar, no natural sweetness like caffe verona.
- Not for you if you don’t like the tastes and aroma of herbs and spices.
On a separate note, the packaging Sumatra coffee comes in cannot keep out oxygen adequately and may cause your coffee to lose its flavor faster than you would like! So, to ensure that your coffee remains fresh as long as possible, it is essential to store it in an airtight container.
Caffe Verona
Starbucks Verona was first created for a Seattle restaurant in 1975 by the name of jake’s blend and the response was pretty good. It was also labeled as the 80/20 blend because the recipe contains 80% Yukon blend and 20% Starbucks Italian roast.
With increasing demand, they made it official and changed the name to Verona.
Originating from Latin America and Pacific Asia, Verona is a multi-purpose blend that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. You can actually recognize the beans being sourced from Latin America by the chocolate tones.
Caffe Verona Taste
The aroma is pleasant and exciting, a great balance of dark roast and sweet tones with a slight mix of cherry.
In fact, you can taste the undertone of dark cocoa, which is sweet yet not too overpowering with a rather robust taste, especially if you have a craving for some luxurious cocoa.
Definitely, a straightforward mix of many rich-tasting elements working together without one overpowering the others.
And if you’re familiar with coffee roasting methods, you know one of the predominant fears of a dark roast fanatic would be that dark roasted beans can be quite acidic. And that’s especially true if the region they derive from carries more mineral deposits in the soil from nearby volcanoes.
Thankfully, the overall flavor notes of Verona coffee are not thrown into disarray by the bitter aftertaste, which is a plus!
Instead, tasting Verona can be a pleasant experience and in my opinion, it is a great option for someone who admires darker roasts.
Most would think that a strong taste means more caffeine, but that’s just not always the case. Case in point, Veronica’s taste is quite intense, bold, and rich.
Still, the coffee is made of 100% Arabica beans, which naturally contain less caffeine than Robusta.
Also, the caffeine content is somewhat the same as a light roast’s caffeine amount which is approximately 50 to 60 mg.
Pros
- Rich taste with a hint of dark chocolate notes.
- Perfectly balanced
- Doesn’t have the burnt taste which can be sometimes found in dark roast.
- Decaffeinated version is also offered which tastes almost the same but it won’t keep you up all night.
- A versatile morning drink that matches beautifully with dark chocolate cakes and a chocolate croissant anything that is chocolate it will pair greatly with it.
Cons
- Not recommended if you are a first-timer, because of the dark roast, rich and boldness in taste you might not be able to enjoy it.
- Chocolate notes are a tad bit to the bitter side.
- Decaf is hard to find. If you want to buy the decaf version, you can check it on Amazon.
One of my favorite things about Starbucks specialty coffee is that the coffeehouse has managed to consistently pursue a very traditional approach with the non-acidic flavor profile throughout its products, an approach most of the blends out there have not yet perfected.
In reality, the dark beans in caffe Verona can produce a great cup of black coffee and are one of the best Starbucks has to offer.
Caffe Verona can be bought from the official Starbucks website and is also available in most Starbucks stores and big-box stores, also via Amazon.
The Verdict
Caffe Verona and Sumatra have different kinds of audiences to cater to. If you’re a coffee-lover whose morning revolves around that particular caffeine fix, Sumatra coffee is your go-to and will deliver a full-powered jolt with a smooth flavor, and an exotic taste full of the natural herbal type of feel.
Alternatively, if you are not in the mood for experimenting and are a cocoa lover, I would recommend you go for caffe Verona: A perfectly balanced blend of dark chocolate with cocoa beans combined with a natural taste of caramelized sugar without any added sugar.
Sumatra can also be your perfect partner If you are not afraid to experiment with your drinks. The mix of flavors, spices, and herbs will give you an earthy feel. Best for you if you want to take a break from your regular type of coffee, and aim for a new kind of delicacy for your taste buds.
