Starbucks releases coffee and tea merchandise for college students
The coffee chain launched more mobile trucks on campuses and a collection of coffee and tea merchandise for college students this fall.
Starbucks mobile trucks are rolling to three additional campuses: Rutgers University in New Jersey; Stony Brook University in New York; and Sacramento State in California. The Starbucks mobile trucks first arrived at colleges two years ago to campuses at Arizona State University, James Madison University in Virginia and East Carolina University in North Carolina. A Starbucks mobile truck also serves travelers at the Molly Pitcher rest area on the New Jersey Turnpike in Cranbury, New Jersey.
The truck offers a menu of drinks and food nearly identical to what customers would find in Starbucks stores. The truck can move to various locations on campus throughout the day, making it convenient for students and faculty to grab a snack or beverage. Although hours will vary on each campus, trucks are able to adjust business hours to suit the needs of their customers, in some cases staying open later than a dining hall.
“Between classes, homework, extracurricular activities, jobs and socializing with friends, college students are always on the go,” said Michelle Burns from Starbucks Branded Solutions. “The Starbucks mobile truck is a perfect opportunity to increase the convenience of our offerings and help meet students wherever they are in their busy days.”
The company also released a new Starbucks Card featuring an owl design at participating stores with a minimum load of $5.
For dorm living, Starbucks launched Starbucks VIA, a way for students to make a cup of coffee or an iced beverage. Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee is made with Starbucks 100 percent arabica beans and Starbucks VIA Instant Refreshers are made with green, unroasted coffee beans. There’s no equipment required. All that’s needed is hot or cold water, a cup and a spoon or stir stick. Available in Starbucks stores, online, and in grocery stores.
The new Starbucks Classic Pour-Over Brewer #2 is an easy-to-use brewing system that regulates flow to allow for the full extraction of coffee flavors with every cup. Available in participating Starbucks stores and online for $9.95. The Teavana Perfectea Maker, on the other hand, is features a patented system for straining loose-leaf tea. This sturdy, BPA-free plastic tea maker fits 3.5-inch diameter cups and brews 16 ounces of tea. Available in select Starbucks stores, Teavana stores, and online for $19.95.
An insulated S’well bottle, a Teavana-exclusive design patterned after old-school composition notebooks and is composed of non-leaching stainless steel, will keeps drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. Available in select Teavana stores.
The Acrylic Travel Coffee Press by Bodum is an all-in-one coffee maker and travel mug. It offers a solution for brewing coffee or tea on the go, and it’s insulated to keep beverages hot or cold. To use, simply add 3-4 tablespoons of coarse ground coffee, hot water and milk or sweetener. Stir, place the lid with the plunger up, and go. After four minutes, press the plunger down and enjoy. Available online for $19.95.
