The Unspoken Starbucks Rule For Ordering Blonde Roast Coffee

We, as Americans, have done away with most coffee rules. We can drink a pour-over well into the late evening, sip on iced coffee in the middle of a snowstorm, and chug a latte the size of a large tumbler. But there seems to be one unspoken rule about blonde roast coffee — or, more specifically, a rule about when to order one at Starbucks. According to the @StarbucksCare Twitter helpline, locations only serve the drink until noon.

This is not because the locations run out but because it's not cost-effective to keep brewing the roast after the morning rush. Lighter roasted coffees, like the blonde roast, have a lighter profile and higher acidity, and most find them more suited for morning consumption. But as the day marches on, customers prefer ordering creamier drinks with fuller flavor profiles — just like you might order a Nitro Cold Brew or a Pumpkin Spice Latte as a pick-me-up towards the end of the day. Drip coffees, in general, aren't ordered in the afternoon, so the staff doesn't make a fresh batch since it would most likely end up going stale.

But what if you're craving a blonde roast at 3 p.m.? Don't worry; Starbucks won't throw you out the door. While they won't make a drip pot for one customer, they will make a pour-over. One advantage of ordering a pour-over is that you know you are getting something very fresh. Further, this method allows the barista more control over the brewing process, resulting in a smoother cup of coffee; the process involves pouring water over the grounds and pausing between pours for a more precise extraction of the coffee.

The downside to a pour-over (or a French Press, which some stores will do) is that it can take several minutes — anywhere from two to four minutes, depending on the method — so it might not be the best choice if you only have a few seconds to grab your coffee and go. In that case, you might be better off buying a bag of blonde roast and making it yourself at home!