Tall Starbucks Coffee Cup.  A cup shot on a white background.
Food - Drink
The Unspoken Rule For Ordering Starbucks' Blonde Roast Coffee
By MARCO ROSSI
Various cups of different coffee drinks and roasts
Lighter coffee roasts like blonde roasts are popular for a morning pick-me-up, while many coffee drinkers prefer more caffeinated, filling, and flavorful drinks as the day goes on.
Starbucks blonde latte
Due to this trend, Starbucks locations stop brewing their blonde roast at noon as a cost-effective measure. You can still order a blonde coffee, but be prepared for a caveat.
Coffee beans. a white cup and a french press
When a blonde roast is ordered in the afternoon, Starbucks baristas will make a cup with a French press or a "pour-over," rather than a fresh pot for just one customer.
Barista at work in a cafe. Preparing pour over coffee
Only some stores will pull out a French press. For a pour-over, the barista pours water over the coffee grounds, pausing between pours for a more precise extraction.
A coffee cup on a counter at a Starbucks coffee shop on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Both pour-over and French press coffee can take several minutes to prepare. Your blonde roast will certainly be fresh, but if you're in a hurry, order something else after noon.