Starbucks Introduces New Fresh Brew Drip Coffee! Has Starbucks Removed Their Cheapest Coffee Option?

Starbucks' Hidden Affordable Coffee

After reading the headline, plenty of people will ask the same thing: "Does Starbucks really sell cheap coffee?" The answer is yes. Have you ever noticed the big drip coffee machine sitting on the counter when you order at Starbucks? The fresh drip coffee it produces, also known as "Coffee of the Week," costs just 20 yuan, and the largest size is only 26 yuan, which makes it cheaper than a grande Americano.

A Coffee That Slipped Everyone's Mind

Yet this coffee only ever appears on the paper menu. Fresh drip coffee rarely shows up on the menu board above the counter, and over time the drip machines stopped carrying signs telling customers which beans were being brewed that week. As a result, plenty of people slowly forgot that Starbucks offered fresh drip coffee at all.

Fresh Brew Drip Coffee Makes a Comeback

It is a shame that fresh drip coffee had been forgotten by everyone. To remind customers that it still exists and to draw fresh attention to the option, Starbucks officially launched an all-new Fresh Brew Drip Coffee on December 7th.

A New Semi-Automatic Brewing System

The new drip coffee is made on a semi-automatic drip machine developed in-house by Starbucks China, brewing one cup at a time. Compared with the old fully automatic machines that pulled large volumes at once, the one-cup-at-a-time approach cuts down on waste and keeps quality more consistent from cup to cup.

There is also no longer a choice of sizes: only a small size is offered, and it is priced below Starbucks' pour-over coffee. For 28 yuan you get a "semi-pour-over coffee" with steadier quality than pour-over, and you no longer have to weigh tall, grande, or venti against each other.

How the New System Works

The newly developed drip machine takes a semi-automatic form made up of two parts: a clever dripper and a timing stand. The barista simply places filter paper and ground coffee in the dripper, performs a first pour for the bloom and a second pour for steeping, covers it with a lid, sets the extraction time, and can then move on to the next drink with confidence. The stand tracks the extraction in real time and automatically opens the clever dripper's valve when extraction is done. Once all the coffee has drained into the cloud pot on the base, the barista can serve it in a cup.

Mixed Reactions from Coffee Lovers

You get the pleasure of pour-over coffee at the price of an Americano. On its first day on sale the drink drew a wave of curious fans, but loyal "Coffee of the Week" drinkers voiced their worries: "This isn't right. You can launch a new product, but why did you have to cancel my favorite Coffee of the Week?"

Many commented: "Is this why you scrapped fresh drip coffee at so many stores? Even before this product launched, plenty of locations had already stopped selling Coffee of the Week, or refused to make it when ordered because they didn't want to clean the machine. Now you've turned the clever dripper into a high-tech gadget and bumped the 20-yuan fresh drip up to 28-yuan Fresh Brew coffee. You've completely ruined my joy of drinking Starbucks."

Credits

Image source: Internet, Weibo.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If the idea of an easy, low-cost everyday cup appeals to you, FrontStreet Coffee's Classic Blend Americano beans are a natural match. Built from Indonesian Mandheling, Brazilian Red Bourbon, and Vietnamese washed beans in a traditional Italian-style recipe, this blend keeps the low-acid, full-bodied, herbal and woody character of Asian coffee while retaining the balanced, smooth, creamy texture of the Americas. It yields aromas of butter, nuts, spice, and dark chocolate, and whether you drink it as an Americano or a latte, its wild character and generous crema are what define it.

For a value-focused daily Americano, FrontStreet Coffee's Dark Cocoa Base Blend pairs Yunnan small-bean coffee with Brazil Cerrado. It brings nut, chocolate, and cream aromas in the cup alongside the ripe acidity of Sanhua plum, with a soft overall body and a friendly price. Its versatility also makes it a strong first choice for anyone opening a coffee shop.