Milano Sole and Milano Luna are the names of two new coffee bean roasts that are being integrated into the Starbucks product portfolio. Under the moniker Milano Duetto, the two musicians made their debut in cafés around the country on October 1. Starbucks’ Milano Duetto roasts are a tribute to the Italian influence that the company draws from.
After spending some time in Italy during the 1980s, Howard Shultz, who was serving as the head of operations and marketing at the time, fell in love with the coffee culture that was prevalent in that nation. When he got back to the United States, he had a plan to reproduce the Italian café experience at Starbucks, which the business refers to as the “third place.”
French presses that were identical to one another were used to make both the Milano Sole and the Luna beers. Because I am a passionate coffee lover who often drinks my coffee black and without sugar, I was asked to try out the Milano Duetto and determine whether or not the roasts measure up to the claims made in their advertising.
There is no difference between the Milano Duetto Luna and Sole blends; both are made from the same combination of Colombian and Sumatra coffee beans; the only thing that differentiates them is the roasting method used for the coffees.
Starbucks coffee developer Sergio Alvarez, who has been with the company for 15 years after beginning his career as a part-time barista, explained that the company wanted to highlight the differences and similarities between the history of Starbucks, which is represented by the dark Luna roast, and the tradition of Italy, which is represented by the light Sole.
Alvarez revealed that in order to get the ideal brew, their crew samples between 300 and 500 cups of coffee on a weekly basis over the course of their work. The opposing pair, which is the result of a joint effort between roasters in Milan and Seattle, is ready to be shared with the rest of the world after having been shown for the first time at the Milano Reserve Roastery in May of 2024.
Individual bags of whole bean coffee weighing 250 grams (or 8.81 ounces) and priced at $9.95 each are available for purchase. The Milano Luna and Milano Sole roasts are also available. In addition, those who enjoy drinking coffee will have the opportunity to order a cup of either roast that has been prepared at any Starbucks shop in the United States throughout the month of October.
This will provide them with the opportunity to “try before they buy,” so to speak, and ensure that the roast is the one that best suits their preferences.
In addition, certain Starbucks shops will be providing sampling of the Milano Duetto when it is available. In the event that a client is interested in attending one, they should contact their neighborhood coffee shop to inquire about whether or not there will be any events conducted there or at another Starbucks location in the vicinity.
I am able to tell right off the start that the Milano Sole roast is not something that I would like drinking. It would be more appropriate to say “coffee,” if I may. The scent is subtle, fruity, and somewhat acidic; it is very much in accordance with what you would anticipate from a light roast that has been roasted.
What I anticipated based on the aroma is that the flavor would be substantially smoother and less acidic than it actually is, and the body is rather thin. It has a flavor that is similar to that of a typical cup of coffee from a bodega or corner shop, but not in a negative way. Despite the fact that Sergio Alvarez stated that it is fantastic when made iced, the flavor starts to turn a little bit acidic for my liking as it drops in temperature.
Despite the fact that they do not like their coffee black, another writer mentioned that they found this blend to be more accessible. In every sense of the term, you might say that it was too light for me.
Starbucks Milan Luna is a soothing vessel
The Milano Luna roast has a strong aroma of dessert, which reminds me of sweets made with caramelized sugar, such as crème brûlée or Basque cheesecake that has been recently torched. This roast strikes me as significantly more my pace.
Once again, the body is quite thin, although it is not as thin as the Sole roast, which is a positive aspect of this roast. There is very little to no acidity, and the taste is robust and profound. This is something that I could picture myself drinking while eating some pastries. In conclusion, there are a few notes that are somewhat burned, and the finale becomes a little murky, but not in a way that is completely disagreeable.
When it came to releasing this roast, Starbucks could not have chosen a more opportune moment. It has a really warm and inviting atmosphere, and I have no doubt that people will enjoy drinking this beverage again and again as the days go shorter.
Are the new Starbucks Milano Duetto coffee roasts suitable for you?
When taken as a whole, the Luna and the Sole roasts from Milano Duetto are both pleasurable and approachable to drink. Both the light roast and the dark roast are inoffensive versions of what they purport to be: a light roast and a dark roast. However, I personally preferred the Luna, which was more robust and had less acidity.
Which of these cups of coffee do you think is the greatest I’ve ever had? But they are not even close to being the worst. Both of these are a little bit thinner and have less taste than I would like, but I can understand how they will appeal to a large number of people.
However, the Milano Duetto will fulfill the requirements of the general customer or someone who is simply seeking for a nice cup of coffee. Coffee enthusiasts will need to check their excessive expectations at the door.