I love Black Friday. For me and my family its like an unofficial holiday. We stay up late, shop all morning, and look forward to a long day to get ahead of the holiday rush. As parents now, our methods have changed to accommodate the little ones, but our fun with shopping the day after Thanksgiving has never diminished.
This year, we actually found the majority of our purchases online. Which with two children {ages 1 & 4} it really proved helpful. It was a surprising benefit as well, since it seems an {unfortunate} trend to shop sales as early as Thursday now. So this year I relished time with family and went home to shop online into the early morning hours. After what is best described as a nap by some, I was back up bright and early to head to Sam’s Club by 7:30 that morning.
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No need to stop to buy a hot coffee to wake me up on the way either. It turns out a few days prior, I’d received an email from Starbucks {I had previously subscribed} notifying me that Sam’s Club would be having a delicious beginning to my day. Awaiting my arrival would be the limited edition Starbucks Holiday Blend and Artisan Fresh cinnamon rolls! Needless to say, this event was certainly a Black Friday treat!
As I navigated a full parking lot, I was initially concerned that waiting till 7:30 a.m. would mean mean missing breakfast along with the initial crowds. My worries were quite unnecessary as I quickly discovered a rather calm and orderly shoppers delight. Already knowing about the breakfast, I planned on heading straight towards the bakery section. And true enough, as soon as I rounded the eager people in the Electronics section, I saw a sign further directing me towards the rear of the store.
A welcoming {and short} line of hungry people wound its way around from the sampling station. Two busy ladies worked together and utilized a 2-pot BUNN system to brew up the coffee. This system brews fast, so they should have compensated with extra grounds to keep the coffee more flavorful. Regardless, who’s going to complain about FREE coffee? Not I, that is for sure! {LOL}.
A second table held a few bags of the Starbucks Holiday Blend to display what coffee was brewing. I was a bit surprised that there wasn’t a larger display for purchasing the coffee. In fact, the only other place to find it was by the coffee aisle on the opposite side of the store. The large cinnamon rolls were also sold out within 45 minutes from opening. What I thought odd, {besides not stocking up for the event} was that normally there are always displays of product to easily take or choose from. That wasn’t the case for this event.
Plated with bananas and apples, the cinnamon roll did more to pair with the fruit then the coffee. I found a spot to set down my impromptu meal and was able to enjoy it before returning to my Black Friday shopping. All together this was a brilliant idea and wonderful treat for Sam’s Club customers. There was even a second coffee station placed near the exit doors so patrons could have another cup to-go! {Thank you, and YES please!} As I drove out and past my local Starbucks I had to chuckle. No worries for my local Baristas till Sam’s Club can give me my Starbucks espresso and latte fix too!
After returning home to two {very} awake little ones, I knew brewing up my Starbucks Holiday Blend was a definite. And of course I made sure to break open the Artisan Fresh cinnamon rolls for everyone to enjoy. At this point I get to confess that I bought my cinny rolls the night before Thanksgiving. {Oh come on…did you SEE that event promo?} Plus we were at Sam’s Club to buy our Thanksgiving pies so I simply multi-tasked in the bakery section. But I saved buying my Holiday Blend till I would be shopping on Friday.
Turns out I was smart, who’d have thought they wouldn’t have an adequate supply handy? Anyhoo, as the kids dug into their sweet treat, I cradled my new Holiday Blend and ventured into the kitchen. Normally I buy whole beans to grind fresh at home for each use, but that wasn’t being stocked for the Holiday Blend. Regardless, I stood inhaling deeply from the open bag of seasonal grounds as my Classic Pour-Over Brewer crafted its magic for me. {I also have the Keurig eco-filter but I like the slow brew taste better when brewing fresh grounds myself.}
I replaced our conventional drip-machine with the pour-over method about a year ago. This way, no matter the grind, I can always brew up a great cup of coffee. Not to mention saving a ton of counter space! Now being allowed to slowly brew, the Limited Edition Starbucks Holiday Blend does not disappoint.
Whether black or with added cream you’ll love the how well Starbucks blends its aged Sumatran beans with a sweet finish. All while still encompassing a full-bodied coffee that makes me weak in the knees. The flavors are more smooth when served hot. But when allowed to chill, the complimentary flavors like cloves and nutmeg pop. For me its like drinking a spiced pumpkin pie.
And I have to say that the Artisan Fresh brand by Sam’s Club really lives up to its name. No longer distracted by the fruit, the cinnamon rolls were an amazing glazed sweet bread, rolled up with a decadent amount of cinnamon spices. Soft and chewy, these cinnamon pastries make you forget that the center is the best part.
Paired then with the Starbucks Holiday Blend, these two combine perfectly. The coffee picks up where the pastry glaze leaves off and your taste-buds are flooded with a seasonally spiced sweetness. Its amazing how complimentary foods can come together to create a whole new level of tasty indulgence. In short, this is a great treat and blend for everyone this holiday season!
Want to know more about the Starbucks and Sam’s Club and the different ways to create your own? Then take a minute to check out the links below for more great ideas on how to create your own kinds of delicious pairings!
Starbucks on Twitter & Facebook
Sam’s Club on Twitter & Facebook
For more information on the Collective Bias Social Fabric Community click the link provided or the disclosure below.
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting says
Ohhhhhh I can almost taste the coffee through the screen!
Dawn says
Yummy! I will be right over. 🙂
Dawn
Sharon says
I would have been surprised that the line wasn’t longer too.. But what a great idea for stores to do for their early morning shoppers! Love coffee in the morning!
Amanda Taylor @ Survival Guide by The Working Mom says
I am DEFINITELY a Starbucks Holiday Blend fan now. I told my husband this morning that we are going to have to stock up for the year! haha
jenny at dapperhouse says
WOW! Great post. That was so nice of them to have a sweet treat and coffee set up! I LOVE STARBUCKS…I hope I get their Holiday Blend under my tree 🙂