# Starbucks Gets Pricier, Fancier Brewed to Order Premium Blend By Going Like Sixty | Published 2008-02-19 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/proven-marketing-strategy-starbucks-testing-premium-blend-higher-price References: [seattlepi.nwsource](http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/351380_sbux15.html) [Starbucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pairings-value-menu) thinks you should spend more on your cuppa. In Seattle they are testing a 12 oz up of "fresh-pressed" coffee at $2.50 each and calling it a premium product. "The new Starbucks drink, made in a machine that brews each cup individually, may become part of Chief Executive Howard Schultz's plan to increase traffic in the more than 15,000 stores of the world's largest coffee chain," Seattlepi said. Since their regular brew is $2.25, that seems to qualify. When is the last time you paid $1.55 for anything at Starbucks? [McDonald's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-mccaf-cold-brew) and [Dunkin' Donuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/free-iced-drink) are cutting into their market share and this is SBUX reaction. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 9% | Activity: 38% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Premium Coffee Trend:** Starbucks is testing a premium brewed to order coffee to increase foot traffic and customer spend. - **Customization Trend:** Individual brewing machine allows Starbucks to cater customers' taste profiles. - **Luxury Coffee Trend:** Starbucks is charging $2.50 for 12 oz of fresh-pressed coffee, signalling a potential shift towards luxury coffee. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Coffee Industry:** Starbucks' premium coffee offering is positioning the coffee giant to tap into the luxury coffee segment. - **Fast Food Industry:** As competition increases from McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks' shift towards luxury coffee is an opportunity to differentiate itself from fast food chains. - **Retail Industry:** Starbucks' potential plan to increase traffic and higher customer spend could impact in-store retail sales and collaborations. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Self-Serve Cafe Machine Updates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/costa-express.md) - [Premium Coffee Pod Introductions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-keurig-coffee-collective.md) - [Low-Cost Cafe Meal Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pairings-value-menu.md) - [Bespoke QSR Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/summer-drinks-1.md) - [Convenient Cafe RTD Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-readytodrink-range.md) - [Ready-to-Drink Carton-Packed Coffees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-chilled-coffee.md) - [$1,000 Coffee Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/expensive-coffee.md) - [Proprietary Drink-Making Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/siren-system.md) - [Ready-to-Drink Protein Coffees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-protein-drink-with-coffee.md)