Starbucks Bets on Blonde Blend

The traditional blend of Starbucks' pike roast too bitter for you? Well the national chain debuted a tamer brew Tuesday and invited java lovers to try it out.

The corporate HQ touts it as "lighter-bodied and mellow," as the coffee is "subtle and soft with mellow acidity, (which delivers) an approachable and flavorful cup with slight hints of roast."

"It took eight months and more than 80 different recipe and roast iterations before we landed on the exact flavor profile our customers told us they were looking for," master roaster Brad Anderson said in a news release. "They told us they wanted a flavorful, lighter-bodied coffee that offers a milder taste and a gentle finish."

Verdana and willow blends exist.

Taste tests at will occur: Thursday and Friday from 7 to 10 a.m., and Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

For more information, visit the Starbucks website.