The Philippines will join Japan as the second country in Asia to offer Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew starting September 15, 2010.  Starbucks Japan launched Starbucks VIA last April and has sold more than 10 million sticks since then.

So What Is Starbucks VIA Ready Brew?

Is it just another instant coffee, perhaps a little more classier?

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew - Columbia Variety

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew is said to be made from high-quality 100% natural roasted arabica beans in instant and microground form.

Since it is yet to be available, we can only guess the actual taste. But based on the description, Starbucks VIA Ready Brew sets a high expectation of the product being made with “100 percent natural roasted arabica coffee.” We know for a fact that arabica coffee holds much flavor than most other specie of coffee beans.

The Starbucks VIA Ready Brew varieties that will be available in all Starbucks Philippines coffee shops are Colombia, Italian Roast and Decaffeinated Italian Roast.

“Other instant coffees taste flat and lifeless. Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew is different – it’s full-bodied and flavorful, just like the Starbucks® coffee you know and love… We microgrind the coffee in a way that preserves all of their essential oils and flavor.” – starbucks.com

How To Prepare Your Starbucks Instant Coffee (Photo from Starbucks.com)

On Market Opportunities

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew - Italian Roast Variety

Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) announced that the Philippines will be the fourth market to offer Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew.

“We know there is a significant opportunity in the Philippines marketplace for Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew since nearly 100 percent of retail coffee sales come from instant coffee*,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and ceo, Starbucks Coffee Company.  “We know rapid innovation for Starbucks VIA® and creating opportunities to further increase awareness and trial of Starbucks VIA® broadens our overall customer base both in the U.S. and in international markets.”

Just like a fresh-brewed cup of Starbucks® coffee, Starbucks VIA® is made with a proprietary, U.S. patent-pending technology to preserve the coffee’s flavor. We can expect more varieties in the future as Starbucks pursue innovation around the Starbucks VIA® platform.

Judgement

Surely, Starbucks Coffee fans and patrons in the Philippines will flock Starbucks coffee stores on September 15 in anticipation of the arrival of Starbucks VIA Ready Brew. What do you think? Will Colombia, Italian Roast or the Decaffeinated Italian Roast variety capture the Filipino Starbucks lover’s taste? 🙂