WTF..where is my Starbucks Africa Kitamu coffee??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dont bother complaining to Starbucks, I have contacted their customer service dept and it is confirmed Africa Kitamu is discontinued. Starbucks did say that the coffee that is closest to the Africa Kitamu is the "Kenya" coffee, available in 12 ounce bags. I have yet to see that coffee in the supermarket, althought its probably available at a local Starbucks store or at Starbucks company online store.

If you still want to use your Tassimo machine, im afraid you will have to abandon your beloved Starbucks coffee. What most people dont know is, Kraft Foods company, OWNS TASSIMO coffee machine company, and has the rights to package the coffees sold for use in Tassimo coffee makers. Kraft did not aggressively market the sale of Tassimo coffee machines , in comparison to Keurig Company, with their single serving K-cup machines. Keurig has captured about 80% of the market. Starbucks company felt that they were losing out by staying with Tassimo. So Starbucks and Kraft dissolved their business relationship. Shortly afterward Starbucks made a business agreement with Keurig to market Starbucks coffee in the K-cup for use in their coffeemakers.

I also have a Tassimo machine and i bought a bunch of that coffee from Bed Bath & Beyond before they sold it out. I am on my last pack.
I had bought a Keurig machine assuming that i would be able to buy the Africa Kitamu in K-cups, but its not going to happen. There are some Starbucks coffees offered in K-cups but not Africa Kitamu.

What i did do, is watch Ebay for the coffee that we really like! and every so often, someone does have some Africa Kitamu on auction. Single serving packets like they have in hotels, or sometimes a t-disc pack will show up on auction. I just bought some 12ounce bags of ground Africa Kitamu coffee on Ebay. And also bought a box of disposable K-cups . It consists of plastic cartridge cups,paper filters, and lids. You just throw them out after each use, like the-discs. Only difference is that you have to fill it. Keurig also makes a re-useable "my K-Cup" but that one doesnt have a filter so you got get involved with wet coffee grounds mess. I opted for the disposable one.
http://www.amazon.com/DisposaCups-Disposable-Keurig%C2%AE-Brewers-Filters/dp/B004K30HO2
So even though i bought a single cup Keurig machine, i am going backward in time, by using ground coffee and having to make my own k-cups. But it doesnt seem to be too much of a bother if i can still enjoy the Africa Kitamu coffee!!

Whatever you decide to do i wish you the best.

Just saw this. Screw S-bucks for discontinuing it...my fellow Kitamu lovers, please keep calling and asking for it. There is power in numbers. I want my Kitamu. I will continue to ask about it. Do plan to try Kenya if I can find it. Thanks for that tip.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone found anything like Africa Kitamu? I have it whenever I'm at a Starwood property and I love it, but it seems finding it in the future isn't likely (unless I can get a hold of a Sheraton in room brewer and buy the single packs). Has anyone found anything remotely like it, particularly in a k cup? I would guess other African coffees would be a place to start but this stuff is so good, I don't know why they don't sell it regularly (and I'm not really a coffee drinker).

[Anonymous]

Well i have been using the homemade k-cups for a while now, and i must say that in order for me to get the same strength coffee that i used to get from the Tassimo, i need to make [2] cups of coffee each using 6 ounces of water and using [2] k-cups, were i used to get by with using just 1 T-Disc with the Tassimo [cause they held more coffee].

I used 1 bag of ground Africa Kitamu to make 50 k-cups. big savings compared to buying t-discs.

i bought 10 bags from the seller on EBay and put it in the freezer until i need to make some more k-cups. So that should last for some time. But i still look for Starbucks Africa Kitamu on Ebay. If the person selling isnt a thief, and is asking a reasonable price, then i think its worth buying. I spent like like $11 a bag. Amazon had it listed t-disc package for $219 !!! thats crazy.

If i cant find any more Africa Kitamu i might try the Starbucks Sumatra coffee which is available in both K-cup and bagged coffee from Starbucks and can be found in stores like Bed Bath and Beyond. Never tasted it but might consider it. Still want to stay with Starbucks. Good luck guys. Take Care.

[Anonymous]

hello-can i jump in? i live in florida & they took the african kitamu off the shelves last year in all publix's.
i was stunned-called corporate & was told it was a Starbucks decision.
well, i called, posted, lobbied-but to no avail.
yes there is strength in numbers-i LOVED this blend-
u r right-it is floral, strong, subtle, smooth-
allthe things i want in a coffee (& possibly a guy, but that's ano story)-
i must admit-my posting on Starbucks got no sympathy, just people
telling me to get over it & move on-
well, i have moved on, but i haven't gotten over it-
funny to see now how i am not the only looney in this bin!

[Anonymous]

I just had some Africa Kitamu for in room coffee service at the Westin Hotel BWI Airport. So there is hope. I love Starbucks, however, I can't wait around forever for them to bring back my favorite coffee. Try Peet's Uzuri African Blend. I promise you that it is VERY similar and you will love it. I have 8 bags of it in my pantry now as I stock up on it when it's on sale at Giant supermarket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hello-can i jump in? i live in florida & they took the african kitamu off the shelves last year in all publix's.
i was stunned-called corporate & was told it was a Starbucks decision.
well, i called, posted, lobbied-but to no avail.
yes there is strength in numbers-i LOVED this blend-
u r right-it is floral, strong, subtle, smooth-
allthe things i want in a coffee (& possibly a guy, but that's ano story)-
i must admit-my posting on Starbucks got no sympathy, just people
telling me to get over it & move on-
well, i have moved on, but i haven't gotten over it-
funny to see now how i am not the only looney in this bin!

LOL-I am not the only die hard Kitamu lover. Your post is hilarious and your description of my beloved Africa Kitamu is perfect. I too worked hard to get it back and people scoffed. Welcome to the looney bin. Wish we could meet for some Africa Kitamu coffee in Florida because we're expecting snow here, so FLA would be much more fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just had some Africa Kitamu for in room coffee service at the Westin Hotel BWI Airport. So there is hope. I love Starbucks, however, I can't wait around forever for them to bring back my favorite coffee. Try Peet's Uzuri African Blend. I promise you that it is VERY similar and you will love it. I have 8 bags of it in my pantry now as I stock up on it when it's on sale at Giant supermarket.

Yes, even if after it was discontinued my husband occasionally brought some home from business trips. Maybe it was indeed Westin he stayed at.

I'm all over the Peet's Uzuri Africa Blend. It's at GIANT? You have made me a happy and soon to be highly cefeinatted lady! THANK YOU!! Must try!!

[Anonymous]

Starbucks African Kitamu is by far my all-time favorite coffee! I hope Starbucks will find a way to at least make it a seasonal or limited availability offering in their stores.

[Anonymous]

I just tried the African Kitamu at a Westin last week. Now I'm crazy for it! So sad it's discontinued!

[Anonymous]

I may have to find a contact email for Starbucks so I can forward this thread. Chant it with me...

Bring back Africa Kitamu...
Bring Back Africa Kitamu!

[Anonymous]

I have never seen such an out-pouring over a coffee, but if there is going to be one, Africa Kitamu is certainly derserving of it. IT'S THE BEST COFFEE I'VE EVER HAD. I keep reading that Starbuck's discontinued Africa Kitamu, but does anyone know why? Will Starbucks tell you? It seems very odd that perhaps their best selling and most loved coffee would be discontinued. I know that Starbucks invests/contracts with local growers around the world, so maybe they split with their growers? Also, several African coffee plantations were stricken by drought and basically destroyed. Maybe that is the reason? I just find this very strange that Starbucks is not being very informative about this especidally with all the inquiry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never seen such an out-pouring over a coffee, but if there is going to be one, Africa Kitamu is certainly derserving of it. IT'S THE BEST COFFEE I'VE EVER HAD. I keep reading that Starbuck's discontinued Africa Kitamu, but does anyone know why? Will Starbucks tell you? It seems very odd that perhaps their best selling and most loved coffee would be discontinued. I know that Starbucks invests/contracts with local growers around the world, so maybe they split with their growers? Also, several African coffee plantations were stricken by drought and basically destroyed. Maybe that is the reason? I just find this very strange that Starbucks is not being very informative about this especidally with all the inquiry.

OP here...glad to see my thread continues to be revived! I tried the Pete's coffee that someone said was similar and sadly it was just like any other coffee to me. My heart belongs to Africa Kitamu. The only reason I could think of why they won't bring it back is maybe it has crack cocaine in it and that's why it gave me so much energy and made me so addicted (horrible joke I know). Haven't some flavors been around forever?

Isn't there some petition website? Maybe we should create a petition to get Starbucks to bring back Africa Kitamu !

[Anonymous]

The Sumatra is the best

[Anonymous]

I just tried the African Kitamu coffee in a hotel in the Florida Keys! I absolutely love it... been looking around for it as well... I did manage to bring home a couple packets and saw the expiration date on the package said 8/2013.. must be an old coffee, no wonder I cannot find it in stores or Starbucks and that its discontinued...I did find some websites like Amazon that carry it...

[Anonymous]

Good news: Africa Kitamu is available at Safeway, Vons, Dominicks, Tom Thumb, Randalls for a limited time right now