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Breaking: Delta Air Lines to add Seattle's Best Coffee
You don't have to fly first-class to get the best coffee on Delta Air Lines. Starting March 1st, Delta's brand will be Seattles Best Coffee. That might not sound like a really big deal but it took a lot of work to make that happen.
Coffee is best when brewed with water that is 197 degrees, just shy of boiling. The problem with brewing coffee in flight (you were right, there was a problem) is that at 30,000 feet, the altitude affects barometric pressure and how hot water reacts to coffee. Enter the Green Coffee Quality Team at Seattles Best Coffee.
Coffee expert Kim Giroir from Seattles Best quality team told Gadling they experimented with a bunch of different blends and finally came up with what they call "Level 4" coffee that is just right for brewing in the sky.
When Seattle's Best says they want to "bring great coffee everywhere" that's not just a slogan. Back at the Research and Development labs at Seattles Best, they brewed test blends in a barometric chamber, mimicing the conditions of brewing in the air.
It's been a meticulously tedious process finding the right blend but taste tests in November had all the cabin crew buzzing about the new coffee. That's nothing new to the coffee company that relaunched it's brand at Starbucks headquarters in May.
Delta is no stranger to fine cuisine either, taking in-flight dining seriously for quite some time now, especially in their BusinessElite product.
As the official airline of the Food Network New York Wine and Food Festival, Delta Air Lines brought along its roster of six consulting chefs to venues throughout the event.
In 2006, Delta revealed an on-board menu created by celerity chef Michelle Bernstein. As Delta's consulting chef, Bernstein designed entrees and side dishes which became part of Delta's continued effort to enhance its BusinessElite product, creating a more inviting and entertaining experience.
In 2007, Delta tapped top chef Todd English to create selections for its food-for-purchase menu being developed for customers flying in its Coach Class on flights within the United States.
"The back of the plane is where the real challenge is," said English, adding that he plans to help Delta devise business-class meals in the future.
In 2009 hand-served entrees and signature dishes created by Miami celebrity chef Michele Bernstein and master sommelier Andrea Robinson, expanded dessert options and improved Japanese meal options created by Delta's flight kitchen in Tokyo.
After all that, a good cup of coffee just made sense.
Filed under: Business, Food and Drink, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, United States, Airlines, News, Travel Health, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nick Feb 8th 2011 9:22AM
Arch enemy? Or...subsidiary?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle's_Best_Coffee
Fact checking is fundamental.
Danielle Feb 8th 2011 2:14PM
Wow stepping up the coffee huh? They'll probably start charging more for tickets. Ha.
Danielle Feb 8th 2011 3:41PM
This is the 4th TIME - thanks to this stupid site editing comments as always; what I have been trying to share is, they'll probably start charging higher prices for tickets.
EDIT: Danielle, your comments are edited "on this stupid site" because you are using Gadling to spread spam. Our commenting system is here to comment on articles, not to link to your freebie site. We aggressively target spammers here and will continue to edit ALL comments that are left with the sole purpose of spamming.
Danielle Feb 8th 2011 5:26PM
I was seriously just trying to tell people (as I would to a friend) that there is free coffee available right now on the website Save Creatively (which sadly you seem to be considering as spam). I think more people would appreciate knowing about things that are useful in comments. I visit Gadling often and am happy anytime someone shares something of value in their comments.
guessswwwhooo Feb 8th 2011 3:07PM
nice, I'll have to try it next time I fly! I had an exceptional service last time I flew Delta from East to West coast. Delta has improved much over the years.
Roxy Feb 8th 2011 4:59PM
Coffee??? When I saw the headline I thought it would some fancy cocktail. My brother is flying Delta (International) next month on vacation, I was hoping to report something new and exciting but coffee?? How well does that go with the package of pretzels? I remember when drinks were complimentary and if you were flying at least 2 hours, you got a meal. Now you can't even bring on your own sandwich!
suz Feb 8th 2011 7:51PM
No one keeps you from bringing your own sandwich on board. I do so everytime I fly.
xtent Feb 8th 2011 5:00PM
I can't fathom why people can't seem to go on a 6 hour flight without eating or drinking. What would they do in a real emergency of no food or water?
John G Feb 8th 2011 5:13PM
Is it just the pressure in my head or was the 30,000 feet tossed in to make it more of challenge for the coffee pot? I thought all airliners were pressurized to a consistent and much, much lower altitude which would seem to mean, blending the appropriate coffee would be a fairly trivial exercise. Am I wrong?
michael Feb 8th 2011 7:22PM
coffee??????????????????????????????
Andy Feb 8th 2011 5:41PM
Thank God it's not Starbuck's coffee!!!!!!!!
Pat Feb 8th 2011 7:12PM
You sure about that? Starbucks owns Seattle Best.
liguy Feb 8th 2011 6:05PM
I agree with Xtent. The airlines could save a lot and pass on the savings to customers if everyone could do without food or a fancy beverage for just a few hours. The plane cabins would be a lot cleaner and more sanitary too.
Albert J. Reine Feb 8th 2011 6:26PM
Most travlers would rather have better service from the Airlines, including Delta ! This ( was once Great Airline) that had very good service, and Southern Hospitalty, Time and blaming (911) seems to be a Norm for EXCUSES ! No longer is Delta my choice, I will continue with Alaska Airlines, and American. Japan airlines is still my favorite. Great Service, Polite, Good Food, and very Clean Cabins.
M Feb 8th 2011 6:39PM
D.E.L.T.A. Delayed Even Later Than American.
bruzbiz Feb 8th 2011 7:15PM
Screw the coffee how about a flight thats not over booked and not leaving passengers at gates .
Joeynach Feb 8th 2011 7:19PM
Someone might want to tell the author of this article that Coffee brewed on airplanes is not brewed at 30,000+ ft. If he didnt notice modern airliners have pressurized cabins and I believe most aircraft pressurize their cabins to equivalent of about 8000 feet. I believe the 787 is going to cut than in half to about 4000 feet in order to make the cabin more comfortable for passengers, but nonetheless brewing coffee on an airliner is not brewing coffee at 35K cruising altitude. Silly non expert writer.
Chuck Feb 8th 2011 8:15PM
With Delta you can count on a steak that is closer to pot roast than steak, and coffee so weak you can see the bottom of the cup. I fly to Europe twice a year in business class and have yet to get a decent cup of coffee on Delta. Flying the same route on Air France (Delta's partner on some flights to Europe) the food and coffee are much better.
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