It's pretty hard to run out for a cup of coffee when you're 30,000 feet up in the air.
However, some airline passengers seem willing to take that leap, given all the horror stories we're hearing about airplane java, which is allegedly so bad that frequent fliers may want to join the mile dive club.
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While a good cup of coffee has been described as "a hug in a mug", the stuff that most airlines serve is reputedly more like a cuppa yukka.
“Airplane coffee is often a joke for many travelers,” Edward Russell, editor of the Airline Weekly newsletter for travel industry publication Skift, told CNN. “That’s why airlines often try to up their game with various global coffee brands; despite that, most onboard options are mediocre.”
New coffee? Nice. @stumptowncoffee is coming on board! The iconic third-wave Portland roastery created a custom blend just for us—and it’s specifically crafted to be enjoyed at 30,000+ feet. Sip our new brew on board starting this holiday season. ☕️ https://t.co/0kTYXCAlvC pic.twitter.com/gzebPYKCKQ
— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) October 11, 2023
'Awesome news'
Well, fasten your seatbelts and put down those parachutes, coffee lovers, because Alaska Airlines (ALK) -) wants to be the place to go for a good cup of joe.
The airline has created a custom blend with Portland-based roaster Stumptown to make a coffee that’s immune from the altitude-changing effects that airborne-served coffee typically creates, including tasting bitter and weak.
The custom coffee, said to be a first for a major airline, will exclusively be served on every Alaska flight, including its regional carrier Horizon Air, by Dec. 1.
"Awesome news, I might take a flight just to try a cup!," one person said on X, formerly Twitter. "Usually black, but maybe with a splash of Crater Lake on vacation. The airline coffee competition is over before it even started!"
Taste and smell are inextricably combined and people’s sense of smell is significantly altered in the sky. Food and drinks taste different because pressurized cabins lower blood oxygen levels, which reduces the ability of olfactory receptors, or the ability to smell.
The extremely dry air of the cabin, with humidity levels lower than that of the Sahara Desert, also affects your schnozzola.
Something's brewing
So, Alaska turned to Stumptown’s Holler Mountain, a medium-dark blend, for the base, then infused it with punchier notes that taste like marshmallows, browned butter and toffee as well as a “delicate hint” of citrus oils and cherry essence.
Alaska Airlines told CNN that the coffee has been in development for a year, and that 20 different versions were tested, including during flights and with blind surveys. The air carrier even taste-tested the blend with creamer and Biscoff cookies to “ensure the best combination.”
“It’s exceptionally smooth and balanced, with aromatic notes of toasted marshmallows, browned butter and toffee with delicate hints of citrus and cherry,” Alaska said, according to Daily Coffee News. “Additionally, Stumptown dialed in this roast to be delicious when served black or with the addition of creamer or oat milk.”
Alaska passengers can also find Stumptown coffees at the airline’s Portland and JFK lounges, including Holler Mountain for brewed coffee and Stumptown’s Hair Bender blend for espresso. The coffee company’s Trapper Creek blend will be used for decaf.
Of course, this arrangement with Stumptown means that Alaska Airlines is bumping Starbucks (SBUX) -) from the cabin after a decade-long partnership.
Alaska said it is “grateful to our friends at Starbucks and proud to have served their coffee on board our flights for years.”
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