Starbucks is taking a Japanese favorite and mixing it up for summer; also, a great place for traveling coffee lovers to feel at home when they’re away.

Starbucks customers in Japan are getting set to try out a new treat next week: Coffee Jelly Frappuccinos. The name alone is a mouthful, but Starbucks is hoping their Japanese customers will open up to a traditional favorite with a new twist when the drink rolls out next Monday.

I’ve never been to Japan, so this is a new one for me, but I’ve read that coffee jelly is an old favorite for many over there. It’s basically jellied coffee served in a bowl with a dash of sugar and a spot of cream. The jelly is much like the tapioca pearls found resting at the base of the Taiwanese bubble tea. If you don’t mind the sensation of chewing your drink, it’s one you’ll want to try sometime.

Coffee jelly is normally eaten with a spoon and Starbucks already serves the concoction in its Japanese locations. The new frappuccino version will feature a coffee jelly base with the normal frappe treatment of ice, milk, and whipped cream on top. If you’re planning on trying this one out, you’ll have to make your travel plans soon. The drink will only be available for a limited time.

And speaking of traveling…

If you followed this blog last week, you’ll know that I was away visiting friends in the Chesapeake Bay area. The hubby and I stayed in a Hampton Inn, and for a coffee lover, I’m happy to report that it’s a place I can recommend.

I’m not being paid by Hampton Inn to say this (although, that would be nice), but the hotel offered a complimentary coffee bar 24 hours a day in its lobby. It was always fresh and you could pick from regular, decaf, or a “robust” variety.

For me, this solved the “where am I going to get a decent cup of coffee” dilemma that often plagues my trips (and my poor, non-coffee-drinking husband). Even when the hotel offers the in-room coffee maker with its accompanying standard-issue, pre-filtered coffee, I’m still left feeling empty handed. This time around, I found myself going back to enjoy the “robust” a couple times a day.

What about you? Are you happy to enjoy the “utility” coffee most hotels offer in the room or do you go out of your way to find a great cup no matter what the distance? I think I know the answer.

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