Alaska Airlines Partners with Stumptown for Custom In-Flight Coffee Blend

Alaska Airlines and Stumptown Coffee Roasters unveil a specialized coffee blend, addressing airborne coffee's taste challenges and aiming to elevate in-flight beverage experiences.

Alaska Airlines formulated a custom blend with the Oregon-based coffee roaster and retailer as a solution. It has struck a deal with Stumptown to produce a coffee that can resist the altitude-changing effects in coffees being served while airborne. It was said that most of the complaints from passengers are either weak or bitter taste of the caffeine-infused beverage.

Alaska Airlines' Custom Coffee Release

As per CNN Business, the creation of a custom coffee is a first with a major airline, and it will be served first by Alaska Airlines starting Dec. 1. All of the air carrier's flights, including its Horizon Air unit, will serve this new Stumptown coffee to passengers.

This new coffee blend has been specially made for dry conditions at 30,000 feet up in the air. Passengers may select from dark chocolate and cherry flavors, which are expected best to complement the Biscoff cookies on Alaska Airlines flights.

"On a plane, because the environment is quite arid, your sense of smell and taste are diminished," Stumptown Coffee's director of education and training operations, Emily Rosenberg, said in a statement. "We made some adjustments to arrive at the coffee and roast approach that would perform well in those conditions."

Taste of Alaska Airlines' Stumptown Coffee

Food & Wine reported that the new coffee blend is sweeter and offers more roast character. Stumptown described its custom blend for Alaska Airlines as different from its signature blend because the flavor is mellow, toasted, and balanced with marshmallow, a hint of cherry, brown butter, and toffee.

"Having flown millions of miles fueled by countless cups of coffee, Stumptown stands out as a first-class," Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines' CEO, said in a press release. "Like travel, coffee has a remarkable way of bringing people together. I can't wait for our guests and employees to enjoy a cup of Stumptown when they fly with us."

Photo by: Alaska Airline Press Release