Brewing Coffee With Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo: A Guide

The Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo is a single-cup coffee maker that uses ground coffee and dispenses directly into an included 16-ounce thermal travel mug. It has a small footprint on a kitchen counter and features a permanent filter. The machine can be programmed to brew a cup up to 24 hours in advance, and it also has a Time Since Brewed mode that tells you how much time has elapsed since the coffee was made, so you know if you want to make a fresh cup.

How to use Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo for the first time

To use the Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo for the first time, you should first check that you have all the parts listed in the product's description of parts. Once you've done that, you can start cleaning your coffee maker.

Cleaning the Coffee Maker for the First Time

• Prepare a solution of one cup of white vinegar and one cup of cold water.
• Flip open the splash-proof lid on the tumbler cover and lock it into the "open" position.
• Push the thermal tumbler into the brewing area of the coffee maker.
• Brew the solution and discard it.
• Allow the machine to cool for at least 15 minutes.
• Wash and rinse the water reservoir and thermal tumbler with warm water.
• Repeat the process until there is no vinegar smell from the water.

Seasoning the Coffee Maker

Brew a batch of coffee and discard it.

Setting the Clock

Press and hold the "H" button to set the hour, then press and hold the "M" button to set the minute.

Brewing Coffee

• Choose the right coffee beans—top-quality Arabica beans are recommended.
• Twist the tumbler cover on the thermal tumbler and snap it into the locked position.
• Flip open the splash-proof lid on the thermal tumbler and snap it into the open position.
• Pour water into the water reservoir.
• Press the "On/Off" button, and the coffee will begin to brew.
• The machine will automatically shut off when the brewing process is complete.

Time Since Brewed Mode

After brewing, the timer display will show how long the coffee has been sitting for up to five hours.

Programming the Automatic Timer

• Press and hold the "Program" button until the time flashes and you hear two beeps.
• Press the "H" and "M" buttons until the display shows the desired brewing time.
• Press the "Auto On" button.

Enjoy your coffee!

How to clean the coffee maker

To clean the Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo coffee maker, first wipe down the exterior of the thermal tumbler and the coffee maker with a damp cloth, then dry thoroughly.

It is recommended that you descale the machine every two to three months, depending on how hard your water is. You will need to use a descaling solution or a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar and cold water.

First, open the splash-proof lid on the tumbler cover and lock it into the "open" position. Then, push the thermal tumbler into the brewing area of the coffee machine. Next, pour the descaling solution or vinegar mixture into the water reservoir. Run the brew cycle and allow the machine to cool for at least 15 minutes. Finally, hand wash and rinse the water reservoir and thermal tumbler with warm water. Repeat this process until there is no vinegar smell or descaling solution smell from the water.

How to season the coffee maker

To season the Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo coffee maker, follow these steps:

Firstly, it is important to note that the machine should be cleaned regularly. If used daily, it is recommended to clean the machine about once a month. Occasional coffee drinkers can get away with cleaning their machine every three to six months. However, if you notice visible buildup or your coffee tastes bitter or "off", it's time to clean your coffee maker.

To clean the machine, fill the reservoir with a 50:50 mixture of white distilled vinegar and water. If there is a lot of buildup, you can increase the ratio of vinegar. The vinegar will sanitise the machine and dissolve any mineral deposits. Place a filter in the basket and turn on the brewer. Halfway through the brewing cycle, turn off the machine and let the vinegar solution soak for 30-60 minutes, depending on how much buildup there is.

Then, turn the machine back on to finish the cycle. Remove the filter and pour out the vinegar solution. To get rid of the vinegar taste and smell, fill the reservoir with fresh water, place a filter in the basket, and run the brewing cycle again. Repeat this process once more to ensure the vinegar taste is gone. Finally, wipe down the machine and coffee pot with a clean cloth.

In addition to this regular cleaning, it is important to perform a deeper clean every so often. To do this, disassemble the machine and wash all removable parts with warm, soapy water. For parts that cannot be removed, use a damp cloth to wipe them down. Ensure that all parts are thoroughly dried before reassembling the machine.

How to brew coffee

Firstly, ensure that you are using top-quality Arabic beans. Starbucks recommends using their own coffee beans, which are roasted and ground to perfection for the Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo. You can use regular ground coffee with this machine, as it does not require pods or capsules.

Next, you will need to prepare the machine. Fill the water reservoir with cold water. The machine has a 16-ounce capacity, so ensure you do not exceed this amount.

Then, twist the tumbler cover on the thermal tumbler and snap it into the locked position. After this, flip open the splash-proof lid on the thermal tumbler and snap it into the open position.

Now, you can begin the brewing process. Push the thermal tumbler into the brewing area of the coffee machine. The machine will then begin to heat the water to the ideal temperature for brewing.

Once the coffee is brewed, remove the thermal tumbler from the machine and enjoy your coffee! The thermal tumbler will keep your coffee hot for a couple of hours.

Some additional notes: the Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo has a feature that tells you how much time has elapsed since you brewed your coffee, for up to five hours. This way, you can decide if you want to make a fresh cup. Additionally, the machine comes with a permanent filter, and its compact size means it has a small footprint on your kitchen counter.

How to program the automatic timer

To program the automatic timer on your Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo, you must first prepare the machine to brew coffee by following steps 1 through 8 in the "How to Brew Coffee" section on page 2-3 of the user manual. Then, ensure that the clock is set to the present time (see page 1-12 of the manual).

Now, follow these steps to program the automatic timer:

• Press and hold the "Program" button (18) until the time flashes on the display. You will also hear two beeps, and the autotimer clock and the Auto-on light will flash.
• Press the "H" and "M" buttons (16 & 17) until the display shows the time you want the coffee maker to start brewing.
• After five seconds of releasing either button, the time will stop flashing, and the display will return to the current programmed time.

Note that you have five seconds to begin the next step after completing the first step. If you take longer, you will need to repeat the first step.

With the Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo, you can program a brew cycle up to 24 hours in advance.

Frequently asked questions