Things are changing at Starbucks, but is it for the better?

While the spotlight at Starbucks tends to shine firmly on the drinks in Japan, there are a lot of delicious meals on the menu too. One food option that had a lot of love from locals was the Filone sandwich, with filone being a longish Italian sourdough bread with a crispy crust and airy crumb. This rustic bread reflected the Italian-influenced baked goods served up at the chain’s in-house Princi Bakery, but now the chain has surprised everyone by ditching the Filone and replacing it with a baguette instead.

The Filone has long been one of Starbucks’ signature food items, holding centre stage in the sandwich display case for around 18 years, so we stopped by to find out if the switch was a good decision.

▼ Having loved the Filone for many years, we picked up the new product with equal measures of curiosity and apprehension.

We chose to try the Ham & Gouda Cheese Baguette Sandwich (540 yen [US$3.42]), which seemed closest in taste to the Ham & Maribo Cheese Filone we used to pick up on a regular basis, and we also picked up the “Herb Sausage”, which we also used to enjoy as a Filone.

▼ We also couldn’t resist trying the Pumpkin Soupuccino (500 yen) as well, which was released on the same day.

Starting the taste test with the Soupuccino, so named as it’s a frothy, cappuccino-like soup, we took a sip and found it had a creamy pumpkin taste. Made with onion and celery, and pumpkins sourced from Hokkaido, a famous producing region, the soup was finished with spices like black pepper and nutmeg before being frothed up to give the bold flavours a light and airy mouthfeel.

▼ Maple flavour, added as a secret ingredient, gave each sip a soft sweetness, creating a cosy cup of soup that was as delicious as it was comforting.

With our palate warmed up, literally and figuratively, it was now time to try the baguette sandwiches, starting with the Ham & Gouda Cheese. At first glance, it looked to be a little smaller than the Filone, and at around 15 centimetres (5.9 inches) in length, it looked like a long baguette cut in half.

Still, it had the same elongated look as the Filone sandwiches, so the appearance didn’t strike us as too different, but after taking a bite, the difference became clear. The big change was in the texture of the bread, which was moist and chewy, with a beautifully toasted surface. It was slightly softer than usual, and it also seemed to contain more filling, with a generous amount of ham paired with the mild, melty Gouda cheese.

▼ This is a worthy replacement for the Filone.

Another welcome change is that this product is now eligible for the Good Start! Morning breakfast discount. The Filone version wasn’t eligible, so this is a welcome new development for anyone who likes to start their mornings with a coffee and a sandwich.

▼ The Good Start! Morning deal gets you a 40-yen discount when you buy an eligible food and drink item together before 11 a.m.

▼ Finally, we took a bite of the “Herb Sausage”.

Surprisingly, the flavour of the filling seemed no different to the Filone version, which we were very pleased about, as the taste of herbs was on point, making every bite a delicious one.

▼ Again, the baguette did a great job, pairing exceptionally well with the juicy, meaty filling.

Though we started the taste test with a slight sense of sadness at the Filone’s disappearance, by the end of it all, we had fallen head over heels for the baguette sandwiches. According to Starbucks, the baguettes are made with a new, high hydration dough to make them softer than before, and the change really is noticeable. The soft bread pairs wonderfully well with the soft fillings, melding together to create some seriously moreish sandwiches.

After trying two of the savoury versions, we’re now keen to try the Chocolate & Butter version, which sounds like the perfect partner for the new Pikachu Honey Cream Latte.

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