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At noon today, all Starbucks stores on the East Coast will be handing out free cups of a new "everyday" brew called Pike Place Roast.

The rollout/handout will happen almost simultaneously nationwide, with free cups on the West Coast available at 9 a.m.

The 8-ounce samples will be free for just a half-hour.

The new regular and decaf drips will be offered daily at every U.S. location, countering the current confusion some customers have over types changing from week to week, a spokesman said.

Starbucks said nearly 1,500 hours of research involving nearly 1,000 customers went into creating the new product.

CEO Howard Schultz told reporters yesterday that Pike Place, with its smoother flavor and finish, is "the best coffee that we have created, maybe, in our history."

To find a Starbucks near you, got www.starbucks.com.