Summer is on the horizon, and the prospect of warmer days is drumming up our thirst for some icy drinks. And you can always count on Starbucks to heed the call for something refreshing and delicious during those hot months.
The Seattle-based brand gave Food & Wine a preview of its upcoming menu, and there are a few favorites returning for another season alongside two entirely new summer menu items.
This May, the Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso will drop at Starbucks locations across the country. The beverage is inspired by Mexican horchata, a creamy, spiced drink that’s typically made with rice and cinnamon. It’s joined by the returning Summer Berry Refreshers, a line of berry-forward Refreshers with flavored popping pearls at the bottom of each drink, and a brand-new Strawberries and Cream Cake Pop.
This marks the first menu drop since Starbucks’ released its spring line, and while the brand can’t share any more confirmed details on this menu rollout at the moment, that hasn’t stopped rumors from cropping up online.
Trusted food blogger Markie Devo, who regularly shares insider info and leaked menu launches, unveiled his speculations on Instagram yesterday. In the comments, folks say they’re marking their calendars for the Summer Berry Refreshers’ return and will be lining up for a first taste of the Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
Devo credits his insider intel to an anonymous Starbucks employee, and says the Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso allegedly includes a base of Blonde espresso with a new horchata syrup and the chain’s oat milk.
According to the content creator, we can also expect to see a coconut-based spin on the Summer-Berry Refresher dubbed the Coconut Milk Skies. Meanwhile, the special summery cake pop combines buttercream with strawberry-cream cake and covers it all in a layer of sweet chocolate icing depicting a strawberry design.
Devo speculates that this new menu will launch on May 20, but Starbucks hasn’t yet confirmed this date.
There likely won’t be a second summer menu, as Devo notes — and if he’s correct, that means this summer’s seasonal menu is a bit tighter than last year. This wouldn’t be surprising as Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has stated plans to simplify the coffee chain’s menu.
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