Starbucks lovers, listen up: Your favorite coffee shop has launched a new line of drinks, and this time they're made with *check note* — olive oil? Yes, you are not mistaken. The new beverage range, called Starbucks Oleato, will launch in select stores nationwide on March 23, and while it may sound like an odd pairing, I previewed some of the range ahead of its initial launch overseas in February. And I can already tell you it's going to be the next coffee craze.
Get ready to swap your coffee creamer for a bottle of extra virgin olive oil. Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic, but once you hear what Starbucks' Oleato drink is all about, you'll never look at olive oil the same way. Inspired by the Italian word for “oil,” the brand’s new Oleato beverage line combines Starbucks coffee with carefully crafted Partanna extra virgin olive oil that’s steamed, shaken, and blended to create your favorite Starbucks beverages Comes with six unique flavors. The lineup includes:
- Oleato Latte: Starbucks Blonde Espresso roasted coffee and Partanna extra virgin olive oil steamed with oat milk (available in select stores, Starbucks Reserve and Starbucks Roastery).
- Oleato Ice Shake Espresso: Starbucks Blonde espresso roast, hazelnut syrup and oat milk, shaken with Partanna extra virgin olive oil and ice (available in select stores in Seattle and Los Angeles).
- Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew Coffee: Cold brew coffee with Partanna extra virgin olive oil and golden foam infused with sweet vanilla cold foam (available in select stores, Starbucks Reserve and Starbucks Roastery).
- Oleato Iced Cortado: Starbucks Reserve espresso, demerara syrup, Partanna extra virgin olive oil infused oat milk, and orange bitters over ice and orange zest (available at select Starbucks Reserve stores and Starbucks Roasteries).
- Oleato Tasting Experience: An immersive, five-part barista-led tasting experience featuring Starbucks Reserve Coffee infused with Partanna Extra Virgin Olive Oil (available at select Starbucks Reserve stores and Starbucks Roasteries).
- Golden Foam Espresso Martini: Starbucks Reserve espresso, vodka and vanilla bean syrup, topped with Golden Foam (available at select Starbucks Reserve stores and Starbucks Roasteries).
The drinks made their grand debut in Milan on February 22, but now the range is finally hitting select stores in the US in Seattle, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. For more information about Starbucks Oleato locations, click here. The Oleato range is expected to launch in select markets around the world later this year, including the UK, Japan and the Middle East.
Believe it or not, people on TikTok were already perfecting the coffee oil combination long before the March 22 announcement. But now that Starbucks is on board, don't be surprised if this idea becomes the next big trend.
Starbucks Oleato Olive Oil Drink Review
Whether you want to get an early look at the trend or find out how two of Italy's major cultures actually work together, this review details everything you need to know about four of the six brand-new drinks, so You can try it yourself on your next Starbs run.
Oretto latte
As soon as I smelled this drink I was immediately transported to an Italian restaurant. While the aroma of olive oil is not as strong as coffee, inhaling both scents at the same time is an instantly familiar experience, almost like déjà vu.
Underneath the creamy foam top layer is a light latte that I can only describe as tasting fuller and richer than a regular latte. Although it's subtle, I quickly picked up on the flavor of the olive oil - and I absolutely love it. It gives the drink a thick and mellow texture, making it smooth in the mouth and tasting sweet and salty at the same time.
Oleato iced espresso
This iced drink doesn't have much aroma except for the faint scent of oat milk. To be honest, it doesn't have much of an olive oil flavor either. While I occasionally detect flavors of this particular ingredient, the espresso is by far the most prominent flavor. At first, the biggest sign that this drink was made with olive oil was that I could feel the oil on my lips after each drink. The flavor of the olive oil becomes more pronounced over time, but that may have something to do with the oil separating to the top after sitting for a while. Thankfully, it doesn't completely change the flavor (unless you don't want to taste the olive oil), as Patana olive oil still complements the coffee rather than replaces it.
Oleato golden foam cold brew coffee
Not to pick a favorite, but...this drink is hands down my favorite. The golden foam contains the lightest hint of green, letting you know you're drinking something more unique than your average coffee. The olive oil was definitely the strongest flavor of the bite and it was absolutely delicious. The lightness of the cream and the earthiness of the coffee immediately reminded me of olive oil cake - I know, it's an obvious comparison, but they both work for a reason. Each of them contains just the right amount of sweetness and earthiness, and the end result is a classic, refreshing bite that will leave you wanting more.
While I could enjoy a full cup of golden cold foam on its own, I was also able to appreciate how the hint of olive oil combined with the strong, rich flavor of cold brew coffee.
Olive ice cortado
Despite its flavors like olive oil and orange, Oleato Iced Cortado is definitely a coffee-forward drink. Similar to Oleato Ice Shake Espresso, olive oil isn't the star flavor of this drink, but it does give it a fuller mouthfeel and makes it drink extra smooth. The oil will also separate on top when you take a sip of this, but you don't have to worry about finishing the drink in record time to prevent this from happening. After all, being able to taste the olive oil is part of the experience.
Starbucks has always been at the forefront of the next big beverage trend (looking at you, PSL), but the brand's new line of olive oil drinks could be the company's most original drinks yet.
