Starbucks cuts 13 drinks from menu during reconstruction
Starbucks will cut 13 drinks from its menu, streamline operations, improve services, and expect more cuts in the coming months.
Straight Arrow News
A pastry filled with protein-filled coffee and raspberries could soon come to Starbucks near you.
The Seattle-based coffee giant is testing new menu items in its “Back to Starbucks” strategy led by CEO Brian Nicole. The former Chipotle CEO emphasizes the importance of providing the “right atmosphere” to customers after a slump in sales.
“It’s time for us to lead again,” Nicole told a crowd of Starbucks employees at the company’s Leadership Experience 2025 event on June 10.
USA Today was looking early for new food and drink products during the Las Vegas event. Most items have been on Starbucks’ Starting Five program. In this program, five US Starbucks locations are trying out new products and providing feedback before a wider launch.
As testing is ongoing, products sampled by USA Today could change before the final iteration begins nationwide.
Protein cold foam
Starbucks is testing a new protein cold foam option that adds about 15 grams of protein to your drink by adding sugar-free protein powder. Starbucks provided a sample of the cold foam of banana protein on June 10th, but protein can be added to the cold foam flavor.
Other retailers, including coffee chain Dutch Brothers, are already offering high protein as consumers. Gen Z in particular shows a growing interest in health and muscle building. The number of high protein drinks rose 122% between 2020 and 2024, according to Innova Market Insights, which analyzes data from the food and beverage industry.
“It’s a trend. It’s tasty,” Nicole said of the cold foam of protein.
Starbucks didn’t share the date for the release of the new Cold Form, but Nicole said it would hit the store “quickly.”
New bakery items
Starbucks is updating its classic croissants and adding two new bakery items to the store. Double chocolate cookies topped with raspberry croissants filled with jam and flaky sea salt.
“I’m going to go back to freshly baked food,” Nicole said.
Starbucks 1971 Roast
A new coffee called Starbucks in 1971 will be rolled out at coffee houses in the US and Canada this winter. Dark Rost is a blend of Sumatra, Colombian and Brazilian beans.
Frappuccino layer
Starbucks is celebrating 30th Frappuccino’s anniversary, new product: Strato Frappuccino.
Italian Strato – or “layer” adds a cloud of cold bubbles over the Frappuccino flavor. The drink sampled by USA Today in Starbucks’ leadership experience in Las Vegas featured a coffee frappuccino topped with brown sugar cold foam and cinnamon.
Announced earlier this year, Strato Frappuccino will be available at Starbucks stores nationwide this summer. In addition to the brown sugar strato frappuccino, Starbucks also offers salted caramel mocha strato frappuccino and strawberry matcha strato frappuccino.