Starbucks Is Bringing Back a Popular Frappuccino — And Introducing Two Nostalgic Drinks
Here's my honest review.
Image Courtesy of Starbucks
Starbucks is tapping into nostalgia on two fronts this summer — the nostalgia of eating s’mores as a kid, and the more recent nostalgia of drinking a S’mores Frappuccino. The coffee chain is bringing back the popular drink for the first time in six years.
What Is the Starbucks S’mores Frappuccino?
Starbucks first introduced the fan-favorite S’mores Frappuccino, a frozen coffee inspired by the beloved campfire dessert, in 2015.
"This beverage is not just about recreating the flavor of a favorite treat, it's about recreating a feeling — the joy of summer connection with friends,” Starbucks Director of Beverage Development Lisa Beckman, who led the team that invented the S’mores Frappuccino, shares in a press release.
The base of the drink is made with coffee and milk blended with ice and vanilla syrup, layered with mocha sauce and whipped cream and topped with a graham cracker dusting.
The drink first appeared on summer menus in 2015 through 2017 and also made a surprise reappearance in 2019. Much to the chagrin of fans, it hasn’t been seen since — until now.
What else is on Starbucks' s’mores menu?
Alongside the return of the S’mores Frappuccino, Starbucks is introducing two new s’mores drinks.
First is the the S’mores Cold Brew with Marshmallow Cold Foam. A lighter, grown-up alternative to the Frappuccino, it features cold brew topped with Starbucks’s new Marshmallow Cold Foam, chocolate syrup and a sprinkle of graham cracker.
Second, for the non-coffee drinkers, Starbucks is debuting the Iced S’mores Chai. The drink features Starbucks’ signature iced chai latte blended with toasted marshmallow flavor, milk chocolate sauce and graham cracker.
My honest review of Starbucks' S’mores menu:
I tried the S’mores Frappuccino and Cold Brew at a media preview in New York. The sweet, cold drinks gave me an immediate rush of rejuvenation after walking in the hot sun. Between the fan excitement and the incredibly hot summer we’re destined to have, I’m sure they'll be a hit.
The Frappuccino is pure sweetness with cooling, frozen coffee, while the cold brew has a thirst-quenching contrast between the bitter coffee and sweet cold foam. Both the whipped cream and cold foam successfully capture the foamy, vanilla marshmallow taste. However, the flavor is subtle, something you have to search for to distinguish from regular vanilla. There also wasn’t enough chocolate sauce in my Frappuccino and the sneeze amount of graham cracker dust on top of both drinks was obviously just for appearance.
They're perfectly enjoyable if you like Starbucks drinks. But like most s’mores-flavored things, they just don’t taste like what they’re trying to imitate. The elements aren’t bold enough to capture that summertime feeling of sitting around the warm campfire with cicadas buzzing around you, biting into a crunchy graham cracker sandwich with sticky marshmallow and melty chocolate.
When can you get Starbucks’s S’mores drinks?
The drinks will be available for a limited time starting July 1, with early access for Starbucks Rewards members on June 30.
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