I Tried Starbucks’ Valentine’s Day Drinks, and Now I Want This Flavor Year-Round
The coffee giant is introducing two strawberry drinks for the holiday, plus two year-round matcha beverages.
Image Courtesy of Starbucks
I’m a coffee lover. And as I’ve said before, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. That’s why I’m always wary of over-the-top seasonal drinks. If my coffee is pink, I’m skeptical.
I got to try Starbucks’ lineup of new Valentine’s Day beverages ahead of their launch. I went in a little nervous they'd be way too sugary for me, but I left excited to order both again.
What are Starbucks’ 2026 Valentine’s Day drinks?
The coffee chain is releasing two Valentine's drinks: White Chocolate Strawberry Cream Cold Brew and Strawberry Shortcake Frappuccino.
Inspired by the Chocolate-Covered Strawberries, the cold brew is “sweetened with vanilla syrup and topped with White Chocolate Strawberry Cream Cold Foam and a sprinkle of chocolate curls,” according to a press release.
The caffeine-free Frappuccino is made with “swirls of strawberry puree and cinnamon dolce syrup, finished with whipped cream and a caramel-sugar sprinkle,” the brand says.
Both will be available starting today for a limited time, while supplies last.
My honest opinion of the new Starbucks Valentine’s Day drinks:
I don’t recall ever ordering one of Starbucks’ Crème Frappuccinos. I think that's about to change. The Strawberry Shortcake flavor was surprisingly delightful — the ideal little treat. The strawberry puree is fruity and slightly tangy, not too sweet, and the strawberry-cinnamon combination was kind of to die for. (We don’t include cinnamon in our classic strawberry shortcake recipe, but I don’t really care — they tasted great together.) Sipping this Frappuccino reminded me of eating a slice of pie or a streusel muffin.
But the drink I’m really going back for is the cold brew. The coffee flavor really shines through the toppings, and the bitterness of the chocolate and cold brew pair perfectly with the fruit-flavored cold foam. The chocolate curls are a fun extra touch and give you that rich flavor you want in a festive drink.
Is strawberry-flavored coffee becoming a trend?
I have to say, I'm totally on board with this strawberry moment. Both of Starbucks’ Valentine’s Drinks this year highlight strawberry, but it’s not the first brand to do it. Dunkin also included a chocolate-covered strawberry refresher on its Valentine’s menu this year. And Whole Foods launched a Berry Chantilly Latte last summer that I thoroughly enjoyed. (Between you and me, my cousin told me this week you can order it off-menu year-round since the stores keep those syrups in stock.)
I hope strawberry coffee becomes popular in all seasons. It's fun. I’m into it. Maybe pink coffee is for me after all.
Image Courtesy of Starbucks
What other drinks are coming to Starbucks this winter?
Following the launch of its Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha, Starbucks is also releasing two more matcha drinks: Iced Double Berry Matcha and Iced Banana Bread Matcha. The former is made with “layers of strawberry puree, matcha and silky raspberry cream cold foam,” and the latter “combines matcha with brown sugar syrup and milk over ice and is topped with a layer of velvety banana cream cold foam and a caramel crunch topping.”
Starbucks released raspberry syrup for a limited time last summer. Now the raspberry cream cold foam and the syrup are both joining the menu permanently, so you can add them to any drink.
Also worth noting is that the company reformulated its matcha. It used to come pre-sweetened, but now it won't, meaning it'll be much easier to customize the sweetness of your drinks.
My honest opinion of the new Starbucks iced matcha drinks:
I also got to taste the new matcha drinks ahead of their launch.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the banana one. The brown sugar and caramel flavor were too strong for my taste, though the matcha did offer a nice contrast to the sugar.
I found the berry drink to be much more balanced. I didn’t taste much of the strawberry because the puree sank to the bottom of my cup, but the raspberry cold foam paired well with the matcha. I might order it again if I were in a matcha mood.
Image Courtesy of Starbucks
When can you order the new Starbucks drinks?
All four of the new drinks are available starting today, February 3. The matcha drinks will be on the menu year-round, while the Valentine’s drinks will only be offered for a limited time, while supplies last.
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