Starbucks holiday drinks return Thursday with new refreshers
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Starbucks is adding its first holiday refresher to the holiday menu. Photo: Courtesy of Starbucks
Starbucks rolls out its 2024 holiday menu Thursday that for the first time includes holiday refresher drinks.
Why it matters: The Seattle-based coffee giant is trying to reverse a recent decline in foot traffic and its seasonal menu launches usually drive sales.
Starbucks holiday menu 2024 release
Starbucks holiday drinks and seasonal food items return Thursday, Nov. 7, five days later than last year.
- Seasonal beverages include the returning Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, the nondairy Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte and Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai.
- Starbucks added two new holiday cold foams — gingerbread cream and salted pecan cream cold foam — that join the returning peppermint chocolate cream, sugar cookie cream and chestnut praline cream cold foams.
- Many of the limited-time drinks are available hot, iced and as a Frappuccino blended beverage in U.S. Starbucks stores.
Starbucks holiday food 2024
Dig in: Starbucks said Wednesday that its holiday menu includes four new food items: a turkey sage Danish, dark toffee bundt, penguin cookie and a snowman cake pop.
- These join the returning sugar plum cheese Danish and cranberry bliss bar.
Starbucks holiday refreshers join menu
The menu includes new Cran-Merry Orange Refreshers, which are a trio of new holiday Refreshers that combine orange and cranberries, Starbucks said.
- The Cran-Merry Orange Refresher is made with green coffee extract, cold water and infused with real cranberries.
- The Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher combines the Cran-Merry Orange Refresher with lemonade.
- The Cran-Merry Drink is the Cran-Merry Refresher with coconut milk.
Kelly's taste test: Axios had an early taste of the three new refreshers and they were sweet and tart at the same time.
- The Cran-Merry Drink with coconut milk was the tastiest.
Starbucks Wicked cups, gift cards arrive
The latest: Starbucks Wicked collaboration grows Thursday with the launch of Wicked merchandise and special Starbucks Wicked gift cards.
- A duo of Wicked drinks was released in October, which marked Starbucks' first drinks that were inspired by a film, the company told Axios.
Starbucks removes nondairy milk fee
Between the lines: Thursday is the first day that it won't cost extra to get nondairy milk in beverages at company-owned and operated stores in the U.S. and Canada.
- Substituting nondairy milk in a handcrafted beverage is the "second most requested customization" behind adding a shot of espresso to drinks, Starbucks said in a statement.
- "This is just one of many changes we'll make to ensure a visit to Starbucks is worth it every time," Starbucks' new CEO Brian Niccol said last week.
Starbucks Red Cup Day 2024
State of play: Starbucks has not confirmed if and when it will hold Red Cup Day, its annual holiday reusable cup giveaway.
- Last year, Red Cup Day was held on Thursday, Nov. 16.
Yes, but: Food blogger Markie Devo posted on Instagram that Red Cup Day is expected to be Nov. 14.
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