I tried Starbucks' new oat milk drink that's taking over TikTok, and I thought it was worth the hype

Gabbi ShawMar 13, 2021, 00:51 IST

My first drink vs. my second.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

In March 2021, Starbucks finally hopped on the oat milk train and started offering Oatly.
To promote the addition, they created the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
I tried it from two different locations in New York, and I enjoyed it a lot.

I'm a huge oat milk fan and have been ever since 2017, when I tried my very first oat milk latte at an NYC coffee shop/nail salon hybrid, Chillhouse.

Since then, it's risen as one of the most popular dairy-alternative milks, easily reaching the level of almond or coconut milk. Oatly, an oat milk brand, even had a controversial Super Bowl commercial this year!

Over the last year, more and more local coffee shops and chains began offering oat milk. Dunkin' even announced an exclusive partnership with Planet Oat in August 2020. But one of the last holdouts was Starbucks - that is, until March 2020 when the coffee giant announced a new oat milk drink and a deal with Oatly.

As an oat milk lover, I had to try the new drink, the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. Here's what I thought.

On March 1, 2021, Starbucks unveiled its new line of spring drinks, including the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. That weekend, I trekked to my local Starbucks to try it.

My shaken espresso. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

On March 1, 2021, Starbucks unveiled its new line of spring drinks, including the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. That weekend, I trekked to my local Starbucks to try it.

Immediately, I was taken with how good this drink tasted. Reader, it's definitely worth the hype.

The drink. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

This is what it looked like after the drink was blended a bit more.

After I had taken a few sips. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

As I finished my new favorite Starbucks drink, I was already daydreaming about when I could get my next one ...

Selfies and Starbucks just go together. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

This turned out to be a bit of a struggle. I went home to Long Island for a couple of days, only to find the two Starbucks in my town were both sold out of the drink.

My second drink. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

When I finally got my hands on one, it looked more like a traditional Starbucks drink, with no discernible cinnamon topping or foam.

The inside of my second drink. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Here are the two drinks compared.

My first drink vs. my second. Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I tried 4 creamy peanut butter brands, and Smart Balance was perfectly salty and sweet

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I tried Starbucks' new oat milk drink that's taking over TikTok, and I thought it was worth the hype

On March 1, 2021, Starbucks unveiled its new line of spring drinks, including the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. That weekend, I trekked to my local Starbucks to try it.

Immediately, I was taken with how good this drink tasted. Reader, it's definitely worth the hype.

This is what it looked like after the drink was blended a bit more.

As I finished my new favorite Starbucks drink, I was already daydreaming about when I could get my next one ...

This turned out to be a bit of a struggle. I went home to Long Island for a couple of days, only to find the two Starbucks in my town were both sold out of the drink.

When I finally got my hands on one, it looked more like a traditional Starbucks drink, with no discernible cinnamon topping or foam.

Here are the two drinks compared.