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- I tried Starbucks' new spring drink, and it's so delicious I might order it every week
I tried Starbucks' new spring drink, and it's so delicious I might order it every week
- I recently tried Starbucks' new spring drink, the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
- The drink features Starbucks' Blonde espresso, along with notes of caramelized vanilla.
Whenever there's a new drink at Starbucks, I'm always first in line to try it.
Ever since Starbucks launched the Irish Cream Cold Brew in winter 2019, I've made sure to try the chain's newest seasonal drinks.
I loved this fall's Apple Crisp Macchiato, and the Sugar Cookie Latte definitely got me in the holiday spirit in December.
Now winter's finally wrapping up, which means it's time for warmer days ahead — and a new iced drink on the Starbucks menu.
Starbucks' new spring drink is the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
The Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso — available starting Tuesday — is the latest in Starbucks' line of non-dairy Iced Shaken Espresso beverages, which debuted on menus last March.
Starbucks describes its newest spring drink as a "toasted twist on the classic vanilla flavor." It features Starbucks' Blonde espresso, along with notes of caramelized vanilla. Everything is shaken together and topped with oat milk.
A Starbucks spokesperson told me that the chain wanted to create a new drink that felt like the "light at the end of the tunnel after winter."
The spokesperson said the toasted vanilla flavor was inspired by the idea of "people gathering around fire pits."
They added that Starbucks knew it wanted a spring drink with vanilla, as it's one of the most popular flavors at the chain.
Starbucks' Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte has become one of my usual weekly drinks from the chain over the last year, so I was super excited to see how this new spring twist would compare.
I headed to my local Starbucks to preview the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, and immediately loved the color of the new drink.
Starbucks' Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso has a far lighter color than it appears in the promotional image. My drink had a pretty, deep caramel color that definitely looked enticing.
I also ordered an Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso to see how the drinks would compare, and realized they looked almost identical to each other.
As with the other shaken espresso drinks on Starbucks' menu, the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso has a foamy top.
When Starbucks released its new line of espresso drinks last year, Alicia Binion — the chain's senior product developer — said shaking "adds another dimension" to the coffee.
"It creates a rich texture on your palate by just adding air," she added. "When you take that first sip, you get a wonderful froth that is infused with flavor."
The only visual difference between the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso was their foamy tops.
When I removed the cap on my Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, I saw a generous sprinkle of brown sugar dotting the foam.
I tried my first sip of Starbucks' new spring drink, and I thought it had the perfect amount of subtle sweetness.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of combining oat milk and coffee. There's this dense and heavy nuttiness to oat milk that I've never enjoyed when I've tried it in my regular mochas.
So I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Starbucks' new spring drink. There's a richness you'd expect with the word "toasted" in the name, but the vanilla adds a lightness to the drink that really lifts the oat-milk flavor. It's a refreshing beverage that isn't overly sweet — making it a great fit for spring. I could've even used a touch more vanilla.
And after sipping on the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, I knew I definitely preferred the toasted vanilla more. While the brown sugar is quite prominent and a bit heavy when combined with oat milk, the toasted vanilla has a great balance to its flavors.
The Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is my favorite new Starbucks drink, and the best seasonal beverage I've seen the chain release in a while.
While I've enjoyed recent menu additions like the Apple Crisp Macchiato and Sugar Cookie Latte, the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is a drink I'd definitely get every week. It's got just the right amount of sweetness I need in coffee while still being under 200 calories if you order a Grande. It's a great daily drink that still feels like a bit of a treat.
And after a long winter with a rough pandemic surge, I think we could all use something a little sweet for spring.
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