Starbucks' fall menu returns with new drink, app exclusives
“Pumpkin spice season” is back at Starbucks.
The coffee giant’s fall menu officially returned on Aug. 22, with a new addition joining the lineup of seasonal favorites, which are available for a limited-time while supplies last. Classic Starbucks fall items include the pumpkin-inspired favorites like Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, and Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, along with apple-inspired drinks like the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato and Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
New to the fall lineup this year is the Iced Apple Crisp Non-Dairy Cream Chai, which Starbucks says originated as a popular customer customization. The drink features “warming spice flavors of chai combined with creamy oat milk and topped with non-dairy apple crisp cold foam, for a seasonal sip that is reminiscent of homemade apple pie often enjoyed at fall gatherings.”
“We are excited to introduce the new Iced Apple Crisp Non-Dairy Cream Chai to our customers,” said Rosalyn Batingan, Starbucks beverage developer. “This beverage perfectly captures the taste and feeling of fall. We have combined creamy oat milk with notes of cinnamon, clove and other warm baking spices from our chai tea to compliment the layered flavors of apple, cinnamon and brown sugar which are infused into the non-dairy cold foam topping.”
Customers can also find two additional fall beverages exclusively on the Starbucks app. The Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte is made with espresso combined with milk and notes of apple, cinnamon and brown sugar, served over ice and topped with salted caramel cream cold foam. The Iced Honey Apple Almond Milk Flat White features Starbucks' Blonde Espresso and almond milk poured over ice with a hint of honey and non-dairy apple crisp cold foam.
For a limited-time while supplies last, Starbucks customers can enjoy the new Raccoon Cake Pop, which combines vanilla cake and buttercream, dipped in chocolate icing, and the returning Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin, a pumpkin muffin topped with cream cheese filling and a sprinkling of chopped, spiced pepitas. The Baked Apple Croissant and popular Pumpkin & Pepita Loaf are also back on the menu.
The fall menu arrival comes weeks after it was announced that Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol would take the reins as Starbucks CEO effective Sept. 9. In its most recent quarter, Starbucks reported earnings that met Street estimates, but sales that came up short.
[READ MORE: Starbucks same-store sales fall for second consecutive quarter]
Starbucks opened 526 net new stores in the last fiscal quarter, ending the period with 39,477 stores. Of the total, 52% were company-operated and 48% licensed. Starbucks stores in the U.S. and China comprised 61% of the company’s global portfolio, with 16,730 and 7,306 stores in the U.S. and China, respectively.
