Starbucks Debuts a New Line of Olive Oil–Infused Coffee

Starbucks has pioneered a number of coffee trends, including the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte, and has engineered almost any type of Frappuccino imaginable. And now, the company is set to push the limits of coffee once again with its new Oleato coffee line, a coffee infused with cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil. And they let us get a first taste.

"Oleato represents the next revolution in coffee that brings together an alchemy of nature's finest ingredients," Howard Shultz, the coffee giant's interim chief executive officer, shared in a statement provided to Food & Wine. 

The infused olive oil is not just any olive oil you can pluck off your local grocery store shelf. Starbucks partnered with Partanna, a Sicilian olive oil company, which created a curated blend of olives from Nocellara del Belice in Partanna to pair with Starbucks Arabica coffee.

The Oleato series, which includes five new drinks, is indeed an exciting addition to its menu.  

The Oleato Caffé Latte combines Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast with oat milk infused with the olive oil. The Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew, a personal favorite, shines with an olive oil foam that tastes like a creamy, decadent olive oil ice cream, which I licked clean from my cup. For those who prefer a classic iced coffee, the Oleato Iced Shaken Espresso combines espresso, oat milk, and the new olive oil blend. And finally, two drinks that are exclusive to Starbucks Reserve locations: Oleato Deconstructed and Oleato Espresso Martini. In the Oleato Deconstructed, passionfruit cold foam is paired with Starbucks Reserve Espresso and Partanna extra virgin olive oil, while in the Oleato Golden Foam Espresso Martini, vodka and vanilla bean syrup are topped with olive oil golden foam.

"When creating the beverages, we were inspired by the rich history and origin stories of coffee and olive oil – two of nature's most transcendent ingredients," Amy Dilger, principal beverage developer for Starbucks, said. "Whether you enjoy Oleato hot or cold, you get this really luxurious, textural experience."

I was both surprised and delighted by how well the two flavors complemented each other – the olive oil lends a nuttier, more complex flavor to the coffee blend, making it an ideal beverage to sip and savor in the afternoons rather than slug down as just a morning jolt. I also couldn't help but notice this new beverage's incredible lip-moisturizing properties, which greatly added to its overall appeal. 

Starbucks stores in Milan, Italy will get their hands on the product first, set to debut on February 22. These menu items will then be introduced to select markets around the world, beginning this spring in Southern California, followed by Japan, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom in the coming year. But maybe this is your excuse to book that flight to Milan ASAP to get your hands on it first.