Starbucks Has 3 New Drinks—and I Tried Them First
It's also bringing back two seasonal favorites.
The big headline after Starbucks’ January 2025 earnings call is that the coffee chain announced plans to reduce its beverage and food menu by 30%. While the menu optimization will occur gradually throughout the year—and no discontinuations have been announced yet—Starbucks’ CEO Brian Niccol said the brand plans to bring “fewer, better beverage and food offerings” to market this year.
If you were wondering how the simplification might impact your favorite seasonal beverages, have no fear. Not only is Starbucks bringing back two fan-loved drinks perfect for Valentine’s Day, but it’s also introducing a new line of Refreshers.
Starbucks Launches February Menu
Beginning Feb. 3, Starbucks’ Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Crème Frappuccino and Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew will be back on menus. Then, on Feb. 4, Starbucks will introduce its new Blackberry Sage Refreshers in three varieties.
The returning Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Crème Frappuccino is made with a blend of strawberry puree, Frappuccino chips, milk, and ice layered over more strawberry puree and topped with whipped cream and a mocha drizzle. The Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew features Starbucks’ signature cold brew with vanilla syrup topped with hazelnut-flavored cold foam and cookie crumbles.
Both the Valentine’s Day-inspired items will be available for a limited time—along with a new line of Valentine’s Day merchandise.
The new Blackberry Sage Refreshers are Starbucks’ first-ever refreshers to pair a berry and herbal flavor together—drawing inspiration from the mixologist’s shrub you’d find at a cocktail bar. The sweet, juicy blackberries meet earthy sage in flavor combo, unlike anything you’ve seen from the coffee chain.
Starbucks’ Blackberry Sage Refresher is available as a refresher with water, Lemonade Refresher, or “Midnight Drink,” which is made with coconut milk. Each refresher is made with blackberries, sage, green coffee extract for a caffeine boost, and an inclusion of dried blackberries with a dusting of sage.
I tried the limited-time refreshers before they hit menus, and here is my honest review.
My Honest Review of Starbucks New Blackberry Sage Refreshers
As a strict Starbucks coffee drinker, trying the chilled Refreshers can be, well, refreshing. It’s a good reminder of what else Starbucks has to offer.
The original Blackberry Sage Refresher, made with water, is one of the better Starbucks Refreshers I’ve tried because the juicy blackberry flavor really stands out. It’s just sweet enough with a hint of tartness and you get a minimal amount of sage on the backend to brighten up the entire drink.
While, typically, I prefer a lemonade Refresher because it’s a bit stronger and sweeter, that wasn’t the case with the Blackberry Sage Refresher Lemonade. The lemonade made the drink a little too tart and really overwhelmed the sage flavor altogether.
My personal favorite, which I’ve come to learn is not surprising in my Refreshers journey, is the Midnight Drink. I love the creamy coconut milk that adds a sweet flavor and smooth mouthfeel to the refresher. The Midnight Drink tastes almost like a smoothie if it wasn’t frozen—with the light, yet slightly tart blackberry flavors. While I couldn’t really taste the sage in this drink, either, I didn’t mind since the blackberry and coconut milk flavors were stealing the show anyway.
So, following my love for the OG Pink Drink and last summer's Summer Skies Drink, it's the Midnight Drink that'll be curing my winter blues at Starbucks this month—that is, when I'm not indulging in the Valentine's Day selections, of course.
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