One of the most eagerly-anticipated events of the holiday season for coffee drinkers has finally arrived: as of Nov. 2, the winter Starbucks menu is here.
Fans all over the world have been waiting for the new drinks and food items that are exclusive to the months of November and December. From the many beloved, returning drinks to potential new ones, people are excitedly rushing to their local Starbucks to enjoy a taste of the holiday season.
“Starbucks drinks are part of the Christmas hype,” Starbucks employee Sabrina Maples said. “I think that the majority of the population considers it a very big Christmas event. People get excited for the new launch.”
Other drinks returning from previous holiday menus include the fan-favorite Peppermint Mocha, the Chestnut Praline Latte, and the Caramel Brulée Latte. Starbucks’ newest beverage, the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai, has also taken center stage this season.
“[Customers] love [the menu] this year, but I feel like it’s not the same as last year,” Maples said when asked about reactions to the new menu. “Last year they were all over the Caramel Brulée and the Sugar Cookie Lattes, but this year they seem to like the Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai more.”
Maples assumes that some customers more often order the Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai than any other drink this season because the novelty hasn’t worn off yet. However, other customers still prefer to stick to the favorites they know and expect.
“I get so excited for the new menu,” an anonymous customer said. “I wait all year for the Cranberry Bliss Bars and Caramel Brulée lattes – they’re so yummy! It’s just not Christmas without the seasonal [items], if you ask me.”
According to Forbes Magazine, Starbucks revenue rises greatly during the holiday season, increasing up to 12% in the winter months of 2016. This is because customers seem to consider the new winter menu a big part of the holiday season, purchasing more items than at any other time of the year.
“I think that getting that first seasonal drink is most people’s unofficial start to the season,” Maples said. “People might get sort of bored with the generic menu, but they know that Christmas drinks are coming, so they get really excited for the new menu.”
Rounding out the new menu offerings are returning foods such as the Snowman Cookie, the Gingerbread Loaf, and the Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop. Whether these fan-favorite offerings or the new items will be as successful as they have been in years past does not change the fact that many Starbucks customers recognize how the seasonal menu greatly amplifies the holiday feel.
“As a customer, I think that it definitely puts people in the mood for the season,” senior Maddi Steen said, regarding the new menu. “I just feel like the aesthetic feel of the season is made stronger by the new items.”
