A few districts of stores in Arizona and also on the East coast are the site of the latest Starbucks food test: It’s called the “mini” test. Small-sized food items at a small price. And look at these photos! They look amazingly delicious! I really want to try those cupcakes right this very minute. This test began just two days ago on October 5, 2010, and I don’t know how long it is scheduled to last. I have been told that one item is usually price around $1.50 and some items are two for $2.50. In addition, I have heard that the calorie count of each item is below 200 calories.
This is one of those blog posts that is all about the pictures. I have not tried these little treats and I wish I had a reason to travel to Arizona! I have very little information about the test on the East coast but I am told that a few stores have the same “mini” treat test. I am always fascinated by the many items “tested” by Starbucks, many of which never launch nationally. Some of you may recall that my very first blog post was on the Honey Vanilla Vivanno which failed to launch nationally having been tested in Sacramento, California. It was delicious too!
If you like reading about test products, check out the link below for more blog posts at StarbucksMelody.com on tests at Starbucks:
If anyone here is familiar with this test and can add more information about it, or can comment on the quality of the little treats please weigh in! And as always, your comments are welcome!
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@Diele – does that mean they’re going national or that they’re testing those flavors in the next round?
That is a question I would like to have answered as well. The list you gave sounds like they would be great tasting minis.
That red velvet whoopie pie sounds good. I wonder if it makes you go “WHOOPIE!” after eating it. Rocky road has been a favorite of mine since childhood so I can hardly wait for these to come to Seattle.
@Diele – does that mean they’re going national or that they’re testing those flavors in the next round?
I have heard national. My district manager said they were and she had a big conference about different launches for the big 40th celebration this year.
I can absolutely see the minis being launched on a national level during the March anniversary marketing drive. If they were so popular during the test period, I wonder if they will successfully plan to distribute the minis so all stores will have enough on hand? I sure hope they do not create frustration on the store level by running out of this product. Would not make many people happy!
I think the test market definitely gave them enough feedback from both customers and partners to launch this nationally with ease. I hope this will not just be wishful thinking.
@Diele – Your comments in this thread are a priceless wealth of information. I know that Roy Street Coffee has had a few mini trieats for a while, so between the success of Roy Street, plus the success of these tests, I assumed the minis would launch nationally. I often feel like I get the first “hint” of what might come in the future by Roy Street (and in the past 15th Ave Coffee), but I realize that the mini selections that Roy has are not at all the same as the ones that got tested. The little mini cupcake photos here curl my toes. I can’t wait to try these.
It seems like we’re getting some of these mini sweets that were tested here in Japan soon too! It said “Starbucks Petites” in the press release and included a picture of the “cake pop” (tiramisu/chocolate nuts/strawberry milk)! I remembered seeing it on the pictures you posted here, Melody, and thought they might be the same 😀
Can’t wait for the new merchandise and menu coming on the 16th!
They changed the name and recipe on a couple of them. Offering 8 instead of the 15 we tested in Arizona. So excited they were so successful! My district manager mentioned the msi thread at our meeting and encouraged evevery one to get involved like I have. =)
Oh my goodness! Today is the day! I’m literally shrieked with excitement when I visited starbucks.com! I am SO stopping at sbux on my way to work – this is going to kill my diet 🙂
http://www.starbucks.com/menu/catalog/product?food=petites#view_control=product
They are all 200 calories or less! Could be worse. I had the salted caramel sweet square as always! Hope everyone enjoys them. Looking forward to Melody’s response. =)
Hi Diele! I tried them all today, nearly making myself sick on them! I’ll have a blog post up this week about them. It’s not a good idea to eat all eight, all at once.
I absolutely love the Rocky Road Cake Pop. So good!
Hi Te4Two! Welcome to the blog and hope you’ll “like” my facebook page too. My own favorite is still the mini carrot cake cupcake, but I know lots of people like that rocky road cake pop! I have a new thread all about the petites – Be sure to check it out!
http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2011/03/09/which-of-the-new-starbucks-petite-treats-do-you-like-best-free-petite-treats-3-10-to-3-12-with-some-conditions/
Thanks! ~Melody
I’ve tried them and they are so good. i noticed that they have a different taste.
Just wanted to add that I just tried the Birthday pop and it was delish! I’m a little confused, i was expecting a soft cakey middle but it was more doughy middle. Is that how its supposed to be like? have you all tried it the same way? My barista offered me a sample of rocky road and another one. so i will try them tomorrow! I’m really excited and am LOVING starbucks!!! 🙂
Mini-cakes have landed on the East Coast. The cupcakes and mini pastries are great! The mini-pops – not so much – really dry and expensive -$2.50 – for so little cake.
They should be $1.50 for one, $2.50 for two, etc. Not sure why they are more expensive there.
I have only tried the Birthday cake-pop and the red-velvet whoopie pie thus far, and while the red-velvet cake thing was alright, let me just say; Oh, My, God, these cake-pops. These cake-pops, oh my god. They have a texture somewhere between cake and cookie dough (it works trust me), and I am at risk each time I go to Starbucks of eating five and making myself sick.
I hope they keep those. They can stop selling coffee for all I care as long as they keep those cake-pops.
I love the cakepops! We have 3 flavors here in Japan: Strawberry Milk, Tiramisu, and Chocolate Nuts. My favorite is Chocolate Nuts.
Only wish we could eat the stick, too. It would be less to throw away and more yum for us! ;D
I wish the stick was actually Pocky. That would be amazing!
I have seen mention of this somewhere else but today, really hit me: they MUST get some refrigeration for at least the lemon cakes, or they will not survive. That’s my guess. You have not only room temp., but hot lights. I’ve had a few of them before which seemed ‘borderline’. I had this one today, actually earlier in the day than the others, and I nearly had to pour it off the little paper. That’s not right, and can’t last.
We were instructed not to refrigerate them, but we did during the test market. They redid the recipes so they did not have to be. I think they should.
@Diele – Funny you should mention that. I definitely like them better refrigerated. I’ve gotten the cupcakes, taken them home and put them in the fridge for a couple of hours, and they’re much better. The lemon squares really need to refridgerated too. The salted caramel square tastes pretty good at room temp.