Coming soon in January 2013, Starbucks will be introducing a seasonal Vanilla Spice Latte (or Vanilla Spice Frappuccino) into the beverage lineup, in their U.S. and Canada stores. This beverage previously was a seasonal drink in the UK and so there is a lot of information already out there about the Vanilla Spice Latte. Straight from the Starbucks UK website, here’s a description of the new drink:
Starbucks signature espresso combined with freshly steamed milk, rich vanilla, and subtle hints of cardamom and spice. Topped with whipped cream, crushed vanilla bean and a touch of sugar.
January may spell the end of the festive season but not of the cold weather to what better way to warm up than with our new Vanilla Spice Latte. The rich delicious aroma of vanilla and cardamom spice make the perfect partner for our caramelly espresso roast. Add freshly steamed milk and whipped cream and top with a sprinkling of crushed vanilla bean sugar. Sure to warm you up when it’s cold outside. Also available iced or blended as a Frappuccino®.
DID YOU KNOW
Cardamom pods are well known for their health and medicinal benefits, said to include vital vitamins such as Vitamin C and minerals like potassium and calcium.
It looks like a great beverage. I like that it appears to be a nice variation on a basic drink, rather than introducing an overly sweet sugary drink. I hope that there are a few readers in international markets reading this who can report on how they like it!
It’s my understanding that this new drink launches the first week of January: I’ve heard January 3rd will be the launch date. This is really only about two weeks away, and I am looking forward to trying it. I do order a basic vanilla latte now and then, and so this may be something I’d like.
What do you think?
69 Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Socialize
Sounds good to me. We used to always add ‘cardamom’ to our coffee (in the ground beans) before brewing way back in the early ’70’s. Lots of people thought this added to the coffee flavor. (haven’t done that in yrs tho….)
I actually might try it but am not totally sure that it will be less sweet than other drinks. Comments from those that have had it re the level of sugar in it? I use cardamom in cooking so am familiar with this spice. BTW Denise I tried the snowman cookie again and have to admit when it is fresh it is a really nice cookie! (Sorry Melody for the diversion).
As a vanilla latte devotee, really looking forward to this one.
This sounds so yummy! I can’t wait to try it! New drinks at Starbucks are always fun. Do you know if the cocoa cappuccino is something that can still be ordered? It’s from two or so years ago I think, and really good! But I’m not sure if it’s still available. Hopefully this new vanilla drink will stay on the menu!
We just got the topping and syrup in our store! I just added a pump to my usual ristretto bianco, and I must say I was impressed. It has a subtle spice to it, without being over powering or overly sweet. I am excited for this to launch!
I am hoping Sunday we receive the ingredients to make one!
This sounds interesting to me even though I’m very much a mocha and caramel person. @Pencil to Paper, I asked about the cocoa cappuccino one day last summer and was told it never existed. This was not at my regular store so I didn’t know how long this barista had been there. Obvioulsy not long enough to know about that drink which I wish they’d bring back sometime.
@BeckyE and @Pencil_to_paper That drives me a bit nuts when baristas say something never existed which clearly did. The Cocoa Cappuccino wasn’t that long ago- Maybe 2009 – 2010? And, I’ve been told baristas can still make it. It was just fewer pumps of mocha in the cup. It used the same ingredients that are available now – but I don’t know the recipe.
We just got all the supplies in and tasted on shift yesterday. I actually was really impressed. I love chai and it has similar characteristics but with coffee. It’s not too sweet either. We also played around with it and tried it as a steamer and in a chai and its pretty good! I hope that it does well here!
@BeckyE @Melody Yeah, that’s definitely annoying to be told something never existed when you know it did because you ordered it. Maybe I’ll try ordering one soon and see what comes of it! I really enjoyed it!
First off, I must say I love your blog, Melody. I’m a shift supervisor in North Carolina, and I check here to read comments and posts every break at work. It always puts me in a great, excited mood about everything that is Starbucks.
I’m super super thrilled about the Vanilla Spice, and like others, can’t wait to try it.
As far as the Cocoa Cappuccino, we absolutely can still make it. It’s just a cappuccino with mocha sauce (the standard for flavoring a cappuccino is to put in one less pump of syrup/sauce than a same size latte) and a crosshatch of mocha drizzle on top. These are ingredients we’ve got all the time, and obviously can’t see leaving ever. So, to anyone that wants one but is met with a newer barista unaware of its existence, just ask for a cappuccino with mocha sauce and mocha drizzle. Hope this helps!
I am excited for the vanilla spice latte…when they introduced this last March in the UK it even drove me to make a MSI thrread about it. I’m not much of a vanilla person, but I think this would be a better balance and good in a chai also!
@pencil to paper and @beckye – if you go to order a cocoa cappuccino and they say that it never existed, just show them this link 🙂
http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=501
I actually forgot about this drink…I’ll have to try it again, I can’t see why they couldn’t still make it!
Great information and so glad to know the cocoa cappuccino can certainly be made anytime. Looking forward to ordering that again and the new vanilla spice latte! Will certainly make January easier to handle.
I can confirm its DELICIOUS!!! I was drinking it all January last year in Ireland… It was nice to get this and then head over to Boston and try your seasonal favorite Cinnamon Dolce latte mmmmm
I don’t normally like vanilla lattes, but we just got our shipment of Vanilla Spice this tuesday, so i had to try one. If your having trouble imagining what this is like thing London Fog (earl grey tea latte with vanilla) with espresso. It’s delicious and I’m sure it will be a hint.
Another great idea: get the Vanilla Spice topping on your mocha – it really makes the chocolate flavor pop. A pump of vanilla spice could be a great substitute for the vanilla in a hot chocolate as well.
Really looking forward to this one.
@Melody, @BaristaMatt: This beverage is called Chocolate Cappuccino in Europe and still can be made, although it’s not on the menu boards. This and Creme Brulee Macchiato were promo beverages in the fall of 2011 here. On the top there should be checkerd pattern made by using mocha drizzle, similar to the one from Caramel Macchiato, but whithout circle.
You have official promo poster here: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rpdHjScmnA/TXhgQpMEoyI/AAAAAAAAElk/IhcTet3HZ1k/s1600/Coffee+~+STARBUCKS+Ad+~+Cocoa+Cappuccino+%26+Iced+Cocoa+Cappuccino+~+01+with+Text+of+Ad-792821.JPG
I must say this was not my favourite beverage. 😉
Just tried this drink, has a nice subtle flavor to it. The cardamom is very distinguishable in the drink and reminds me of The Chai Tea Lattes.
If a barista doesn’t know of or how to make a drink there’s a possibility they weren’t around for the drink in question.
Talked with the manager at my regular Starbucks about the Vanilla Spice Latte, yes they have received all the supplies. All the Baristas have been trying it and sampling to some “special” customers. Mixed reactions, people seem to really like it or are meh. Personally cardamon and nutmeg are a couple of my spice secrets in cooking.
Now the bad news that I have been withholding, I was diagnosed with two gastric ulcers late in October so since then no more caffeine (not even decaf) for me 🙁 . Drat, just when there are so many delicious seasonal drinks and me with a “freebee” Verismo. Thank goodness for Tazo Zen.
Dad cooks feel better. Am at SB now and going to ask the partners about the drink.
I’m excited to try this! I hope it comes in our order Saturday!!! I’m allergic to milk(different than lactose intolerance) and so a lot of sauces I can’t try/have. This looks delectable!
I am very interested in trying this. I make cardamom cake from time to time, I do like that spice.
@DadCooks – sorry to hear that. Get better soon!
@DadCooks that is bad news! I’m sorry to haer that. Hang in there. Well, you can still make chocolate milk with your Verismo, right?
@baristamatt – A big welcome and thank you for the kind words! Tell your friends! 🙂
@Jacquith – I love the idea of experimenting with this syrup in a few other ways – Chai, or hot chocolates … Seems like the comments here are mostly 2 thumbs up for the Vanilla Spice.
@pencil_to_paper @Melody The Cocoa Cappuccino was simply a fancy name for a mocha cappuccino with mocha drizzle, so if asking for a CC fails you can order it that way. We’ve always had the capability to make it, and always will. 🙂
Feel better @dadcooks! Although, it would be devastating to learn no more coffee/ caffeine…hopefully you got to play with your Verismo at least a little 🙁
@Ems yay! Thanks!! I thought I remembered you telling me it could still be made but I wasn’t sure how to order it from a barista who didn’t remember the cocoa cappuccino when it was available. Now I know! And I will be ordering one tomorrow!!! Huzzah!
@BaristaMatt just saw your reply! Thanks! I’m super excited to know how to order a cocoa cappuccino again! 😀
@Hayley I forgot about it for awhile, too! Don’t know what made me remember it, but I did and now I’m craving one! 🙂
@DadC…… ohhhhh 🙁 Really hope you are feeling better sooner than later. Hopefully, with some ‘quieting down’ of your ulcers, you may be able to come back to the world of….coffee! oh, I do feel bad for you. (how do you get up in the morning? 😉
I never order lattes, but I must admit I’m looking forward to trying this. Something tells me that I’m going to like it. Too bad it’s going to be seasonal if it becomes popular with me.
@DadCooks – Drat is an understatement!
@Denise – Sorry I never responded on msi, but that thread was closed before I could reply. I think you mentioned Lake Delavan before and I forgot. Everybody knows somebody that has a connection to Delevan, Lake Geneva or Como.
We got the sample in the other day – and it is not as sweet as a lot of the drinks – it’s subtle, and beautiful. It’s been a long time since I’ve been *so* excited about a new flavour. Our area is kind of white-mocha intensive, so I am just hoping people will give it a chance. Also, I tried the topping in just plain coffee and it was divine. We’ve been adding cardamom to our coffee at home for years, and I really hope people embrace it. It smells wonderful!
(A warning on cardomom, though, is that if you use too much of it (like, too much topping, say) it can become sort of bitter. The syrup won’t be a problem, but the topping has bits of actual card. in it, so be aware.)
ALSO – I tried a London Fog with it – and o, man – it was over the top yum!
Say what?! This totally made my day. I recently got hooked on vanilla lattes and chai lattes so the thought of two delicious drinks coming together as one is fantastic! 🙂
We’ve only received the syrup, and not the topping at my store. I won’t be breaking this out until after Christmas for sampling. My counter is already too crowded with all the Fall and Winter syrups and toppings. I want to wait until I’m out of Salt (only 2 bottles left) to add another shaker to my bar. We’re more of a Caramel Macchiato store, we do many more skinny vanilla lattes than regular, so I’m not sure how this will fare, but I’m interested in giving it a whirl.
@ChrisW – I asked around and some of the downtown Seattle stores I go to don’t have the Vanilla Spice syrup yet. One store manager told me that sometimes downtown is last to get new products, since delivery works from outlaying stores (to make sure they get it) in to the center. I was a little confused. I do know that some stores are starting to running out of salt, in these parts. Anyway, when you do sample it, come back and give your review of it!
In my twitter stream, I saw a partner (who I know is at the Madison & Minor Starbucks here in Seattle) mention that his store has the syrup, and they’ve opened it up and tried it. Might have to head up to that store soon! LOL
@Melody – Distribution is a complicated animal. Starbucks actually has 4 Roasting Plants here in the US (with the 5th under construction, but that one is for soluble products only), but many additional distribution centers. How product gets into the stores is a never-ending dance, in figuring out how much and how early to send product. I’m really still just trying to focus on these last few days leading up to Christmas, our store is getting busier by the day! Hope you get to try the new drink soon.
I tried it today, it
Is not for me. I like Chai but I do not like nutmeg and its got a nutmeggy aftertaste that I just can’t get past.
I’ve sampled the Vanilla Spice Latte with a few partners and they haven’t been crazy about it. However, it is an unfamiliar flavour for most part wee if they are not Earl Grey Tea Latte drinkers. There is a spicy flavourful complexity to it that is not present in many of the espresso drinks which are generally highlighted by easily discernible sweeter flavours. This is a drink for one who desires something a little different and adventuresome from our typical espresso fare, thus if one isn’t looking for that, it will likely seem like a flop and/or gross.
While it isn’t the perfect drink, I commend the Starbucks team for trying something new as we haven’t had many new variations to try lately at the espresso bar. =)
My Starbucks Idea emailed me that they were using my idea for this, from when I mentioned it in March..and marked it as ‘coming soon’
I’ve never had one of my ideas picked!! I’m so excited!! 🙂
I work at Starbucks and we got this yesterday. It is exactly as sickly sweet as all of our other drinks except this one tastes like you either are chewing on the dry intents of a chai teabag or sprayed an old lady’s perfume in your mouth. It tastes as bizarre as it smells.
Bottom line, it will be a huge hit…
@Barista Josh: ha! I tasted it yesterday and found it tasted about the same to me as your description…..I won’t be a fan for sure. (too bizarre)
@BaristaJosh – That was a brutally honest review of the new drink! 🙂 Welcome to the blog! (Hope you’ll like the Facebook page, if you haven’t already).
I tried a Vanilla Spice Latte on my way into work today. I think I like the topping. It was pretty good – I think I need to try it again and experiment with fewer pumps of syrup. It might take a couple of tries before I know for sure if I like it.
I’d be curious what other people are thinking about it since probably more and more people have had a chance to try the new Vanilla Spice latte…
I’m a US Starbucks barista and we just got the partner sample bottle of the new vanilla spice syrup. It’s gross. Really subtle and weird tasting. Gross.
*I* am one of the ones who likes this one, but since I tend to be in the minority with the drinks I like, I’m not super surprised. I don’t love the topping though. I have yet to try it in a chai or earl grey tea latte, or other custom tea lattes, as I imagine that’s where I’ll like it the most, but I must admit, the subtle sweet/spicy flavour works really well for me with the espresso. So far, 9 of us have tried it, and I’m the only one who likes it, so I don’t see this being a huge whiz bang of a success.
I’ll have to second Jamie’s call on the syrup. We were a smidge slow with the snow storm the other day and we played with it. The only thing we got it to taste yummy in was a chai latte. I have a feeling that this is NOT going to go over huge. It’s odd tasting. Not as bad as the old Skinny Mocha, but pretty bad to us nonetheless. I wanted to love it. I REALLY did..but oh, my heavens. No thanks!
We played around with this drink at my store during a slow period the week before Christmas. There were 3 of us, not one liked it as the latte. My shift supervisor played around with it, finally using it (1/2 sweet) in a chai tea misto…it was much more pleasant that way. I really think customers will either love or hate it as a latte…I don’t think it compliments the espresso at all, they seem to work against each other. I’ll be interested in feedback from customers this coming month.
On New Year’s Day, Barnes & Noble was handing out samples of the latte in their stores. Tried it, loved it, and today (Jan. 2) got the Frappuccino version in my own Starbucks store. Yummy!! Hope they keep this around for awhile!
Shared your Vanilla Spice post on my facebook page with everyone! I live in Winter Haven, FL and we just had our first Starbucks open 2 weeks ago…I am looking forward to that new flavor and can’t wait to get in there this week to try it! I am a BIG tea fan and did not know until reading this post that there was such a thing as a Tazo store! If we just got Starbucks, who knows how long it will take to get a Tazo store…going now to look up and see if there’s one in Orlando! Love your page!
Just ordered it! Grande hot steamer (steamers are with no coffee) vanilla spiced latte. You have to get the whip cream and drink it with the top off to get the full flavor of all the toppings on the whip cream. How do I post pics? I was hoping to show everyone mine. I fully enjoyed the cinnamon to the vanilla combination. Will def. Get this again. Its so cold in LA!
we got this in our store and we all hate it…absolutely hate it…it tastes like a super musky vanilla spice mens cologne smells…so yes as the other barista said people will “love it”…not sure why the masses flock to such horrible ideas
At my store, we are still trying to tinker with the Vanilla Spice as well. So far we have only made it into lattes and Frappuchinos. Just a word of caution, the Frappuchinos did not turn out well (both the coffee and cream based versions). The reigning favorite so far is the soy Vanilla Spice latte as the soy ups the sweetness a bit without becoming overpowering and boosts the vanilla flavor.
I will definitely have to try an Earl Grey Tea Latte with the Vanilla Spice the next time I go in.
Just ordered my first NEW Vanilla Spice latte. I’m so sad to hear this is seasonal only! This could easily be my new signature drink. Light, creamy, not too sweet. Just enough spice to make you go say “Mmm” but not overpowering. Best part is that it doesn’t have the heavy feeling that some of the caramel or mocha drinks (my old favorites) do. I would really like to see this become a permanent menu item.