Starting February 17, 2015, you’ll be able to order coconut milk for your favorite Starbucks beverage.
Starbucks has been testing coconut milk as a dairy alternative for about one year. It began as a small test in the Portland, Oregon stores. By summer 2014, Cleveland, Ohio Starbucks stores added coconut milk. All the gossip I heard was that there was a good response from customers. Starbucks customers want non-dairy milk alternatives. By October 2014, Starbucks (in an official Starbucks blog post) indicated that coconut milk was doing well, and that Starbucks expanded the test to Los Angeles locations.
At this point, it’s hardly a secret that coconut milk will be nationally available in the U.S. beginning the 17th of this month. If you look at Instagram (using hashtags like #tobeapartner) you’ll find these green boxes of coconut milk popping up everywhere. It’s in stores now for partners (Starbucks calls their employees ‘partners’) to try, however will not be available for customers until the 17th.
What do you think? Are you going to start order coconut milk lattes, mochas, and Frappuccinos? I myself still drink dairy, but having said that, I fully recognize that there is a huge demand for non-dairly products such as soy milk, coconut milk, or even almond milk (almond milk is not available at Starbucks). By the way, if you are visiting the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room, coconut milk is available now as a milk option.
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Oh thank goodness. I’m not a huge fan of soy, but as someone who’s pretty severely lactose intolerant it’s the only way I can get my Starbucks fix. I’d personally prefer almond milk over coconut, but I’m honestly not complaining. Good on ya, Starbucks!
Hoping this comes to Canada also! 😀
@Cyn – I will do some research and try to figure out if this is coming to Canada. I only had information on the US market. Sorry!
ok stupid question time – does it taste like coconut??
YES! Please tell me it doesn’t have carrageenan…
Ingredients list, please. Or snapshot of the ingredients list. Thank you.
As long as they don’t get rid of Soy milk, I’m fine with this. Nut I’d love to see rice milk in the future.
I can’t tolerate soy milk — still (28 years later) reminds me of my first-born’s soy formula spit-up!
Sometimes I don’t want regular milk so this is a great option!
Annoyed that almond milk isn’t an option. Lactose intolerant and I don’t like soy, rice, or coconut milk.
At this time, coconut milk isn’t coming to the Canadian market. At least not all of them, as we aren’t getting it! (I’m in BC!)
I’m excited for this new non-dairy option to become available. I drink 2% most of the time but it seems like an unusual amount of my fellow partners can only have soy. (I’m allergic to soy but whatevs!) I’m happy that they will have something new to try!
I’m curious to see how this new option will handle being steamed. Heavy cream now is completely awful (just like eggnog) so I’m nervous how this one will pan out. Making no-foam drinks with non-fat milk and soy are awful. Hope coconut milk isn’t the same! (And in my personal option, we’d have to make a lot less of the no-foam drinks if my fellow barista were following bar routines and using the darn spoon when pouring drinks out! :D)
*Opinion 😀
How well does coconut milk froth and hold up to steaming?
@Melody – or baristas, a list of the ingredients would be greatly appreciated. I too am interested in whether or not the coconut milk contains carrageenan.
Thanks!
I’ve been using the coconut milk in my drinks for the last few days now and I am absolutely in love! It’s naturally sweet, contains a lot less sugar than the soy, and really doesn’t alter the flavor much other than a slight coconut finish. I can confirm that the Sumatra Coconut Milk does contain carrageenan.
Well, at least I was able to have some excitement over it, only to be abruptly let down about the carrageenan. I was hoping I’d get to try Starbucks’ drinks again, but that won’t happen until either they offer organic dairy milks or non-dairy milks sans carcinogens. Sad. 🙁
@Trent – Thank you for the ingredient update.
Is it vanilla-flavored coconut milk, or the plain stuff?
I’m so curious what the ingredients are in this milk!
Thanks for sharing
Bring Coconut Milk to Canada would be a good move for Starbucks as dairy consumption in Canada is down 25% from a decade ago.
I want almond milk. I remember reading they decided on coconut milk because people have allergies with nuts and almond milk. I have an allergy with that excuse.
I got excited until I read that it had carrageenan in it. I’ve boycotted Starbucks for months now, and I was a gold card member. Howard Schultz needs to listen to his customers. It’s a step in the right direction, but for those who don’t know, carrageenan is a carcinogen and should be avoided. It can cause cancer. So therefor, I will still be boycotting Starbucks.
Is it unsweetened? Processed? What is wrong with unsweetened almond?
I was hoping it would be earlier for coconut milk.. When I went in to my starbucks the manager was already drinking the coconut milk . They had it but couldn’t serve it to customers yet .. But it’s ok for them to drink it?
Need more gluten free treats!
Have been on the coconut bandwagon for several yrs after lactose intolorance threw me off the cow……and a progression from soy (that was no better) to almond (a little better) to rice (worst) -found coconut.. so much tastier. So will dig up my gold card and come back…. Now how about the coconut based ice cream like Trader Joe’s or Fo Mu (Boston )….best!
Carageenan? NO way. When will they get the message to use organic products without that crap? Sticking with local organic coffee shops until Starbuck’s wakes up.
Happy to see this coming in!
Ok. I tried it. Sweetened with a nasty aftertaste. Oh well
Hello..
Tried it today. I had a venti mocha with the coconut milk and added whip cream with caramel drizzle on top. Tasted like a samoa girl scout cookie. Really great and this product could open up lots of possibilities. Ms melody if you get a chance will you please keep writing articles on the fun new starbucks giftcards available. I know there is a new white special edition siren card and a new spring card out. Thank you as always.
I read list of ingredients and yuck. Mostly sugar water with some things I couldn’t pronounce. I’m so sad because I love convince of Starbucks.
Carageenan is not a carcinogen. It is absolutely not, in any way, a carcinogen.
It’s because of repeated silly lies like this that I stopped visiting My Starbucks Idea. Post after post of ridiculous misinformation like this.
Carageenan is safe. It is not a carcinogen. It does not cause cancer.
This ingredient list conversation doesn’t alarm me at all. I find that most people have no idea what they’re consuming, and that we generally eat what we like. If we wanted healthy, Dairy Queen, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, candy bar makers, and many more would go out of business.Why someone one minute worries about this but the next minute eats french fries, is odd to me.
Starbucks had to come up with a product that can be distributed to 12,000 stores, foams, steams, and stores, and tastes good hot. I think many many people will opt for this coconut milk.
I tried a vanilla latte with coconut milk at Starbucks and was pleasantly surprised. In the past I opted for skim since I never found soy blended well. I would love to hear about others who tried their favorite drinks with this new option. Dairy doesn’t always agree with me but I love mocha and milk based coffee drinks.
Can hardly wait until next time I cross the border to try an iced tea latte with their amazing new(ish) pineapple tea and coconut milk! Aloha on my taste buds. 🙂
@Melody, I was about to comment on the same thing. It seems to me avoiding certain food or ingredient is a trendy thing to do. Yes, there are people who strictly avoid all known bad food all the time, but most just avoid whatever they hear on the news or read on the Interwebs for a while then regress. I tried the coconut milk and it was ok by me. I probably won’t ask for it every time but it would be a good change on occasion.
The problem with almond milk is the nut alert that so many people have a good portion of them small children and the fact that everytime you have a reaction your alergy becones worse. The steam wands that heat the milk are wiped and blown out every time their used but there is always the chance that there could be an issue is too high and also there would then be issue’s for barista’s that have the alergy to nuts as they come more sensitive when nut products are heated. coconut however is not a nut – it is in fact a fruit and is therefore not posing a health risk to our customers or partners. So be patient alternatives are coming but in time homered starbucks fashion which means respectfully and with great thought to impact for everyone.
I believe there’s a $.60 upcharge for coconut milk. It seems a bit excessive.