Latest news with #K.Masami
SoraNews24
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Starbucks Japan's new Hot Frappuccino is almost too spicy to drink
This limited-edition beverage will be forever burned in our memory. Last week, Starbucks Japan made the surprise announcement that it would be releasing its first-ever spicy Frappuccino. The new beverage, called the 'Hot Honey Oriental Mango & Tea Frappuccino', landed in stores across the country on 6 June. Our seasoned Starbucks expert K. Masami figured this would end up being like a lot of other spicy menu items at other big-name chains, in that it would be mild with a hint of heat to please a wide variety of palates. However, when she scrolled through social media, she was surprised to see it had gone viral online, with reviews describing it as torture, and people saying it was too spicy to drink. That only made it seem even more desirable to Masami, so she headed out to try it, and when she got there and found out she could request less or extra hot honey for free, she asked for a little extra. ▼ Masami ignored all the danger signs, so what happens next is entirely on her shoulders. Even the barista tried to dissuade Masami from requesting extra, saying: 'Are you sure you want extra? It's spicy so we recommend just going with the regular amount first.' Masami was determined, though, saying 'I'd like to give it a try!' Flashing her an awkward smile, the barista complied with Masami's request, but when they handed the drink to her, they reiterated their reservations, saying: 'It's spicy, like really spicy so please be careful when you drink it.' The big 'Danger' sign on the cup made Masami a little nervous for what she'd gotten herself into, but the ominous vibe dissipated somewhat when she admired the beauty of the drink and its whipped cream topping. The hot honey sauce was reddish-brown, disguising itself as sweet caramel, but when Masami took a curious sniff she could smell mango, with just a hint of chilli. Feeling slightly more confident, Masami took a sip… and then immediately regretted it. This was more than just spicy, it was seriously painful, burning her throat in ways she'd never imagined possible with a beverage. All kinds of thoughts raced through her head, and as she wondered whether Starbucks had totally lost the plot, she took another sip, hoping for something different, but the distinct aroma and spiciness of chilli dominated the palate even more strongly. While the first sip had a faint taste of mango, it was nowhere to be tasted now, with the spiciness throttling her taste buds into a state of unconsciousness. Masami had been hoping the honey might lessen the strength of the chilli but it only helped to coat her tongue and throat with a sticky heat. Masami had certainly gone a little too far with her request for a little extra, but by these standards, even the regular would be too much for anyone's taste buds to bear. It was bordering on dangerous, with Masami reckoning some people might even wind up with upset stomachs after finishing the drink. Masami crossed all her fingers and toes for her stomach to hold up against the chilli, because even as a serious heat lover, this was off the scale. While the drink is said to contain mango pulp, jasmine tea and soy milk, the sauce permeated the entire drink in such a way that all she could taste was chilli. It was one of the most confusing beverages Masami has ever tried in all her years of taste-testing the new releases, but in hindsight, it was also one of the most exciting. So if you get your thrills through hot sauce, then you'll want to head on down to your nearest Starbucks while it's on the menu until 8 July. Sold in a Tall size only, priced at 761 yen (US$5.32) for takeout and 775 yen for dine-in, this is a unique beverage that'll be forever burned in your memory. If you'd like to escape the heat you can opt for the regular Oriental Mango & Tea Frappuccino, which is also on the menu until 8 July. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
11-06-2025
- Business
- SoraNews24
Mr. Sato orders a box of hot coffee from Starbucks Japan to our office
Ever felt like a Venti was just too small? This is over three times the size. Do you ever find yourself sitting home feeling hungry or thirsty, and despite having a house full of food, you don't really feel like having any of it? You contemplate going out for a drink or bite to eat, but then remember that it can be a little pricey. This is a situation that our Japanese-language reporter Mr. Sato found himself in recently; he was craving Starbucks coffee, yet couldn't be bothered to go out and buy it. After considering it for a while, he came up with a brilliant idea: why not try out the coffee pot service? Way back in 2018, another of our reporters, K. Masami, wrote an article about this ingenious service where you could order an entire pot containing about 2.2 liters (77 fluid ounces) of coffee—that's roughly 10 Shorts. The great thing about this service is that, on top of the coffee pot, you get paper cups, portioned milk, and sugar, which makes it perfect for small meetings or gatherings. If you contact the store you're ordering from in advance, either in person or by phone, you can customize it a little further, by choosing your beans, requesting whether it's hot or cold, or asking for larger amounts. They will even arrange to have the coffee pot returned after you're done with it. As Mr. Sato researched it further, he stumbled across something even more intriguing: the Coffee Traveler. According to the website, you can get about 12 Short-sized cups out of it, and there's no need to return it. The customization options for the Coffee Pot Service are applicable for the Coffee Traveler too. For a self-proclaimed lazy person such as Mr. Sato, not having to deal with the hassle of waiting around for the delivery person to come back to collect the coffee pot was a bonus. Plus, with more coffee, he could fulfill his role as a senior member of staff and treat his coworkers to some hot drinks. The total cost of the coffee was 4,550 yen (US$31.78) which, when you break it down, works out to be about 379 yen per cup. At the store, a Short can cost you at least 380 yen, meaning that you technically save about one yen per cup. Of course, being a delivery, the costs don't end there as there's a delivery surcharge of 219 yen, as well as a separate service fee of 360 yen. Although, if you consider the fact you don't have to go out, an extra 579 yen isn't so bad. Placing the order at Yotsuya 3-Chome, the nearest store to our office in Shinjuku, the coffee was set to arrive 25–35 minutes later. After around half an hour, the delivery person called Mr. Sato's phone to let him know that he was at the front door. The coffee had arrived safely! Mr. Sato was keen to see exactly what a non-returnable coffee pot looked like with his own eyes. It seems that the coffee is inside the cardboard box. Here it is: the Coffee Traveler! It traveled all the way from the store to the office: not far by any means, but a travel nonetheless. Will it be as delicious as it is in-store? In addition to the coffee, there were enough paper cups, napkins, milk portions, sugar, and stir sticks for twelve people — perfect for a small gathering. Now it was time to enjoy the long-awaited coffee. But wait! How do you pour this…? Checking the diagram, Mr. Sato discovered that he had the box upside down. On reflection, he realized the spout being on the top was a bit strange. This is how it should look: Yet, despite fixing his little mistake, Mr. Sato still didn't notice that there was a stand for the box included, so there was no need to set it on the edge of the table like he had done. You might wonder how hot coffee stored in a cardboard box could be, but you shouldn't underestimate it; it's seriously hot. There was so much steam, Mr. Sato was worried about burning his hands. Finally getting the coffee he'd been longing for, Mr. Sato really felt tempted to drink all 12 servings by himself. However, his conscience caught up with him, and he invited the other reporters in the office to a round of drinks. Even though there were only a few members at the office that day, they drank up the delicious coffee to help them power through their article writing. Looking at everyone's faces as they savored their drinks, Mr. Sato felt a warm glow inside as showing a little bit of generosity from time-to-time is essential for a senior team member. If something as simple as coffee can help elevate the mood in the office, it is money well spent. To think ordering coffee could make him feel so satisfied… Yuuichiro Wasai: 'Mr. Sato, could I have a minute?' Mr. Sato: 'What is it?' Yuuichiro: 'About the Coffee Traveler… I wrote an article about it before. I know we've already drunk it, but still…' Mr. Sato: 'Huh? You did?!' Yuuichiro: 'See, here it is. About a year and a half ago.' Mr. Sato: 'Oh… you're right…' Yuuichiro: 'When I ordered it, pick-up at the store was a lot cheaper. In December 2023, it was 3,100 yen. It's gone up to 3,500 yen now, but it's still way cheaper than delivery, right?' Yuuichiro: 'Also, the returnable pot service is about 2,900 yen for 10 cups. So, the Coffee Traveler has gone up in price, and there are cheaper options out there. I mean, just by choosing delivery, you're already paying more compared to buying at the store…' Mr. Sato: 'Yuuichiro… I just wanted to let everyone drink some coffee. Everyone is working hard today, and I just wanted to give them some coffee. I don't want to know how much money I'm losing. Yuuichiro… communication is not something you can determine by losses and gains.' Yuuichiro: 'If this was about communication, then why didn't you wait until everyone was here? There are 12 cups, and if only the few of us drink it, the others can only read about it in the article and… well… I'm sorry. The coffee is really good.' And so a subtle sense of distance settled between Mr. Sato and Yuuichiro. Nothing brings an office together quite like a cup of coffee… Putting that interlude aside, if you don't mind returning the pot, it'd be better to go with the cheaper Coffee Pot Service. If you're fine with picking it up but not with returning it, call the store or use mobile order. And, if you're like Mr. Sato, who feels both picking it up and returning it is a pain: use delivery. The more effort you put in yourself, the cheaper it gets. Related: Starbucks Coffee Traveler, Starbucks Coffee Pot Service Screenshots: Wolt Top and insert photos: ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
01-05-2025
- Business
- SoraNews24
How special is Starbucks Japan's new 'Special Ver.' Frappuccino?
Join us as we find out if this is a decadent improvement or a sneaky cash grab. Earlier this month, Starbucks unveiled 'THE Strawberry Frappuccino' as its first limited-edition Frappuccino for early summer. Juicy, refreshing and delicious, this fruity concoction became an instant crowd pleaser, but now the chain is taking things one step further with a brand new version of the drink, called 'THE Strawberry Frappuccino Special Ver.' Due to be released on 2 May, we were able to get a pre-release taste of it on 30 April, as our reporter K. Masami is a member of the Starbucks Rewards programme so was able to receive early access. Like the first variety, this new Frappuccino contains real strawberry juice, with pulp, jelly, and seeds offering a full-flavoured strawberry experience. However, unlike the original drink, which cost 720 yen (US$5.06), this new version is priced slightly higher, at 790 yen. The more extravagant price matches the more extravagant ingredients, though, with extra strawberry pulp sauce and jelly in the mix and on top of the whipped cream. Starbucks Frappuccinos in the 700 yen range are already pretty pricey, so the near-800 yen price point made Masami pause for a moment, but in the end there was no way she could resist trying the new deluxe Frappuccino so she purchased both of them for a taste test. ▼ Regular Version on the left, Special Version on the right. The regular version was exactly how she remembered it — full bodied and fruity, with a good balance between sweet and tart flavours. However, when she laid eyes on the special version, she could tell it was way more luxurious than the regular — from top to bottom, it was an eye-poppingly vivid shade of vibrant red. As for the taste, it was so decadent it made Masami's eyes roll to the back of her head in delight. There were extra bursts of texture, a sharper balance between sweet and tart, and increased juiciness. It was so indulgent it almost felt too luxurious – like biting into an expensive Japanese strawberry or trying a premium strawberry dessert. Though she'd been dubious at first, by the end she was convinced that the drink is truly worthy of its 'Special' title. It's an expensive beverage so you might not buy it often, but Masami says that trying it once is an absolute must. With all the extra pulp and jelly, it's not overpriced for what you get, and if you want more sweetness in the mix, the baristas recommend adding a pump of Chocolate Sauce for free or White Mocha Syrup for an additional 55 yen. Like the regular version, the Special Ver. is only available until May 27, while stocks last. Photos©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Can Starbucks Japan's new Chillax Sodas really help you relax and chill?
Customers in Japan get a new type of limited-edition drink this summer. If you're a Starbucks lover like our reporter K. Masami, chances are you've been trying to keep up with all the new limited-edition releases lately. Just as Masami thought she was up-to-date with all the new drinks, drinkware and sweets at the chain, they threw her a curveball by releasing a new type of beverage she never saw coming: the Chillax Soda. Available in two flavours, Strawberry and Yuzu Citrus, the new drinks are set to be released on 25 April, but as a Starbucks Rewards member, Masami was able to try them ahead of time, with early access for members staring on 23 April. Both drinks have common elements, in that the fizzy carbonated base is blended with a special 'green citrus' syrup which, although transparent, contains the flavours of lemon, lime, grapefruit, pear and herbs. They're also said to focus on aroma over sweetness, with the goal of helping you chill out and relax, which is something Masami doesn't normally relate to fruity fizzy drinks, so she was curious to see how she would feel when trying them. Starting with the Chillax Soda Strawberry, it looked a treat, with strawberry pulp sauce and jelly in the base, and a semi-dried lemon slice on top. The moment she took a sip, her taste buds were greeted by a fizzy sensation, which was an exciting new experience for a Starbucks drink as carbonated beverages like this are rarely produced by the chain. While Starbucks' limited-edition releases are usually on the sweeter side, this one, despite containing a generous amount of fruit, was light on sweetness and incredibly crisp, making it perfect for summer. Masami figured this refreshing flavour profile was helped by the green citrus syrup, making it an essential ingredient to the drink's success. Next up, she tried the Chillax Soda Yuzu Citrus, which blends yuzu peel, grapefruit, orange, and the same green citrus syrup with a soda base. This one, too, was finished with a semi-dried lemon slice. The flavours here were even more refreshing than the first variety, and absolutely delicious. The combination of yuzu with the green citrus was outstanding — it was so invigorating she'll definitely be wanting to drink this again and again as the weather warms up. With the crisp, sparkly blend of citrus, this wasn't exactly a drink Masami would reach for when wanting to chillax at home, but when seeking respite from the heat in an air-conditioned Starbucks during summer, the liquid refreshment would literally help her relax…and chill. With Starbucks planning more flavours for the Chillax Soda series, this is a good introduction to the concept of 'fragrant sodas to lighten your mood'. It's the kind of drink you'll crave between other Starbucks offerings, but these two flavours will only be around for a limited time, with the Strawberry available until May 27 and the Yuzu Citrus until 2 September They can be purchased in Tall (579 yen [US$4.07] for takeout and 590 yen for dine-in), and Grande (624 yen for takeout and 635 yen for dine-in) sizes, with official sales commencing on 25 April. Source, images: Press release ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
