Latest news with #StarbucksJapan
SoraNews24
03-07-2025
- Business
- SoraNews24
Starbucks Japan releases Bitter Cream Coffee, but how does it compare to Sweet Milk Coffee?
We discover what sets one coffee apart from another at Starbucks. Earlier this year, Starbucks Japan gave its once limited-edition Sweet Milk Coffee a permanent place on the menu due to popular demand, but now there's a newcomer set to give it a run for its money. Called Bitter Cream Coffee, this new beverage is the perfect antidote to the syrupy sweetness of the Sweet Milk Coffee, which some customers find slightly too saccharine for their liking. The Bitter Cream version is said to have a richer flavour designed to appeal to coffee lovers, so we decided to head out when it was released on 30 June to check it out. The first point of difference with the bitter version is the price — at 530 yen (US$3.68), it's slightly more expensive than the sweet version, which is priced at 510 yen. This difference in price is due to the extra coffee it contains, as it uses espresso shots diluted with water, like an Americano, while the sweet version uses iced coffee. According to staff, the Tall size contains two espresso shots, although you can add extra espresso shots for an additional 55 yen each, so you can amp up the caffeine to your liking. Another point of difference is the bitter version uses only fresh cream, whereas the sweet version uses a mix of fresh cream and milk. However, both use the same syrups — vanilla and white mocha — so there is a likeness in flavour there. ▼ Visually, the bitter coffee (above) has a deeper, sharper color than the sweet one (below). Starting with the sweet coffee, it had a delicious, mellow flavour. It was quite sweet, with the creamy milk pairing well with the coffee, combining to create something that felt like an adult coffee milk drink. Taking a sip of the Bitter Cream Coffee, we could tell it was clearly different from the sweet version. The aroma was fresh and strong, thanks to the espresso shots, with a robust bitterness and sweet aftertaste rounding out the flavour. The taste was crisper and more refreshing than the sweet version, which we personally preferred, and the espresso had enough strength to stand up to the syrup, so it felt less sweet than the sweet coffee. ▼ The well-balanced combination of fresh cream and espresso was simply superb. If you're like us and prefer your Starbucks drinks with less syrup then the Bitter Cream Coffee will be right up your alley. While it may not be as much of a crowd-pleaser as the sweet version, which has a more wide-ranging appeal, it's nice to know that Starbucks is now catering to diehard coffee lovers with a new drink that packs a punch. For now, though, the bitter version is only available for a limited but unspecified time period, so you'll want to get in quick to try it before it disappears, like the exclusive summer beverages that came before it. 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 ]
Japan Today
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Starbucks Japan releases exclusive new Mango Au Lait for summer
By Oona McGee, SoraNews24 Starbucks has gone totally fruity this summer, starting the season with strawberries before setting them aside for mangoes as the star ingredient on the menu. While the limited-edition Frappuccinos are currently stealing the limelight, diehard fans will be seeking out a more understated new beverage called the Mango Au Lait, which focuses on simplicity to allow the fruit to shine. Made with only milk and fruit pulp, this is a drink that's bound to explode in popularity as the weather heats up. Not only is it refreshing, but the simplicity makes it super easy to drink. While it's usually served without cream, in-store baristas recommend customising it with whipped cream for an additional 55 yen and a free sprinkling of cinnamon powder, so we went with their advice and were glad we did, as the spice added an exotic aroma to the mix. With mango pulp at the bottom of the cup, and blended into the milky body, this is a drink that lets you enjoy full-on mango flavour when you sip it as is. Stirring the mixture together, however, creates a mellower, creamier experience with a sweetness that becomes more pronounced in every sip. The simplicity makes the drink suitable for a wide variety of customisations, and the cinnamon tuned out to be a perfect partner for mango, adding a dash of extra flavor to excite the taste buds right through to the very last sip. This is the kind of easy-to-drink beverage that you'll want to order again and again, so it's a good idea to alternate between the standard version and a few customisations while it's available until July 8. Priced at 590 yen, this is a great alternative to the more well-known drinks on the menu, and a nice palate cleanser for the super spicy Hot Honey Oriental Mango & Tea Frappuccino, which is currently burning mouths around the nation. Photos ©SoraNews24 Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Starbucks Japan's new Hot Frappuccino is almost too spicy to drink -- Starbucks Japan has a new limited-edition Frappuccino for summer, but does it taste any good? -- Does Starbucks Japan's new Frappuccino really help you forget about everyday life? External Link © SoraNews24
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 ]
Japan Today
12-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Starbucks Japan releases a Joyful Mango Earl Grey Tea Latte at 7-Eleven
By Oona McGee, SoraNews24 Japan is currently home to 1,733 Starbucks branches, placing it fourth in the world in terms of store numbers, following the U.S., China and Korea. However, you don't even have to walk into an official branch to get a taste of Starbucks, as the chain also has a 'chilled cup' series that can be conveniently purchased at retail outlets like convenience stores around the country. Produced in collaboration with Suntory, these pre-made beverages have been well received since their 2005 debut, and the limited-edition seasonal releases continually prove to be wildly popular. Now, there's a new limited-edition flavor coming to stores for summer, and it's called the Starbucks Joyful Mango Earl Grey Tea Latte. This is the first time for a Chilled Cup tea latte to contain mango juice, and it's being paired with milk and an aromatic Earl Grey tea for the ultimate in joyful summer refreshment. The elegant scent of bergamot is a perfect partner for the juicy, tropical mango flavor, creating a light, refreshing and luxurious taste. The design on the cups will immediately attract the eye, with bold illustrations of mangoes set against a gold metallic background to express the premium feel of the latte while evoking a tropical atmosphere. Fun and summery, the drink is said to taste as good as it looks, and the product development team recommends pairing it with a chocolate nut cookie, as the bittersweet chocolate helps to balance out the sweet and mellow mango flavor even further. The Joyful Mango Earl Grey Tea Latte is priced at 219 yen and can be purchased for a limited time at 7-Eleven convenience stores around Japan and at the following Ito-Yokado-run locations: York Benimaru, York Mart, York Foods, York Price, Tenmaya, Youme Town, Youme Mart, Youme Terrace, Youme Mall, Yours, Maruyoshi Centre. Source, images: Press release Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Starbucks Japan releases first flower drink in exclusive, hard-to-find chilled cup series -- Starbucks releases a dragon latte containing Japanese pepper in Japan -- Starbucks Japan releases a new Frappuccino that looks and tastes like a floral bouquet External Link © SoraNews24
Hypebeast
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Starbucks Japan Debuts First Ever Spicy Frappuccino
Summary Starbucks Japanis joining in on the summer heat with the unveiling of the Hot Honey Oriental Mango & Tea Frappuccino, its first ever spicy Frappuccino. As perSoraNews24, the limited-edition menu item gets its spicy kick from the fusion of the hot honey sauce. The drink's mango pulp, jasmine tea and mellow-sweet soy milk are present to balance out the hot honey's heat, complete with mango pieces at the bottom and soft whipped cream. To ensure safe consumption, Starbucks Japan is also reportedly warning customers that the drink is not recommended for those sensitive to spicy food or elementary school children and below. However, the chain does allow customers to request how much of hot honey they'd prefer on their drink. The Hot Honey Oriental Mango & Tea Frappuccino is available at Starbucks Japan chains until July 8.
