Peppermint, Caramel, Chestnut, Sugar Cookie: the Starbucks holiday menu is back. This year’s seasonal menu contains many tried-and-true favorites, as well as some new flavors to kick off the festive season.
The Holiday season brings Auburn students much to look forward to, and the Starbucks seasonal drink menu is one of the most anticipated favorites.
“Starbucks seasonal drinks are my favorite thing ever. This year, I had my first seasonal drink on the first day that they changed the menu. I was so excited I went straight there to get one,” says Bridget Catalano, Massachusetts native and senior in marketing and business analytics.
The holiday drinks have been back on the menu since Nov. 3 and will be featured until the launch of the next seasonal drinks in the spring. This year’s holiday drinks offer wintery flavors that will get everyone in the Christmas mood, from sweet sips like the Chestnut Praline Latte and Caramel Brûlée Latte to classic Christmas flavors with the Peppermint Mocha. Last year’s new addition to the menu, the Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte, is coupled with the Irish Cream Cold Brew to make up the menu’s two iced options.
With so many options for students to choose from, which Starbucks winter drink is leading as the 2022 favorite so far?
“The Sugar cookie Almondmilk Latte definitely gets ordered the most,” says Starbucks barista Debrah Pettus who serves coffee lovers at the Melton Student Center.
She also recommends the Peppermint Mocha.
“It tastes like Christmas,” says Pettus.
Emma Thomas, public relations freshman from Daphne, Alabama, says that the Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte is her favorite.
“It’s always sold out, it’s very popular. I very much looked forward to drinking it again this year,” says Thomas.
Given Alabama’s mild temperatures during the festive season, it's no surprise that many Auburn students favor iced beverages.
“I like an iced coffee. I’m from Massachusetts and I feel like down here it never gets too cold so you can still enjoy an iced coffee,” Catalano explains.
Thomas agrees. “I like my drinks cold, always cold.” she says.
According to Catalano, she's already sipped her way through the 2022 menu.
“Normally, I love the white Peppermint Mocha, it’s so good it literally tastes like Christmas in a cup. This year I would say it’s the Caramel Brûlée Latte. I had never tried it before, but I got it the other day and it’s so good,” says Catalano.
Since the holiday season has only just begun, many students are excited to get around to trying the new flavors.
While Faith Dillard, freshman in animal science, doesn't normally order from the holiday menu, she's excited to try this year’s Toasted White Chocolate Mocha. Her go-to? A hot Caramel apple spice.
“I don’t really do seasonal drinks, but you could call this a seasonal drink because I only get in the holiday season. This reminds me of fall and Christmas time because it tastes like apple cider. The apple spice flavor gives a drink the ultimate holiday vibe for me,” says Dillard.
Even for students that are not fans of this year’s seasonal drinks, Starbucks’ variety of flavored syrups and add-ons makes it possible to get everyone their personal favorites, even for non-coffee drinkers.
Barista Pettus explains that almost every drink order comes with a special request, whether that be the milk, number of espresso shots or subsequent special additions.
“The most unique order I remember was a hot Americano with a pumpkin cream foam, which is cold,” says Pettus.
From seasonal menu die-hards to students who favor the classics, most can agree on one thing; Starbucks is offering a little something for everyone this season.
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