These drinks are being booted.
Starbucks’ olive oil-infused drinks are being used just a year after they were added to the menu, as the company’s new CEO looks to improve service.
Oleato products will be permanently removed from the main menu starting Nov. 7, when Starbucks’ holiday drinks launch, according to a memo obtained by Bloomberg News.
The memo said Starbucks is “saying goodbye to Starbucks Oleato drinks and coffee nut syrup.”
New CEO Brian Niccol, who took over the chain on Sept. 9, noted that one of his priorities to accelerate growth at the company is to simplify the “overly complex” menu so bartenders can speed up service.
However, according to Bloomberg, the company said the decision to get rid of Oleato drinks was made before Niccol took over, although it is in line with the plan to scale back the menu.
Oleato (Italian for “oiled”) drinks debuted in Italy in February 2023 before making their way to select California locations in March 2023, eventually becoming available nationwide on January 30, 2024.
The drinks, infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil, were the brainchild of former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who believed the drink was a “transformational way to enjoy our everyday coffee.”
Oleato’s origin story began with Schultz’s visit to Sicily, when he learned about the Mediterranean custom of consuming a spoonful of olive oil daily, according to Starbucks’ website.
While enjoying his morning coffee, he had the inspiration to combine the two items.
Some consumers reported experiencing unfortunate stomach problems from the coffee-oil combination.
Baristas and customers alike gave honest feedback on the drink on Reddit in a thread titled “Olive Oil Drinks …”
“Caffeine is a stimulant for your bowels and oil a relaxant. So yeah great idea from Starbucks,” one person noted.
“Half the team tried it yesterday and some passed out… I have to use the bathroom if you know what I mean… I’m honestly scared to try it because I already have stomach/bowel issues,” wrote one suspected barista Starbucks.
Meanwhile, The Post’s own Steve Cuozzo described the drinks in a review written last year, writing, “Partanna’s purported scoop in each tasted less like olive oil than a chemical solvent with an aftertaste bad and stable”.
Cuozzo added that “Starbucks likes to ruin its very good, dark-roasted coffee with expensive, stupid and ill-advised add-ons.”
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Image Source : nypost.com