We are living in the age of protein-pumped everything. Ice cream, cookies, soda, and now, apparently, coffee and tea, because Starbucks has dropped a new menu featuring whey protein-filled lattes and cold foam drinks, including a whey out there matcha drink. So now your coffee can wake you up and fill you up. But I know what you’re thinking: are these new protein drinks actually any good? Can you taste the protein in them? Well, thanks to an early preview of some of the new menu items, I can spill all the (protein-infused) tea.
What are the new menu items?
The new menu items fall into two categories: protein cold foam drinks and protein lattes. The cold foam drinks include the Iced Banana Cream Protein Matcha (featuring a brand new banana cold foam), the Iced Vanilla Cream Protein Latte, and the Chocolate Cream Protein Cold Brew.
The protein lattes, which you can get hot or over ice, include the Protein Matcha and the Vanilla Protein Latte and their sugar-free variants, the Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha and the Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte. Whew these names are a serious mouthful! But the question is: are the drinks a good mouthful?
And, if you’re not one to deviate from your order, you can still get in on the protein action. You can now top your drink with a Protein Cold Foam — there’s a plain option, but most of the existing cold foam flavors will also have a protein edition. Plus, Protein-boosted Milk will be available as a new milk option. You just can’t add the new milk to non-dairy drinks.
How much protein do the new drinks have?
The protein levels vary between drinks. Using the grande as a measurement, the Chocolate Cream has the lowest at 19 grams. Which is still a lot! For reference, an egg has about 6 grams of protein. The Protein Matcha Lattes have the highest at as much as 36 grams of protein. The cold foam by itself is about 15 grams, and the milk has between 12-16 grams.
Are the new protein drinks good?
I got to sample the protein menu early, so I can answer your skepticism about these new drinks.
First up was the Vanilla Protein Latte, and honestly, it just tasted like a vanilla coffee to me. It’s a solid drink — the flavor is light and sweet and had I not known it was a protein latte, I would never have been able to tell. If you’re not looking for something wild and crazy, but want that protein boost, this is the drink for you.
Afterward, I tried out the sugar-free version of the Vanilla Protein Latte. I could tell the difference immediately, and out of all of the drinks, this one tasted the most obviously protein-infused because it doesn’t have the sugar to mask it. It tastes OK for the first second the sip is in your mouth, but I would be lying if there wasn’t an aftertaste that didn’t sit as well as the non-sugar free option.
Next, I tasted the Chocolate Cream Protein Cold Brew, which is truly a treat. It packs a not-too-sweet, creamy chocolate punch — it reminded me of a good dark chocolate. And the fluffy chocolate cold foam adds a lighter sweetness to balance out that darker flavor. This drink was a rich and smooth chocolate-y experience, and it was easily my favorite of the new items. No chocolate lover could turn this down.
I had to save what I would consider the most unique for last: the Banana Cream Protein Matcha. Now, full transparency, I’m not a matcha person. But there was no whey I wasn’t going to try this, and let me tell you, this drink is bananas. The new banana cold foam is a light banana flavor, which is a good thing. It doesn’t taste like that fake banana flavor you find in things like Laffy Taffy. I was extremely skeptical about pairing banana with matcha, but it adds a light, fresh layer of flavor that compliments, and to a degree even tones down, the earthiness from the matcha. It’s a fun drink no doubt, and if you enjoy matcha, it’s worth a try, even though it might not be as bold as a regular matcha.
These new protein items, aside from the Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte, just taste like regular menu items. You can’t tell they’re chalk-full of protein, which is good news because it means they’re good-tasting drinks with the added, hidden bonus of having a serious protein boost.
When will the new drinks be available?
There’s no need to wait for your protein fix, because the new drinks and protein add-ons are out now. If you’re looking to fill up and get caffeinated, Starbucks’ new offerings are for you.