Starbucks closing stores, cutting jobs
Affected employees will be notified this week and offered transfer opportunities or severance packages. (Scripps News)
Scripps News
On a protein kick like nearly everyone else? Starbucks has you covered now with its new Protein Lattes and Protein Cold Foam drinks.
The specialty coffee chain announced the new protein menu options earlier in September and they are available as of now on Sept. 29.
In addition to lattes made with protein-boosted milk and drinks made with flavored protein-rich cold foam, other favorite drinks may be customized with flavored cold foam for an additional $2 (prices may vary by store) or be made with protein-boosted milk in any hot or iced beverage made with milk for $1.
The new protein lineup is part of Starbucks’ strategy to modernize its menu with new innovative options, the company said in a news release.
“As we continue to get back to Starbucks, we’re focused on modernizing our menu with innovative, relevant and hype-worthy products that will resonate with our customers,” said Tressie Lieberman, Starbucks global chief brand officer, in the news release, referencing the turnaround strategy initiated by Brian Niccol, who became CEO in September 2024.
“Our new protein beverages tap into the growing consumer demand for protein in an innovative, premium and delicious way that only Starbucks can deliver,” Lieberman said.
Also as part of the Back to Starbucks strategy, the company on Sept. 25 announced it would shed about 900 jobs and close more than 400 Starbucks locations, which were underperforming or weren’t conducive to creating “the physical environment our customers and partners expect,” Niccol said at the time.
Starbucks has new Protein Cold Foam drinks. Here’s the flavors
- Iced Banana Cream Protein Matcha: A green tea latte with unsweetened matcha and classic syrup, topped with the new Banana Protein Cold Foam (24 grams of protein in a grande sized drink).
- Iced Vanilla Cream Protein Latte: A creamy iced latte topped with Vanilla Protein Cold Foam (26 grams of protein).
- Chocolate Cream Protein Cold Brew: A signature Cold Brew Coffee made with layers of Chocolate Protein Cold Foam and sweetened sweetened with vanilla syrup (19 grams of protein).
Those who want to add Protein Cold Foam to their favorite drink can choose from flavors including banana, vanilla, sugar-free vanilla, chocolate, matcha, salted caramel and brown sugar, plain with no sugar and limited-time seasonal flavors pumpkin and pecan.
The addition gets you about 15 grams of extra protein per grande-sized beverage (there’s an additional $2 charge, prices may vary by store).
New Starbucks Protein Lattes come in four flavors
Starbucks Protein-boosted milk is made daily by the coffee house baristas, Starbucks says, by blending creamy 2% milk with premium whey protein. Here are the new Protein Lattes on the menu:
- Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha: Unsweetened matcha is combined with protein-boosted milk and sugar-free vanilla syrup in this matcha latte (28 to 36 grams of protein per hot or iced grande).
- Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte: Espresso and sugar-free vanilla syrup along with protein-boosted milk (27 to 29 grams of protein).
- Protein Matcha: Made with unsweetened matcha with classic syrup and protein-boosted milk (28 to 36 grams of protein).
- Vanilla Protein Latte: Espresso, protein-boosted milk and sweet vanilla (27 to 29 grams of protein).
Customers can substitute Protein-boosted milk in any hot or iced beverage made with milk ($1 additional charge, prices may vary by store) to add 12–16 grams of protein to the typical grande latte.
Contributing: Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
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