Starbucks is betting on olive oil — and I had to find out why.
As of January 30, the chain’s Oleato drinks — beverages enriched with Partanna extra virgin olive oil — are available in all Starbucks stores nationwide.
Since Oleato first launched in select Starbucks stores in February 2023, there have been a lot of mixed reviews online, so I decided to try a few drinks to see what all the fuss was about.
Starbucks describes its Oleato line as “a velvety velvety, subtly sweet and lush coffee that enriches every cup with extraordinary recent flavors and textures.”
A recent addition to the menu is the Oleato Golden Foam Iced Shaken Espresso with Toffeenut, which combines featherlight espresso with toffee and nut aromas and oat milk. The whole thing is topped with Oleato Golden Foam, which combines vanilla, sweet cream and icy foam with olive oil.
Starbucks says any iced drink can now be personalized with Oleato Golden Foam, and customers can also order other Oleato drinks: Iced Chai Tea Latte with Oleato Golden Foam, Iced Matcha Tea Latte with Oleato Golden Foam, Dragon Drink Starbucks Refreshers Beverage with Oleato Golden Foam and Paradise Drink Starbucks Refreshers Beverage with Oleato Golden Foam.
Oleato has been the subject of fierce debate on the internet since the first reviews were posted on social media in 2023. At the time, some loved the “so damn delicious” drinks, while others reported stomach problems related to the drink (one even called it a “legal laxative”). And the chatter didn’t die down, with more people reporting bathroom runs after drinking drinks and other complimenting drinks Or hearing others Do the same.
As someone with an inquisitive mind and an adventurous palate, as soon as I heard about Starbucks’ Oleato drinks, I really wanted to try them. But as someone who lives in the suburbs, I haven’t been able to until now — and boy, do I have a lot of thoughts.
My review of Oleato
Hoping to see everything this recent beverage category has to offer, I tried a few different Oleato drinks.
I started with the Oleato Caffè Latte with Oatmilk, which was the original drink and the most basic, simply combining blond roasted espresso with oat milk and olive oil. This drink was very — and I mean Very — olive oil. It tasted a bit like I was drinking coffee and then accidentally decided to take a sip from a bottle of olive oil for fun.
Although the Italian practice of taking a spoonful of olive oil was generally inspiration for Oleato drinks According to CEO Howard Schultz, it’s not something I typically do, so it wasn’t for me.
But that was actually the only drink I ordered that I didn’t like. When I was in the store picking up orders, I tried a sample of the Dragon Drink Starbucks Refreshers Beverage with Oleato Golden Foam, a drink that I don’t usually order as a coffee drinker, but this one was really good, but I couldn’t taste the olive oil at all.
I also ordered the recent Oleato Golden Foam Iced Shaken Espresso with Toffeenut and that was definitely my favorite: I could taste the olive oil in the golden foam, but it wasn’t overpowering. I think that’s because the other sturdy flavor, toffeenut, complemented the buttery flavor of the olive oil quite well. I can see myself ordering this again.
Curious about Oleato’s customization potential, I tried adding a pump of olive oil to my usual drink: a latte with vanilla sweet cream and Dolce cinnamon syrup. I found that the drink didn’t taste any different to me, but there was a noticeable change in its texture: a glossy finish.
At this point, you’re probably wondering how my stomach feels after downing a few of these beverages. Given all the internet gossip, I have to admit I was bracing myself for a witty anecdote full of humor for the American public, but I’m sorry to disappoint you: my stomach is fine, despite a few grumbles a few hours after drinking about two full cups of coffee with olive oil.
But be careful, Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, told TODAY.com in April 2023: “Oil of any kind can facilitate move stool through your digestive tract, especially if you’ve had constipation for a while. Olive oil can certainly have the same effect, especially if you’re drinking a venti or grande.”
This means that when you combine the oil’s potential laxative properties with the fact that coffee stimulates your digestive system, the combination could make you want to run to the bathroom.
“The effects may be more pronounced if you drink Oleato on an empty stomach,” she added.
So if you decide to have a drink with olive oil, it is best to eat something solid beforehand.
