In a new twist, coffee giant Starbucks introduced Oleato, an olive oil and coffee combination. Read to know if it is a hit or a miss.
Starbucks Oleato: Hit or miss?
While adding olive oil to coffee is not an Italian tradition, that did not stop Howard Schultz from launching a new line of beverages in Milan. Schultz, the interim CEO of the coffee chain launched Oleato, the new drink in the city that inspired the empire. The coffee and olive oil combination echos the keto-inspired trend of adding butter to coffee. Starbucks’ sugary twist is provoking amusement and curiosity among Italians.
Oleato was introduced on the eve of Milan Fashion week with a performance by Lizza for an invitation-only crowd. It received a range of 6.5 to 7.5 on a scale of 10 from the La Stampa newspaper in Turin. The caffe latte version, the only warm beverage “has a strong taste that leaves a pleasant taste in the mouth. Grade: 7. The (positive) sensation is that Oleato could be something to drink all year, but most of all it could be truly tasty in the summer,” stated La Stampa. The cold versions of the drink are- Oleato Iced Cortado, Iced Cortado, and Golden Foam Cold Brews.
Oleato: The inspiration behind the new combination
Schultz came up with the idea of Oleato after visiting a Sicily-based olive oil producer last year. According to the chain, “he worked with an in-house coffee drink developer to come up with recipes”. However, it is not the first time, the country has inspired Schultz. The Milan coffee bar, a place he discovered during his trip to Italy in 1983 was the inspiration behind starting the now-global chain. However, he waited until 2018 to bring it to Italy. This is because Italians typically drink their coffee while standing at a bar. It is not in their nature to nurse it.
Italian food and magazine, Gambero Rosso called it “a curious combination”. However, it reserved its judgment having not sampled the drinks yet. However, it praised the chain for featuring the nation’s staple kitchen ingredient as the star of the show.
