The Starbucks drink that caused a big stink (both literally and figuratively) in the spring of 2023 is expanding its reach into Cincinnati. Starting Tuesday, Jan. 30, the line of controversial Oleato beverages will become a permanent fixture on all U.S. and Canada Starbucks stores’ menus.
“Oleato brings together Starbucks coffee and Partanna extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) to create a velvety smooth, deliciously lush coffee for customers to enjoy an elevated coffee experience,” the company said in a press release.
This will be the first time Cincinnati Starbucks stores will have the EVOO-infused coffee drink available, with three options:
Oleato Golden Foam: A rich vanilla sweet cream foam infused with Partanna olive oil. Four Oleato Golden Foam customizations are available in the Starbucks app, or add this to the top of any cold Starbucks drink.
New Oleato Golden Foam Iced Shaken Espresso with Toffeenut: Features Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast, combined with notes of warm toffee nut and oat milk before being topped with Oleato Golden Foam.
Oleato Caffé Latte: Made with Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast and oat milk and infused with olive oil.
A word of warning
The Oleato rolled out in Italy in February 2023 after Starbucks founder Howard Schultz said he was introduced to the daily Mediterranean ritual of having a spoonful of olive oil during a trip to Sicily.
While Oleato may have been better received in those Mediterranean countries where people are used to having a spoonful of olive oil a day, the practice combined with a cup of coffee didn’t seem to translate as smoothly in the U.S. While many drink reviewers complained of the oil overpowering everything else, rising to the top of the drink and leaving a weird aftertaste, others had a downright shitty experience — literally. Some customers on social media said the Oleato had them running right for the bathroom.
As CNN explained, it’s not that anything was wrong with the drinks, it’s just that combining a stimulant like caffeine and a relaxant like olive oil can cause an, uh, explosive situation. And not only do you have the stimulant-relaxant combo, but the Oleato drinks are high in fat. When you combine high-fat content with coffee, which is already going to get your bowels moving, it can cause cramping and increased motility in the colon, registered dietitian nutritionist Erin Palinski-Wade told CNN. Add that to the tendency to drink coffee on the go, without food, and you have a $6+ laxative bubbling in your guts.
However, there are plenty of people who did like the Oleato, especially the latte, which a reviewer with Buzzfeed said was smooth and had a nuttier and not-as-sweet flavor. So Cincinnatians, if you’re going to try the Oleato once it rolls out everywhere Tuesday, treat it like you would when eating Cincinnati chili: with caution and by remaining near a bathroom for at least a few hours afterward.
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This article appears in Jan 24 – Feb 6, 2024.
