Starbucks Introduces Olive Oil Coffee

The world’s largest coffee chain Starbucks announced the launch of  a line of olive oil-infused drinks in Italy.

Chief executive Howard Schultz says olive oil’s “unexpected, velvety, buttery flavor… enhanced the coffee and lingers beautifully on the palate.”

“Now, there’s going to be people who say, olive oil in coffee? But the proof is in the cup,” Schultz said on the company’s website.

“In over 40 years, I can’t remember a moment in time where I’ve been more excited, more enthused,” he added.

Italy will be the first to experience Starbucks Oleato, with three beverages coming to Starbucks Italy stores and four beverages arriving at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milan starting Feb. 22, with more markets coming soon.

The three that are now available in Starbucks’ Italian cafes include Caffè Latte, Iced Shaken Espresso, and Golden Foam Cold Brew, all of which contain olive oil.

Starbucks olive oil coffee to be introduced in California this spring

Following Italy, Starbucks will begin to introduce the beverages in selected locations around the world, starting this spring with Southern California in the United States. Later this year, Starbucks Oleato will launch in Japan, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom.

The company says the alchemy of Starbucks arabica coffee and premium Partanna extra virgin olive oil creates an entirely new experience, taking on a depth and dimension that simply must be tasted to be believed.

Starbucks says that the idea was Schultz’s. When he was traveling in Sicily he was introduced to the Mediterranean custom of taking a spoonful of olive oil each day.

He soon began enjoying a spoonful of Partanna extra virgin olive oil as part of his daily ritual in addition to his morning coffee, and soon he had the idea of trying the two together. What he discovered was a delicious and unexpected alchemy of Starbucks coffee beverages infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil.

“I was absolutely stunned at the unique flavor and texture created when the Partanna extra virgin olive oil was infused into Starbucks coffee,” Schultz said.

“In both hot and cold coffee beverages, what it produced was an unexpected, velvety, buttery flavor that enhanced the coffee and lingers beautifully on the palate.”

The company is betting that people will hear about the concoction and try it because they want to know what it tastes like. And, perhaps, because they’ve heard that there are health benefits to extra virgin olive oil.

Related: Greece Set to Become Second-Largest Olive Oil Producer in Europe