A go-to coffee order is a part of most people’s daily routines. Sure, when Starbucks or Dunkin’ releases a seasonal menu, we might change up our morning coffee occasionally. But even if you enjoy a pumpkin spice latte or one of Starbucks’ new “Wicked”-themed drinks, there’s one part of the order that always stays the same: your milk of choice.
Starbucks has been offering non-dairy milk substitutes, including soymilk, oat milk, almond milk, and coconut milk, for years. Earlier this summer, it even made non-dairy cold foam, which is made from oat milk and soymilk, available for those people who don’t drink dairy milk.
Starbucks Announces Price Decrease for Alternative Milks
While Starbucks has had alternative milk options on its menu since 1997, adding them to your coffee instead of regular dairy milk has always come with an upcharge. Today, Starbucks says customizing a coffee to include non-dairy milk is the second most popular customization, behind adding an extra shot of espresso.
So, to enhance the customer experience, Starbucks is removing the alternative milk upcharge for the first time. Beginning Nov. 7, Starbucks customers will be able to add any non-dairy milk to their coffees without paying an additional fee.
Starbucks says this change will impact almost half of its customers and give them a nearly 10 percent decrease in the price of their coffee.
This is Starbucks’ new CEO Brian Niccol’s first big initiative for the coffee chain, and he vows it won’t be his last.
“I made a commitment that we’d get back to Starbucks, focusing on what has always set Starbucks apart,” he said in a press release. “This is just one of many changes we’ll make to ensure a visit to Starbucks is worth it every time.”
Starbucks Holiday Items Coming to Grocery Stores
Nov. 7 isn’t just the first day alternative milk choices will be free; it’s also the day Starbucks will launch its highly anticipated holiday menu—along with the beloved holiday drink cups. While Starbucks hasn’t announced its full holiday menu just yet, it has released its grocery store lineup.
This year, Starbucks is launching new Vanilla & Chocolate Cold Brew Concentrate, Non-dairy Sugar Cookie Latte Creamer, Peppermint Mocha Flavored Creamer, and Nespresso Vertuo Line Holiday Blend at retailers nationwide. The coffee brand is also bringing back its Holiday Blend, Gingerbread-flavored coffee, Peppermint Mocha-flavored coffee, bottled Starbucks Frappuccino Peppermint Mocha, and Peppermint Mocha Iced Espresso. The grocery items are hitting shelves now.
We coffee drinkers with tummy troubles just received the best holiday gift going into the season! Cheaper coffee that won’t require a Lactaid.