Coffee may be king, but there’s another buzzy drink gunning for the crown.
Starting Tuesday, June 25, Starbucks will be adding a variety of items to its permanent menu, including new foods like an egg, pesto and mozzarella sandwich and a blueberry streusel muffin.
The chain is also adding a lineup of drinks, including two new permanent Iced Energy Beverages: the Melon Burst Iced Energy and Tropical Citrus Iced Energy. There’s also the Frozen Tropical Citrus Iced Energy with Strawberry Puree, which is a limited-time option. All of these new sips contain caffeine.
Starbucks’ new food and drinks
![The new Egg, Pesto and Mozzarella Sandwich and Blueberry Struesel muffin.](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2024-06/starbucks-energy-drink-zz-240624-02-af1ed9.jpg)
Here’s what’s coming to the menu:
- Melon Burst Iced Energy: A combination of melon and cucumber flavors finished with Passion Tango tea served over ice.
- Tropical Citrus Iced Energy: Featuring passionfruit and citrus flavors balanced with green tea, this drink is served over ice.
- Frozen Tropical Citrus Iced Energy with Strawberry Puree: Available exclusively in the Starbucks app, this drink features passionfruit and citrus flavors paired with swirls of strawberry puree.
- Caramel Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee: You can get a swirl of caramel and a Vanilla Sweet Cream topping added to your order of Starbucks’ new iced coffee blend.
- Egg, Pesto and Mozzarella Sandwich: The new vegetarian item features a cage-free frittata, mozzarella, and kale and basil pesto on a toasted cheddar and onion bun.
- Blueberry Streusel Muffin: Baked with blueberries, this muffin is finished with a rich cinnamon streusel topping.
![Nondairy Vanilla Sweet Cream & Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam.](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2024-06/starbucks-energy-drink-zz-240624-04-9e86e0.jpg)
Starbucks Iced Energy drinks are available only in the chain’s 20-ounce venti size, and contain 180 — 205 milligrams of caffeine, which Starbucks says is similar in caffeine content to its 16-ounce cold brew.
Starbucks is also introducing a new nondairy version of its Vanilla Sweet Cream as well as a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam. Both of these additions are made with a combination of oat milk and soymilk and are available year-round.
Additionally, on Friday, June 28, Starbucks Rewards members can enjoy a buy one, share one offer from 12 — 6 p.m. local time.
Energy drinks are trending
![Starbucks new caffienenated drinks.](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2024-06/starbucks-energy-drink-zz-240624-03-7b4d08.jpg)
These vitality-boosting beverages are part of the rise of energy drinks being offered at your favorite chains and coffee shops.
According to a 2024 survey by DriveResearch on coffee consumption, preferences and spending, nearly 75% of the more than 1,300 people surveyed across the U.S. said they drink coffee every day. This country is the largest importer of coffee in the world, and yet, as younger folks look to non-coffee options, beverages that offer a boost without the bean are growing in popularity.
McDonald’s spinoff restaurant CosMc’s, which opened its first location in December 2023, features sandwiches, snacks and boosted beverages like its Sour Cherry Energy Burst, Tropical Spiceade and Island Pick-Me-Up Punch, which contains a pre-workout shot made of sugar, caffeine, vitamin B3, guarana extract and other ingredients. A large Island Pick-Me-Up Punch has 301 milligrams of caffeine.
Additionally, Dunkin’ has added new energy drinks to its menu in Peach Sunshine and Berry Burst flavors. In February, the chain’s new Sparkd’ Energy drinks hit stores, boasting around 192 milligrams of caffeine and 37 grams of sugar in its largest size, according to the company’s website.
The Food and Drug Administration says healthy adults can safely consume 400 milligrams of caffeine a day. But for some consumers who drink several boosted drinks in one sitting, reaching that number is easy.
In early May, Panera Bread confirmed it was phasing out its Charged Lemonade. The line of caffeinated drinks was at the center of lawsuits filed by customers and their families against the restaurant alleging the drinks caused medical emergencies and, in some instances, deaths.
Charged Lemonade contained between 155 — 302 milligrams of caffeine depending on serving size and flavor, according to Panera.
New Starbucks merch
![New Starbucks merch for summer.](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2024-06/starbucks-summer-2024-merch-jl-2daa36.png)
In addition to drinks and snacks, Starbucks is adding a brand-new lineup of seasonal accessories including, but not limited to, cold cups, a new Starbucks x Stanley Quencher and a partnership with artist Ananya Rao-Middleton.
Starbucks says the assortment will vary by store and is available for a limited time while supplies last.
Washington, D.C. native Joseph Lamour is a lover of food: its past, its present and the science behind it. With food, you can bring opposites together to form a truly marvelous combination, and he strives to take that sentiment to heart in all that he does.