Starbucks Confirms They Changed the Iced Coffee Recipe for the First Time in 18 Years — Here’s What’s Different

Mar. 15, 2025

Starbucks iced coffee.Photo: Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images

Starbuckschanged their iced coffee blend in May — and customers are starting to notice.

In a statement, Leslie Wolford, a coffee developer at the company, described exactly what the new beans taste like.

“Combining sun-dried and washed together allows the blend’s notes of malted milk chocolate and brown sugar accents to shine, creating a harmonious balance that’s both crisp and sweet,” Wolford said, adding that it was “designed with versatility in mind” for customers with go-to, custom orders.

The big shift after 18 years has caused a social media discussion among customers.

“Yeah, I’ve tried the new one out twice now being a former barista it’s defenitly [sic] a lighter roast it tastes like almost like a blonde roast,” one person responded.

Starbucks' summer-berry refreshers with raspberry pearls.Starbucks

Starbucks

Starbucks has been innovating its menu offerings throughout the year. When the new iced coffee blend was announced in May, the brand also introduced their twist on boba with Summer-Berry Starbucks Refreshers with raspberry pearls.

The Summer-Berry Refresher is combined with water; the Summer-Berry Lemonade is, of course, mixed with lemonade; and the Summer Skies Drink is blended with coconut milk.

source: people.com