Starbucks has recently released its new offerings for Valentine’s Day and as a devoted fan, I can’t help but wonder: are they really worth all the excitement? Every year, the company rolls out new drinks and treats that always seem to lure in lots of excitement, but the real question is: do these limited edition items live up to the hype, or are they just another attempt to cash in on the holiday? To determine this, I got feedback from Glen Rock High School students to see if they’re really worth your money, or if people should start switching their loyalty to Dunkin.
First up, the Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie cold brew, now, if you like strong coffee, this might be your thing, but for nearly $6, I think this is highly overrated. The rich, bold flavor of the cold brew entirely took over the fact that there was chocolate hazelnut mixed in, the bitterness really dominated the overall taste. When I first ordered this, the name immediately caught my eye. I expected a sweet mixture of cookie and chocolate but any flavor of that was completely lost in the sharp wave of cold brew. A local Glen Rocker stated, “I liked the initial taste, but I didn’t like the aftertaste- it tasted a lot like black coffee”, Which I completely agree with. Please save your money and make a pot of coffee at home.
The Midnight Drink? No, just no. It tasted like drinking watered-down coconut milk. The hint of blackberry left a lingering aftertaste that I don’t ever want to taste again- I had to get a water to wash it down. For appearances, it was a cloudy pink color and nice to look at… besides the fact that there were bits of mushed blackberry floating around. The fruit was not fresh and had an icky texture, so I suggest removing the berries. I wouldn’t ever recommend getting this unless I truly hated someone. This receives a 3/10, $6 for a drink I couldn’t even finish feels like a complete rip-off. So, if you’re in the mood for something refreshing, don’t get this.
The Blackberry sage Lemonade Refresher wasn’t the worst thing I tried but I would certainly never get it again. Although it wasn’t great, I can see how some people could be fans. It was very refreshing, which after trying the Midnight drink, was honestly a huge relief. Glen Rock student Olivia Rodriguez said, “It reminded me a lot of a Christmasy Bath and Body Works candle, not a very Valentine’s Day festive drink.” It was a dark reddish-pink color, but similar to the Midnight drink, had bits of blackberry floating around that all sunk to the bottom, which was not appetizing in the slightest. I would rate the lemonade version a 5.1/10, and the non-lemonade a 4/10. So, if you decide to try this, I definitely recommend getting the one with lemonade, it helps balance the flavors out a bit more.
After trying the Valentine’s Heart cake pop, I feel like I’ve been scammed. When I first saw their new release, I thought it was so cute and on theme for the Holiday but I was not a fan. Starbucks’s treats have always been overpriced, but the cake pops specifically never satisfy me, I always found the texture to be kind of weird. They’re way too dense and too sweet for such a small bite, plus the icing always breaks off in chunks and isn’t easy to eat without losing a piece. They’re cute, sure, but I would not want to spend $3.25 on a bite of cake. It was just one of those things that seemed cute but unnecessary. I would rate this a 5/10. So, if you’re going to treat yourself, I’d say skip the cake pops and go for something that will actually fill you up or at least taste like it’s worth your money.
Finally, the Chocolate-covered Strawberry creme Frappuccino was a perfect Valentine’s Day themed treat, honestly the highlight of my experience. After trying their cookie cold brew, this was the perfect palate cleanser, it was sweet without being too overwhelming. I could never pass up a frappuccino. I love them, but this one especially is my new favorite. It tasted just like a chocolate covered strawberry so the title does not go overlooked. I’m so bummed it was a limited edition item! Now I have to wait an entire year until I can get one again. I would rate this a 10/10, definitely worth trying!
If you’re looking for a new treat off the menu, customize the Iced white Mocha with strawberry cold foam. I was scrolling through TikTok and found this combination over and over again, so I obviously had to try it. I’m so excited because it is my new go to drink: I’ve ordered this consistently for the last three days straight. The strawberry coldfoam is one of the best things I’ve ever gotten at Starbucks, it tastes similar to the neapolitan strawberry ice cream melted down, or a sweet yogurt. If I could, I’d order a cup of this cold foam alone and it’d be gone in minutes. The coffee itself is so good, it’s sweet but still has that coffee flavor which mixes so well with the strawberry. I’d rate this a 10/10 and 100% recommend trying this.
