Starbucks' $1.25 cold foam is the chain's most popular drinks add-on, and one of its most expensive. This is how it's made. (2024)

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Starbucks' $1.25 cold foam is the chain's most popular drinks add-on, and one of its most expensive. This is how it's made. (1)

  • Cold foam is now Starbucks' most popular beverage modification.
  • It's made by frothing nonfat cold milk and is added to iced drinks like cold brews.
  • The $1.25 add-on was first rolled out at regular Starbucks stores in 2018.

Starbucks' $1.25 cold foam is the chain's most popular drinks add-on, and one of its most expensive. This is how it's made. (2)

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Starbucks' $1.25 cold foam is the chain's most popular drinks add-on, and one of its most expensive. This is how it's made. (3)

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Starbucks' $1.25 cold foam is the chain's most popular drinks add-on, and one of its most expensive. This is how it's made. (4)

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Customers can't get enough of Starbucks' cold foam. It's now the coffee chain's most popular add-on, and it's pushing up the Siren's revenues.

The "velvety" foam is made by frothing nonfat cold milk "until it is smooth, creating layers of creamy texture and flavor without the cream," Starbucks says.

A recipe for sweet-vanilla cold foam on Starbucks' website says that customers can make it at home by frothing cold milk with powdered sugar and vanilla extract. For a one-person serving, it suggests using a quarter-cup of 2% milk, a tablespoon of powdered sugar, and a quarter of a teaspoon of vanilla extract. A New York Times recipe recommends using heaving whipping cream, too.

"The ideal cold foam is both fluffy and pourable; it seeps gradually into your preferred coffee drink or iced beverage over time," according to an article by Epicurious. "It adds a sumptuous, creamy texture to any beverage, and often doubles as a vehicle for sweeteners and flavorings."

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The cold foam can be served on top of cold coffees that already have milk in them, or can add a splash of dairy to a black iced coffee. Epicurious notes that though you can use substitute the milk with non-dairy milk, whole milk, or heavy cream, skim milk works best.

Starbucks first debuted cold foam when it opened its Reserve Roastery in Seattle in December 2014, but the foam wasn't introduced to its regular coffee stores until April 2018.

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While some drinks come with cold foam on top as standard, such as some of its flavored cold brews, customers can opt to add it to other cold drinks for $1.25. The price stays the same regardless of whether you order Starbucks' biggest drink size, at 30 fluid ounces, or smallest, at 12 fluid ounces.

It's more expensive than the chain's other customizations, including adding a flavored drizzle, sprinkles, chai, syrup, or extra shot of espresso. The only modification that appears to cost the same amount as adding cold foam is substituting the milk with vanilla sweet cream.

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Currently there are six flavors of cold foam available – chocolate cream, cinnamon sweet cream, matcha cream, salted caramel cream, vanilla sweet cream, and white chocolate macadamia cream.

The foam has been a massive success for the coffee company. It's featured in a number of customized beverages that have gone viral on TikTok, including iced white mochas with vanilla sweet cream cold foam and extra caramel drizzle, perhaps because it provides an attractive layered appearance. It was also included in the Pink Drink Remixed, based on a viral beverage.

Starbucks has even rolled out handheld cold foam blenders to all its US company-operated stores so that baristas can make it more quickly.

Starbucks isn't the only place you can get cold foam on your drink. Tim Hortons in the US, for example, sells set chilled drinks with cold foam and also has the option for customers to add it to some of its other cold drinks.

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Dunkin' started selling sweet cold foam in February 2021, and has since launched it in a number of time-limited flavors including brown sugar and salted caramel. "We're starting to explore more layered drinks that offer unique, textural experiences for our guests, and think Sweet Cold Foam unlocks an exciting opportunity for continued innovation in the Cold Brew category," Olivia Vaughn, the company's associate research and development technologist, said in a press release at the time.

Heinz Kraft brand Maxwell House has launched make-at-home iced lattes with foam, its first new product in nearly a decade. Even Aldi has sold cold foam in squirtable cans.

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Watch: How people around the world take their coffee

Starbucks' $1.25 cold foam is the chain's most popular drinks add-on, and one of its most expensive. This is how it's made. (5)

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Starbucks' $1.25 cold foam is the chain's most popular drinks add-on, and one of its most expensive. This is how it's made. (2024)

FAQs

Starbucks' $1.25 cold foam is the chain's most popular drinks add-on, and one of its most expensive. This is how it's made.? ›

Starbucks' $1.25 cold foam is the chain's most popular drinks add-on, and one of its most expensive. This is how it's made. Cold foam is now Starbucks' most popular beverage modification. It's made by frothing nonfat cold milk and is added to iced drinks like cold brews.

Why is cold foam so popular? ›

Cold foam is easily customizable, and it offers consumers a premium alternative to whipped cream. While whipped cream is a classic and delicious topping, it can be heavier than some consumers want.

What is the cold foam at Starbucks made of? ›

The Starbucks sweet cream cold foam is a foamy mix of milk and vanilla syrup. It's similar to whipped cream in flavor, but with a lighter, velvety texture that can be poured over the iced coffee.

How did Starbucks get popular? ›

By focusing on the quality of its coffee beverages and the ambiance of its coffeehouse environment, Starbucks was able to reframe coffee as an affordable luxury that can be enjoyed in a social space, or a “third place” away from home and work.

Is cold foam healthier than whipped cream? ›

A serving of Starbucks cold foam has 35 calories and zero grams a fat. Compare that to a serving of Starbucks whipped cream, which has 60 calories, 1 gram of sugar and 6 grams of fat. So opting for cold foam over whipped cream will save you 25 calories, a gram of sugar and 6 grams of fat — nice, right?

How much does Starbucks charge for cold foam? ›

While some drinks come with cold foam on top as standard, such as some of its flavored cold brews, customers can opt to add it to other cold drinks for $1.25. The price stays the same regardless of whether you order Starbucks' biggest drink size, at 30 fluid ounces, or smallest, at 12 fluid ounces.

Why is Starbucks expensive? ›

Brand reputation: Starbucks is a well-established and recognized brand, and customers are often willing to pay a premium for the Starbucks experience and reputation. Labor and overhead costs: Starbucks has higher labor and overhead costs than other coffee shops, which can contribute to higher prices.

What makes Starbucks stand out? ›

Product: High-quality products justify the premium pricing. They ensure that the coffee tastes better than its competitors. Their Barista Promise of fixing your drink if you don't like it has attracted the masses. Price: Starbucks sells their coffee at least 25% higher than other brands.

Why is Starbucks so special? ›

Starbucks cafés have become a beacon for coffee lovers everywhere. Why do they insist on going to a Starbucks café? Because they know they can count on genuine service, an inviting atmosphere, and a superb cup of expertly roasted and richly brewed coffee every time.

Can you ask for non dairy cold foam at Starbucks? ›

In reality, you can simply ask the barista, and they'll happily add a dollop of oat milk cold foam to your drink at any time you desire.

Does Starbucks support Israel? ›

Is it true that Starbucks or Howard Schultz provides financial support to Israel? No. This is absolutely untrue. Rumors that Starbucks or Howard provides financial support to the Israeli government and/or the Israeli Army are unequivocally false.

Are you supposed to mix cold foam Starbucks? ›

Are You Supposed to Mix Cold Foam? Cold foam drinks are typically served without a straw so the beverage can mix with the sweet cold foam as the customer drinks. Try using sip-through lids so your customers can enjoy their cold foam orders on the go.

What does cold foam do to a drink? ›

Cold Foam is created by whipping nonfat milk for about twenty seconds until it stabilizes. The result is a smooth, velvety topping that turns any simple coffee drink into a luxurious experience. It's like whipped cream without the sugar!

When did cold foam become a thing? ›

Starbucks often claims credit for inventing cold foam in 2014, but it's more likely they uncovered what hundreds of baristas have discovered before them.

How does Starbucks get their cold foam so thick? ›

Starbucks' cold foam is made thick and creamy through a process of aerating and frothing the milk or cream. To create a thick texture, the milk and cream mixture is aerated using a milk frother or a similar device.

Is cold foam only for cold drinks? ›

A wise guy, eh? Well, it's cold, for one. But more earnestly, “cold foam” is prepared cold as well as served cold, which makes it more suitable as a topping for cold beverages such as cold brew, iced lattes, and even non-coffee drinks.

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