Starbucks' Extra Virgin Olive Oil Drink Isn't Getting The Warmest Reception
"How do you like your coffee?" shouldn't be a controversial question, but it does elicit rather strong opinions. Whether you enjoy it black, with sugar, or loaded down with whipped cream and sprinkles, you can rest assured that some coffee snob somewhere finds your preferred preparation laughable. You can also rest assured that these same individuals are looking down their noses at all the latest coffee trends.
Take Bulletproof coffee, for instance, which was the subject of much ire soon after it began growing in popularity. The trend took hold in the U.S. after a hiker happened upon a curious coffee recipe in Tibet, which entailed adding butter and medium-chain triglyceride oil (a supplement derived from coconut oil) to the caffeinated beverage. While Bulletproof coffee doesn't have the same traction it used to within the coffee-drinking community, a recent announcement from Starbucks touting a similar preparation is causing an equally impassioned reaction.
You're putting what in your coffee?
A recent post on Starbucks' Instagram page shared news of its latest coffee concoction, one that strays from the standard Frappuccinos and flavored brews so beloved by customers. The new Oleato drink features coffee plus extra virgin olive oil, much to the chagrin of the chain's followers. The post received lots of comments, and very few of them expressed anticipation for the new drink. As one person stated, "I'm sure there is some magical benefit here, but it just does NOT sound appealing to me at all." Another commenter added, "We don't want this, we want the raspberry syrup to not be discontinued," alluding to the chain's decision to cease offering the fruit flavoring.
Those who are excited about the new Oleato beverage can enjoy it three different ways: caffè latte, iced espresso, and cold brew. However, most coffee drinkers in the U.S. will have a bit of a wait, as the drink will only be available in Southern California after its initial launch in Italy. As for the inspiration behind Starbucks' newest beverage, you have the chain's globetrotting CEO to thank for that.
An Italian tradition impresses Starbucks' CEO
Howard Schultz is credited as one of Starbucks' most important innovators. Serving as CEO throughout different points in the chain's history, a recent trip to Sicily was directly responsible for the new Oleato recipe. Schultz discovered that it's commonplace in Italy and elsewhere in the Mediterranean region to eat one spoonful of olive oil every day, a habit he quickly adopted. At some point, Schultz added olive oil to his daily cup of coffee and fell in love with the texture and flavor it created.
As for the supposed health benefits that daily consumption of olive oil offers, solid research is somewhat lacking. While it's true that olive oil is a healthy form of fat, one that serves as an antioxidant and lowers the risk of heart disease, drinking the oil is no more impactful than using it in cooking. Additionally, consuming too much olive oil can potentially lead to unwanted health outcomes due to the increased caloric intake. As a result, it's probably fine to try Oleato or enjoy it occasionally, but if you're a multiple-cups-per-day coffee drinker, making a habit of it might not be the best course of action.