OPEN THREAD conversation-starter: Discuss the just-announced holiday beverages

A Starbucks Gossip reader reports:

They've released our 2008-2009 Holiday beverages...

1. Espresso Truffle....I'm guessing it's the signature hot chocolate with espresso shots. It features truffle shavings on top.

2. Gingersnap Latte ... NOT gingerbread!!!!! hopefully it's the same or get ready for pissed off peeps

3. Peppermint Twist...features the red sprinkles and the syrup is a combination of peppermint and spearmint apparently.

[Another message below adds Eggnog Latte and Chai Eggnog Latte to the list]

Also...they are going for a gold/red/green theme, no more blue and silver. The cups will feature the red color, with reindeer, no kids with sleds. 4 gift cards, 2 old designs, 2 new. Comes with mitten holder or a new snap pocket holder. Lots of two-for deals, like biscotti and coffee, nuts and coffee, etc!!!

Discuss this or anything else Starbucks-related in the open thread.

Comments

[JF]

When do the holiday drinks become available?

[*$Barista]

Gahh, they are more christmas'y' than I want. Last year, they messed up on the date of Hanukkah, and did not rectify the mistake... I think I'll complain this year.

[Sheik]

No Eggnog Latte??

[Belle]

I love the combination of chocolate and coffee, so the Espresso Truffle might be an appealing indulgence under the right circumstances (cool weather being the lynchpin).

I love chocolate and mint together too, but not as a beverage. (I'm not a big fan of mint in any beverage, despite loving mint.)

Gingersnap? I can't really wrap my brain around it.

[2boys1blog]

Did one one read the recipe card or the Promo Book on the portal? Here are the drinks:

- Espresso Truffle: SHC w/espresso shots
- Peppermint Twist: Peppermint Mocha w/ Peppermint whip, chocolate shavings
- Gingersnap Latte: Gingerbread Latte w/Candied Ginger topping
- Eggnog Latte
- Chai Eggnog Latte

[Toni]

wait. Can I still get pumpkin spice or is that not considered a holiday drink? Because that's my fave.

[ANNIE GERRY]

UUGH!! THE GINGERBREAD latte makes me wanna gag everytime I have to make it! I hate the smell of that syrup...

So apparently, we will have to make Regular, Chocolate AND now Peppermint whip?

Webmaster, please update the header of this thread with the recipe descriptions provided by 2boys1blog. Thanks.

[Paige]

All I can say is YUM. I can't wait!

[northsidechiblackapronshiftwho'sDMisdrivinghimcrazy]

chocolate whip will be going away as the mint mocha and mint chocolate chip frappuccino will be going away

[Me]

No it will still be 2 whipped creams, since the chocolate one should be gone by now. We don't offer the drink with it anymore, so why keeping it?
At my store we were discarding the whole thing at the end of the night anyways. The same will happen to the mint wc. After a few times people will switch back to regular whip. It sounds yummy, though.

Does anyone already know if we have to "shave" the chocolate shavings or if they are going to be delivered pre shaved?

Except for the eggnogg I'm sure the drinks will be heavenly (I personally just hate eggnogg, the drinks might still be good for someone else)

Oh, and again I hear the word first here. This is why I come here to get my info. Maybe SSC should start posting news directly in threads here... ;-)

[Me]

Sorry, apparently my posting got crossed with the one above. The "no" was referring to the post of annie gerry. So we are on the same page northsidechiblackapronshiftwho's
DMisdrivinghimcrazy

By the way, I bet your name refers to almost all Baristas/Shifts in north america right now. I don't hear a single person talking good about their DM these days... Even DMs in training aren't happy with them...

[PhillySM]

Holiday launches November 28th. Red cups will be in stores Nov. 4th. Stores will be changing over to Holiday decor Nov. 26th, the day before Thanksgiving. We can start the retail turn anytime after 1 pm (or it might be 3). The holiday promo workbook is available on the portal along with info. about Thanksgiving Blend coffee!!

I can't believe that noone has mentioned that we are getting AGED SUMATRA as a limited time offering!!!

[JonnySF]

Can we please have real Eggnog instead of the artificial pump of syrup?

thanks!

ALL, I GOT MY GOLD CARD INVITATION TODAY!

[Me]

so far it always was real eggnogg. At least in my area.

JonnySF.......its always been real eggnog

[barista351]

JonnySF:

There is no eggnog syrup. Its always real eggnog mixed with milk.

i saw this on the portal yesterday.i got sooooo excited! i was hoping the gingersnap latte would kind of taste like the molasses cookie,but it's still gingerbread syrup? yucky.

also, we're getting mint brownies, too. i don't think andes mint brownies, though.

and we're also getting ethiopia sun-dried something or other coffee, i believe. that portal is so damn slow, i didn't have time to really look at anything.

[BAYAREABUX]

ummmm... you do it real eggnog, but it's diluted with 2% milk so your Venti Eggnog Latte isn't 1000 calories. It would be like drinking a slice of carrot cake or pecan pie if we gave everyone straight eggnog, not to mention through the roof expensive on our dairy costs.

Am I understanding right that the promo drinks will get the red cups in NOV, and that all drinks will go into red cups after the set? Or are we going live with red cups Nov 4 and just not doing the set until Thanksgiving?

Hooray for Aged Sumatra!!! Now all those of us Howard made jealous bragging about his press of it back in January will finally get our taste... and if it replaces PPR on the racks, all the better... the beginning of the end for the PPR, let's hope.

[ExtraFoamy]

JohnnySF-
Eggnog lattes are made with real Eggnogg, not a syrup.

Holiday promos look exciting this year, I'm looking forward to the new coffees and cinnamon apple stella. I didnt see holiday t-shirts on the portal/promo stuff, having heard a rumor they would be gold this year rather than traditional red I was looking to see if this was true, hopefully they nixed them all together?!

oh and i saw the stickers for the christmas blend... ugly, but hopefully the setup won't be as awful-looking.

[inopethflames]

these 3 sound the best:

- Espresso Truffle: SHC w/espresso shots
- Peppermint Twist: Peppermint Mocha w/ Peppermint whip, chocolate shavings
- Gingersnap Latte: Gingerbread Latte w/Candied Ginger topping

i think i woulda rather seen just a truffle latte rather than the shc w/espresso, but itll probably be good still. i dont totally love the gingerbread latte although its ok, so maybe this little different version will be better, and i think the peppermint whipped cream sounds really good. my favorite holiday drink is the peppermint white chocolate mocha but i mean u can have them make that anytime.

the worst part about these special holiday drinks, along with the current shc's, is that your starbucks card does no good for them and so it makes me wanna just get a $3.50 cinnemon dolce iced latte or whatever instead of the special drinks like pumpkin spice which are 4.20. they oughta do something for cardholders on these seasonal items, and just expand the discounts for cardholders in general anyway.

anybody know what the gold card will offer/include?

[Canuck]

From what I read, the promo starts Nov 16th in Canada, since our Thanksgiving is over in October anyway...

[socalbarista]

The gold card is 10% off every drink you order...pretty good deal imo...

[StarbucksBarista90]

Yeah! I'm excited for these holiday beverages..it's my first holiday season I get to see working at starbucks and I'm really looking forward to it!
Also, like other people mentioned, this info is available on the portal so all you need to do is check that. So you don't have to say that you always learn about information on this site first.

I know we don't have the Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino on the menu anymore but some people still order it. Do we still have to make chocolate whip?

[javabuz]

I'm concerned with the peppermint whip cream. We use "peppermint only" pumps because no matter how well you wash and flush them, there is still a linger of peppermint taste. Are we gonna have whip cream tops that we can never use for regular whip again, because the peppermint lingers??

[StarbucksBarista90]

Yeah! I'm excited for these holiday beverages..it's my first holiday season I get to see working at starbucks and I'm really looking forward to it!
Also, like other people mentioned, this info is available on the portal so all you need to do is check that. So you don't have to say that you always learn about information on this site first.

I know we don't have the Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino on the menu anymore but some people still order it. Do we still have to make chocolate whip?

[StarbucksBarista90]

Oops posted twice, can that be removed?

Good point "javabuz", yeah we always keep the peppermint pumps separate so yeah we might have to keep the tops separate as well because it's really hard to get the peppermint taste out.

part of me is excited about working the holidays and the other part of me is thinking about last year and how insanely busy it got. and being on bar? shoot me.

[Pat Nerr]

"JonnySF:

There is no eggnog syrup. Its always real eggnog mixed with milk"

They did Eggnog mix/syrup one year... horrible

[JT]

My guess is that although the "holidays" will be busier than average, odds are they will be better (meaning less foot traffic) than last year. I forsee people will be spending less than last year with all of the bad news re: the economy. Less outings to go shopping mean less chance they will stop in at a Starbucks while (not) shopping.

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

MELODY!!!

AGED SUMATRA is the featured promo coffee of Fall Phases 1 (Nov 4-26). It's Howard's favorite supposedly) coffee.

Pepperment Mocha Twist and Peppermint White Mocha will both come with Peppermint whipped cream. (Basically regular WC with Peppermint Syrup added -- just like the Mocha WC this past summer).

Chocolate shavings come pre-made. We do not make them. Read the order list at the end of the promo book.

Gingersnap Latte is made with the actual (old) Gingerbread syrup plus you add ginger sprinkles on top of whip.

Any more questions?

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

JT, are you sure about that? Like that stopped people with already bad credit to get into even more debt before! Chances are most people use shopping and Starbucks as escapism. We will see more foot traffic -- you can quote me come January.

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

By the way, now that gas prices are going down, down, and down (I predict they will stabilize around $3.50 give a take 10 cents) people are pouring into stores. Today was really busy -- I predict this weekend will be superbusy.

[Lia]

Will there be sugar free gingersnap syrup like the sugar free gingerbread syrup last year? Any knowledge of that? Though I'm not a big fan of the gingerbread lattes in-store, last year I bought a bottle of the syrup and used it in my coffee at home. I loved it! I'll be sad if the sugar free gingerbread/snap is gone.

[OrlandoSS]

I haven't been to work in a few days, but reading this news makes me very excited about the upcoming holiday promo :)
Any word on Sugar-Free Gingerbread syrup? I hope we will still offer that with this new Gingersnap Latte..

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

CORRECTION: AGED Sumatra is the featured coffee of Fall Phase II. Phase 1a ended Sep 29, and 1b is underway now. I am marking out a pound every week (So, about 3-4 pounds to savor for me!!). Promo coffee for Holiday Phase is Christmas (or Holiday blend as it's called in liberal (I am sorry --- that is what they are!) areas) as usual, celebrating its 26th year this year. Also, some rare Sidamo blend is the featured coffee - should be interesting to all you, African coffee fanatics.

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

Hmm, GOOD question! I am not seeing ANY mentions of SF Gingerbread in the promobook this year. I would say it's safe to say it's gone.

what does every1 think about the "barista creed"...i think itz kinda dumb

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

I think Starbucks is between a rock and a hard place with the whole regular vs. SF syrup stuff (has been for the last 15 years or so). When did the first SF syrup come out, by the way? Sometime in the mid-90s. On one hand, SF syrup is a way to save on calories, and on the other hand --who knows what this artificial stuff (consumed or a regular basis!) is doing to your bodies. Yeah, I know, many claim it's safe. But what will they say in new studies 20-30 years from now? On the third hand, how safe are the regular syrups? It's like regular vs. light cigarettes. Both kill you eventually (or so we are told).

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

I have never heard of the "barista creed" - care to elaborate?

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

Apple Cinnamon Stella joins the Berry Stella in our health food department. Mmmmmmm. Yum-ness!!

[TheNicestGuyYou'llNeverMeet]

The apple cinnamon stella sounds gross! The berry stella is awesome...
Eggnog lattes are gross! gross! gross!
The best part of the holiday season at starbucks foodwise is their gingerbread loaf. It is absolutely delicious.
The best holiday drink is a gingerbread white mocha. With just one pump of each flavoring in a tall sized cup. And then nutmeg is on top of the whippeed cream.

I wish we could get the Maple Latte back...It was the most delicious espresso based drink we had.

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

The Maple Macchiato and Maple Latte were last spotted during Holiday 2006 -- they haven't been back because they failed (only A FEW people wanted them -- just like Dulce De Leche Lattes). The market is dictated by the majority. If you want these drinks -- write, write, write and get more people to write -- if there is sufficient demand (which I don't forecast) -- they will be back some year maybe.

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

The newly revised drinks officially start November 27 (Thanksgiving day). Setup is the day/night before on Thanksgiving Eve (starts at 3pm). However, some stores will do a "dark" setup -- after stores close for customers on Thanksgiving eve. Also, Fall Phase II will "build excitement" for Holiday drinks. Technically, Fall Phase II is a transitional phase with emphasis still on the Signature Hot Chocolates. Red cups should start arriving in stores at the end of October. Keep ordering your white cups though.

[K-Dog]

Aged Sumatra is the bomb! I will only make it in a French press as any other brewing method - with the possible exception of the Clover - is beneath it. Anyone have the pricing on it? I'd be surprised if it were allowed as a partner markout. (Last time is was featured as a Black Apron Exclusive.)

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

By the way, how is everybody's September Customer Voice scores? Congratulations and keep on being legendary!!

[LEGENDARY OR BUST]

Just FYI, Thanksgiving Blend begins to brew as COW (sorry, Morning Pick) November 4th, I believe. I have conflicting info here that it will be brewed until 5 PM is ALL stores and all day (?) in stores that sell a lot of Brewed Coffee (for which the cap has been raised and they will be shipped extra). Confirm or deny those or you who are in the know.

[spence]

Yummy drinks will help increase sales. Bring it on......