On Tuesday, May 7, Starbucks debuted its new summer menu including the Summer Berry Refresher, the Summer Skies Drink, the Orange Cream Cake Pop, and the Pineapple Cloud Cake. Although the launch was highly anticipated, it, unfortunately, did not live up to the high standards set by Starbucks’ previous launches.

The Summer Berry Refresher features a sweet mix of raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry syrups combined into one refresher with an optional addition of lemonade. Although the drink sounds delicious, the flavor combination is intensely sweet. As a result, it tastes like lemonade drowned in blue raspberry syrup. This drink had the potential to become a trendy new go-to, but instead, the flavor combination is overwhelming. The refresher earns two-and-a-half out of five feathers.

Composed of the same refresher mix as the Summer Berry Refresher, the Summer Skies Drink includes the addition of coconut milk. The coconut milk creates a perfect balance of sweetness. The boba fit perfectly alongside the milky flavors that this drink provided. This drink receives a solid four out of five feathers.

Both drinks feature popping boba, a new addition to Starbucks drinks. Although it pairs well with the Summer Skies Drink, the addition of the boba overcomplicates the intended flavors of the Summer Berry refresher. When the boba pops, it causes discomfort due to the thick outer layer’s texture. The boba sticks together, making it hard to drink, overall creating a strange experience.

Cake pops are an infamous part of Starbucks’ menu, and the Orange Cream Cake Pop does not disappoint. The cake pop is an orange cream cake with buttercream dipped into white chocolate, it is branded with the design of an orange slice, which helps convey the essence of summer. The cake tastes just as one would expect; the citrus flavor is not too overpowering or sweet. However, when combined with the white chocolate casing on top, it becomes excessively sweet. The Orange Cream Cake Pop still proved an excellent addition to the cake pop collection, earning itself three-and-a-half out of five feathers.

Another addition to Starbucks’ menu, the Pineapple Cloud Cake, features a spongy pineapple cake base with a center of pineapple cream and pineapple jelly on top. The clumpy and textured pineapple jam covers the top of the cake, ruining its visual and textural appeal throughout. The artificial and intense pineapple flavor does not fit well with the light and airy textures of the cake and cream. If this cake did not include the jam, it would be perfect, but due to this botched element, this menu item receives two out of five feathers.

Overall, the Starbucks summer launch intended to encapsulate the true feeling of the season but fell short due to its poor execution. In every new item, there is at least one element that substantially skews the quality. Collectively, the new Starbucks menu earns itself three out of five feathers.