Starbucks releases ‘nutty’ pistachio cold brew

Corina Karr and Mia DeNunzio|January 22, 2023

The Pistachio Frappuccino and Pistachio Latte behind their smooth successor, the Pistachio Cream Cold Brew.

Coffee and chocolate, coffee and caramel, and now coffee and pistachios? Starbucks brought back its Pistachio Latte and Pistachio Frappuccino, along with a new twist, the Pistachio Cream Cold Brew. Cold foam flavors are luxurious crowd pleasers, leaving customers buzzing with the newest addition. Are the original pistachio beverages best or will the cold brew succeed its predecessors?

With hints of vanilla and a stronger brew than the frappuccino and latte, the Pistachio Cream Cold Brew is a welcome addition to Starbucks’ cold brew menu. The pistachio cream cold foam is the star of the show, a sweet touch that adds a twist to the drink. While the cold foam flavor is less noticeable once mixed, the beverage satisfies anyone with a mild sweet tooth and fondness for the taste of coffee, giving it 4/5 feathers.

Starbucks’ latest drink, the Pistachio Cream Cold Brew is sweet, creamy, and nutty on top, followed by a rich coffee flavor. (Corina Karr)

The Pistachio Frappuccino is refreshing at first with mellow pistachio flavor coming through with notes of caramel, and sitting on top is Starbucks’ signature whipped cream and sprinklings of salted brown-butter topping. Unfortunately, as the bottom of the frozen drink melts, the sweetness of the drink becomes overwhelming, making the flavor tolerable only in smaller sizes. The Pistachio Frappuccino earns itself 3.5/5 feathers.

The hot Pistachio Latte goes a different route with a distinct coffee flavor not seen in many Starbucks items. A smart choice for coffee lovers, the pistachio is not too sweet, allowing the espresso to shine through. It receives a rating of 2/5 feathers.

The Pistachio Cream Cold Brew stands out the most with its pistachio cream cold foam, giving it a more unique element than the other pistachio flavored drinks. However, the pistachio line falls short. It’s adequate, but the weakness of the nut flavor doesn’t provide enough of a twist. The syrup has more blind sweetness than pistachio flavor; a main component of pistachios is salt, and the sweet drinks lack a salty undertone. While the salty and sweet brown butter topping adds a bit of salt, it needs to be licked off the top for the sprinkles to truly stand out.

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Corina Karr, Reporter

Corina is a senior, in her third year of journalism. You can often find her at a concert and spending time with friends. She loves Mexican food and listening...

Mia DeNunzio, Cub Copy Editor

Mia is a junior, entering her third year in journalism. She loves writing and reading fantasy and playing violin. You can find Mia in the kitchen baking...