Marketed as a way to “keep up with your goals, your pace and everything the day brings,” Starbucks has gone all-in on protein with a new line of protein-fueled beverages. The addition to the menu taps into a nationwide protein and health craze that has overwhelmed social media and popular culture.
Tressie Lieberman, Starbucks’ global chief brand officer, said on Starbucks’ website that the new drinks reflect an effort to modernize the menu with innovative and on-trend options. The beverages are designed to meet the growing consumer demand for high-protein choices in a premium, delicious way, true to the brand’s signature taste.
Starbucks’s protein menu features different flavored lattes and cold foams. This includes three featured protein cold foam drinks: Iced Banana Cream Protein Matcha, Chocolate Cream Protein Cold Brew and Iced Vanilla Cream Latte ($6.45 for size tall).
Customers can swap in protein-boosted milk or add a protein cold foam (15g of protein) to almost any Starbucks drink for a small upcharge of $1 and $2, respectively. Year-round cold foam options include banana, brown sugar, chocolate, matcha, salted caramel, plain, vanilla and sugar-free vanilla. Seasonal choices currently include caramel brulée, gingerbread, peppermint chocolate and sugar cookie.
The protein comes from a whey protein isolate, a dairy-based powder sourced from cow’s milk known for its complete amino acid profile. Blended with sunflower-derived lecithin, a food emulsifier, the powder dissolves smoothly and keeps the drink’s texture intact. The protein-boosted milk itself is a mix of the powder and 2% milk, and the protein cold foams and lattes have the powder mixed in.
Starbucks also offers plant-based protein drink options, including the Koia Vanilla Bean and Cacao Bean protein shakes, though they are pre-packaged beverages not made by Starbucks and were not part of this new launch.
I sampled the Iced Banana Cream Protein Matcha (19g protein for size tall), Chocolate Cream Protein Cold Brew (15g of protein for size tall) and the hot Vanilla Protein Latte ($6.25 and 23g protein for size tall) from the new protein line.
The banana matcha surprised me. I’m not usually a matcha fan, but the banana flavor was on point, with a sweetness that mellowed the matcha’s bitterness, while still maintaining earthy undertones. The cold foam, made from a freeze-dried banana powder, occasionally had a bitter, gritty chunk, but the overall flavor was enjoyable.
Next, I tried the chocolate cold brew. The chocolate-coffee combo was a classic win, as the coffee’s sharpness balanced nicely with the rich and creamy chocolate foam.
What impressed me most about these two drinks was their texture. The cold foam was fluffy and airy and the protein added a satisfying thickness, giving the drink a milkshake-like quality without feeling too heavy. The chocolate cold brew was thinner than the matcha, likely because cold brew is naturally more watery or because my matcha mistakenly came without ice. I actually preferred the thicker consistency and would suggest ordering it without ice.
Finally, I sampled the vanilla latte. The vanilla flavor was light and subtly sweet with just enough coffee flavor to avoid being overwhelming. The warm drink felt cozy and comforting, and its texture matched the other drinks as it was smooth, creamy and pleasantly filling without being too dense.
Starbucks’ protein drinks taste great and keep you full longer, but they blur the line between a health product and a treat, making their practicality limited. The protein boost comes at the expense of high sugar and fat content, making them not exactly the healthiest way to hit one’s protein goals. Still, if already planning a Starbucks stop, the protein boost is an easy and tasty upgrade.
