(KDAF/NEXSTAR) – Something new has been brewing at Starbucks over the last several months.
Earlier this year, the coffee chain announced plans to introduce a new version of its iced coffee blend, marking the first change to the recipe in 18 years. The new version, Starbucks said, would be free of the classic syrup that was previously part of the recipe.
The iced coffee would also be “crafted with Latin American Beans with notes of malted chocolate and a brown sugar sweetness,” Starbucks announced in a press release issued on May 7, adding that customers could add back the classic syrup, or request other sweeteners or milks, if they choose.
“In other new news, our iced coffee is even better now and comes unsweetened, so it’s easier to customize,” a Starbucks barista announced in one of the company’s social media posts the following day.
Since its debut, however, a slew of Starbucks customers have taken to Reddit to ask whether Starbucks had changed its coffee recipe, claiming they had no idea it was coming.
In one case, a Redditor who claimed to work for Starbucks said they were not aware of the new recipe until customers began to notice a difference in July.
“Oh wow I knew that they changed how you order the classic and milk, but this definitely explains why I felt like it tasted weird,” one commenter said.
Others in a similar Reddit discussion were more specific in their criticism in recent months, with some claiming the ice coffee tasted “soured” and another finding the new blend to be weaker. (It’s worth noting that the person who started this particular thread did so before the rollout of the new recipe on May 7, meaning they were likely not reacting to the current blend. Subsequent commenters, however, shared their thoughts in the same thread well after May 7.)
Some customers appreciated the new recipe, as evidenced by comments lauding the change to a default unsweetened blend. A few also found it to be more “fruity,” for better or worse.
When contacted, Starbucks, in an email sent to Nexstar, said the new coffee is better satisfying “evolving customer preferences.”
“Most customers were customizing their Iced Coffee order to reduce or remove the classic syrup, which was previously part of the standard recipe. ” a spokesperson for Starbucks said.
Starbucks’ new iced coffee isn’t the only major change at the company. Last week, Starbucks named Brian Niccol, the previous chief executive officer of Chipotle, as its newest CEO.
“Brian is a culture carrier who brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of driving innovation and growth,” said Starbucks board chair Mellody Hobson, in a statement issued along with the announcement of Niccol’s appointment “Like all of us at Starbucks, he understands that a remarkable customer experience is rooted in an exceptional partner experience.”