Starbucks is removing these ‘full’ drinks from its menu to speed up service

On By Littum

These drinks are being started.

Starbucks’ olive oil-infused drinks are being removed just a year after being added to the menu, as the company’s new CEO looks to streamline service.

Oleato products will be permanently removed from the core menu starting Nov. 7 when Starbucks’ holiday drinks launch, according to a memo obtained by Bloomberg News.

Starbucks’ olive oil-infused drinks get the boot after less than a year on the menu. Starbucks
Oleato products will be permanently removed from the core menu from November 7th. Stefano Giovannini

The memo said Starbucks is “saying goodbye to Starbucks Oleato drinks and toffee nut syrup.”

New CEO Brian Niccol, who took over the chain on September 9, noted that one of his priorities to accelerate growth at the company is to simplify the “overly complex” menu so baristas can speed up service.

According to Bloomberg, however, the company said the decision to remove the Oleato drinks was made before Niccol took over, although it is consistent with the plan to scale back the menu.

Oleato (Italian for “oiled”) drinks debuted in Italy in February 2023 before heading to select locations in California in March 2023, eventually becoming available nationwide on January 30, 2024.

Oleato is Italian for “oiled”. Stefano Giovannini

The drinks, infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil, were the brainchild of former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who believed the drink was a “transformational way to enjoy our daily coffee.”

Oleato’s origin story began with Schultz’s visit to Sicily, when he was introduced to the Mediterranean custom of getting a daily spoonful of olive oil, according to Starbucks’ website.

While enjoying his morning coffee, he got it inspiration to combine the two objects.

Some consumers reported having unpleasant stomach problems from the coffee-oil combination.

The Post’s Steve Cuozzo tries Starbucks Oleato coffee drinks, infused with olive oil. Stefano Giovannini

Baristas and customers alike gave the drink honest reviews on Reddit in a thread titled “Olive oil drink…“

“Caffeine is a stimulant for your gut and oil a relaxant. So yeah, wonderful idea from Starbucks,” one person pointed out.

“Half the team tried it yesterday and a few ended up… needing to use the bathroom if you know what I mean… I’m honestly scared to try it because I already have a stomach -/gut issues,” wrote a supposed Starbucks barista.

Meanwhile, The Post’s own Steve Cuozzo panned the drinks in a review written last year, writing, “The purported spoonful of Partanna in each tasted less like olive oil than chemical solvent, with a nasty, lingering aftertaste.”

Cuozzo added that “Starbucks loves to ruin its very good, dark roast brewed coffee with expensive, silly and bad add-ons.”