Food & Cooking
Starbucks has presented a new line of olive oil-infused coffee at its locations across Italy. The company plans to introduce the beverage in California in the spring and the United Kingdom, Japan and the Middle East later in the year.
Howard Schultz, the company’s interim chief executive, said five new hot and cold brewed beverages would be made with Nocellara del Belice extra virgin olive oil sourced from Partanna, Sicily.
I was absolutely stunned at the unique flavor and texture created when the Partanna extra virgin olive oil was infused into Starbucks coffee.- Howard Schultz, interim CEO, Starbucks
The Brooklyn native said the inspiration for the new olive oil coffee line came after a trip to Sicily. He was introduced to the custom of drinking a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil before his morning coffee. Soon after, he started mixing the olive oil with the coffee.
“I was absolutely stunned at the unique flavor and texture created when the Partanna extra virgin olive oil was infused into Starbucks coffee,” Schultz said. “In both hot and cold coffee beverages, what it produced was an unexpected, velvety, buttery flavor that enhanced the coffee and lingers beautifully on the palate.”
See Also:How to Mix the Perfect EVOO CocktailsAmy Dilger, the company’s principal beverage designer, was charged with creating the new olive oil-infused drinks.
After researching extra virgin olive oil, she blended the oil with the company’s blonde espresso roast, which the company describes as having “smooth, well-rounded flavors that are delicious both hot and iced.”
Italy is Europe’s third-largest coffee market, with an annual per capita consumption of 5.3 kilograms.
However, there has long been plenty of antipathy toward Starbucks. In 2018, Starbucks announced plans to open its first store in Milan, the country’s second-largest city and economic hub.
In protest, Italians set fire to some of the palm trees in the Piazza del Duomo, an iconic city landmark where the first store was set to open. Eventually, there was a gradual acceptance of the chain.
The decision to launch an olive oil-based line of coffee comes after a flurry of other olive and olive oil beverage infusions.
Last March, an entrepreneur in Liguria, a region of northern Italy, launched an olive oil-infused vodka. Like Schultz, he said adding olive oil gave the vodka a velvety texture.
In Spain and Italy, two separate companies recently introduced olive-infused beer.
Producers in Lazio added olive leaves obtained from pruning to the traditional brewing process, resulting in a smoky taste in the beer.
Meanwhile, an award-winning Spanish beer uses Empeltre olive extract, which infuses the flavors, aromas and colors of the olives into the beer.
While all three of these products have won regional and international acclaim, it remains to be seen how Italy’s coffee-enthusiastic public takes to the new drinks.
More articles on: cooking with olive oil, foodservice, Italy
Jun. 12, 2024
Proposal Would Ban Solar Panel Installation on Italy's Farmlands
Exemptions for agri-voltaic systems would still allow research and development of projects in olive groves to continue.
Apr. 23, 2024
Study Reveals Therapeutic Properties of EVOO Polyphenols on Childhood Cancer
Researchers examined oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol for their potential in treating neuroblastoma, a formidable childhood cancer.
Dec. 18, 2023
Reflections on 45 Years Championing Italian Olive Oil in America
Nearly half of a century after a chance encounter with an Italian olive oil producer, John J. Profaci looks back on his role in the American market.
Apr. 24, 2024
The Lasting Strain on Israeli Olive Growers Six Months After Devastating Attack
The October 7th attack came as olive growers were preparing for the harvest and fundamentally changed how Israelis feel about their country.
Mar. 13, 2024
The Rise of Cycling in Italian Olive Groves
In Umbria and Lazio, farms and sport groups organize bike tours in the olive groves, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery and taste local olive products.
Dec. 5, 2023
Soaring Expenses Strain Producers in Southern Europe
Olive oil producers in Spain, Italy and Greece are grappling with challenges that threaten the viability of the sector.
Jul. 29, 2024
Researchers Introduce AI Tool to Help Olive Farmers Predict Harvest Timing
Using machine learning to analyze a range of data points from model farms, researchers were able to predict the timing of the olive harvest with 90 percent accuracy.
Jun. 5, 2024
Pompeian VP Says Baltimore Bridge Disaster Cost Company Millions
While the company was able to receive its most recent shipment of European olive oil through the port, the measures taken after the disaster were unsustainable in the long run.