Some people like their coffee hot. Some like it iced. Some like it black. Some like it with cream. And some like it with cold foam.
What even is cold foam, anyway? It’s kind of like whipped cream—but not. Unlike whipped cream, which is made from…cream, cold foam is made from milk. And “cold foam” sounds a lot more appetizing than “whipped milk.”
While cold foam’s exact origins are unclear, Starbucks made it mainstream when it began dolloping it atop cold brew in 2014. In 2018, it became a permanent menu mainstay, able to be added to virtually any iced beverage. Now, even Dunkin’ offers it.
While cold foam is made with skim milk, it’s typically pretty sweet thanks to the added sugar. But after several quarters of slumping sales, Starbucks is pulling out all the stops to win back its caffeine-addicted customer base. Doing so includes introducing a new, healthier take on cold foam.
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Starbucks announced in its July 29 earnings call that it will launch Protein Cold Foam toward the end of the year. (Interesting timing to launch cold foam in the winter.) Protein Cold Foam will contain no added sugar, and instead will be packed with 15 grams of protein. It will be able to be added to “virtually any cold beverage,” with the ability to add flavor as well. “It taps into what has become one of our most popular modifiers, cold foam, which grew 23% year-over-year,” Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol explained.
Starbucks is going through a pretty major renaissance as it plans to remodel its stores and rethink its approach to customer service. The redesigns are going to focus on comfortable seating, attempting to lure customers to sit and stay awhile instead of grabbing their coffee and running out the door.
