By introducing new and unique flavors to their menus, both Starbucks and Dunkin’ have made it easy for customers to transition from spring into summer.
Whether it be fruity refreshers or rich lattes, each menu has options for everyone.
To start off, Starbucks actually started off the newer menu on April 7, with the addition of mango as a flavor option for their classic refreshers.
They also introduced their new Energy Refreshers, adding extra caffeine to their well-known refresher drinks.
After trying the Mango Strawberry Lemonade refresher for the first time, I was shocked by how flavorful it was.
While I was expecting it to just blend in with the normal Strawberry Acai flavor, the mango shined through without being too overpowering.
By delivering the sweet and fresh punch of flavor, I can see it being the perfect go-to drink for a hot summer day.
While I waited for the next round of the Starbucks menu, I moved over to Dunkin’.
They launched a variety of new drinks and flavors on April 29.
First, I tried Dunkin’s Marshmallow Cloud Dunkalatte.
Knowing that a Dunkalatte is often much sweeter than the average latte, I was worried the sweetness would be too overwhelming.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by a very smooth consistency and a good balance of flavor between the latte itself and the sweeter marshmallow cold foam on top.
The marshmallow cold foam was actually a pleasant surprise, as it did not taste too artificial, and left me wanting more of that flavor as I finished the drink.
Next, I moved on to the Oreo Cloud Latte, with oat milk and Oreo crumbles on top.
This latte was much richer in flavor, but did not have too strong of a chocolate taste.
The Oreo crumble on top, as well as some chocolate syrup, definitely enhanced the chocolate taste, but it was not too overpowering.
Finally, I switched over to Dunkin’s refreshers and tried their new Cherry Limeade Rickey Refresher.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, considering both the cherry and lime aspects of the drink were new for Dunkin’.
However, I was very pleasantly surprised, finding this new drink packed with flavor and very refreshing.
Both flavors definitely stood out, and I was able to tell the difference between this new drink and their normal refreshers.
To close out the new summer menus, Starbucks brought back their horchata syrup, in either the familiar Iced Horchata Shaken Espresso or their new Horchata Frappuccino, as well as launched the new Butterfly Drink.
First, I tried the Iced Horchata Shaken Espresso.
My first impression was a very nutty undertone, which blended well with the cinnamon, blonde espresso and oatmilk.
However, after a few sips, the flavor became very light and felt like it disappeared.
This drink would most likely be for those who enjoy more of the coffee taste, instead of the sweetness.
Lastly, I tried their new Tropical Butterfly Lemonade Refresher.
This refresher mixes flavors of guava and passionfruit, and contains popping
mango-pineapple flavored pearls as a fun addition.
This drink has a great summer appeal, with its vibrant colors and unique name, and I saw many customers gravitating towards it on the day it came out.
After trying it, I was surprised with just how identifiable the different flavors within the refresher actually were.
While the popping pearls were a bonus to the drink, they did not truly standout, and often got caught in the straw.
Overall, this is a fun new menu item to try, but does not surpass or replace Starbucks’ other, more well-known refreshers.