Starbucks is changing its ice cubes – Latest News Starbucks Update
New York(N Newsy) Starbucks to Introduce New Ice Cubes, Sparking Customer Reactions
Starbucks is making a change to its ice cubes, and the question is: Will it cause a stir among customers?
The popular coffee chain is introducing “nugget ice” for its cold beverages, featuring smaller ice pieces compared to its current cubes. Since iced handcrafted beverages make up approximately 75% of Starbucks’ sales, ice is a crucial ingredient for the company. However, it seems that ice has become a topic of contention among its customers.
Initial reactions to the new ice on Reddit have been mixed but passionate. Some customers describe it as chewier or flakier, drawing comparisons to the ice used at Sonic and the Coffee Bean. This type of “pellet ice” has garnered some fans, while others express concerns that it may dilute the drinks or alter the texture of Frappuccinos.
Starbucks clarifies that the nugget ice doesn’t melt any faster than their current ice, and customers will receive the same amount since baristas continue to use the same ice scoop.
During testing, Starbucks reports that the new ice has received a “resoundingly positive response.”
In addition to the ice change, Starbucks is revamping a few drinks for the summer. Recently, they announced that a Refresher drink without water dilution will cost an extra $1, attributing the price increase to the need for additional ingredients.
Refreshers, a popular line of non-coffee beverages at Starbucks, are served cold with flavored juices, dried fruit chunks, and options like milk, water, or lemonade.
Starbucks’ new CEO, Laxman Narasimhan, aims to make improvements to the business, including the installation of new equipment. The company also has a goal of reducing water usage by 50% by 2030.
To support this goal, Starbucks plans to introduce new ice machines that use less water. The rollout of these machines will occur gradually across all stores in the coming years.
Starbucks acknowledges that there is still work to be done in tailoring their stores to meet customer demand, advancing technology, innovating equipment, and refocusing on core principles.
