(WJET/WFXP/NEXSTAR) — Starbucks is getting rid of its olive oil-infused coffee lineup that drew mixed reviews online.
The coffee giant confirmed to Nexstar that it will remove the Oleato drinks from its core menu in early November, less than a year after they debuted nationwide.
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A Starbucks spokesperson said the company regularly updates its offerings, and this recent decision aligns with the chain’s “strategy to simplify our menu.”
New CEO Brian Niccol echoed this approach in an October video posted to the Starbucks website, describing the current menu as “overly complex.”
The soon-to-be discontinued beverages — including the Oleato café latte, shaken espresso, and golden foam cold brew — were first introduced in Italy and select U.S. markets in 2023 under former CEO Howard Schultz before rolling out across the country earlier this year.
While Schultz touted the lineup as a “bold innovation,” some customers complained that the drinks caused laxative-like effects, as reported by TODAY and BBC.
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“Caffeine is a stimulant for your bowels and oil a relaxant. So yeah wonderful idea by Starbucks,” one person wrote in a Reddit thread.
Another user said, “I tried one and immediately had a shooting stomach pain.”
Despite the criticism, one customer on X called the drinks “very flavorful” while another said the golden foam cold brew was “so silky.”
Bloomberg on Tuesday reported that it obtained an internal memo in which Starbucks said it was also “saying goodbye” to its toffee nut syrup. The items will be scrapped around the time the chain will bring back its holiday menu and famous red cups.
