Those who thought Starbucks’ gimmicky drink game peaked with its now-extinct Unicorn creation, think again. On May 2, the caffeine peddler debuted the latest addition to its Frappuccino franchise — the Midnight Mint Mocha Frappuccino, which is essentially a Thin Mint cookie in blended coffee form.
What the brown-and-white striped Frapp lacks in Instagram-ability (relative to its Technicolor predecessor) it makes up for in taste. Per an accompanying press release, the beverage “starts with scoops of extra-dark cocoa blended with coffee, milk and ice, infused with cooling mint sugar crystals and cut with a layer of whipped cream. It is then topped with more whipped cream and a dusting of dark cocoa.” They had us at extra-dark cocoa.
And yes, Starbucks is very conscious of the burgeoning “dark food trend” — i.e. social media’s obsession with edible delights like black macarons and charcoal ice cream. “People are gravitating toward vibrant colors,” observed Starbucks beverage development manager Ryan Coombes. “Jet black is filling the void in unexpected places.” Who knew a beverage could be goth?
Both the Midnight Mint Mocha Frappuccino and the S’mores Frappuccino, a returning favorite, are now available at Starbucks locations throughout the United States and Canada. They’ll remain so throughout the summer, or as long as supplies last. We recommend taste-testing the liquefied cookie between May 5 and May 14, when participating Starbucks locations will be slashing Frappuccino prices in half between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m. Not only will you save money, but your inevitable sugar crash (#worthit) won’t interfere with your workday.
