(Beauty)

Why Your Iced Coffee From Starbucks Might Be A Lot Stronger This Year

by Well & Good

May 23, 2017

For some people, that first warm spring day is the start of a whole season of outdoor running, grilling out and road trips. But for caffeine lovers, it means one thing: It’s officially iced coffee time (and if you’re really in the know, make that nitro coffee).

And this year, there’s actually big news on the cold-brew front: Starbucks is currently testing a stronger formulation in 100 of its stores. The secret to its super-intensity? Adding coffee ice cubes.

The concept isn’t completely new—they’re easy to make at home, after all. But despite their simplicity, you won’t find many places using coffee ice cubes (most corner cafés don’t). So it’s interesting that one of the first to sell them is the biggest coffee chain of all.

The word is out on Reddit via a chatty barista, who says the change makes the iced coffee—and frappuccinos—more delish. “The coffee taste is stronger and a lot smoother,” the user reveals. The mega-chain is testing the coffee ice cubes in select locations across the country, and if all goes well, they will be a mainstay nationwide.

Currently, Starbucks doesn’t list which locations have the high-octane cubes, so—just like when you’re ordering your fave customized, off-the-menu drink—you’ll have to ask your barista. (But if your pre-workout cold brew is making those extra donkey kicks a breeze, that might be a hint.)