In a world dominated by pumpkin spice, it sometimes feels like there’s little out there for apple lovers. However, Starbucks is changing that with their new fall lineup. Not only did they replace their iconic Pumpkin Scone with a Baked Apple Croissant (much to the dismay of many fans), but they also added a brand new apple-centered drink to the menu: The Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
That’s right. Joining the ranks of the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso (my personal favorite), the Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso, and the controversial Oleato Iced Shaken Espresso with Oatmilk and Toffeenut, this apple-flavored, dairy-free beverage was recently added to the menu.
This brand-new seasonal drink combines Starbucks Blonde espresso, apple, cinnamon, brown sugar, and, of course, oat milk. But does it actually taste good? Although I’m personally a pumpkin spice girlie at heart (sue me!), I decided to find out for myself. And I was pleasantly surprised!
What does the Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso taste like?
So, does this new fall drink pass the taste test? As I stated above, I tend to lean towards pumpkin flavors when fall rolls around. However, it's hard not to get pumpkin spice fatigue these days. I mean, there's even a Pumpkin Spice Frosty joining the Wendy's menu this year. So I thought that an apple crisp drink sounded like a nice change of pace. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed.
The first thing I noticed about the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is that it's not overwhelmingly sweet. While there isn't any sort of pumpkin shaken espresso to compare it to, I did find the apple flavor to be more subtle than the pumpkin spice flavor in the Pumpkin Spice Latte, or the pumpkin creme on the Pumpkin Creme Cold Brew. This was a good thing for me, because I don't think I would have liked an especially strong apple flavor mixed with my espresso. If you'd prefer a stronger, sweeter flavor, though, I might suggest an extra pump of the Apple Brown Sugar syrup.
The flavor experience was akin to a scoop of ice cream paired with cinnamon-y apple crisp (and, of course, some rich espresso). The oat milk adds a great, creamy element that really brings all of the flavors together.
One thing I will note is that I think these flavors may have worked even better together warm. I tend to prefer iced coffee, and I ordered this drink on a sweltering 90-degree day, so a hot drink was completely out of the question. Plus, shaken espressos only come iced. But in the future, I may try a hot Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato for similar flavors in a warmer packaged.
Since apple isn't necessarily my thing, I'd rank this third among the Shaken Espressos. Toasted Vanilla will always be my favorite, and Brown Sugar is a close second. But as a seasonal beverage, the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is definitely a tasty way to get into the fall spirit.
All in all, if you're not a fan of pumpkin or you just want to try something different, I do recommend this drink. But, admittedly, I personally went right over to Trader Joe's to grab some of their pumpkin items after I finished it. What can I say? The heart wants what the heart wants.
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