Starbucks is preparing its menu for the arrival of the fall season by announcing the return of favorites like the Pumpkin Spice Latte, as well as brand-new creations like the Apple Crisp Macchiato. This new seasonal drink can be enjoyed hot or iced and it is said to provide "layered flavors of apple and brown sugar melding like the filling of a gooey apple pie in harmony with espresso, steamed milk and a caramelized-spiced apple drizzle for a nostalgic autumn pick-me-up."
To perfect the recipe for the Apple Crisp Macchiato, Starbucks tested everything from apple maple syrup to apple donuts to achieve just the right balance of spicy baked apple flavors. According to Starbucks, when testing the beverage, what customers wanted most was the flavors of more apples.
What's Driving This Trend
- Fall-themed Drinks
- Opportunity for coffee shops to create innovative seasonal drinks that appeal to customers' nostalgia for autumn.
- Layered Flavors
- Opportunity for food and beverage companies to experiment with combining multiple flavors to create a unique taste experience.
- Product Testing and Development
- Opportunity for companies to invest in extensive testing and development of new products to create a quality customer experience.
Who This Affects Most
- Coffee Shops
- Opportunity for coffee shops to stay on-trend by offering seasonal drinks and appealing to customers' desire for unique flavors.
- Food and Beverage
- Opportunity for food and beverage companies to create and market seasonal drink options that capitalize on consumers' nostalgia for fall.
- Market Research
- Opportunity for businesses specializing in market research and analytics to help companies better understand customer preferences and develop products that meet their needs.
