Cafe chain Starbucks has added an all-new cross drink hybrid to its main menu, dubbed the Latte Macchiato that brings together the most popular elements of both hot beverages. The drink is located in-between a cafe americano and a flat white in terms of milkiness offering a shot of expresso topped with foam.
The Latte Macchiato differs from any Starbucks drink on the current menu by offering a espresso-based beverage topped with little milk and a heavy dollop of whipped foam. The drink is a milky alternative to coffee-oriented beverages such as the americano or doppio, but not as creamy as a caffe latte. It offers an in-between boldness that is ideal for coffee drinkers seeking a drink that is somewhat strong, but not solely focused on overpowering espresso notes.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Hybrid Hot Beverages
- The Latte Macchiato cross drink offered by Starbucks represents a new type of hybrid hot beverage, combining two popular types of espresso-based hot drinks into one.
- Milk Alternatives
- The Latte Macchiato offers a unique level of milkiness that goes beyond standard coffee drinks, providing an opportunity for milk alternative brands to create new products for coffee drinkers.
- Foam Toppings
- The heavy dollop of whipped foam on the Latte Macchiato highlights the potential for coffee shops and manufacturers to create unique foam toppings for their hot beverages, providing a new level of texture and flavor for customers.
Where This Applies
- Coffee Shops
- Coffee shops can take advantage of the trend in hybrid hot beverages such as the Latte Macchiato by creating their own unique versions, providing customers with new options and experiences.
- Dairy Industry
- The Latte Macchiato's unique level of milkiness provides an opportunity for dairy companies to market their milk-based products as an ingredient in popular coffee drinks.
- Beverage Industry
- The trend in foam toppings, highlighted by the Latte Macchiato, presents an opportunity for beverage manufacturers to create unique toppings for hot drinks, such as flavored foams or thicker froths.
