Every year, Starbucks welcomes new and returning seasonal drinks that incorporate flavors and vibes associated with each season. BSM students often change their order from Starbucks as the seasons change throughout the year. Starbucks introduced three new fall drinks at the start of the 2024 autumn season: Iced Apple Crisp Non-Dairy Cream Chai, Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte, and Iced Honey Apple Almond Milk Flat White.
Sophomore Tessa Erickson has found that the season impacts her order at Starbucks. She prefers ordering Starbucks’ seasonal drinks rather than drinks from Starbucks’ year-round menu. For example, Erickson usually gets an Apple Crisp Macchiato from Starbucks’ temporary fall menu during autumn. When she is not savoring a seasonal drink, Erickson’s drink order remains impacted by seasonal weather and classic flavors. For instance, she prefers an iced vanilla latte in summer, a hot mocha in winter, and an iced latte in spring. She expresses that Starbucks deciding to have seasonal drink menus for limited times is a positive choice. “It’s so fun. It’s special. You can only get it for a little bit of time, so it really sets the mood for the season,” Erickson said.
Weather and popular season flavors are not the only reasons why seasons impact students’ Starbucks orders; seasonal activities are major factors that influence sophomore Samantha Gross’s drink order. Gross discovered that when she is traveling to or from an exciting destination, she is more likely to order from Starbucks. Gross found that when she is on the go, she buys a more refreshing drink. Activities also influence Gross’ drink order in winter. “In the winter, I get a kind of a drink that I can sit in bed and drink,” Gross said.
However, some students have found that their typical orders are simply so delightful that they must be ordered all year round without regard to seasons. For example, both sophomore Maizie Adams and sophomore Grant Lockman mentioned that Starbucks’ Iced Chai Tea Lattes are so delicious that they order them throughout the entire year. Another popular drink many students drink all year round is a Strawberry Acai Lemonade Refresher. “I gotta switch between two: Strawberry Acai Lemonade Refresher and Iced Chai,” Gross said.
Overall, most students interviewed found that the seasonal drink menus that Starbucks offers are positive and beneficial. “I love [Starbucks having seasonal menus] because it mixes things up,” Lockman said.