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Which one would you choose?

Starbucks – Hazelnut Macchiato – Have you tried the new Hazelnut Macchiato to go from Starbucks? Admittedly, I'm not the biggest coffee drinker, at least not one of those people who would consider coffee their fuel and essential start to the day. Nevertheless, the new drink piqued my interest – partly because I'm a big nut fan. Unfortunately, this isn't for anyone with a nut allergy (…sorry, see you later…), but for everyone else: I want to tell you more about the drink. The Hazelnut Macchiato has been available since spring of this year. Starbucks has now added this new Hazelnut Macchiato to its product range.

The new Hazelnut Macchiato from Starbucks put to the test

Okay, so: take the cup out of the freezer, remove the straw from its holder, pierce the lid, and enjoy. The cold drink (stored in the freezer at 8 degrees Celsius) has a mild and subtly tart nutty aroma, not too sweet or artificial-tasting. I don't know about you, but I personally don't like things too sweet, especially in drinks. But that's not a problem with the Hazelnut Macchiato. It has a light nutty note, making it sweeter than a regular cappuccino, but just the right amount to still be considered a refreshing coffee drink. It's difficult to quench your thirst with overly sugary drinks, or rather, it tends to stimulate your appetite. The Hazelnut Macchiato, on the other hand, satisfies me in a pleasant way, albeit in a small way. It's best enjoyed chilled or poured into a glass with ice cubes. That's what I did, at least, and created my own "Hazelnut Macchiato on the rocks." 😉

Starbucks Cappuccino (left) and Hazelnut Macchiato (right) in a glass

The ingredients

The Hazelnut Macchiato is made with high-quality ingredients. For example, the espresso used comes from 100% certified Arabica beans. These are grown under fair and sustainable conditions and are also used for other Starbucks classics. It also contains milk with 3.1% fat content, as well as water, coffee, and low-fat cocoa powder – all traded according to Fairtrade standards. Sure, there's sugar in it, but with just over 150 kcal per cup, I think you can still treat yourself to the Hazelnut Macchiato now and then. The slightly spicy hazelnut syrup does the rest, providing the aforementioned subtle sweetness and pleasant nutty flavor.

New cup design

The design

If you're holding the cup and it all seems a bit familiar – that's probably because of its "siblings in a cup": Starbucks Cappuccino and Starbucks Caffè Latte, or Starbucks Caramel Macchiato and Chocolate Mocha, which are also offered in 220 ml cups. The range is further complemented by Doubleshot Espresso in a can, as well as Frappuccino in bottles in three different varieties. Now, after the Hazelnut Macchiato's launch and testing the range, my favorite is definitely the new flavor. I like hazelnut, I like cold and slightly sweet drinks, and I'm a fan of drinks to go. (The Caramel Macchiato, for example, is considerably sweeter in my opinion). If you can relate to that, you'll certainly enjoy the new Hazelnut Macchiato. However, I recommend taking a close look at the packaging while you're drinking it. It has been completely redesigned and more closely aligned with the Starbucks brand. After all, you eat...drink...with your eyes. The only minor drawback, in my opinion, is that the straw keeps slipping back into the cup when you move it to drink, meaning the hole in the lid automatically gets bigger. Then you have to fish it out or drink directly from the cup. Maybe I'm just being clumsy, though. 😉

„"Mine!"“

Key facts and conclusion

Now for some slightly drier, but still interesting, facts: Arla Foods is responsible for the production, distribution, and marketing of the nut macchiato for Starbucks. Incidentally, Starbucks itself committed to sustainable coffee cultivation as early as the beginning of the 1980s. The company and every Starbucks store use only the highest quality Arabica beans. It's no secret that Starbucks is now virtually ubiquitous worldwide and is considered a leading roaster and retailer of specialty coffees.

In my opinion, the new Hazelnut Macchiato definitely deserves its place. It tastes great, is pleasantly sweet, has a fantastic design, and is a well-thought-out product. I enjoyed it, and on my last visit to Starbucks, I immediately started looking for the cups. What do you think?

Tested product: Hazelnut Macchiato by Starbucks
Address: Starbucks Germany, Arnulfstrasse 19, 80335 Munich
Currently available at: leading supermarket chains, Starbucks, Allyouneedfresh, Lieferello
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