In late 2024, newly-minted Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol announced major changes heading down the pipeline—including a total overhaul of menus. And while we buried our heads in the sand and refused to believe the inevitable, it's happening whether we like it or not. The coffee chain is ripping the Java Chip Frappuccinos from our hands.
During its first-quarter 2025 Earnings call, Niccol said that the company has taken steps to refocus the business, its mission, and its marketing strategy to align with its "identity as a coffee company." That includes a 30% menu reduction. On Monday, Starbucks confirmed to People that 13 drinks would be discontinued starting in March.
According to Niccol, the beverages getting the boot are "not commonly purchased." They're also reportedly complex to make and are just too similar to other drinks that will still be available, he told the outlet.
So...did your personal favorite make the cut? The Iced Matcha Lemonade, Espresso Frappuccino, Caffè Vanilla Frappuccino, Java Chip Frappuccino, White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino, Frappuccino Crème Blended Beverages, White Hot Chocolate, Royal English Breakfast Latte, and Honey Almondmilk Flat White will start disappearing from menus on March 4.
"We have to clear the noise out both in food and beverage menus," Niccol said in the call. "That opens the door for better innovation that will hopefully resonate even more so for our customers."
While you might be perfectly fine with the current cuts, one Reddit user speculated that the 13 beverages being discontinued only make up for 14% of the menu—which means there will likely be another 17 on the chopping block. That is, if Niccol holds to his original plan.
Another person commented that less signature drinks just means more customizations. Ultimately, that will be harder on baristas. "I think this will backfire incredibly, the point is to make us faster," one staffer wrote. "Maybe it’s just me but the more customizations I see the slower I am and the more error prone I become."
A third person argued that it's actually a financial strategy. "It's a sneaky way of raising prices for a year in which he stated the prices won't go up," they wrote.
At least the spring menu is almost here.
