Starbucks' New Protein-Packed Offerings: Lattes and Customization
Starbucks has officially launched a new menu of protein-enhanced beverages, featuring both pre-designed Protein Lattes and the ability to customize your favorite drink with protein-boosted milk or Protein Cold Foam. This permanent menu addition, which rolled out on September 29, 2025, aims to capture the growing health-and-wellness market by combining the popular coffee experience with a significant protein boost. The new drinks and customizers utilize premium whey protein isolate to enhance the nutritional profile without sacrificing flavor.
The New Protein Drinks Menu
The full protein lineup includes both signature recipes and customization options. Feature drinks include Protein Cold Foam drinks like the Iced Banana Cream Protein Matcha (24g protein in a grande), Iced Vanilla Cream Protein Latte (26g), and Chocolate Cream Protein Cold Brew (19g). Protein Lattes, made with protein-boosted milk, offer up to 36g of protein per grande and are available hot or iced in standard and sugar-free vanilla and matcha options.
How Does the Protein Work?
Customers can add protein via Protein-Boosted Milk, which adds 12–16g of protein per grande latte when made with 2% milk and whey protein isolate. Alternatively, Protein Cold Foam adds about 15g of protein to any grande cold drink and is available in several flavors. For more details on customization options and seasonal flavors, please refer to {Link: Starbucks Stories https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2025/starbucks-new-protein-lattes-and-cold-foam-drinks-now-available/}.
Comparison Table: Protein Options at Starbucks
| Feature | Protein Lattes | Protein Cold Foam Drinks | Customizable Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Source | Protein-boosted 2% milk | Flavored Protein Cold Foam | Protein-boosted milk or Protein Cold Foam |
| Protein per Grande | Up to 36g | 19g to 26g | 12g to 16g (milk) / 15g (foam) |
| Availability | Hot or iced, year-round | Iced only, year-round with seasonal options | Add to most milk-based or cold beverages |
| Customization | Flavor options (vanilla, matcha, sugar-free) | Primarily fixed recipes with specific foam | Add to virtually any beverage that contains milk or is served cold |
| Cost | Part of the base price for featured drinks | Included in the price for featured drinks, $2 to add foam to other drinks | $1 (milk) or $2 (foam) to add to existing drinks |
| Best For | Those seeking a complete, high-protein coffee | Anyone who enjoys flavored cold foam toppings | Customers who want to boost their regular order |
A Dietitian's Perspective
According to registered dietitian Sarah Alsing, the protein content of these new Starbucks drinks is comparable to some store-bought protein shakes and uses high-quality whey protein isolate. However, she advises being mindful of the sugar and calorie content in some of the featured drinks, noting a grande Iced Vanilla Cream Protein Latte contains 390 calories and 25 grams of sugar.
Conclusion
Starbucks' new protein options provide a convenient way for customers to add a significant protein boost to their coffee routine. By offering both featured drinks and customizable additions like protein-boosted milk and Protein Cold Foam, Starbucks caters to health-conscious consumers and aligns with the growing trend of functional beverages. This menu expansion reflects a strategic move to innovate and streamline offerings, responding to evolving customer demands for wellness-focused products.
Frequently Asked Questions
For details on FAQs including protein source, customization, permanent availability, calories, sugar-free options, cold foam flavors, taste, and availability in the US and Canada, please visit {Link: Starbucks Stories https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2025/starbucks-new-protein-lattes-and-cold-foam-drinks-now-available/} and {Link: Better Homes & Gardens https://www.bhg.com/starbucks-protein-drinks-11823249}.
Key Takeaways
For key takeaways including the new permanent menu, high protein content, versatile customization, featured drinks, and use of whey protein, please visit {Link: Starbucks Stories https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2025/starbucks-new-protein-lattes-and-cold-foam-drinks-now-available/} and {Link: Better Homes & Gardens https://www.bhg.com/starbucks-protein-drinks-11823249}. Starbucks also offers flexible customization with options like protein-boosted milk and flavored Protein Cold Foam, and this menu addition aligns with Starbucks' strategy for 2025 to innovate and streamline offerings.
