We Tried The New Starbucks Aerocano

Starbucks has been incessant with their new releases and seasonal drink options this year. And, right as we thought we were done seeing any new additions to the fall menu Starbucks went ahead and released a brand new style of drink in honor National Coffee Day on September 29. We’ll be the first to admit that the design of the drink intrigued us to the point where we couldn’t resist trying it out. 

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The new Starbucks Aerocano is espresso steamed with ice until it is all melted, velvety, and poured over ice. It is essentially just a very stylistic version of an iced americano. But whether or not any of the technique would come through in flavor and mouth feel made us ever curious. They released the drink in an original (unsweetened) version as well as a version with caramel, so we tried them both for you all. Here’s our official Sporked review.

Our Official Thoughts

Pros — We can positively say that these drinks delivered on visual impact. You see the cascading aeration over the ice in the way that is enchanting and beautiful. And, even after dissipates you are left with a beautiful crema from the steaming process. It creates something so velvety that you would think it’s a cold foam, but instead it has a distinct espresso flavor. And, it adds to the overall feel in each sip giving it a creamy texture. 

If you enjoy Starbucks iced americanos already, then chances are these are gonna be an excellent upgrade for you. The texture is more nuanced, and the flavor basically ends up being the same as their regular Americanos due to the similarity of ingredients and proportions.

Cons — Since this drink is, in a way, just an americano that has been steamed and poured over ice, it takes a lover of an Americano to even appreciate it. That said, Starbucks’ iced americanos need work in our opinion. For a company so defined by their espresso based drinks, the espresso itself tastes surprisingly bad on its own. The blonde roast is too tannic and bitter, completely overwhelming the bright fruitiness that you would expect and want from it. 

And, since this drink is made up entirely of espresso and water, it’s not a surprise to us that it is distinctly underwhelming. Additionally, because of the oddity of the espresso’s flavor, the addition of the caramel syrup in the Caramel Aerocano gives the drink an extra layer of acidity that is unpleasant. Again though, if you enjoy the Starbucks’ americanos in their original form, then these drinks are probably a welcome addition to the menu. We however, will not be ordering them again.