Starbucks is Changing its Ice Cubes
Starbucks is making a change to its ice cubes, which has sparked curiosity among its customers. Cold beverage lovers will now find “nugget ice” in their drinks, featuring smaller ice pieces compared to the chain’s current cubes.
Ice plays a crucial role at Starbucks, with its iced handcrafted beverages accounting for approximately 75% of sales. However, the introduction of new ice has become a topic of discussion among customers.
Initial reactions to the new ice on Reddit have been mixed but passionate. Some users describe it as chewier or flakier, drawing comparisons to the ice used at Sonic and the Coffee Bean.
This so-called “pellet ice” has garnered fans, while others express concerns that it may dilute their drinks or alter the texture of Frappuccinos.
Starbucks assures customers that the nugget ice does not melt any faster, and the switch to this ice type does not mean they will receive less ice since baristas are using the same ice scoop.
The company has received a “resoundingly positive response” to its new ice during testing.
In addition to the ice change, Starbucks is revamping some of its drinks for the summer. Recently, it announced that an undiluted Refresher drink will cost an extra $1, citing the need for additional ingredients.
Refreshers, the chain’s popular line of non-coffee beverages, are served cold with flavored juices, dried fruit chunks, milk, water, or lemonade.
Starbucks’ new CEO, Laxman Narasimhan, sees room for improvement in the business, including the installation of new equipment. The company also aims to reduce its water usage by 50% by 2030.
As part of this effort, Starbucks will be rolling out new ice machines that consume less water in all its stores over the next several years.
Narasimhan acknowledged the need to focus on fundamental operations, execute better, and align stores with customer demand during an earnings call earlier this month.
Starbucks is determined to enhance technology, innovate equipment, and continue refining its operations to provide an improved customer experience.
