Starbucks Just Released A New Drink With An Ingredient That Sounds…Strange

Photo credit: Starbucks
Photo credit: Starbucks

From Women's Health

  • Starbucks unveiled a new drink called the "Cloud Macchiato."

  • The drink is similar to the original macchiato, but with a fluffier texture.

  • Ariana Grande was potentially involved in launching the new drink.


It’s hardly Earth-shattering when Starbucks releases a new drink, given that they roll out a few new ones every season. But their latest one is something different.

It’s called the Cloud Macchiato. It takes inspiration from the original macchiato-but has a twist. The Cloud Macchiato-which comes in caramel or cinnamon flavors-consists of whipped cold milk foam with a light, fluffy, and smooth texture. The drink was inspired by leche merengada, or “meringue milk,” a summer drink from the cafés of Barcelona, Spain that dates back centuries, according to a Starbucks press release.

To make it, Starbucks created a special recipe using egg white powder to make a layer of foam that’s like a, well, cloud.

People are already freaking out about it online.

Apparently Ariana Grande had something to do with making this fluffy drink, although details aren’t totally clear. Ariana shared this on Twitter today:

...and had this to say yesterday:

You can have yours served cold or hot, and it’s also totally Instagram-worthy. Of course, it’s always good to know what you’re actually putting in your body. Here’s a nutritional breakdown for the new drinks, when made with 2% milk and a Grande size. (Note: it varies between iced and hot.)

Caramel Cloud Macchiato

This contains layers of fluffy foam, espresso, vanilla-flavored syrup, and caramel.

  • Calories: 280

  • Fat: 7 grams

  • Saturated fat: 4.5 grams

  • Carbs: 44 grams

  • Sugar: 39 grams

  • Protein: 11 grams

Iced Caramel Cloud Macchiato

  • Calories: 190

  • Fat: 4 grams

  • Saturated fat: 2.5 grams

  • Carbs: 33 grams

  • Sugar: 29 grams

  • Protein: 5 grams

Cinnamon Cloud Macchiato

This is super similar to its caramel cousin but has cinnamon syrup instead of vanilla and a dusting of cinnamon on top.

  • Calories: 300

  • Fat: 7 grams

  • Saturated fat: 4.5 grams

  • Carbs: 46 grams

  • Sugar: 42 grams

  • Protein: 12 grams

Iced Cinnamon Cloud Macchiato

  • Calories: 300

  • Fat: 7 grams

  • Saturated fat: 4.5 grams

  • Carbs: 46 grams

  • Sugar: 42 grams

  • Protein: 12 grams

The Cloud macchiatos are similar to the “regular” macchiatos in terms of nutrition. A standard caramel macchiato has 250 calories and 33 grams of sugar, for example.

But we’re talking about a boatload of sugar here. If you want to take it down a notch, you can try asking for sugar-free syrup, and maybe just one pump of the sweet stuff. Of course, this is made to be a sweet treat and, if you’re craving a little cloud in your day, there’s zero reason why you shouldn’t enjoy the drink.

Starbucks rolled out the new drinks on March 5 and, it seems, they’re planning to keep the fluffy treat on the menu.

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