Starbucks is spicing things up at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries and stores in Chicago, New York City and Seattle. Customers can now try a sweet and spicy twist on signature Starbucks Reserve beverages with the new Hot Honey Affogato and Hot Honey Espresso Martini.
The following beverages are made with wildflower honey infused with premium chili peppers:
- Starbucks Reserve Hot Honey Affogato – Vanilla gelato is drenched in Starbucks Reserve Espresso and Scrappy's Orange and Firewater Bitters, drizzled with hot honey and topped with an Amarena cherry
- Starbucks Reserve Hot Honey Espresso Martini – A signature coffee cocktail with an unexpected twist. Starbucks Reserve Espresso, Kalak Single Malt Vodka, vanilla syrup, Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur and hot honey, topped with a spicy-sweet cold foam and garnished with black sesame seeds
Starbucks Reserve customers can also add a hot honey drizzle on artisan Princi foods such as the Salame Piccante Pizza, Margherita Pizza or a Pancetta & Egg Avocado Toast.
Going Greener
In other news, Starbucks has certified 6,091 Greener Stores, nearly doubling its portfolio in the past year, and a milestone achievement toward the company’s goal of certifying 10,000 Greener Stores globally by 2025. In markets around the world, Greener Stores energy and water savings and waste diversion help advance the company’s goal to reduce carbon emissions, water usage and landfill waste by 50 percent by 2030.
The company has Greener Stores in 44 markets with new markets including India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Bahrain, Italy, France, Spain, and Costa Rica, including the Hacienda Alsacia Visitor Center café at Starbucks first and only coffee farm.
“Our big vision for the future is for every Starbucks store around the world to be more sustainable. That’s why I’m excited to see the continued growth of Greener Stores globally, driven by the passion of our partners,” says Michael Kobori, Starbucks chief sustainability officer. “Starbucks environmental promise comes to life through our baristas’ daily actions which help define a Greener Store, our innovative shift toward reusable cups, and our partnership with coffee farmers on sustainable growing practices — it’s all part of our commitment to give more than we take from the planet.”
Being certified as a Greener Store means meeting standards across eight environmental impact areas developed in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and SCS Global Services: water stewardship, energy efficiency, waste diversion, renewable energy, responsible materials, engagement, sites, communities, health and wellbeing.
Each Greener Store has a combination of sustainable features that help it receive its third-party verification. Some stores have obvious elements like solar panels or water recycling tanks. While others have more subtle features behind the counter like high efficiency appliances, low-emitting paint and sealants, and energy management systems as well as store practices like composting and food donation.
In the United States, Starbucks Greener Stores practices have saved the company almost $60 million in annual operating costs, including 30 percent water savings and 30 percent energy reduction when compared to historic store practices.
