Enjoy a taste the sweet life with the new Starbucks Reserve Espresso Dolce beverages

There’s a beautiful saying in Italian that can instantly conjure up thoughts of sunny springtime afternoons under a patio umbrella or a barefoot walk on the beach. It’s la dolce vita – the sweet life.

That’s the spirit behind Passionfruit Pomegranate Espresso Dolce and Mandarin Espresso Dolce, the newest Starbucks Reserve^® iced beverages. They are available this spring at Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Starbucks Reserve store locations in Chicago, New York and Seattle.

The first step in creating a new espresso beverage for Starbucks Reserve is highlighting the unique flavor notes of each coffee. Depending on where the coffee is grown and how it is processed and roasted, some may be more smoky and herbal, while others may be floral or bright.

“We always want to start with coffee,” said Jennifer Galbraith from Starbucks beverage development team. “How do we highlight and really elevate our beautiful, rare Starbucks Reserve coffees roasted on-site at the Roasteries?”

The team often turns to flavors of nuts, cocoa and spice as the foundation of Starbucks Reserve favorites such as Pistachio Latte, Hazelnut Bianco Latte and Nitro Molé Mocha. But for this newest Starbucks Reserve Beverage, the team drew out the citrus notes of the featured Reserve coffees (Starbucks Reserve Gravitas Blend at the Roasteries, and Microblend 21 at the Reserve stores), and let them shine alongside rich layers of fruit puree and sweet cream.

“The Espresso Dolce beverages bring together an unexpected combination, it is a delicious union of fruit puree, sweet cream and espresso over ice,” said Keith Jacobsen, beverage manager for Starbucks Reserve.

Another benefit to this refreshing combination of coffee and fruit – color. While most finished coffee beverages tend to be brown, a layer of refreshing fruit adds an unexpected vibrancy to the beverages.

“When you start bringing in the flavors of pomegranate and mandarin, you also bring the color – they come hand-in-hand,” Galbraith said. “It’s such a great reason for customers to come to the Roastery and Starbucks Reserve stores, try our new spring beverages and experience something they have never experienced before.”

Passionfruit Pomegranate Espresso Dolce

Passionfruit, pomegranate, and a touch of blood orange, layered with fior di latte (sweet cream) and topped with Starbucks Reserve espresso over ice.

Mandarin Espresso Dolce

Mandarin Espresso Dolce is made with a citrus blend of mandarin and tangerine, layered with fior di latte and topped with Starbucks Reserve espresso over ice. Available exclusively at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in Seattle, Chicago and New York City.

To find the nearest Starbucks Roastery or Starbucks Reserve store nearest you, visit starbucksreserve.com.