Starbucks Oleato Caffè Latte - Starbucks Corp. bets on olive oil in US stores

Starbucks Oleato Caffè Latte brings extra virgin olive oil into the latte, now available in select US Starbucks stores. Anyone holding Starbucks Corp. stock (NASDAQ: SBUX, ISIN US8552441094) should know this product.

By Nora Whitfield, ad hoc news New Launch Desk. Reviewed July 07, 2026, 4:01 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

Starbucks Oleato Caffè Latte sits on the counter with a glossy, almost golden crema, the olive oil catching the light as the barista gives it a careful swirl. You notice a subtle buttery aroma, different from a regular latte, before the first sip.

What Starbucks changed in your latte

Oleato Caffè Latte is Starbucks’ olive-oil-infused twist on its classic latte, pairing espresso with oatmilk and a proprietary Partanna extra virgin olive oil blend. The drink was first introduced in Italy in early 2023 and later rolled out into select US markets including Seattle, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

Starbucks describes Oleato as a beverage platform that adds about a spoonful of Partanna olive oil to signature drinks, including the Oleato Caffè Latte, Oleato Iced Shaken Espresso and Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew. In US stores that carry it, the Oleato Caffè Latte is positioned as a permanent menu item, not a limited-time promotion.

Flavor, texture and price in US stores

In Starbucks’ own descriptions, Oleato Caffè Latte offers a "lush" texture and a slight sweetness and nuttiness from the olive oil, differentiating it from the more straightforward mouthfeel of a regular latte. Early tasters have noted a silkier feel on the tongue and a gentle, almost savory undertone beneath the espresso.

In the US, Oleato drinks have typically been priced at a small premium to comparable non-Oleato beverages — roughly 50 cents to 1 dollar more depending on the market and size. That puts a grande Oleato Caffè Latte in the ballpark of 6 to 7 dollars in major cities, roughly aligning with other Starbucks specialty drinks.

How Oleato fits Starbucks’ product and health narrative

Howard Schultz, Starbucks’ former CEO, personally championed the Oleato concept after trips to Sicily, where he observed locals taking olive oil daily and began adding it to his own morning coffee. Schultz described the blend as a way to bring Mediterranean habits into Starbucks’ beverage portfolio.

Starbucks emphasizes that Partanna extra virgin olive oil used in Oleato is cold-pressed and sourced from Sicily, highlighting freshness and provenance as part of the product story. The Oleato Caffè Latte is made with oatmilk, not dairy, positioning it toward consumers interested in plant-based options and fats beyond traditional cream.

The company does not market Oleato Caffè Latte as a health product, but the association with extra virgin olive oil aligns with broader consumer awareness of Mediterranean diets and "good fats." Nutrition figures vary by size, but a grande Oleato Caffè Latte is roughly comparable in calories to other full-flavor Starbucks lattes, with some additional fat from the olive oil.

Rollout, availability and experimentation

Starbucks launched Oleato first in Italy in February 2023, then in the US in select markets such as Seattle and Los Angeles, followed by a limited expansion into Japan and the UK. The brand framed Oleato as a new beverage platform rather than a single drink, signaling that variations like Oleato Caffè Latte could be extended or adapted regionally.

In US stores that carry Oleato, baristas have some flexibility to customize, with customers able to request different milks or tweak sweetness, though the official Oleato Caffè Latte recipe is standardized to maintain the olive oil flavor profile and texture. Some third-party testers have experimented with adding extra olive oil shots, reporting a more pronounced richness and a slightly heavier feel.

Outside the initial launch markets, Oleato availability remains selective, and the product has not yet become a universal feature across all US Starbucks locations. Starbucks has used a phased approach, gauging customer response and operational complexity before pushing wider adoption.

Operational impact behind the counter

Integrating Oleato Caffè Latte into Starbucks’ workflow required new steps and training. Baristas learned to handle the Partanna olive oil, typically dispensed via a dedicated pump or measured shot, and to blend it properly with espresso and oatmilk to avoid separation. This adds a small but noticeable step compared with a standard latte build.

In practice, baristas often give the finished Oleato Caffè Latte a short extra swirl or gentle tilt before handing it over, aiming to keep the olive oil integrated and the crema visually appealing. On busy mornings, that extra care can slow the line slightly, but Starbucks positions the drink as a premium choice where customers accept a marginally longer prep time.

From an equipment perspective, Starbucks did not need entirely new machines, but stores stocking Oleato did require olive oil storage that meets food safety and quality rules, including protection from light and heat to preserve flavor. This has implications for back-of-house layout in smaller urban stores where counter space is tight.

Investor lens on a niche beverage line

For Starbucks Corp., Oleato Caffè Latte is one piece of a broader strategy to diversify beverage innovation and drive mix shifts toward higher-margin drinks. Analysts have noted that while Oleato is unlikely to be a volume blockbuster on the scale of core iced coffee or Frappuccino lines, it can contribute to average ticket growth in markets where it resonates.

Starbucks stock (NASDAQ: SBUX, ISIN US8552441094) is traded in US dollars on the Nasdaq exchange; Oleato is part of the company’s specialty drink portfolio that supports its premium positioning and pricing power over time.

Key facts on Starbucks Oleato Caffè Latte

• Product: Starbucks Oleato Caffè Latte
• Manufacturer: Starbucks Corporation
• Category: New launch beverage platform
• Launch: Italy February 2023; US select markets from March 2023 onward
• MSRP / Price: Typically around $6–$7 for a grande in US launch cities
• Availability: Select Starbucks stores in the US, Italy, UK, Japan and other markets; not yet chain-wide
• Target audience: Starbucks customers interested in premium, textured lattes, plant-based options and Mediterranean-inspired flavors
• Standout / USP: Integrates Sicilian Partanna extra virgin olive oil into a standard oatmilk latte for a richer mouthfeel and distinctive flavor profile

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information is provided without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Securities trading carries risks up to total loss.