Another holiday means another limited-edition release from our caffeinated friends at Starbucks. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the brand released a molten chocolate trio (latte, hot chocolate and Frappuccino) that will be available in stores through Feb. 14. Because really, nothing says love like hot, gooey chocolate pouring out of a moist cake. Or in this case, a latte.
But alas, all that glitters is not coffee gold. While trying the three beverages, we said “meh” a lot and ultimately were left feeling unsatisfied. Here’s a graded breakdown of the Valentine’s Day sips from your sugar-addicted dream team, copy editor Margaux Henquinet and Eat & Drink editor Morgan Olsen.
Molten chocolate latte
MO: I had high hopes for this one, but it let me down hard. The kind of disappointment you might feel after cracking into a molten lava cake only to find someone forgot to add the lava. It didn’t taste like espresso or chocolate—or anything, really. The whipped cream was a nice touch but had completely dissolved into the drink by the time we crossed the street.
MH: Admittedly, I’m not a fan of coffee that tastes like coffee, but I was hoping this drink would have enough chocolate to balance the flavors and make it a good pick for me. But the chocolate didn’t come through at all, and the drink didn’t taste like much other than bitterness. Of the three drinks, this was the only one I would say was actually bad.
Final grade: D+
Molten hot chocolate
MO: Surely they’d get this one right, I thought. And though it was a major step up from the tasteless latte, the hot chocolate still fell flat. It’s a touch sweeter and offered a bit more chocolate flavor, but ultimately tasted like warm, watered-down chocolate milk. No thanks.
MH: I’ve always thought Starbucks’ hot chocolate needed a little more chocolate, so I expected this extra-chocolatey-sounding version to be just right. But it was a total letdown; barely chocolatey, it mostly tasted like milk. It got a little better after I stirred it up—the chocolate settles while the drink cools—and it unexpectedly tasted better when it got cold, but still, it was nothing special.
Final grade: C+
Molten chocolate Frappuccino
MO: I haven’t touched a Frappuccino since high school, which is why I was surprised this beverage was my favorite. Frosty and dotted with chocolatey chunks, it was sweeter than a grandma at Sunday Mass. Oh, and the mocha and espresso-infused whipped cream was a delightfully creamy contrast to the icy body of the drink. Give me more.
MH: Solidly chocolatey with the barest hint of coffee flavor, this is your best bet of the new drinks, even if it’s a bit too cold out for Frappuccinos right now. The chocolatey chunks add a nice texture but aren’t so big that you have to chew them, and this drink, too, gets tastier as it warms and melts, the flavors mellowing and blending nicely.
Final grade: A-
