The new year may give you the urge to start a new chapter, and we’re right there with you. Whether you’re switching up your routine or just trying to develop better habits, ’tis the time to put your New Year’s resolutions into action. And if you’ve been determined to try new things, you’re in luck because Starbucks is launching a new winter menu full of them. However, if you’ve made the decision to stop spending so much money on coffee, you might want to look away because these articles will certainly put that to the test.

Introducing Starbucks’ first Cortado

If you’re worried about the post-holiday winter doldrums, Starbucks is here to give you some pep talk. And by that I mean getting you going with a healthy dose of caffeine.

Starbucks is starting 2025 with a bang by introducing a new fan-requested coffee drink to the menu: the Cortado. The cortado is an espresso drink somewhere between an espresso (which is just pulled coffee) and a latte (which is espresso with steamed milk). It originated in Spain and is made by combining three shots of espresso with the same amount of steamed milk, with a 1:1 ratio of espresso to steamed milk. If a latte macchiato or cappuccino contains too much milk for you, but an espresso alone is too strong, this drink is for you.

Starbucks’ version of Cortado can be made with any type of milk of your choice, but is classically made with steamed whole milk. Traditionally, it only comes hot and in an 8-ounce cup (anything larger would change the milk and espresso amounts that make a cortado what it is).

It’s available as a regular cortado or in a variant: the Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado, which contains espresso, brown sugar syrup, cinnamon and steamed oat milk with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. And that’s not the only beverage innovation in the winter range.

Starbucks is making a big change to its matcha

The other big change to the menu involves another customer favorite: Starbucks Matcha. Starbucks has had matcha on the menu for a while (since its Green Tea Latte in 2006), but a long-standing customer complaint was that the green tea powder was already sweetened. Well, Starbucks heard the feedback and made a change.

Now, all of Starbucks’ matcha drinks are made from unsweetened powder, so you can adjust the level of sweetness to your liking. The standard matcha drink is still sweetened, but simple syrup is added, so you can now increase the syrup or omit it altogether if you prefer a stronger tea flavor.

There is also a new savory dish variant to go with it: the Spicy Falafel Pocket. This certified vegan wrap features crushed falafel, creamy hummus, roasted red peppers, pickled onions, and a spicy herb sauce in a toasted lavash flatbread wrap.

The best part about all of these new Starbucks treats is that they’re all permanent on the menu, so there’s no need to panic that they’ll run out any time soon. However, if you already go to Starbucks, some fan favorites are returning for a limited time that you should be aware of.

The return of Starbucks’ favorite pistachio latte

Starbucks’ popular Pistachio Latte is back for a limited time. The nutty drink consists of espresso and foamed milk, enriched with the pleasant taste of sweet pistachios and a brown-buttery topping. It’s available hot, iced or as a Frappuccino.

This also means that the Pistachio Cream Cold Brew is back. Despite the chilly temperatures outside, this drink envelops you with warm notes of smooth pistachio cream cold foam and salted brown butter streusel, resting on Starbucks cold brew sweetened with vanilla syrup.

Also returning from last year’s winter menu is the Vanilla Bean Custard Danish, a sugared Danish pastry filled with rich vanilla sauce. There’s another sweet treat for lovers: Starbucks Valentine Cake Pop. It’s a classic Starbucks cake pop dipped in red chocolate frosting and decorated with a heart design.

I got a preview of Starbucks’ new winter menus and here are my honest thoughts.

My review of Starbucks’ winter 2025 menu

Although new to Starbucks, the Cortado is not new to me, and I can honestly say that Starbucks’ Cortado is a well-made, faithful rendition. Starbucks says the company has long been perfecting the drink and has even tested it in Chicago and South Florida, where there is a large Cuban-American community and coffee is a way of life. The drink received great feedback during testing, prompting the coffee chain to offer it nationwide.

But the real star for me was the Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado, which has the perfect level of sweetness and warmth that makes you feel like the holidays aren’t over yet. To tell you how good it is, let me just say this: I always try to navigate these tastings, but without even realizing it, I had pretty much drank this drink.

As for the matcha, it is a welcome change for those who, like me, only want a little sweetener in their matcha and sometimes none. I used to find Starbucks’ matcha too sweet for my taste, but the new and improved version is perfect. In addition, the chain has also perfected its blending process, which gives the matcha lattes a wonderfully foamy surface.

The Spicy Falafel Pocket was also a pleasant surprise. I was expecting something dry, like so many store-bought falafel wraps are, but this was moist and flavorful without an overpowering hummus taste. Many customers have asked the chain for more vegan food options, and this one is sure to hit the spot for both vegans and non-vegans alike. I think I’ve found my new favorite airport lunch.

All in all, the winter menu is an impressive achievement for Starbucks and proves that the company’s new CEO, Brian Niccol, is committed to the changes that customers have been begging for for years. Our cold, gray January just got a little ray of hope.