SEATTLE, U.S. – When we hear about new Starbucks drinks, they’re almost always sweet — Key Lime Pie Frapps, Piña Colada Tea Infusions, Cold Brew floats — which makes their latest savory launch especially exciting.
And surprising. Since July 31, the Pepper Nitro with a Jerky Twist is available for a limited time at one lucky location.
The drink starts with Starbucks Reserve Eastern D.R. Congo Lake Kivu coffee, slow-steeped as a cold brew and served on draft through a nitro tap.
It’s then infused with a malted fennel black pepper syrup and topped with a layer of honey cold foam, a sprinkle of pink peppercorn, and a piece of jerky made from grass-fed beef.
“Our inspiration was centered around the characteristics of the Congo coffee. The sweet and herbal spice notes naturally paired well with savory ingredients,” Raegan Powell, who works on the Starbucks Research and Development team, said in a press release.
The drink is only available at the Seattle Reserve Roastery, which aims to find rare, highly coveted coffee to roast and brew in six different ways — pour-over, Chemex, coffee press, siphon, espresso and Clover brewed.
The Roastery also has a library and tasting room. Two more of these coffee playgrounds are scheduled to open in 2018 and 2019, located in New York City and Chicago.
Madison Flager
