This New Starbucks Offering Will Give You Chills

If you think an afternoon pick-me-up should be about more than just a shot of caffeine, you’re not alone. And what goes better with your coffee treat than a cool scoop of ice cream?

Starbucks is hoping this is your thought process, anyway: The coffee mega-chain is testing special affogato menus at their Reserve locations in Los Angeles, Boston, and Washington, DC, as well as at 100 traditional locations in Orange County, CA, reports Business Insider.

Preliminary results as Seattle’s Roastery last June were positive (are you surprised?) and we’re feeling hopeful that affogato menus will be available at a Starbucks near us very, very soon.

But wait, you might be asking, what is affogato? If you’re unfamiliar with this simple but wonderful treat, allow us to explain. Affogato, which means “drowned” in Italian, is just a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a shot of warm espresso poured over the top. The result is creamy, cool, hot, sweet — in other words, exactly what you want to get you through that 4 p.m. slump.

The Reserve Bar menu will feature items like “the Classic Affogato for $6 [and] the $8.50 Cold Brew Malt, made with small-lot cold brew, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate bitters,” while the offerings at the regular Starbucks outlets will be made with less-premium ingredients and top out at $6.40.

This is the latest in Starbucks’ efforts to capture more of the drinking and dining market, since their after-hours dining options folded earlier this year.

• Looking for something with a bit more kick? Try this Scotch, espresso & vanilla take on an affogato.
• Are you more of a tea drinker? Try it with chai, Earl Grey, or even green tea!
• Make it a spiritual experience: Learn how to meditate while making (and eating) affogato.