Introduction to the Dubai Chocolate Trend
The Dubai chocolate trend is coming to Starbucks, and baristas are bracing for the mass appeal the new drink is sure to have. The coffee giant’s Winter menu, releasing on January 6th, will feature some fan-favorite drinks like Pistachio Latte and Pistachio Cream Cold Brew.
New Menu Additions
New additions to the menu include Caramel Protein Matcha, Caramel Protein Latte, Pistachio Cortado, Dubai Chocolate Matcha, and Iced Dubai Chocolate Mocha. Given that the viral Dubai chocolate craze has left the country in a sweet hypnosis, Starbucks employees are preparing for the worst if this menu is discontinued, as they expect customers will be beating down their doors to try this decadent chocolate in liquid form.
Baristas’ Reactions
"We’ll be so busy forever," one barista lamented in a video. Another barista joked, "I quit my job as a Starbucks barista because I won’t make you a Dubai chocolate latte." Many baristas have expressed their concerns and frustrations about the new menu additions, with one commenting, "I don’t know if we would be a test store for this, but we had it last year during pistachio season. It’s 100% a pain to make."
Simplifying the Menu
The introduction of new complex drinks comes after CEO Brian Niccol said one of his priorities was to simplify the "overly complex" menu so baristas could speed up service. Many of the comments even mocked this introduction, with one person writing, "Tutorial on how to make a Starbucks employee’s life harder!" Another person commented, "Every time I turn around it’s like they don’t want me to breathe. Who even came up with this and why is CF standard every drink?"
The Dubai Chocolate Craze
The delicious Dubai chocolate bar with a thick milk chocolate shell was created four years ago by Fix Chocolatier in the United Arab Emirates. By 2023, it was exploding everywhere, and social media couldn’t get enough of it. The new drinks will be available at Starbucks in early 2026, and just when Starbucks employees thought the holiday rush at cafes would die down, these new menu additions are sure to stir up excitement.
