Starbucks customers complain about stomach problems after drinking olive oil infused coffee

Some Starbucks customers have complained that a new coffee drink containing olive oil causes stomach and digestive problems.

The new drink that blends coffee with olive oil and is said to be an alternative to the standard espresso or cappuccino was recently rolled out in parts of the US. So far, the drink has rolled out to nearly 600 stores in Seattle and the Los Angeles area.

But some people who have tried the drink so far have complained that it has laxative effects. The backlash was spurred by a post on Reddit from a person claiming to be a Starbucks barista who said their co-workers had reacted negatively to the drink.

‘Have you tried them? I wonder how many people will happen to them what happened to our team a few,” they wrote.

‘Caffeine is a stimulant for your intestines and oil is a relaxant. So yeah, great idea from Starbucks,” read one of the top comments on the post.

The ‘Oleato’ range adds a spoonful of Partanna cold-pressed extra virgin oil to Starbucks’ arabica coffee

“Olive oil is a natural laxative in many Italian homes,” replied another Reddit user in the thread reported by MSNBC.

Similar observations were made in other places. “The oleato at Starbucks is a legit laxative,” one person tweeted.

Starbucks says the result of the combination is a “velvety, delicately sweet and luscious coffee that elevates every cup with an extraordinary new taste and texture.”

Coffee types with the option to add olive oil are the latte, iced shaken espresso and the golden foam cold brew.

In some locations, customers can add a ‘squeeze’ of olive oil – about a spoonful – to a drink of their choice. The drink is then infused with the oil or an infused golden foam can be added on top.

However, young drinkers at the Starbucks flagship coffee shop in Milan, where the drink was first rolled out, told Reuters they had positive first impressions.

“It’s a strange idea, but there’s something different about it and in my opinion it could appeal to foreigners a lot more than Italians,” said 20-year-old Nicole Molinari.

Stefania Battagli, 22, said the coffee had a little too much oil for her taste.

‘But I like it because the milk and the oil are both distinctly palatable. I don’t know how to explain it, there are two flavors, but they mix and work well together,” she told Reuters.

Starbucks founder and interim CEO Howard Schultz (pictured) said the olive oil coffee was inspired by trips to Italy and is likely to change the way Americans drink coffee

Howard Schultz, Starbucks founder and current interim CEO, said the drinks were inspired by his travels to Italy and experienced Italian coffee.

He said: ‘During my first trip to Milan in 1983, I was captivated by the sense of community, belonging and passion for coffee that I found in the city’s espresso bars.

It was that journey that inspired me to bring the ritual of handmade espresso to Starbucks and to America.

Oleato represents the next revolution in coffee that brings together an alchemy of nature’s finest ingredients – Starbucks arabica coffee beans and Partanna cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil.

“Today I feel as inspired as I did 40 years ago. Oleato has opened our eyes to fresh new possibilities and a transformative way to enjoy our daily coffee.”

Starbucks has about 20 outlets in Italy and is currently trying to expand into the country to compete with the many family-owned and independent cafes. When it opened its first store in the country in 2018, the franchise was met with protests.

In 2018, they opened a lavish store in Milan in a former post office on Piazza Cordusio square – launching the franchise in Italy for the first time.

The company says the new drink was inspired by an Italian family tradition of adding a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil every day.

They decided to use the Italian brand Partanna, which has been grown in Italy for over 100 years to produce the oil.

Coffee types that have the option to add olive oil are the latte, iced shaken espresso and the golden foam cold brew

“When creating the drinks, we were inspired by the rich history and origin stories of coffee and olive oil—two of nature’s most transcendent ingredients,” said Amy Dilger, lead beverage developer for Starbucks.

“Infusing Starbucks coffee with olive oil produced a velvety, rich texture where the buttery, round flavors of the olive oil blended perfectly with the smooth, chocolatey notes of the coffee.”

Olive oil is sometimes added to cocktails for added flavor and to create a unique texture.

Adding extra fats, including olive oil, to coffee is a growing trend through paleo and keto diets.

Bulletproof coffee, also known as butter coffee, is a high-calorie drink made with added fats. It is meant to give you a burst of energy and keep you full at the start of the day.

The fats in the oil may have health benefits, including sustained energy throughout the day and healthier hair and skin.