So you've heard the news — granitas are coming to Starbucks. Each of the flavors sound fantastic, whether you're into tea, coffee, or lemonade, but if your main focus is caffeine (hi, that's me), you might be wondering what's in the Starbucks Caramel Espresso Granita especially. I'm right there with you, so let's break it down, shall we?
For those who need a quick debriefing, the new Starbucks Granitas are being sold exclusively after 3 p.m. at participating Starbucks stores as part of its new Sunset Menu. The frosty beverages all come with a sweetened shaved ice base, and then are poured over with either espresso, tea, or limeade, depending on what you end up ordering. The flavors all sound pretty great — choose from the Caramel Espresso, Teavana Youthberry White Tea, and Strawberry Lemon Limeade — and if the idea of cooling down with yummy shaved ice intrigues you, go ahead and try all three. But, for coffee lovers everywhere, it's the Caramel Espresso Granita that really stands out. It just sounds like a super swanky upgrade from your standard iced coffee go-to, and I am here for it.
In Starbucks' own words, the refreshing beverage is made up of "lightly-sweetened, finely-shaved ice topped with bold espresso shots, a splash of cream and finished with caramel drizzle," which, uh, sounds downright heavenly, if you ask me. And can we talk about those espresso shots for a second? Because those translate into caffeine — 75 mg, to be exact, so if you're feeling sluggish in the afternoon, this might be the 3 p.m. boost you need to keep you going through the end of the day.
And because we have Starbucks Granitas on the brain, it's worth mentioning what's in the other two as well. The Teavana Youthberry White Tea Granita consists of a lemonade-flavored shaved ice base, and is poured over with — you guessed it — fruity Teavana Youthberry White Tea. The Strawberry Lemon Limeade Granita has a lemonade-flavored shaved ice base that's been blended with strawberries. House-made limeade is poured over the entire thing to make it extra refreshing.
The Caramel Espresso Granita costs between $3.95 and $4.25, depending on the market (FWIW, the other two Granitas cost between $3.45 and $3.75). But, if you head into your local store in the morning and then return after 3 p.m. with your receipt, you can try them for $3 each until June 26.
And, just a reminder, the Granitas are currently available after 3 p.m.throughout the summer as part of Starbucks' Sunset Menu, which also includes Chocolate Brownie and Strawberry Shortcake Trifles, in case you're hungry — which for the record, I always am.
Now if you'll excuse me, there's a Caramel Espresso Granita waiting for me with my name on it.
Images: Starbucks; Giphy
