Starbucks Brings Back the Pistachio Latte, Adds New Cortado and Spicy Falafel Pocket to Menu

Starbucks fans certainly have a lot to celebrate as the white-and-green brand kicks off 2025 with a bang. The coffee chain is adding a variety of items to its menu, including an old favorite, according to PEOPLE.

Starbucks Launches a Lineup of Cortado Beverages

Starting Jan. 3, Starbucks will be offering a brand new espresso-based beverage to its already caffeine-laden menu: the cortado.

For those wondering exactly what a cortado is, it’s a combination of espresso (specifically, ristretto) and steamed milk. The drink originates from Spain and will be sold in two different variations: the standard blend as well as a Brown Sugar Oatmilk variant. The latter includes steamed oat milk as well as brown sugar syrup and a dash of cinnamon to top it all off.

While lattes and cappuccinos also feature espresso and steamed milk, the cortado is more “coffee-forward,” per PEOPLE.

Starbucks beverage developer Ricky Gonzalez described the cortado to Food & Wine as follows.

“Ristretto shots enhance the rich, concentrated flavors of the coffee with a method that uses the same amount of coffee grounds as a regular espresso shot, but with less water and a shorter extraction time resulting in a sweeter, richer flavor,” Gonzalez stated.

“It is also extremely versatile, pairing really nicely with steamed whole milk or oat milk and still achieving the balanced and smooth flavor profile of the classic Cortado,” he added.

Starbucks’ Pistachio Latte Makes a Triumphant Return

Returning for a limited time, as Allrecipes detailed, Starbucks’ Pistachio Latte is sure to please.

Similarly to the cortado, this latte is also made with espresso and steamed milk — although this time it’s topped off with sweet pistachio flavoring and a brown-buttery topping. Customers can enjoy this delightful treat hot, iced, or as a Frappuccino.

The Pistachio Latte is joined by the Pistachio Cream Cold Brew on the menu, for those who prefer something a little different.

The Spicy Falafel Pocket Draws Rave Reviews

One new Starbucks offering seems to be drawing positive reviews across the board: the Spicy Falafel Pocket.

Allrecipes writer Courtney Kassel wrote of the snack’s surprisingly moist and flavorful nature, contrasting these qualities against other store-bought falafel wraps which she described as often dry. Kassel also pointed toward the fact that Starbucks’ Spicy Falafel Pocket was also vegan-friendly, making it a surefire hit for those who follow this dietary path.

PEOPLE’s Sabrina Weiss was equally enthused about the new falafel item, as were the publication’s anonymous taste testers.

“The falafel was flavorful and the pickled onions added a nice tanginess. Don’t expect the chickpea fritters to be crunchy, though — the smashed falafel balls are soft and almost blend into the texture of the hummus, but that wasn’t a complaint from testers,” Weiss wrote.