Starbucks Unveils Hidden Menu, Introduces $25K Beverage Competition


Customizable and frequently intricate drinks have remained a staple at Starbucks, and the coffee retailer has rolled out a novel approach to access them and even craft your own. Starbucks app users — reportedly more than 31 million individuals — can now place orders from the “secret menu,” as recently unveiled by the Seattle-based coffee retailer. The secret menu features personalized beverages that deliver a refreshing variation on the company’s lattes, frappuccinos, iced coffees, teas, and lemonades. Besides accumulating stars that can lead to complimentary drinks, app users can locate the secret menu under the “offers” tab and order directly. The initial “secret” beverages encompass a “Cookies on top” cold brew, a “Dragonfruit glow-up” lemonade refresher, a “Lemon, tea & pearls” iced tea, and a “Just add white mocha” iced shaken espresso.

The company noted that the app features were influenced by their Not-So-Secret Menu broadcast channel on Instagram, accessible through Starbucks’ Instagram bio, which showcases customized drinks like iced black tea with brown sugar syrup and other specialties.

The secret menu on the app will be refreshed regularly, and Starbucks is motivating fans to invent their own customizable drinks for it. The company is initiating a Secret Menu Contest to honor the creativity and enthusiasm of its customers and staff, accepting customized drink entries from July 14 to July 20. Four finalists will be chosen, and their creations will be accessible on the app from August 18-25, with fans casting votes for their favorite from August 18-20. Each finalist will receive $5,000, and the winner will gain an additional $25,000. How about a pumpkin spice tea latte with a shot of mango lemonade?