I Tried All 3 of Starbucks’ New Orange Cold Foam Drinks — This Is the One I *Must* Get Again

I always associate the color orange with warmth, like the sunlight during golden hour or the glow of a campfire. So when I tried a few of Starbucks’ new Orange Cream drinks (and S’mores-inspired sips) during a free preview event last month, I really felt the summer vibes.

Available for a limited time as of July 28, the Orange Cream drink lineup at Starbucks is a treat for your eyes and your taste buds. It includes coffee, matcha, and chai drinks topped with orange cream cold foam, and I got to taste three of them. Here’s everything to know about this colorful drink lineup.

Starbucks is leaning into seasonal nostalgia. “For many people, orange cream is associated with the feeling of summer,” said Kris Murray, who worked on the team that created the beverages, in the Starbucks press release. The Orange Cream drink collection has four drinks: a matcha, a chai, and a cold brew that each have a layer of new orange cream cold foam, and the Orange Cream Frappuccino that has orange-vanilla flavors blended into it. 

According to the release, Starbucks’ new orange cream cold foam is a “combination of tangerine and mandarin flavors, paired with sweet vanilla notes.” Here’s what it tastes like with some of Starbucks’ popular drinks.

I first tried the Iced Orange Cream Chai, which is a Starbucks Iced Chai topped with orange cream cold foam. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the sweet orange-vanilla and spiced chai flavors complemented each other. The cold foam itself tasted like an Orange Creamsicle in the form of a dense, creamy foam, with a tart citrus flavor that was muted by a milky vanilla flavor. I liked the contrast of the chai’s savory flavor that was reminiscent of cinnamon and nutmeg. 

Even though the cold foam and the chai tasted vastly different (and I didn’t mix in the cold foam), they actually balanced each other out very well, like how eating popcorn and candy gives you the perfect pairing of salty and sweet when you go to the movies. It was my favorite sip out of the three Orange Cream drinks.

While visually stunning, the Iced Orange Cream Matcha didn’t pack as much of a flavor punch. The classic iced matcha had a milky and slightly floral flavor, which really helped the citrusy flavor of the cold cream shine. I didn’t mix the cold foam into the matcha, but it’s definitely something I would try if I ordered this drink again!

If you’re a fan of Starbucks’ matcha, I would definitely recommend getting it topped with this new orange cream cold foam. 

The Orange Cream Cold Brew was another unexpectedly delightful combination of flavors! It’s made with Starbucks Cold Brew, vanilla syrup, and the new orange cream cold foam.

I also didn’t mix in the cold foam here, but I loved alternating the slightly bitter taste of the cold brew with the tangy flavor of the cold foam, creating an interesting combination that was vaguely reminiscent of a dried orange slice. Even though I loved this drink, the chai was still my favorite from this drink collection. 

I really enjoyed trying all three drinks with the new orange cream cold foam, but the Iced Orange Cream Chai was a standout for me. Even though I’m not usually a fan of orange-flavored sweets or drinks, I will definitely order the chai at least one more time this summer.