Starbucks has launched what its leadership calls one of its most important products in decades: Oleato, a line of coffee drinks infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil. Inspired by the Mediterranean custom of a daily spoonful of olive oil in Sicily, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz envisioned an innovation that would “transform the coffee industry,” said Brady Brewer, Starbucks’ chief marketing officer, and become “a lucrative new product for the company.”
Originally launched in Italy last year, the Oleato platform began hitting North American markets, including the U.S. and Canada, in late February and March. It’s also available in cities around the world, including London, Paris, Osaka and Tokyo. Its concept is simple: each drink is infused with a scoop of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, designed to create a “sweet and rich” flavor and “velvety smooth” texture.
As the drink’s popularity grew, social media platforms became the center of customer feedback, and their feedback wasn’t as smooth as it could have been. Many consumers took to Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) to share experiences that resulted in stomach pain or intestinal issues.
Reports detailed effects ranging from stomach upset to the need to immediately use the restroom. One user tweeted bluntly, “Starbucks Oleato is a legal laxative.” Another user shared, “Starbucks’ Oleato made my stomach talk.”
Allegations from within the company have also surfaced. A person claiming to be a barista posted on the r/starbucks subreddit, describing coworkers trying the drink, “A few people ended up …… needing to go to the bathroom, if you know what I mean.” The employee, who identified himself as a barista, also claimed that their store manager advised against sharing this information with customers.
Symptoms mentioned in specific complaints include stomach pain, diarrhea, and stomach rumbling. One user even found his throat burning after trying the drink. The high fat content was also cited as a potential factor, with large cups of coffee being high in fat (17 to 34 grams compared to 0 grams for regular coffee and 7 grams for a regular latte).
While the negative experience generated a lot of discussion online, not all feedback was unfavorable. Some users expressed surprise. In the same thread on Reddit, “Complaints,” one person expressed praise, saying, “Tried the sample today. I thought it was pretty good. But I still prefer the white chocolate mocha.”
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Another user simply wrote on Twitter, “Starbucks, the new Oleato drink is so damn delicious! Love it!!!” One Redditor was also positive: “I tried all 3 drinks and loved them all. No problems whatsoever.” This suggests that effects on the digestive system are not widespread.
The Oleato line comes in a variety of options, including the Oleato Café Latte, Oleato Iced Cortado, Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew, Oleato Iced Shaken Espresso, and even a martini version. Each coffee is infused with the signature olive oil, which adds about 120 calories to the olive oil component alone.
Adding oils to coffee is not a new concept; people have been using cream or milk for a long time. However, the combination of coffee and olive oil presents a unique interaction. Experts point out that both coffee and olive oil alone can have an effect on bowel movements, while the combination of the two has the potential to produce a more pronounced laxative effect.
Caffeine is known to be a digestive stimulant that promotes intestinal contractions. Olive oil, especially when consumed in sufficient quantities, can act as a softener, helping feces to pass more easily through the digestive tract, especially if the intake exceeds the absorption capacity of the small intestine.
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Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD, CDN, explains that consuming too much fat too quickly, especially as many people do with coffee on an empty stomach, can “intensify the urgency to run to the bathroom.” Rabia de Latour, M.D., a gastroenterologist, adds that the acidity of coffee also promotes the production of gastrin, a hormone that stimulates gastrointestinal contractions and elimination of waste products, which further amplifies the potential effects when combined with fats.
Registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade points out that liquid olive oil enters the digestive tract more quickly than fat ingested during a meal, which is why some people report an unexpected response rate. She suggests that the already stimulating effect of coffee, combined with the high-fat content of the beverage, may lead to spasms that increase the mobility of the colon, resulting in a laxative effect.
Whether adding olive oil to coffee is a traditional Italian practice has also sparked debate. Italy Magazine (Italy Magazine) responded directly to the question, stating, “No, not at all.” When asked if it was a custom there, he said, “No, not at all.”
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While there’s no denying that olive oil is the cornerstone of a healthy Mediterranean diet, with people like Schultz consuming a tablespoon of olive oil every day for benefits such as cholesterol-lowering and anti-inflammatory benefits, Oleato drinks present a different nutritional picture. Experts such as registered dietitian and assistant dean Mindy Haar point out that the drink itself is high in calories and fat, suggesting that if you want to reap the health benefits of olive oil, it may be wiser to consume it with food.
Haar notes that drinks such as a 16-ounce olive oil cafe latte and oat milk have 330 calories and 310 calories, respectively. That puts them on a nutritional par with indulgent drinks like pumpkin spice lattes, which customers don’t typically choose for health reasons.
“If customers have questions about drinking coffee and extra virgin olive oil, we recommend that they contact their healthcare provider,” Starbucks said in response to an inquiry about the customer experience.
For those interested in this unique coffee-olive oil blend, experts have offered cautious advice despite reports of side effects. If you want to try the Oleato drink, consider starting with a small amount and consuming it slowly. Consuming this drink with food can also minimize potential negative effects by slowing down digestion.
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Starbucks’ new olive oil-infused coffee has customers complaining of laxative side effects
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