Eager drive-through coffee enthusiasts nationwide can expect delightful changes at the largest coffee giant, Starbucks. Taking a cue from customer feedback, the company has already cut additional charges on its non-dairy milks and offered affordably priced breakfast bundles. With rumors circulating about possible changes to its winter menu, changes could be coming for one of its crowd favorites, the matcha latte.

Starbucks could be reconsidering its approach to matcha, a traditional powdered green tea, suggests acclaimed food blogger, Markie Devo. Through a recent Instagram post, Devo hinted at Starbucks' potential plans to instruct baristas to blend, rather than shake, the matcha into a smoother consistency. Subsequently, this could lead to creamier and more luscious matcha lattes and lemonades. What's more? The matcha powder at Starbucks might also arrive unsweetened, allowing customers to customize their drinks to taste, as per the anonymous intel shared with Devo.

However, the chain's take on matcha has been anything but traditional. Ordinarily, preparing matcha requires a stiff bamboo whisk to blend and aerate it in hot water. Given the fast pace of serving demanding morning coffee lovers at Starbucks, shortcuts are understandable.

Despite these deviations, some coffee lovers are catching on to the higher than expected sugar level in the chain’s pre-mixed matcha formula. This observation is frequently shared by health, food, and lifestyle influencers on TikTok, who initially presumed the matcha drinks to be healthier choices.

For those not too keen on matcha, Starbucks is reportedly brewing three surprise beverages for the coming year. The spotlight drink will be the Cortado, a petite-sized blend of top-ranking blonde espresso and a dash of milk. The menu also anticipates a sweet Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado and a recurring Pistachio Latte with its distinctive cold foam. Early February could bring a refreshingly new Blackberry Sage Refresher and a Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Frappuccino, sending us a nostalgia trip to the early 2010s' secret menu wave.

Starbucks' food menu is also a likely candidate for a revamp. A potential tasty Vegan Spicy Falafel Pocket accompanied by Bitchin’ Sauce Almond Chipotle Dip might be available, according to Devo's sources. A well-loved Vanilla Bean Custard Danish is said to be making a comeback in January, followed by a special Valentine's Day cake pop in February.

While the speculation about Starbucks' new approach to matcha preparation is not assured, it has certainly piqued the curiosity of many coffee fans. Starbucks’ official confirmation or denial is eagerly awaited.