Today (July 10th) is the day that Starbucks Cool Lime and Very Berry Hibiscus Refreshers make their national launch. They’re available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and I’ve heard that they will appear in Japan a little later this month. (I am not positive about that information for Japan.) Some of the international markets are calling this product
“Refreshas.” There may be more places they’re coming.
I like these. They’re new. They’re delicious. I can’t get enough of these. I am totally serious: I like that it is light and flavorful and so cold and delicious. I can’t really decide which is my favorite. I really like the Very Berry Hibiscus Via Ready Brew Refresher, but as to the hand-crafted version, perhaps the Cool Lime wins out. Ask me again in a week, and I might have a different answer. When it comes to cold and delicious beverages, I usually don’t want something as heavy as a Frappuccino, and something like an iced latte can be delicious but milk-based beverages are just so filling. And I like the iced teas, but I want a change of pace. This is it.
I hope you like them too. This is the big day that they are launched everywhere, so I want to know how people like them, and how is it going in the stores? I know that partners will be doing a lot of sampling of these drinks during the peak hours of the day. There is a rumor that stores will give away a very limited number of 50% off coupons for the Via Ready Brew version of the Refreshers.
By the way, the partners will be wearing snazzy Refreshers t-shirts!
I stopped by Starbucks at the end of the day, on my way home from work. I caught up with Emily, the barista whom I’ve recently written about in the article on the 5th and Columbia Starbucks, and she showed me that she had made Refreshers earrings to wear, and extra earrings and pins for her store’s partners!
I have to say, I love all the passion that Emily pours into her work. Three years after I met her, she’s still pouring her heart into Starbucks. It sounds like a cliche to say that, but it’s true, and it’s important. It really does not matter if you are an attorney, or if you’re a barista, or what your job is … have some passion for what you do!
So how is your local Starbucks’ big Refreshers launch day going? Which Refresher is your favorite? How do you like them?
Don’t forget to stop by Starbucks on Friday, July 13, 2012, from noon to 3:00 p.m. for a free tall handcrafted Refresher!
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Hey Melody,
Are they definitely coming to the UK? Only there’s nothing on the Starbucks UK website, and we didn’t get an email about it. I desperately hope they are, as they look great from your previous descriptions. I’ll have to go and have a hunt at lunchtime at our local Starbucks. I didn’t see anything in the mini one I walk past on the way to work. Fingers crossed!
I totally agree with you Mel…I can’t decide which one is the best, too. They are both really refreshing and beat the regular Iced Tea totally!
There are many more markets getting these and some countries like Switzerland and Austria already sell them since 1 week.
I guess these will become a best seller for Starbucks!
Whoops, sorry Melody. Not 10 minutes after I commented we got an email through from Starbucks UK. They’re not launching until Thursday here, but card holders can get them in certain stores if they request them and pay with a Starbucks card. Woohoo!
My local SB was setting up displays and putting out the products last night and this morning it was all set and ready. Maybe too early but no real push by the partners to sell the refreshers. One partner out of 3 had the new tee shirt. I love the pins and earrings. I did ask one partner his favorite and he said he preferred the Via over the handcrafted. Should be interesting to see how it is received as the days go on.
I saw the displays being set up yesterday afternoon here in Toronto, Canada. I asked the manager if there was going to be anything special happening for the launch and she confirmed that samples will be given out all week and on Friday (the 13th) free tall refreshers will be available from 12-3PM. Sounds pretty lucky to me 🙂
I tried both of them this morning, and I have to say they aren’t my favorite. I didn’t think they were refreshing and I still felt thirsty after drinking them. The Iced Tea Lemonade combo were much more refreshing.
Though the barrista did tell me that they are very low in calories. That may make me try them again, on days that I don’t want anything too filling.
@Amanda – You might like a variation of the Refreshers. I’ve heard that a number of people already are doing this so I tried it this morning: Order the Very berry hibiscus but substitute lemonade instead of water into the drink. It become a richer drink, and even a little sweeter. If you like the iced tea lemonades, that might be the perfect thing for you to try. After trying it, I kind of decided that I prefered just having water in the VBH but I do like the lightness of the beverage.
Really excited to try these and I hope they are doing the free drinks on Friday, July 13th from noon to 3 pm in our local store. I may try it with the lemonade as you suggested as I love their black tea lemonade drink.
I love the Cool Lime Refresher!! You are right about them being low in calories. The venti has 120 cals in the very berry and 100 cals in the cool lime. I can’t wait to go to the States to try the via. I’ve had the canned and loved the soft sparkling they add to them.
Launch here in Colleyville, TX seems to be going great. Customers are really liking them. I’ve made mine with lemonade instead of water, delicious.
Again, I can’t express my excitement that we have these new, innovative Refreshing drinks in store now! They’re just so dang delightfully tantalizing! I also finally got my hands on the canned Orange Melon flavor and it’s sitting in my fridge calling my name. These are my biggest Starbucks addiction yet!
Yeah in the UK and Ireland they launched today for card holders only and will go on general sale Thursday. The only slight difference is that they are called Refreshas
I’m sorry, I just didn’t like these Refreshers at all. I was excited because I had heard they were great. I had tried the canned Raspberry Pomegranate one and the stevia made it taste bitter / saccharine.
I was at my local store this morning and they were sampling the handcrafted Refreshers. I tried both. The Lime one was very bitter / harsh and the raspberry one tasted vaguely like cough medicine. Maybe this would be better tried individually made (since they were made in a larger batch for sampling).
I hear they are giving away free tall size ones on Friday from 12 – 3PM Local Time. Maybe I’ll try again then.
Something that we’ve noticed in the last few days of partner samples at my store is that they tend to settle. Anyone making samples for a large group should be constantly shaking the refreshers before pouring, it totally changes the flavor. If you order one at the counter this shouldn’t be a problem because they’ll make it for you right then, but if a barista is out in the lobby with a pitcher and isn’t stirring or shaking – you’re probably not getting the best possible flavor profile.
[…] bold colors reflect the new Refresher flavors of Cool Lime and Very Berry Hibiscus. Today marks the national launch for these flavors. Inside and out, the store is really pushing these fruity […]
These are indeed free on Fri from noon to 3 PM. You may want to put that information in the above post for people that don’t read comments or click links (we all know there are a lot of these wonderful readers!). 🙂
I’ve had all 4 now..the 2 VIAs and the 2 bar-made. I think they’re ok. Biggest difference to me was VIA lime vs barista lime….. bar made was a little better to me. It’s a nice idea I guess, and certainl… an appealing name but I doubt I would ever buy them…either version. I do think they’re tasty, but I still see them as a form of crystal light or any of those…only at Sbux prices. I would’ve love to see the return of Gazebo, for example, instead of this direction. I guess we’ll see how they sell. (actually, I think I’d prefer the cans over all of the above…Refreshers I mean)
Hello Melody and everyone!! “D
First time to this site and I’m very excited to be apart of the wonderful Starbucks team!! <3
I'm so excited about this launch and am glad to be apart of making it happen for the customers 🙂
I have to say the Berry Hibiscus was my favorite of the two refreshers 😀
Im so-so on the Cool Lime haha. And i definately love that your friend is so passionate about Starbucks as well!! Wish I was creative like that 🙂
I woke up feeling ReFreshed today & couldn’t figure out why then I yawned & stretched then jumped out of bed to start my day…then my phone calendar chimed & I though I didn’t remember any appointment today then it hit me….It’s ReFreshers Day….Whooo Hooo! I love them. The Cool lime is my fav. & it’s hot enough here to need one. There was also a new cold tumbler launched with this one http://www.starbucksstore.com/starbucks-to-go-tumbler-16-fl-oz/011019617,default,pd.html?start=5&cgid=drinkware# double walled so will stay cool & looks like a stitting out by the pool type of tumbler. They also had a new cake pop…White Cake pop. It was pretty much like the birthday cake pop..but instead of pink w/ white nonaperils it was white cake w/ white chocolate outershell w/ white nonaperils
My Starbucks was all decorated today and the Partners were really getting into it, some even had their hats decorated with leis. Made me really smile first thing this morning.
The manager was passing out the free samples this morning. I tried the Very Berry first and liked it very much and ended up ordering one later in the afternoon. The berries in the drink were a welcome surprise! Anyway, when I sampled the Cool Lime the manager and I both looked at each other and said, “tequila!” Yup, think I am going to buy some of the Cool Lime Via for “cocktail hour”.
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It seems to be a fun launch. I heard a lot of customers commenting on the shirts. I’ve sampled both flavors in store but may need to buy one to give a better opinion.
I had a blast sampling these out on the busiest intersection in East Vancouver today, providing some refreshment for people waiting for the bus/train. I have to say they were really well received! The taste issue is most likely the way they were made, I handcrafted every sample (a lot of ventis) but it was totally worth it.
As a partner it’s great to be able to back these enthusiastically – vegan friendly, dairy free, no artificial sugars and low cal. But wih coffee! Makes me a happy partner – also, I love those earrings.
I bought packets of Cool Lime and Very Berry Hibiscus. Both are too sweet for me when prepared as directed – I’ll need to adjust the water/powder ratio. I prefer the taste of the berry flavor. The Cool Lime reminds me of the lime mint tea sold at Caribou Coffee (and makes me wish I could easily mix this with carbonated water instead of still).
Haven’t tried the canned variations yet, but one SBUX barista told me if I found the VIA to sweet, they may be worse. Didn’t realize they could also make them in-store. Hm.
Mmm… try the Cool Lime with Rum! It’s like an instant mojito!
I definately love the Berry Hibiscus Refresher its my fav with the lemonade 😀
I tried the Cool Lime again today and I still think it tastes like salad dressing. Maybe it’ll be good on salads but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s yucky!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the earrings @Emily!!!
I went into 2 different Sbux yesterday and both stores had been told NOT to wear these t-shirts until Friday. So, I think they look cool in the pics but haven’t seen them on anyone here yet. I do wish Sbux would get back into the ‘special t-shirts’ for partners…..especially around Christmas…there really used to be some very cool ones.
@DeniseR – I have many comments in this thread I should reply to because there has been so many interesting comments but I’ havent had time … but I wanted to say that seems so strange that your area’s stores isnt wearing the t-shirts. Everybody around here has been in a refreshers t-shirt. It’s been pretty consistent. I think the partners were told to wear the shirts all week, starting on 7-10.
I too Denise find it odd that the partners in your area have to wait to wear the tee shirts as they are all around here. The SM at my local store told me in fact that they did not get enough tee shirts for all partners and also the sizes were all off. I really like the tee shirt and I joked with the SM that he should raffle off a shirt to customers (which is how he mentioned they did not have enough for partners).
@Melody and @ purple1: well, our sm did have on the t-shirt yesterday (Thurs) but other than that…… ??? They were told they have to wear them today, I was told and also heard something about the sizes being not available etc. I like the t-shirt, too….as I think I said.
The shirts are fun but they don’t breathe well and so they are HOT. I probably won’t wear mine again now that this week is over. We were told to wear them every day of the first week if we wanted but definitely on launch day and on Friday. The Cool Lime seems to be the favourite so far, though I prefer the Very Berry one personally.
We’re getting the Refreshers tomorrow here in Japan! It seems like we’re only getting the drinks for a limited time only (until September) and I haven’t heard anything about VIAs. But I’m VERY excited to try them!
And Emily’s earrings are fantastic! Love it! 😀
@Kaori – Tell me which one you end up liking best! I don’t know how long the Refreshers will be on the menu here in the US, but I have been assuming they’re permanent. I have heard rumors that Starbucks is already working on new flavors!