I’m a new graduate journalist and I went to Costa Coffee to try their new off-menu drink, the Vanilla Lavender Ice Whipped Latte. When I saw the drink, I thought it looked like a crime scene with its greyish gloopy bottom layer and foamy beige topping. Not really sure why this matters, but I couldn’t help but think of terrible thoughts as I snapped a photo of the drink. The drink consists of vanilla lavender syrup, milk, and an ice whipped coffee topping, but I was skeptical as I gave it a good mix. Maybe it’s just me, but I thought they should add food dye to make it more appealing. The drink officially launches on Thursday, May 8, but app users get early access. I took advantage of this and ordered one for myself.
I was pleasantly surprised that the drink didn’t taste like potpourri, which I was afraid of. It had a subtle lavender flavor and the coffee and vanilla elements balanced it out nicely. I’ve criticized Costa in the past for their overly sweet drinks, but this one was different. It reminded me of a blueberry matcha drink I love. Despite its unappealing appearance, the Vanilla Lavender Ice Whipped Latte is the best drink Costa has had in a while. A colorful sleeve could cover up its crime scene look and Costa would have a winner on their hands. Not really sure why, but I’m looking forward to trying it again.
