Review: Starbucks Whips Up Two New Aerocano Beverages, But Only One Is Worth Sipping

Starbucks loves to breathe new life into its most iconic menu items. From pumpkin-flavored matcha on this year's fall menu to blended Energy Refreshers, the chain is no stranger to putting fun new twists on crowd favorites. But while many of the chain's more recentlaunches have focused on bright colors (like the visually striking Blue Coconut beverages) and decadent, sweet flavors (like the Starbucks x Peanuts limited-edition Frappuccinos), this latest rollout is putting espresso front and center. Introducing the Aerocano.

If you think that sounds strangely similar to "Americano," there's a reason for that. Starbucks describes the new beverage as "a modern take on the Iced Americano," featuring velvety, air-whipped Blonde Espresso. It comes in two versions — the regular Aerocano and the Caramel Aerocano — and, according to the chain, was a huge hit in South Korea before debuting in North America for National Coffee Day.

But how will these new drinks fare stateside? Luckily, we tried both to find out. Here's everything you need to know about Starbucks' new Aerocano drinks.

To conduct my taste test, I ordered a Grande size of each drink with no customizations. I tried each one at my local Starbucks location to prevent any watering down or melting. I've reviewed several new Starbucks launches for Food Republic and visit even more frequently as a customer (I've had so many Pumpkin Chais this season that I managed to induct myself into the chain's Gold membership tier), so I came into my review ready to give my thorough, honest thoughts on the new additions to Starbucks' lineup.

Where my knowledge was perhaps a bit more limited was with Americanos in general. I tend to steer clear of non-sweet coffee drinks. In order to enrich my review and to offer a point of comparison, I also tried Starbucks' classic Iced Americano to get a better sense of what the OG was like.

The most important factors I considered during my taste test were flavor, presentation, and innovation. A drink was most successful when it had a flavor that matched its description, looked as good as it tasted, and added something new to Starbucks' current menu.

The new Aerocano and Caramel Aerocano launched on September 29 (aka National Coffee Day) and are here to stay, as they've joined Starbucks core menu. As for pricing, the Aerocano is priced at $4.35 for a Tall, $4.55 for a Grande, and $4.95 for a Venti. Meanwhile, the Caramel Aerocano is a bit pricier at $4.95 for a Tall, $5.25 for a Grande, and $5.65 for a Venti. 

By comparison, a classic Iced Caffè Americano costs $3.75 for a Tall, $3.95 for a Grande, and $4.25 for a Venti — meaning even the largest size of the chain's classic Iced Americano is less expensive than the smallest size of the new Aerocano. Of course, prices may vary by location.

The Aerocanos are basically as light as it gets when it comes to Starbucks' coffee offerings. The Aerocano contains 15 calories for a Grande, with 2 grams of carbs, 1 gram of protein, and 0 grams of fat. Due to the addition of caramel syrup, the Caramel Aerocano boasts a higher sugar content as it contains 80 calories for a Grande, with 18 grams of carbs (which includes 16 grams of sugar), 1 gram of protein, and 0 grams of fat. For reference, Starbucks' Iced Caffè Americano possesses the same nutritional information as the new Aerocano.

While I anticipated the standard Aerocano wouldn't have too much going in the flavor department (since it's made with nothing more than air-whipped Blonde Espresso and ice), what I didn't expect was a lingering bitter aftertaste that seemed to sneak up on me after each sip. I even tried the classic Americano to see if this was simply unfamiliar to me, but I didn't have the same experience. Since the classic version is made with Starbucks' darker Signature Roast as opposed to the Blonde Espresso, I was left to wonder whether the roast itself played a big role in that difference.

I wasn't alone in questioning the Blonde Espresso, either. After a bit of research, I found one TikTok creator who drinks Americanos daily and expressed that they "don't really like the way the blonde [espresso] tastes sometimes." Thus, they opted to try the new Aerocano with the Signature Roast instead. I'd certainly be curious to try the drink that way to see if it gets rid of that off-putting, bitter aftertaste.

What I will say, though, is that the air-whipping technique certainly makes for a more interesting drink than a classic Americano in terms of texture. It was velvety and frothy. With Signature Roast and perhaps a splash of cream, it's possible I could change my mind about the Aerocano. But if you, too, don't love Blonde Espresso and don't want to pay the upcharge on modifications, you may be better off enjoying your usual Iced Caffè Americano.

I found the Caramel Aerocano to be the far more exciting and interesting of Starbucks' two new Aerocanos. The caramel flavor seemed to mask whatever bitterness I tasted in the regular Aerocano. If you love a good no-frills Iced Americano, you should keep in mind that the caramel flavor is definitely noticeable enough to cut through the coffee flavor, giving the drink a sweeter profile that you may not be used to (or particukarly like). As a sweet coffee lover, though, this drink was definitely more my speed.

The caramel flavor coupled with the velvety, air-whipped texture were an ideal pair. This a tasty and fairly unique offering on the chain's menu, providing Americano drinkers a new, sweeter way to enjoy their go-to. Also, it should be said that this is certainly more visually appealing than a regular Americano. If you're a fan of a little caramel and looking for a new way to enjoy your Iced Americano, this drink might just be the fun switch-up you need.

When comparing Starbucks' two new Aerocanos, the Caramel Aerocano was the clear-cut winner.  While both drinks delivered on that luxe, velvety, air-whipped texture, I couldn't get over the regular Aerocano's aftertaste. 

The caramel version felt far more successful, with enough sweetness and bold flavor to mask that bitterness entirely. It certainly appealed more to me personally as someone who loves sweet coffee , but even putting my own preferences aside, I would have much rather enjoyed a classic Americano than the regular Aerocano. While the jury's still out on whether a Signature Roast version of the drink would change my mind, the Caramel Aerocano is the only one of these two new drinks truly worth ordering.

Still, I do appreciate the idea behind this launch. A regular Americano isn't exactly screaming for a makeover, but that's part of what makes the Aerocano so interesting. Starbucks has probably hit its limit on new Frappuccinos, Refreshers, or matcha flavors, especially when most regulars wind up sticking with their usual go-tos anyway. Instead, this launch gives die-hard Americano drinkers a way to switch things up without straying too far from the coffee order they already know and love. As for whether or not the Aerocano actually becomes their new default order? Well, only time will tell. But I'd imagine it must be nice to finally have more options and to see Starbucks give the Americano the kind of attention usually reserved for its sweeter, more elaborate drinks.