Off the I-15

When I was given a free coupon for the new Starbucks Vivanno smoothie I wasn’t at all interested. Starbucks is a coffee shop, why would they serve a coffee-free smoothie that contains fiber powder and whey protein?

I tossed the coupon into the center console of my car and forgot about it until Tuesday, when I was searching for quarters to pay for a Frappuccino. I figured I was thirsty; I was broke, and this drink was free so why not try it? I ordered the banana chocolate flavor, and it actually tasted pretty good — more like a milkshake than a smoothie.

Starbucks will test some new drinks on the Southern California market, according to reports. One new non-coffee drink is the Sorbetto. If Barstow is one of the test locations, local stores might see a boost in revenue from non-coffee drinkers who like the idea of a healthy alternative. We don’t have a Jamba Juice, so maybe smoothie fans will get their fix at a coffee shop instead.

But will a new drink be enough to bring back customers who left Starbucks to seek a cheaper cup of joe?

It’s easy to imagine that Starbucks is struggling right now because people cannot justify spending over $3 a day for an espresso drink when gas station coffee is only 99 cents a cup. I know I’ve had to cut my Starbucks trips back to about once a week. I don’t think a new line of smoothies will bring back those 600 stores that are closing.

I also decided to check out the claims that the Vivanno is a “nourishing blend.” Sure they pack it full of fiber and protein supplements, but does that make it healthy? A Grande sized banana chocolate flavor Vivanno contains 270 calories, the same as a Caramel Frappuccino of the same size (hold the whip cream.)

The smoothie also has 28 grams of sugar, 44 grams of carbohydrates, and five grams of fat.

It isn’t a diet drink, but it is a little healthier than some of the other blended iced drinks that Starbucks has to offer.

Andee Goodwin | Intern, The Desert Dispatch

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