Starbucks is predicting you’ll buy its latest gimmicky drink — and the coffee chain’s fortunes will likely grow as a result.
The Crystal Ball Frappuccino debuts Thursday, but it will only be available for four days.
The cold drink is a peach-flavored, crème-based Frappuccino decorated with turquoise sparkles to give the social media-friendly beverage a marbled look.
But here’s what transforms it into a magical potion — and not just for the company’s bottom line: The peach-flavored whipped cream is sprinkled with one of three colored candy gems, with each hue telling your fortune.
- Blue: Adventure is your destiny.
- Green: Get ready for some good luck to come your way.
- Purple: Expect magic, wonder and enchantment in your future.
“Only the fates can decide which color is revealed. The customer will not know which color of candy gem will top the beverage,” the company said.
Nor will the baristas.
Kind of.
The final step of preparing the drink is putting the colored gems on top, but the candies come in opaque shakers. Each barista has three of them — one color per container — and will choose a shaker to apply the finishing touch.
Note that if you get green, don’t get too excited.
“Starbucks does not assume liability for any luck or lack of luck that you experience, but we really do hope you have a fantastic day,” the Seattle-based chain said in an oddly upbeat disclaimer.
The Crystal Ball Frappuccino is for sale through Sunday at participating Starbucks stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico while supplies last.
A 12-ounce beverage costs $4.95 to $5.25 depending on the market, according to the company.
The Crystal Ball Frappuccino — made with whole milk and whipped cream, which is the standard recipe — is 270 calories and contains 11 grams of fat and 37 grams of sugar.
The drink is the latest shtick beverage Starbucks has launched. Its biggest hit was the Unicorn Frappuccino (a pink drink whose taste from sweet to sour) last April, which came close to breaking the Internet. Popular drinks also included the Zombie Frappuccino (a green-colored, tart apple- and caramel-flavored beverage with pink whipped cream “brains” and red mocha drizzle) in October and the Christmas Tree Frappuccino (a peppermint mocha cold drink with matcha whipped cream shaped like a Christmas tree and decorated with caramel drizzle, a strawberry and holiday-inspired candied cranberries) in December.
All generated lots of social media attention, thanks to their limited availability and camera-ready looks.
