Rejoice, fellow coffee addicts, for the autumnal gods have blessed us this particular season with the introduction of the Chile Mocha at Starbucks — a daring combination of spicy and sweet with just the right amount of kick to wake you up in the morning. Naturally, you're probably wondering: just how spicy is the Chile Mocha at Starbucks? It is definitely a departure from Starbucks' usual fare, which capitalizes on the sweetness of its drinks (just ask my boyfriend, the PSL). But fear not, anyone with taste buds as weak as mine: while the Chile Mocha definitely has its share of pizzazz, it is truly not out of the manageable spice realm. As a person so pathetic that ketchup seems spicy to me, I can attest that after trying the Chile Mocha, it is not a drink you want to shy away from.
Here's the DL on what's in the Chile Mocha: it's Starbucks espresso, topped with a blend of cocoa and spice steamed together with two percent milk, and then topped with whipped cream and a sprinkling of ancho chili pepper, sea salt, cinnamon, paprika, cayenne chili pepper and sugar. I know the less adventurous among us right now might have cowered at the words "ancho chili pepper" and "cayenne," but TRUST ME. You can handle it, and you will be extremely pleased with yourself that you did. It tastes kind of like how a campfire feels, and the sweetness in the cocoa perfectly evens out the spice, leaving a satisfyingly spicy but not at all overwhelming aftertaste.
And if you're still looking to cool it off, you can even try it over ice or in Frappuccino form — or mix it up by having it made with Starbucks' new Almondmilk, which will give it a nuttier, slightly less sweet taste. Don't be afraid to shake things up, y'all. You are the captain of your own Chile Mocha destiny. And since there has never been a drink quite like this one before, or nearly as many options for how to customize it, it's really up to you to decide how you want to experience it.
So when exactly can you experience it? Early access will be granted to those in the Starbucks Rewards loyalty program on September 3, so look out for alerts, fellow addicts. As for the rest of the world, the Chile Mocha will launch nationwide on September 6 — the same day the Pumpkin Spice Latte emerges from underground to check its shadow and declare it is officially autumn. So get ye to your local Starbucks and try this new drink on for size! No matter your spice tolerance, this one's gonna worm its way into your digestive system and your heart.
Images: Courtesy of Starbucks
