Strange brew: Starbucks to introduce olive oil-infused coffee

Is North America ready for olive oil-infused coffee? Starbucks thinks we are ready. “Liquid gold,” as it is often called, will be added to the chain’s new Oleato range of drinks, which contains Partanna extra virgin olive oil.

Did somebody tell Howard Schultz that water and oil and water do not mix?

“It was that trip that inspired me to bring the ritual of handcrafted espresso to Starbucks and to America. Oleato represents the next revolution in coffee that brings together an alchemy of nature’s finest ingredients — Starbucks arabica coffee beans and Partanna cold pressed extra virgin olive oil,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks’ interim chief executive officer.

“Today I feel just as inspired as I did 40 years ago, Oleato has opened our eyes to fresh new possibilities and a transformational way to enjoy our daily coffee.”

Customers will also have the option to add a press of Partanna olive oil — the equivalent of a spoonful — to other existing Starbucks menu items.

Fun Fact: The term virgin oil universally means the oil was processed by the use of mechanical means only, with no chemical treatment.