The History of the Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino

Starbucks began experimenting with blended coffee beverages in California during the summer of 1993 and debuted their version of the Frappuccino in 1994, after acquiring the name (and, partially, the concept) from The Coffee Connection in Massachusetts. The chain decided to ramp up production and training on the new drink in order to introduce it in all of its stores in the United States and Canada during the summer of 1995. There were originally just two flavors available — Coffee and Mocha. Both were made from iced, double-strength Italian Roast coffee and neither drink originally included whipped cream. The launch was wildly successful and the Frappuccino became a Starbucks staple. The now-famous Caramel Frappuccino was launched just a few years later in 1999. It was the first Starbucks drink served with the iconic green straw. It was also the first Starbucks drink served with a domed lid, which was revolutionary at the time and caught customers’ attention, but also served a practical purpose — it allowed space for the whipped cream (also a novelty at the time) and caramel drizzle that the drink came with. The Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino quickly became a hit and while many additional flavors have been added since its debut in 1999, it is still consistently ranked as one of the most popular Starbucks drinks today.