Olive Oil in Coffee: The Trend Explained (and How to Make It)

Olive oil in coffee sounds like a mistake until you taste a well-made version. Blended or steamed into milk, a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil gives a latte a velvety, almost buttery texture and a faint peppery, fruity finish. Stirred into black coffee, though, it just floats on top in an oily slick, which is why technique matters.

The idea became a global talking point in 2023 when Starbucks launched its Oleato line in Italy. Below: how the trend started, why the US menu dropped it, what it really tastes like and how to make olive oil coffee at home without the slick.

Key takeaways

• Starbucks unveiled Oleato in Milan on 22 February 2023, using Partanna extra virgin olive oil from Sicily.
• The drinks reached US stores and were dropped from US menus in late 2024, while staying in some markets such as Italy, China and Japan.
• Olive oil needs to be emulsified into milk or foam; it does not mix into black coffee.
• A tablespoon of olive oil adds roughly 120 calories, so most home recipes use 1–2 teaspoons.

Where the olive oil in coffee trend came from

Former Starbucks chief Howard Schultz conceived the idea after seeing olive oil taken as a daily ritual in Italy. On 22 February 2023, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Milan debuted five Oleato drinks, and Italian stores launched the line the same day. The name means “with oil” in Italian.

The olive oil came from Partanna, an Italian brand with more than a century of history, whose blend includes Nocellara del Belice olives from Partanna in Sicily. The core drinks were:

• Oleato Caffè Latte: Blonde Espresso Roast with oat milk steamed with olive oil.
• Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew: cold brew topped with an olive oil-infused cold foam.
• Oleato Iced Shaken Espresso: espresso with hazelnut notes, shaken with olive oil-infused oat milk.

The line reached Southern California in spring 2023 and later went nationwide in the US. Early reviews were mixed to negative, and some social media users complained of a laxative effect, though those reports were anecdotal. In October 2024, Starbucks said it would remove Oleato drinks from US stores as part of a push to simplify menus, while cafés in Italy, China and Japan kept serving them.

What does olive oil in coffee taste like?

It depends on how the oil is added and which oil you use.

A mild, buttery extra virgin oil blends in quietly. A robust, peppery oil will catch the back of your throat, which some people love and others do not.

How to make olive oil coffee at home

Olive oil latte (serves 1)

1. Pour the milk and olive oil into a milk pitcher or a small pan.
2. Steam or heat to about 140–150°F (60–65°C) while frothing, so the oil is broken into tiny droplets and suspended. A handheld frother or a quick blitz in a blender also works.
3. Brew the espresso into a mug and add sweetener if using.
4. Pour the oily milk over the espresso and drink while warm, before it can separate.

Olive oil cold foam for cold brew

Combine 1/4 cup (60 ml) cold milk or cream, 1 tsp (5 ml) olive oil and 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla syrup. Froth with a handheld frother for 20–30 seconds until thick, then spoon over a glass of cold brew on ice. For the cold foam technique in detail, see our sweet cream cold foam guide.

Tips

• Start with 1 teaspoon. You can always add more; too much tastes greasy.
• Emulsify, do not stir. Heat and agitation are what make it creamy.
• Pick a smooth coffee. Sweet, low-acid coffees with nut or cocoa notes pair best with olive oil’s fruitiness.
• Use fresh oil. Stale oil tastes waxy and will spoil the drink.

Is olive oil in coffee healthy?

There is no research showing that adding olive oil to coffee does anything special. What you can say for certain is that it adds fat and calories: roughly 120 calories per tablespoon of oil, or about 40 per teaspoon. If you count calories, that is the number to watch.

Some people report digestive upset from fatty drinks on an empty stomach, and Oleato drew anecdotal complaints of this kind. If you have a sensitive stomach, start small and have it with food. For the related trend of adding butter and MCT oil to coffee, see our guide to bulletproof coffee, which covers that version in depth.

Best coffee for an olive oil latte

Starbucks built its Oleato latte on a blonde espresso, and lighter, sweeter coffees do let the oil’s fruitiness come through. Our Blonde blend from Central America and Africa is light, caramel-sweet and made for smooth espresso. For a nuttier, chocolatey cup, Brazil Santos is a low-acid medium roast with cocoa and roasted nut notes. For the cold foam version, our Cold Brew Coffee is coarse ground and ready to steep. All are roasted 1–5 days before delivery.

Olive oil in coffee FAQ

Does Starbucks still sell olive oil coffee?

Not in the US. Starbucks removed Oleato from US menus in late 2024, but at that time it said cafés in Italy, China and Japan would keep the drinks.

How much olive oil should I put in coffee?

Start with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) per drink. Many people stop at 2 teaspoons. More than a tablespoon tends to taste oily.

Can I put olive oil in black coffee?

You can, but it will float unless you blend it, and it separates again quickly. Milk-based drinks hold the emulsion much better.

Which olive oil is best for coffee?

A fresh, mild and buttery extra virgin olive oil. Very peppery or grassy oils can overwhelm the coffee.

Does olive oil change the caffeine?

No. It changes texture and calories, not caffeine content.

Sources

1. Starbucks introduces olive oil-infused coffee, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal, 2023.
2. Starbucks will discontinue Oleato olive oil drinks at U.S. cafes, NBC News, 2024.

Facts checked in October 2026.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or take medication, ask your doctor before changing your caffeine intake.

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