The chocolate cat ears did their job. They got our attention. But once you get past “LOOK AT THE LITTLE EARS,” there’s a much more useful question: what does Starbucks’ Black Cat Frappuccino actually taste like?
The published taste tests don’t all describe the same experience. Chocolate mousse, tart fruit and even licorice notes have entered the conversation. That is quite a lot happening underneath one little whipped-cream hat.
Here’s what reviewers who tried it are saying. These are their experiences, not our own taste test, and this small roundup isn’t a survey of everyone who ordered the drink.
For Delish, it was chocolate dessert in a cup
In her prelaunch review for Delish, Megan Schaltegger compared the drink to chocolate mousse or flourless cake. She found it decadent without being excessively sweet and was pleasantly surprised by how much she liked it.
If your ideal Halloween drink is basically dessert with a straw, that’s an encouraging place to start.
Elite Daily picked up a fruity twist
Elite Daily’s Rachel Chapman expected something closer to cookies and cream or mocha. Instead, she described a richer cocoa flavor with a tart, fruit-like undertone that reminded her of chocolate-covered raspberries.
She enjoyed it, but the flavor surprised her. That comparison is her tasting impression; it doesn’t mean Starbucks has announced raspberry as an ingredient.
That distinction matters when you’re deciding whether to swap out your usual order. “Chocolate” can mean a whole lot of different things to different people.
Tasting Table found more than straightforward chocolate
Tasting Table’s Hunter Wren Miele bought the drink on launch day and tried it without customizations. Their favorable review described buttery cream, dark chocolate and a licorice-like note. Mixing in the whipped cream softened the flavor.
Miele also liked the Venti Black Night Cookie, describing a lightly crisp outside and a chewy, brownie-like center. Their favorite combination was dipping the cookie into the drink and whipped cream.
Honestly, the cookie deserves a little attention of its own. You can be interested in a Halloween bakery treat without committing to a whole new drink order.
What to know before you order
These reviewers generally enjoyed the drink, but they picked up different flavors. That gives you a few useful comparisons, not a guarantee that you’ll love it.
Starbucks describes the drink as a cocoa-flavored Crème Frappuccino with brownie-like notes, whipped cream and chocolatey cat ears. It launched October 22, comes in grande only and is available at participating U.S. coffeehouses through Halloween.
The matching cookie has dark chocolate dough, caramel fudge pieces and caramelized white chocolate chunks. Our Black Cat Frappuccino launch guide has the ordering details. Check your store for its current price and availability.
My takeaway from these reviews: go in expecting a rich dessert drink, with room for the cocoa flavor to surprise you. And if you’ve already tried it, tell us what you tasted. Chocolate cake? Something fruity? Or are you going back for the cookie?
Still deciding? Browse our Starbucks secret menu recipes and ordering guide for your next drink.
