A South Korean favorite lands on U.S. menus alongside new fall pies, even as the coffee giant quietly trims its store count
Starbucks launches the Aerocano, an air-whipped iced espresso drink, in U.S. stores on Tuesday, Sept. 29, to mark National Coffee Day. The drink, which first became a hit in South Korea, joins the chain’s permanent core menu alongside a Caramel Aerocano and three new fall mini pies.
The rollout comes days after Starbucks closed about 250 locations across North America over the weekend, its second major wave of closures since CEO Brian Niccol took over in 2024.
Here is what to know about the new drink, where it came from and what else is changing at Starbucks.
What Is the Starbucks Aerocano?
The Aerocano is an iced Americano with a twist. Baristas combine Blonde Espresso and ice, then air-whip the drink to create a lighter, smoother texture and a visible cascading effect as it settles in the cup.
Starbucks is offering two versions: the original Aerocano and the Caramel Aerocano. Both are joining the chain’s core menu rather than appearing as limited-time items, so customers can expect to find them beyond the fall season.
Starbucks has not framed the Aerocano as a replacement for the iced Americano. Instead, the company positions it as an extension of that platform, aimed at customers who want a familiar espresso drink with a different texture.
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Where Did the Aerocano Come From?
The drink debuted earlier this year in South Korea, where it quickly became a standout in Starbucks coffeehouses. The market was a logical starting point, since the iced Americano ranks among Starbucks’ most popular beverages there.
Chanda Beppu, senior vice president of Starbucks Asia Pacific, said in a company statement that the concept caught her eye early. She acknowledged the air-whipped technique already exists elsewhere, but argued that pairing it with Starbucks coffee, the skill of its baristas and the rapid rise of iced coffee made the timing ideal for building on the Americano with something both recognizable and new.
Why Is Starbucks Betting on Iced Coffee?
The numbers explain the strategy. According to Starbucks, about 60% of the beverages it sells worldwide are served cold, a figure the company cites as evidence that iced drinks are a global trend. For Starbucks, that shift has turned cold drinks from a summer add-on into a year-round core business.
That makes the Americano, already a cold-coffee staple, a natural platform for new products. By building on a drink customers already know, Starbucks can introduce something new without asking them to take a leap on an unfamiliar flavor.
The South Korea launch also gave the company a real-world test before bringing the drink to the U.S.
What New Fall Treats Is Starbucks Adding?
Starbucks is expanding its fall food menu with three mini pies, also arriving Tuesday: an apple crumble mini pie, a pecan mini pie and a pumpkin mini pie.
The bite-size desserts lean on classic autumn flavors and give customers a ready pairing for the new drinks as the chain heads deeper into its fall season.
Why Did Starbucks Close 250 Stores?
About 250 Starbucks locations across North America shut down over the weekend before the Aerocano launch. It is the second major round of closures since Niccol joined the company in 2024.
The first round, in 2025, was larger. Starbucks closed 627 stores across North America and Europe that year and laid off 900 non-retail employees. The back-to-back rounds show the company is still reshaping its store network under his leadership.
In a letter to employees, Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams said the targeted stores were either falling short financially or unable to deliver the experience Starbucks aims to offer customers and workers.
Taken together, the closures and the new menu items point to a two-track strategy: shrinking the store base where locations underperform while investing in products meant to bring customers into the stores that remain.
For coffee drinkers, the takeaway is simple: the Aerocano is here to stay, even if their neighborhood Starbucks might not be.
Source: kare11.com
