Some Ariana Grande Fans Aren't Happy About Her Starbucks Cloud Macchiato
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Fans of Ariana Grande may want to break up with her collab with Starbucks. Not because they're bored, but because the drink's not vegan. Grande, who is a professed vegan, is promoting a drink that contains dairy and egg whites, which isn't sitting well with fans or baristas. The Starbucks crew is taking issue with the fact that customers are coming in and requesting a vegan version of the Cloud Macchiatos — which simply can't be done.
USA Today reports that the drink's foamy cloud ingredient is made with egg whites and cannot be replicated without the ingredient. If customers are opting for the caramel option, that one includes "butter, heavy cream, and dry milk." During the announcement of the drink's release, Grande suggested that fans #trythesoyversion, but that doesn't remove the egg whites.
Starbucks was clear about the ingredient from the beginning.
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"To create the Cloud Macchiato, Starbucks in-house product development team created a special recipe for Cloud powder, using egg whites a key ingredient that is added to the Cold Foam to create a fluffy texture that tastes luxurious," the company said in an announcement.
???? @starbucks cloud #cloudmacchiato #starbucksambassador #trythesoyversion ???? pic.twitter.com/y2LRAx33Sq
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) March 5, 2019
I've eaten organically since I was little and always kept meat minimal but today marks my first day as a 100% Vegan!!!! Joyous day ??????????????????????????
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) November 5, 2013
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The news didn't deter customers from requesting the drink be made vegan, however. Baristas have mentioned that they've gotten customers coming in expecting the drink to have been vegan from the beginning. They're also getting tired of explaining that the drink just can't be made the way it was intended without the egg whites, because it would just be a standard caramel macchiato.
As a barista AT Starbucks, I think it’s really weird that Ariana Grande is the ambassador for the new drink. You literally cannot make it vegan, the key ingredient in cloud powder is egg whites to make it more like meringue ???????
— Rayyy (@memerayo) March 6, 2019
IF I HAVE ONE MORE /VEGAN/ CUSTOMER COME TO STARBUCKS AND ASK FOR A CLOUD MACCHIATO MADE WITH SOY EXPECTING IT TO BE VEGAN IM GOING TO SCREAM
— ???????????????????????????? is happy! (@gaysvodka) March 7, 2019
Ariana says she's vegan herself. THAT'S the issue with her consuming and promoting a non-vegan drink. A LOT of people came to my store today thinking it was vegan.
— ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????? (@thalassophilous) March 6, 2019
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Grande hasn't commented about the drink since the controversy, though Teen Vogue mentions that during her promotion of the beverage, she's not actually seen consuming it. So, either she's not vegan anymore, no big deal there, or she's just letting this one go. If anything, there's plenty of material for another smash song in this whole ordeal.
