This is the Starbucks Honey Ruby Grapefruit Cold Brew. The beverage was an opaque brown-black colour with an icy blend of cold brew and honey ruby grapefruit sauce, topped with more honey ruby grapefruit sauce.
Consumed chilled, the cold brew base was smooth with the grapefruit coming through with bright citrus notes that recalled the juice of the fruit. The natural acidity and bitterness of the coffee were well complemented by similar qualities in the grapefruit, with the bitterness particularly well restrained by the sweetness in the honey. The addition of the citrus left a refreshing finish ahead of a clean aftertaste, while flecks of hind in the honey also added hints of texture. Overall, this Starbucks version was very similar to the Citron Noir from Circa Espresso but had a more syrupy mouthfeel as it used grapefruit honey rather than unsweetened grapefruit soda. It was enjoyable, but not something to repurchase regularly.
This Honey Ruby Grapefruit Cold Brew was purchased from Starbucks in Sydney, Australia in January 2023.