In an official statement made on April 12, 2025, Starbucks revealed its decision to discontinue the highly popular Double Chocolate Brownie. This beloved treat will no longer be available at Starbucks locations across the United States starting in May.
This move aligns with the coffee giant’s broader initiative to streamline its menu by 30% by the end of this year, as outlined by TODAY. The aim is to enhance operational efficiency and boost revenue in light of recent financial challenges.
As part of this ongoing menu reduction, several items—ranging from well-loved favorites to less recognized offerings—are being phased out.
Why is the Double Chocolate Brownie Leaving the Menu?
A Reddit user first shared the news on March 31, 2025, about the impending removal of the brownie from the menu. Following this, a Starbucks representative confirmed to All Recipes:
“In May, the Double Chocolate Brownie will be removed from the Starbucks menu in the U.S. Our baristas will be happy to recommend an alternative to customers, such as the Chocolate Cake Pop or Chocolate Chip Cookie.”
The representative further elaborated on the strategy behind the decision:
“Removing a selection of less popular items allows us to focus on premium beverages and food that resonate with customer trends and preferences.”
The Double Chocolate Brownie currently boasts semisweet chocolate chunks and holds a nutritional profile of 480 calories, 37g sugar, and 28g fat, making it a noteworthy indulgence for customers.
Thirteen Drinks Discontinued Earlier This Year
Continuing its menu overhaul, Starbucks announced in February 2025 the discontinuation of 13 drinks in an effort to simplify its offerings. The company stated:
“Starting March 4, we will remove a selection of less popular beverages from our menu, including several Frappuccino® blended beverages, the Royal English Breakfast Latte, and the White Hot Chocolate. These items aren’t commonly purchased, can be complex to make, or are similar to other beverages available on our menu.”
The drinks set to be discontinued include:
- Starbucks’ Espresso
- Caffe Vanilla
- White Chocolate Mocha
- Java Chip
- Chai Creme
- Caramel Ribbon Crunch Creme
- Double Chocolate Chip Creme
- Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme
- White Chocolate Creme
In addition to coffee beverages, the following non-coffee drinks will also be removed:
- Royal English Breakfast Latte
- Iced Matcha Lemonade
- Starbucks White Hot Chocolate
The Almond Milk Flat White is among the removed items; however, customers still have the option to order a dairy-free Flat White using alternative milk options.
CEO’s Insight into the Menu Reduction
Brian Niccol took the reins as Starbucks’ CEO in September 2024 during a challenging time of declining sales and revenue for the company globally. To address these issues, he has initiated several strategies, including the significant menu reduction.
As reported by TODAY on January 30, 2025, Niccol discussed this initiative during the company’s first-quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings call:
“In the coming months, you’ll see us begin to optimize our menu offerings, resulting in roughly a 30% reduction in both beverages and food.”
He emphasized:
“It’s a little bit of everything. Really what we focused on is identifying items that are not, frankly, selling a lot every day.”
Amid these cuts, Starbucks has also made headlines with recent corporate layoffs to further enhance operational efficiency.