2018 brought us a whole host of delicious iced drinks, but what was the firm Frappucino favorite in our office?

There’s a saying in Japanese, onnagokoro to akinosora, which basically translates as “a woman’s desires change as fast as the autumn weather”. Starbucks, the global coffee enterprise, is especially popular with women in Japan: and nowhere are their fleeting fancies more indulged than by the cafe’s rotating menu of seasonal Frappucinos.

And what a year for Frappucinos 2018 was! Our reporter K. Masami is still an ardent disciple of Starbucks and she tried each tasty offering they served up last year. So here’s her ranking of the top five drinks that Starbucks served last year, while we wait for the first Frappes of 2019!

5. White Brew and Macadamia Frappucino (March)

One of 2018’s earlier items, we had our reporter Meg taste-test this deceptively snow-white drink, which stunned her with its rich, smooth coffee flavor. Masami was also shocked: who would think you could get all the deep, velvety tones of coffee in this light, frothy looking drink?

The secret is the “espresso milk” that forms the drink’s base. That little surprise you get from the dissonance of a “dark” flavor from a “light”, lower-caffeine liquid is just one of many ways Starbucks keeps surprising their customers, and keeps them coming back for more!

4. Goma Goma Goma Frappucino (December)

This drink sold at the end of 2018 and you may still be able to snap one up at your local store. From that triple-stacked title, you can expect a drink loaded to the cap with Japanese sesame goodness: and the Goma Goma Goma delivers on all fronts! With rich goma syrup, and a crushed sesame cookie topping in gold, white and black, even the drink’s appearance calls back classic Japanese aesthetics!

Masami also praised May’s Kaga Bo Hojicha Frappucino but preferred the “modern” sesame overall. She said the drink took an extra level in taste with the addition of an extra shot of espresso. Well worth a try if this budding classic comes back!

3. Peach Pink Fruits Frappucino (July)

This Frappucino tells you everything you need to know with one look and a glance at the title. Crammed with peach pulp, mixed peach and guava puree and bits of all listed fruits plus strawberry and grapefruit, this really is a party for pink fruit. Even the whipped cream is pink! Masami said that taking a sip from the cup made her want to yell “peachy!” at the top of her lungs. Thankfully, she didn’t.

Still, with all those sharp fruity flavors, it was a great drink to enjoy in the sweltering July heat!

2. Strawberry Very Much Frappucino (April)

Every year Starbucks debuts a new and delicious strawberry selection, and every year Masami happily drinks them up. However, she has to say that 2018’s Strawberry Very Much was particularly exciting. Foregoing milk for once, the drink is strawberry, strawberry, strawberry all the way down: strawberry sauce, strawberry syrup, and the strawberry whipped cream is dusted with strawberry powder.

Masami says the drink had a refreshing tartness and was a welcome change from the “dessert-like” standard Frappucino: let’s hope 2019 brings more easily drinkable options like this one!

So what is Masami’s number one pick for the entire year of 2018?

1. Espresso Affogato Frappucino (May)

Perhaps it’s unsurprising that Masami’s top pick from a coffee chain giant is a drink that best underscores…well, their coffee. With espresso extracted more slowly, using less water, it has a complex and deep taste when compared to other coffees. This drink is so good she laments that it isn’t part of their regular menu, though she conceded it might be a bit difficult to regularly prepare the special foamy cream they use in the Frappucino.

After pleading to the staff to bring back their creamy, curiously ice-creamless version of the Affogato, the staff told her you can make an approximation of their version like so:

“Ask for a Vanilla Creme Frappucino and substitute the regular milk for breve milk. Add a shot of espresso, and change the syrup to White Mocha. Top it with brown sugar, and the taste is pretty close.”

This means you might even be able to recreate the drink in your local, non-Japanese Starbucks; though out of kindness to the staff, wait until there isn’t a long line so you can talk them through the process properly.

So there it is! Our official list of the top five Frappuccinos from 2018. How did your personal faves stack up? Let us know which one was your top Starbucks beverage in the comments!

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