Starbucks Aerocano Review 2026: What Is It & Is It Worth Trying?
Curious about the new Starbucks Aerocano? We explain what it is, how it compares to an Americano, latte and shaken espresso, plus how to make one at home.
Starbucks has a new way to order your iced espresso, and if you’re wondering why everyone is suddenly talking about an Aerocano, you’re not alone.
The Starbucks Aerocano is an iced espresso drink made with Blonde Espresso and ice, but there’s a twist: Starbucks air-whips the espresso to create a light, velvety texture and that dramatic cascading effect you see in the cup. Starbucks describes it as a modern take on the Iced Americano.
And unlike a latte or shaken espresso, the Aerocano keeps things incredibly simple: espresso + ice + aeration.
So…what does it actually taste like? And is it worth ordering?
That’s what we’re getting into.
What Is a Starbucks Aerocano?
The Aerocano is an iced espresso drink made with Starbucks Blonde Espresso and ice.
What makes it different is the preparation. Starbucks air-whips the espresso, creating a light layer of foam and the distinctive cascading appearance as the drink settles over the ice.
It’s essentially Starbucks taking the familiar idea of an Iced Americano and changing the texture and presentation.
What is actually in an Aerocano?
The standard Starbucks Aerocano contains:
- Blonde Espresso
- Ice
That’s it.
There is no milk and no syrup in the standard version. Starbucks’ current nutrition listing shows a grande at 15 calories and 0g sugar.
That makes this a very different experience from the sweeter, milkier Starbucks drinks you may be used to.
Is the Starbucks Aerocano Iced?
Yes! This is an iced espresso drink and is served over ice. Starbucks describes it specifically as a modern take on the Iced Americano.
What Is an Americano?
An Americano is espresso combined with water. For an Iced Americano, espresso is combined with cold water and served over ice. Starbucks describes its Iced Caffè Americano as espresso, water and ice.
Aerocano vs. Iced Americano
| Aerocano | Iced Americano | |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Blonde Espresso | Espresso |
| Water | No added water | Yes |
| Ice | Yes | Yes |
| Milk | No | No |
| Standard syrup | No | No |
| Texture | Air-whipped, velvety | Light and refreshing |
| Foam | Light foam/cascade | Small crema layer |
| Flavor | Espresso-forward | Espresso-forward |
The simplest way to think about it:
An Iced Americano changes the espresso with water. An Aerocano changes the espresso’s texture through aeration.
Aerocano vs. Latte
This comparison will be useful because people who don’t know coffee terminology often confuse these drinks.
An iced latte combines espresso with milk and ice. Starbucks’ current Iced Caffè Latte uses espresso, 2% milk and ice.
| Aerocano | Iced Latte | |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Yes | Yes |
| Milk | No | Yes |
| Ice | Yes | Yes |
| Sweetness | None by default | None by default, but milk adds sweetness |
| Coffee flavor | More prominent | Softer |
| Texture | Light/airy | Creamy/milky |
If you like:
☕ Strong coffee flavor → Aerocano
🥛 Creamy coffee → Iced latte
Aerocano vs. Iced Shaken Espresso
A Starbucks Iced Shaken Espresso is shaken with ice and includes milk and classic syrup in its standard recipe. Starbucks currently lists the grande version with three espresso shots, 2% milk and classic syrup.
| Aerocano | Iced Shaken Espresso | |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Yes | Yes |
| Ice | Yes | Yes |
| Milk | No | Yes |
| Sweetener | No | Yes |
| Preparation | Air-whipped | Shaken |
| Coffee-forward | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Sweet/creamy | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Not sure what a shaken espresso actually is? Read our guide to What Is a Shaken Espresso?
Can You Get a Flavored Aerocano?
Yes.
Starbucks currently offers a Caramel Aerocano, which adds caramel syrup to the drink while keeping the air-whipped preparation and serving it over ice.
The standard Aerocano is not sweetened, while the Caramel Aerocano adds sweetness.
Have you tried any other flavor aerocano? Let us know in the comments!
How Many Calories Are in a Starbucks Aerocano?
The current Starbucks nutrition listing shows a Grande Aerocano at 15 calories, 0g sugar and approximately 225 mg caffeine.
**The Caramel Aerocano will have different nutrition information because the caramel syrup adds calories and sugar.
How to Make an Aerocano-Inspired Coffee at Home
Can you make an aerocano at home? Yes, however it’s not an exact Starbucks copycat.
Starbucks says its baristas use a specific steaming/aeration process to create the foam thickness and cascading effect consistently.
Easy Aerocano-Inspired Coffee
You’ll need:
- 2 shots espresso or strong espresso-style coffee
- Ice
- Optional: caramel or vanilla syrup
- Milk frother/aerator with a suitable setting, if you have one
How to make it:
- Brew your espresso.
- Add your desired syrup while the espresso is still warm, if using.
- Use a milk frother/aerator to incorporate air into the espresso briefly.
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Pour the aerated espresso over the ice.
- Watch for that foamy/cascading effect.
- Taste and adjust with syrup if you want a sweeter drink.
No espresso machine?
You could give options:
- Nespresso
- Keurig espresso-style pods
- moka pot
- strong coffee concentrate
The texture won’t be exactly the same, but the goal is to recreate the espresso-forward, chilled, lightly aerated experience.
Is an Aerocano Just an Iced Americano?
Not quite. They’re similar because both are iced, espresso-forward drinks without milk in the standard recipe.
The big difference is how they’re prepared.
An Iced Americano combines espresso with water and ice. The Aerocano uses espresso and ice but introduces aeration to change the texture and create the characteristic foam/cascade.
So, Is the Starbucks Aerocano Worth Trying?
Is the Starbucks Aerocano Worth Trying?
Yes, we think the Starbucks Aerocano is worth trying — but which one you order depends on what kind of coffee you normally like.
If you’re already an Iced Americano fan, definitely give the original Aerocano a try. You’ll get that same espresso-forward, unsweetened coffee experience, but with a lighter, airier texture that makes it feel a little different from your usual order. If you’re not an Americano person but want to try the latest trending Starbucks drink, we’d go with the Caramel Aerocano instead. The added caramel gives it a little sweetness and makes it an easier introduction if you’re used to sweeter iced coffees. Either way, if you’re curious about the Aerocano hype, we’d say it’s worth ordering at least once — especially while it’s the new drink everyone is talking about.
Cheers and happy sipping! Let us know what you think!