Starbucks is now serving 'spiked' coffee in Japan

Those who tend to get confused about what type of evening drink to get – coffee or wine – do not need to choose anymore: Starbucks is now offering those two favourite beverages in one.

The coffee chain giant’s branches in Japan have started serving the world’s first “wine fraggino,” or a Frappuccino laced with wine. The company has introduced this innovative blended coffee to coincide with the launch of Japan’s first stand-alone Starbucks Evening store, according to Grub Street. Starbucks Evening store is a café designed to include alcohol, cheese plates and tapas-style foods in its standard menu.

Wine fraggino, according to Grub Street, is a normal frap mixed with Hokkaido blueberry wine and ice. It comes with ¥900 price tag (AUD10.50).

The Starbucks Evenings concept started in mid-2015 in the US, when the company began offering a selection of wine and craft beer alongside their signature coffee and tea beverages. Their menu also features various savory small plates, such as creamy Truffle Mac & Cheese or flatbread.

The company’s decision to venture to offer more than just coffee and tea came from their customers’ preference. “We learned resoundingly that our customers want to come to Starbucks and have a glass of wine or a craft beer,” said Rachel Antalek, vice president of concept innovations and Starbucks sommelier, according to USA Today. “There aren’t that many places to go in the evening where you can go very relaxed, very casual. It’s not loud. You can actually have a small group and hear yourself talk,” she added.

It was in 2010 when Starbucks first announced that it would experiment with wine, craft beer and small plates at a few stores. This is in line with the company’s bid to drive more people to its stores after 4 p.m., when traffic is considerably slow. Among the coffee chains’ branches which first tested the Starbucks Evenings concept included Washington, Oregon, Los Angeles, Chicago, Florida and Atlanta.