‘Pokémon’ x Starbucks Japan Turn a Coffee Adventure Into a 41-Piece Merch Collection

A barista-created Pikachu Honey Cream Latte, topped with a nod to Pikachu’s red cheeks, joins the lineup.

Summary

Starbucks Japan's first Pokémon collaboration drink uses golden honey to stand in for Pikachu's yellow and a heart-shaped topping for its red cheeks

The recipe came from an internal barista competition that drew more than 700 Pokémon-themed entries from across the country

A 41-item merchandise range features original artwork of baristas and Pokémon bonding over coffee

Pokémon and Starbucks Japan have launched their collaboration with the Pikachu Honey Cream Latte, an iced espresso drink built around Pokémon’s best-known character. The drink leads a wider release that includes 41 pieces of merchandise featuring original artwork, along with Starbucks Card and eGift designs.

The latte gets its Pikachu look from its ingredients. Honey gives the drink a golden color that stands in for Pikachu’s yellow, while honey and caramel add sweetness that balances the espresso. A layer of honey-flavored whipped cream goes on top, finished with a heart-shaped topping that represents Pikachu’s red cheeks. The drink is served iced in Tall size only, and Starbucks designed it to appeal to customers who don’t usually drink coffee.

The recipe came from inside Starbucks. For the collaboration, Starbucks Japan held the Pokémon + Starbucks Barista Battle, which invited baristas nationwide to submit Pokémon-themed drink ideas. More than 700 recipes were entered, six finalists created their drinks, and the winning recipe came from Junko Nitta of the Koriyama Asaka store. Her recipe is now on the menu at Starbucks stores across Japan.

Each latte comes with one collaboration sticker featuring the same original artwork used on the merchandise. That artwork, by illustrator Hikaru Ichijo, covers all 41 merchandise items. The series includes 12 illustrations showing Pokémon and baristas building friendships over coffee and new communities forming around it. Ichijo left the human figures faceless on purpose, so anyone can picture themselves in the scenes. The art is paired with eight short written stories. They follow a coffee-driven adventure from a first cup through the search for ingredients and the craft of brewing, ending on the idea that the journey keeps going.

The Pikachu Honey Cream Latte is available from September 30 through October 8 at Starbucks stores across Japan, excluding select locations. The 41-piece merchandise range launches the same day.