Blue Bottle Reverts to Cow's Milk as Default Over Oat Milk
Coffee chain Blue Bottle Coffee is switching its app default back to cow's milk after previously making oat milk the standard to reduce emissions. The change is attributed to evolving customer preferences.
Blue Bottle Coffee, a popular coffee chain, has reverted its app's default milk option from oat milk back to whole milk. The company previously designated oat milk as the default nationwide in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint.
The company announced the change, stating that baristas in its cafes will now ask customers directly about their milk preference. "Hospitality, for us, starts with understanding what each guest wants. Guest preferences have evolved since we first introduced oat milk as our default, and today we see strong demand for both dairy and plant-based options," Blue Bottle said in a statement. "Asking — rather than assuming — helps us get your order right the first time and cuts down on unnecessary remakes."
Oat milk will remain available as an option at no additional charge. Blue Bottle initially made oat milk its default in select U.S. locations, including New York City and Washington D.C., before expanding the initiative across its national cafes. This move was part of a larger effort by the company to reduce its environmental impact and work towards becoming carbon neutral.
The company has not provided further details on how this shift back to whole milk as the default will affect its broader sustainability goals or its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2024.