About Green Mermaid Review
Independent news, first looks and honest reviews for people who care what’s in their cup.
Green Mermaid Review is an independent news and review site covering the world’s biggest coffee chain. We report on new drinks and seasonal launches, menu changes and discontinued favorites, store openings and closures, rewards and app changes, and the cups and merch that sell out in an afternoon.
We are not affiliated with Starbucks. Nobody at the company sees our stories before they run, and we don’t take payment from the brands we cover. That independence is the whole point: when a new drink is great we’ll say so, and when it isn’t, we’ll say that too.
What we cover
- News: company announcements, leadership and earnings, baristas and partners, and international headlines, explained for customers.
- New Drinks: first looks and release dates for seasonal launches, limited-time drinks and returning favorites.
- Menu: what’s new, what’s leaving, food and bakery updates and price changes.
- Reviews: hands-on reviews of drinks and food, rated on our five-point scale.
- Stores: openings, closures, remodels and Reserve locations.
- Rewards & Deals: Stars, tiers, app changes and the promotions worth your time.
- Merch: cups, tumblers, holiday collections and collaborations.
- Guides: secret menu recipes, caffeine and nutrition facts, and practical how-tos.
Original photos, real receipts
Most of the images on Green Mermaid Review are original photographs taken by our team in stores, not press images or AI renderings. When we review a drink, we buy it ourselves, at a regular store, at the regular price, and we tell you what we paid. You can read more about that in How We Review.
Who we are
Green Mermaid Review was founded in 2026 by Thomas Smith, a Bay Area journalist, editor and news photographer who also serves as Editor in Chief of the Bay Area Telegraph. Stories are published under individual bylines or under the Green Mermaid Review Editorial Team byline, which is used for collaborative reporting and quick-turn news. Meet everyone on our team page.
Our standards
We follow a published set of editorial standards, correct our mistakes openly under our corrections policy, and clearly label anything that is rumored or unconfirmed. Green Mermaid Review is published by TS Tech Solutions LLC in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Get in touch
Spotted a new drink, a store closing or a menu board change? We want to hear about it. Send us a tip.