Review: Starbucks' New Pink Cannon Ball Drink Brings The Pool Party To Your Morning Commute

Well, folks, it's that time of year again — the trees are blooming, the bees are buzzing, the weather is warming, and spring seems to finally be arriving. In anticipation of the changing season, one major player in the food biz had to roll out a new product to celebrate. That player is, of course, Starbucks. The product? A lively Pink Cannon Ball Drink, a refreshing treat whose name alone promises to catapult consumers into spring. 

The drink is, quite literally, a mouthful. I mean that in every respect; it packs a punch of flavor and is a concoction with so many parts that I keep needing to reference the press release to remember what's in it. Starbucks' Coconutmilk melds with Mango Dragonfruit and Strawberry Açaí Refreshers in this cup before it's shaken with ice and topped with strawberry and dragonfruit bits for some extra pizzazz. Something with such obvious gusto couldn't possibly be boring, right? Indeed, this juicy beverage is nothing short of a flavor explosion ("Cannon Ball" was a particularly apt name!), and I think it'll give Starbucks fans something new to look forward to this spring season.

I've had the opportunity to review many Starbucks releases throughout my food writing career, and in my opinion, the company releases plenty of hits and an almost equal number of misses. I don't go easy on Starbucks — as a massive corporation with endless resources at its disposal, I expect new releases to be near-flawless. I was a bit disappointed with its Iced Dubai Chocolate drinks, but its 2025 protein drink releases impressed me. 

All of that is to say, my review of this drink could have gone either way — again, I tend not to cut Starbucks much slack, and I've tried enough of its recent releases to know what the company is capable of. So, when considering my opinion of the Pink Cannon Ball Drink, I first and foremost considered what I know the company to be capable of. Second, I was looking for a drink that exuded spring. I wanted something to wake up my senses, to evoke the new life that the season embodies. And, by and large, this drink delivered. 

A tall Pink Cannon Ball Drink cost me $5.25 at my Starbucks in Portland, Oregon. Pricing likely varies depending on location. Now, I do think that's a bit steep for what I got, which is my biggest complaint about this new menu item; it's also the factor most likely to dissuade me from getting it again. But it wasn't my primary consideration when judging the drink.

As far as its availability, it sounds like the drink is currently intended to just be a spring menu item. However, that could very well change. After all, its parent drink, the Cannon Ball Drink, is, at the time of writing, still on the menu after what was supposed to be a limited run. If this gets just as good a reception as its predecessor, who knows? We may see it stick around for the long run.

If you are a fan of Starbucks' Refreshers, I can't imagine why you wouldn't like the Pink Cannon Ball Drink. I haven't had every Starbucks Refresher, but I have had a few, and this drink amps the flavor profile up to 10. It's a multidimensional sipper that delivers on all its promised tasting notes. I got mango, dragonfruit, and strawberry in equal measures, which was pretty impressive. The drink was juicy and tangy — a welcome wake-up call to the senses. 

Now, I still wouldn't call this drink perfect. The coconutmilk flavor was very slight, and I couldn't pick it out. I also didn't find the drink as "creamy" as advertised. It was pretty thin, and I think more coconutmilk could have amped up the creaminess of the drink. However, I don't think the lack of it detracted from the drink too much. I also don't think the strawberry and dragonfruit bits on top were necessary. They looked a little clumsy and didn't add anything to the overall experience. I would either add plenty more or nix them from the drink entirely. 

Again, if you like Starbucks Refreshers, go ahead and give this one a try. Or, if you're a general fan of fruity drinks, I'd assume you'd like this one. I do think it's a little expensive, but hey, opinions on pricing can be very subjective — perhaps you'd disagree. 

If you're after a bright, juicy drink to launch you into the upcoming season, you won't go wrong with this one. If you don't like dragonfruit, though, you may not want to try it. I did get a lot of dragonfruit in this drink, and while I love the flavor, it might be off-putting to those who aren't after a tangy profile. The Pink Cannon Ball Drink probably also isn't for the consumer looking for something overly sweet. I loved the tempered profile of this drink and didn't find it too saccharine at all.