Starbucks puts ice cream on menu

SEATTLE - Starbucks, having seen the success of ice cream menu offerings at its high-end Seattle Roastery store, will start serving ice cream at more than 100 store locations.

Set to debut Wednesday, the Roastery Affogato menu - based on the Italian espresso-poured-over-ice cream dessert and tested first at the Seattle Roastery - was to begin rolling out in Starbucks stores that include Reserve bars.

Reserve bars use Starbucks' high-end, small-lot Reserve coffee beans. There are 18 stores with Reserve bars nationwide, including in Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago.

Also starting Wednesday, an 'inspired by the Roastery” affogato - a coffee-based dessert - menu will launch at 100 traditional Starbucks stores.

Because those traditional stores don't use Starbucks's premium Reserve coffee beans, the ice cream desserts there will incorporate its regular Espresso Roast and Narino 70 cold brew.

The affogato menu launched at the Seattle Roastery in June last year and has been among the top five best-sellers there since, according to a company spokesperson.