Taco Bell Is Testing 7 New Drinks At Once

Before we let you know about an exciting fast food menu development at Taco Bell, a quick disclaimer: Yes, the new items sound delicious. No, they probably aren't available where you live. And yes, we're going to provide an enthusiastic rundown anyway.

Taco Bell is testing out two new frozen beverage products this week, Coffee Chillers and Churro Chillers, in seven different flavors for a limited time only. As the press release notes, it's the brand's "first-ever frozen coffee and shake innovations," and they'll be available exclusively at two locations in Southern California.

Now that we've broken your heart, are you ready to hear more?

Anyone curious about the new Taco Bell menu items at least has a few days to plan their trek to the testing sites, as they'll be available starting this Friday, December 15 while supplies last. Here's what's on offer in each new frozen beverage category, as explained in a Taco Bell press release:

• Coffee Chillers (16 oz.): Blended iced coffee in a cup lined with flavor syrup, topped with a layer of cold foam. Available in Mexican Chocolate, Caramel Churro, and Spiced Vanilla flavors. Cost will be $4.19 plus tax.
• Churro Chillers (16 oz.): Blended sweet shake in a cup lined with flavor syrup, topped with a layer of cold foam and churro crumbles. Available in Mexican Chocolate, Dulce de Leche Coffee, Wild Strawberry, and Sweet Vanilla flavors. Cost will be $4.19 plus tax.

Taco Bell confirmed to The Takeout that each Coffee Chiller contains approximately 75 to 80 milligrams of caffeine, which is roughly the same as a cup of coffee. Of the four Churro Chiller varieties, only one, the Dulce de Leche Coffee, contains caffeine, about 50 milligrams' worth.

Notably, the Sweet Vanilla Churro Chiller has a purple color, for no reason other than because Taco Bell likes to keep things good and weird.

The Coffee Chillers and Churro Chillers will each be tested at a single site in Southern California. Here's where you can find them this Friday, December 15 while supplies last:

• Coffee Chillers: 27770 Santa Margarita Pkwy, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
• Churro Chillers: 2222 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92606

Interestingly, Taco Bell also confirmed to The Takeout that these frozen treats are made to order using new in-store blenders. It's fun to think about what other experiments Taco Bell could get up to with that kind of equipment. 

Taco Bell, it should be said, already has coffee on the menu. It serves a perfectly serviceable hot or iced cup, as well as a sweetened Cinnabon Delights coffee (either hot or iced) for $0.50 extra. But as fans of the Starbucks Frappuccino understand, a frozen blended beverage is an entirely different experience, and that's what makes these new test items exciting.

We also know that Taco Bell has renewed its focus on breakfast in recent months. Late last year, CEO Mark King told investors that there was a "big opportunity" for the company to grow both the breakfast and lunch segments of the day. In October, three varieties of Toasted Breakfast Tacos hit the menu for a limited time (and they're still around as of this writing). Then in November, some Chicago locations were treated to a limited-time test of Breakfast Tots, featuring seasoned tater tots, scrambled eggs, your choice of sausage or bacon, a three-cheese blend, and creamy jalapeño sauce. The results were tasty and hearty, even if the item lacked the signature portability of other Taco Bell offerings.

In its announcement of the new Coffee Chillers and Churro Chillers, Taco Bell notes that "The affordable and convenient treats complement any cheesy, spicy, crunchy craving at Taco Bell." So it seems as though this newest menu experiment is really testing whether such an item can be a bridge between breakfast and all-day indulgence. Would you pair one of these with a Crunchwrap Supreme?