13 Mistakes You're Making When Ordering Your Coffee At Starbucks
If you've ever experimented with the Starbucks secret menu—or just tried to customize your own drink—and wound up cringing in horror, you're not alone. Here's how to never have a subpar brew again, because you deserve the best morning bev possible.
1. You added syrup *and* sweetener.
Ordering an iced coffee with a couple pumps of mocha—and a decent glug of milk—is a cheaper way to get the flavor of a mocha latte without the higher cost, but beware: If the barista asks whether you want it sweetened, decline, decline, decline. Otherwise, you'll end up with a syrupy drink that's closer to chugging fudge sauce. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
The same goes for any flavor syrup—if you take a sip and it's too bitter for your liking, you can always ask the barista to add a pump of sweetener later.
2. You're adding too much cream.
We get it, you got mesmerized by how half-and-half swirls into your iced coffee. It's basically your moment of zen, but as you pour in creamer, it's easy to go overboard and wind up with coffee that's somewhere between beige and eggshell. And tastes like milky disappointment laced with the bitter taste of wasted money.
If you ever feel insecure about how much milk to add, you could always try the Calvin Klein approach: He matched his ideal coffee to a Pantone color swatch, then kept it in his kitchen so his chef could get it to the right consistency every time, according to the New York Times. Don't be surprised if your friends give you a hard time for that level of precision, though.
3. You went into syrup overload.
Starbucks typically puts three pumps of syrup in a tall latte, four in a grande, and five in a venti (six if it's an iced venti, because the drink is four ounces larger). It's a good rule of thumb to use if you're going rogue and making your own order so you don't overdo it.
4. You didn't go up a cup size when you ordered iced coffee.
It's a pro move: Ask for a tall in a grande cup or a grande in a venti. If you're in a car, the extra room will save you from a potential speed-bump spill—or you can use it for a little extra ice or milk. Often, it results in more coffee for you to savor, and the more the merrier.
5. You don't use the app—or a rewards card—when buying food and drinks.
You get a free drink or food item on your birthday and another freebie every time you buy 12 items. And you can order anything off the menu—even the venti caramel macchiato with an extra shot of espresso you only buy when you're feeling splurge-y (or you need enough energy to deadlift a SmartCar).
6. You order a regular white mocha Frappuccino in the smallest size available—whether that's mini or tall—but the sweetness is still too much for you to finish.
You can order any drink "half sweet," so the flavor isn't as intense.
7. You didn't specify unsweetened iced tea.
By default, the iced tea comes sweetened unless you say otherwise, baristas said. So, if you want something with tea but no extra sugar, be sure to say that explicitly.
8. You ask for a "hot Frappuccino" in the winter.
Nope, it's not a thing, though baristas said it's a common misconception they have to clear up—over and over again—every December through February. Try a hot Chai tea, caramel macchiato or mocha latte instead (or just plain hot chocolate.)
9. You make your order unnecessarily complicated.
Baristas typically grab the type of cup (hot or iced) in the size you want—tall, grande, venti and sometimes trenta—then mark the boxes on the side of the cup from top to bottom. To minimize errors when taking your order, it's easiest if you order like this:
Hot or iced
Size
Decaf
Number of shots (if any extra)
Number of pumps of syrup (if you're that specific)
Type of milk
Any extras (mo' whip, mo' deliciousness)
Drink type (latte, Frappuccino, etc.)
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