Unless you’re a Starbucks regular, ordering from this coffee chain can be a bit, well, intimidating. It’s hard enough to remember all the details for your drink—and on top of that, there’s a right way to place your order. Whether you want a simple Pike Place coffee or a secret menu Frap with all the fixings, there’s an etiquette for how to order at Starbucks.
Here are things Starbucks baristas won’t tell you.
The Starbucks Drink Ordering Sequence
To make things easier for your barista, here’s the recommended sequence to follow while ordering your drink:
Temperature
First, specify whether you want your drink hot or iced. This determines what kind of cup your barista will grab to start the order.
Size
There’s a reason why Starbucks drink sizes aren’t simply small, medium and large. Don’t ask for a “small” or a “regular” here! You’ll want to use the Starbucks lingo:
- Short: 8 oz.
- Tall: 12 oz.
- Grande: 16 oz.
- Venti (Hot): 20 oz.
- Venti (Cold): 24 oz. (The extra room is to accommodate the ice.)
- Trenta: 31 oz.
Then, after size and temperature, follow with all the things that make your Starbucks order special:
Syrups
You can add a splash of sweetness to your drink. Tasty flavors include vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, chestnut praline and more. Just let the barista know how many pumps you’d like.
Milk
Right now, the milk options include nonfat, 1%, whole, half and half and heavy cream. You can also ask for nondairy options like almond milk, coconut milk and soy milk.
Customizations
This is where you can truly personalize your drink by adding or subtracting ingredients and making any special adjustments. For example, you can request light ice, caramel drizzle or extra foam. If you order a “skinny” drink, that means you’ll get nonfat milk, sugar-free syrups and no whipped cream. If you want to go that route, here are healthy Starbucks drinks that we recommend.
Type of drink
Specify the type of drink you want: latte, macchiato, mocha…whatever your heart desires.
Ready to Order?
Your order should sound something like, “iced grande skinny vanilla latte” or tall hot chocolate with soy milk and no whip.” You start with the size and temperature of your drink, and everything else follows.
If that all sounds good, then congratulations! You’re ready to learn how to order from the Starbucks secret menu.
Editor’s Tip: If you’re a Starbucks Rewards member, place your order on the Starbucks mobile app. You can pay ahead and pick it up at your cafe. This way, you can order a custom drink and you don’t have to worry about reciting it out loud.
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