Comments on: How to Order at Starbucks

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:17:14 +0000

Stores have a sticker printer for drinks that are to be made for drive-thru customers, so it’s not going to make a huge differnce, seeing as the sticker prints the label in a certain order, regardless of how it’s being entered at the register. But, generally, for the barista who has to hand mark your drink, you want to start with the size, then whether or not you want the drink you’re ordering to be iced (unless it’s a Frappuccino) [make sure to remember to say if you want it iced--it's less hassle at the end]; then you can either say all of your modifiers, i.e. nonfat, decaf, skinny, etc, or name your drink, i.e. Mocha, Vanilla Latte, followed by the modifiers.

Example: May I please have a Grande Nonfat, No Whip, Decaf Mocha with 2 pumps of Vanilla?

Example 2: May I please have a Grande Mocha with Nonfat milk, No Whip, and 2 pumps of Vanilla?

It really just depends on which way you prefer.

By: Joan Tay

Joan Tay — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:14:10 +0000

I’m still a little confused. Can anyone tell me the general form instead ? Like does size or temp. go first , or custom , milk choice /syrup. Have always wanted to ordered Starbucks but never dared to :( Oh and just out of curiosity , do you just say out your whole order at once like reading an essay lol.. Because I was wondering whether the barista would catch everything we say.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:06:59 +0000

Another tip for ordering: All Mochas, Hot Chocolates, Cinnamon Dolce Lattes, Frappuccinos (except for Coffee, Espresso, and Light version Frappuccinos), and Signature/ Seasonal drinks automatically come with Whipped Cream. If you don’t want this on the drink, make sure to tell the Barista at the register you don’t want it–even if you say non-fat milk, it’s normal for them to assume you still want the whipped cream (I always ask because I work in an area of Non-fat/ Sugar-free lovers, but not everyone asks). This makes it possible for less hassle and waste once you’re at the hand-off, and ultimately you get exactly what you wanted.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:37:39 +0000

Hot chocolate should always have one pump vanilla, just another tidbit. Try a “tuxedo” hot chocolate, it’s white and regular cochoclate, the best!!

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:10:24 +0000

Hi Jordan,
You can pretty much just leave out the word “dirty” when ordering. You can just ask for the iced chai with two shots of espresso, which is what a dirty chai is.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:59:17 +0000

I am trying to surprise my friend with a drink at work and I kind of know her order, but I don’t want to sound ridiculous when I go to Starbucks. Could someone help me word this?

She said she like a ‘dirty iced chai tea with two shots of espresso”

How would I say this so it isn’t wrong?

:) Thanks for the help

By: Anjya

Anjya — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:58:14 +0000

The only comment I would make is be careful when ordering at other chains, we don’t all speak Starbucks. For instance, at the three different coffee house chains I have worked at for the last 10 years, “skinny” only means skim milk. It has nothing to do with the syrup. The rule of thumb I tell my customers is to spell out your drink, especially if you go to different chains. This way no one gets confused.

By: LinziLoo

LinziLoo — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:12:00 +0000

The only drinks which come with “room” are brewed coffee and americanos, which have room to accommodate cream, sugar, etc. All hot drinks from Starbucks are supposed to be served with 1/4″ of room at the top to avoid spilling and scalding customers.

By: LinziLoo

LinziLoo — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:10:33 +0000

The only drinks that are able to be ordered “upside down” are machiattos (caramel or standard). Machiatto means “to mark the foam”, indicating that in these beverages the shots of espresso go in last, rather than first (which is standard in espresso based beverages). Ordering your drink upside down does not mean that it will be shaken, rather that the shots of espresso will go in the bottom of the cup (and perhaps stirred or swirled with the other ingredients of the beverage.)

By: LinziLoo

LinziLoo — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:08:06 +0000

Iced Venti cups are actually 26oz so that they can accommodate ice without the customer losing out on the actual beverage. Starbucks does not carry lemon, but does have Lemonade if you’d like that splashed in your drink instead.

By: Sourav Chakraborty

Sourav Chakraborty — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:01:44 +0000

Cool guide! Now I won’t be intimidated in a starbucks anymore!

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:04:53 +0000

Believe it or not, Starbucks does in fact have the word venti trademarked. This is why one runs across coffee shops that feature sizes such as tall, grande, and 20 oz, or the standard small, medium, and large. You will not see venti used in the States to describe any non-Starbucks beverage, and I agree that it’s a little crazy that they were able to trademark a size.

By: Cocktail Terminology « Broken Secrets

Cocktail Terminology « Broken Secrets — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:14:07 +0000

[...] a cocktail can be as confusing as ordering at starbucks. Here’s a quick guide to help you get it your [...]

By: Cup of Joe? « Who Gives a Blog?

Cup of Joe? « Who Gives a Blog? — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 01:50:51 +0000

[...] Broken Secrets 2. eHow 3. [...]

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 11:39:23 +0000

Read the article about an English professor’s titled “Cops Eject Starbucks Customer Who Wouldn’t Use Their Lingo”

http://gothamist.com/2010/08/16/cops_eject_starbucks_customer_who_w.php

Here is also a clip from the movie “Role Models” about how Starbucks lingo is “Stupid in three languages”

By: Keith "paper airplanes of fire"

Keith "paper airplanes of fire" — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 19:24:04 +0000

It is also good to tell the Barista “NO ROOM” That is the only way to actuall get them to fil the cup all ofthe way :) No joking.

By: Rex

Rex — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:15:36 +0000

The Venti black iced tea is actually 24 oz. according to their website. Also, The couple times I’ve ordered tea there, they didn’t have any lemon. I thought it odd that they would serve tea without fresh lemon.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:02:20 +0000

While in a Starbucks with a friend, she pointed out a trademark symbols next to Venti. I assumed this meant Starbucks was making stuff up, i.e. XL = venti. Now I know it means “twenty,” but why the trademark on the ordering board? Can one trademark usage? I’m in the UK now and I don’t think their boards have this.

It so doesn’t matter, but I love this blog for the answers and other questions it inspires.

By: shannon

shannon — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:47:53 +0000

If you order an iced drink “upside down” – the iced caramel machiatto for example – the barista will shake it for you so the drink and milk/cream are already mixed together (otherwise, the milk/cream are on top and you stir it yourself).

It seems to me that they should do this automatically anyway, but I guess not…

By: beckymo

beckymo — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:06:41 +0000

Hi, just discovered your site. Love it, subscribed, and became a Facebook fan. Re your Starbucks entries, I have another tip. The baristas state it in a specific order. I know they want hot or iced first, then size, then drink. I am not sure where you put the custom items in, but have found that if I order, all I have to do is listen to how they read it back to me to know how they want it. I live in the Seattle area, so have been a Starbucks fan for a long time. Now I am also a Broken Secrets fan! Thanks!

By: Starbucks Drink ID Codes « Broken Secrets

Starbucks Drink ID Codes « Broken Secrets — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:43:33 +0000

[...] If you have any to add, let me know. If you don’t know what some of these terms mean, then you should checkout my other entry, How to Order at Starbucks. [...]

By: zaradzki

zaradzki — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:49:19 +0000

Thanks a lot for clarifying what venti stands for I always wondered how they made up that word!

http://grabacupwithstan.com