Starbucks Drink ID Codes

February 5, 2010 at 1:43 am 31 comments

By Chad Upton | Editor

If you’re a Starbucks customer, you’ve probably noticed the column of check boxes down the side of your cup. The boxes are labeled: Decaf, Shots, Syrup, Milk, Custom and Drink.

It’s pretty obvious these boxes are used to record your drink order. Sometimes I look at the writing in these boxes and try to match the secret codes with the options I requested. Most are pretty self explanatory, but some of the codes are not.

In fact, I didn’t even know what the entire “custom” box was for.

 

Today I found out. You see, I got a special delivery today. It started last week during my regular search for secrets, I had an idea. I wanted to know how easily I could get a Starbucks employee training manual. About ten minutes later I had purchased one from the used book section of Amazon. There was only one copy available.

I got it, and I’m going to share its secrets with you.

Just from flipping through it today, I think I could do a whole year worth of secrets from this book alone. For now, I’m just going to break down what all the drink id codes mean. Even if you don’t care what the codes mean, you’ll probably discover some options you didn’t know you had.

Decaf Box
Code Meaning
X Decaf
1/2 Half Decaf

If it’s empty, then your drink is probably caffeinated (unless it’s naturally decaffeinated like some of the Tea options).

Shots Box
Code Meaning
1 1 Shot
2 2 Shots
etc… etc…

A Starbucks grande coffee has 330mg of caffeine. If you want to spike it, each additional shot of espresso adds 75mg of caffeine. Yes, espresso has less caffeine than coffee beans.

Syrup Box
Code Meaning
A Almond
C Caramel Syrup
CH Chai
CL Classic Syrup
CN Cinnamon
H Hazelnut
I Irish Cream
MO Mocha Syrup
P Peppermint
R Raspberry
SFH Sugar Free Hazelnut
SFV Sugar Free Vanilla
V Vanilla
VA Valencia
WM White Chocolate Mocha Syrup

If it’s empty then you don’t get any shots (or you get the default shot for you drink).

Milk Box
Code Meaning
B Breve (half-and-half)
E Eggnog (seasonal)
% 50% whole, 50% non-fat
N Nonfat
S Soy
O Organic Milk

If it’s empty, you get 2% milk. The only exception is a Frappucino, in which case you get whole milk by default.

Custom Box
Code Meaning
CHIP Add chips
CR Caramel Sauce
D Dry
F Foamy
H Hot
HANDOFF Deliver to customer’s table
K Kid’s Beverage (tiny size, cooler temperature)
LT Light (used before another code)
NW No Water
SL Sweet’n Low
SP Splenda
STRAB Strawberry Fruit Sauce
SR Sugar in the raw
VBEAN Vanilla Bean Powder
W Wet
WC Whipped Cream
X Extra
= Equal
/ Placed over a code to indicate deletion

Empty box means no custom selection.

Drink Box – Hot and Cold Beverages
Code Meaning
A Caffe Americano
AL Cafe au Lait
BC Brewed Coffee
C Cappuccino
CAC Caramel Apple Cider
CH Tazo Chai Tea Latte
CM Caramel Macchiato
E Espresso
ECP Espresso Con Panna
EGTL Earl Grey Tea Latte (aka “London Fog”)
EM Espresso Macchiato
HC Hot Chocolate
L Caffe Latte
LM Latte Macchiato
M Caffe Mocha
MIS Caffe Misto
MV Mocha Valencia
PSL Pumpkin Spice Latte
SCID Steamed Cider
SCR Syrup Creme
SM Steamed Milk
T Tazo Tea
VCR Vanilla Cream
WHC White Hot Chocolate
WM White Chocolate Mocha
CHA Chantico

If this is empty then they probably didn’t bother filling out any of the boxes.

Drink Box – Blended Beverages
Code Meaning
CF Coffee
CVF Caffe Vanilla
CRF Caramel
E Espresso
JCF Java Chip
MF Mocha
PSFBB Pumpkin Spice Frappucino
WMF White Chocolate Mocha
CHCF Tazo Chai Creme
DCCF Double Chocolate Chip
STCF Strawberries & Creme
SF Syrup Creme
VBF Vanilla Bean

If this is empty then they probably didn’t bother filling out any of the boxes.

Drink Box – Iced Shaken Beverages
Code Meaning
IC Iced Coffee
BT/PT Iced Black Tea / Iced Passion Tea
BTL Iced Black Tea Lemonade
PTL Iced Passion Tea Lemonade

If this is empty then they probably didn’t bother filling out any of the boxes.

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.

Thanks to all the commenters for updates and additions.

Broken Secrets
Subscribe on: Facebook | Twitter | Kindle

Source: Starbucks Employee Training Manual

Entry filed under: Demystified, Food and Drink. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Sarcastic Secret: The Left Lane is for Passing Shop at Off-Peak Hours for Time Savings

31 Comments Add your own

  • 1. Fezz  |  February 5, 2010 at 6:16 am

    Err,
    Pumpkin Spice Lattes – PSL
    Pumpkin Spice Frap – ???

    =]
    I enjoy the website

    Reply
    • 2. sycamoregrad  |  June 16, 2010 at 6:15 am

      Pumpkin Spice Creme frappucino would be pscf. PSFBB would be pumpkin spice frappucino blended beverage.

      Reply
  • 3. Jessica  |  February 5, 2010 at 11:38 am

    NW = no water (in the chai lattes, they add water…if you want it to taste stronger, ask for no water)

    Reply
  • 4. Gillian  |  February 5, 2010 at 4:34 pm

    I think Starbuck’s uses 2% milk by default now

    Reply
  • 5. Alistair  |  April 12, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    Mostly right but what you have as “Shots Box” will be the number of espresso shots and the Syrup Box will contain codes as you have identified. The new Frapaccino recipes will mean more use of the boxes for the vatious (unlimited) combinations

    Reply
  • 6. Maya  |  April 19, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    Custom box: “Wet”… Huh??
    Could someone please enlighten me as to what this means? I’m intrigued…

    Reply
    • 7. Chad Upton  |  April 20, 2010 at 6:25 am

      Maya, “wet” means there is less foam and more beverage. There are other Starbucks secrets at the following link, including the meaning of Venti…
      http://brokensecrets.com/2010/01/27/how-to-order-at-starbucks/

      Reply
  • 8. Maya  |  April 20, 2010 at 12:18 am

    Nevermind… I got it now :D

    Reply
  • 9. Kya  |  April 29, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    Aww, they have no code for extra ice or extra thick, which is how I always get my fraps =P Gonna have to see what they write on those in the future!

    Reply
  • 10. Starbucks Worker  |  June 22, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    i work at starbucks and you have just a couple things wrong on your list….
    the first is the shots box just gets numbers (1,2,3, etc.) and they are added on shots if you order more.
    the second is what you do have listed under shots is actually the syrups and should go in the syrup box.
    and last for milk the default for hot and cold beverages is 2%, but for frappucinos is whole milk.

    otherwise great job, this is really helpful!

    Reply
  • 11. Starbucks Worker  |  June 22, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    i work at starbucks and you have just a couple things wrong on your list….the first is the shots box just gets numbers (1,2,3, etc.) and they are added on shots if you order more. the second is what you do have listed under shots is actually the syrups and should go in the syrup box. and last for milk the default for hot and cold beverages is 2%, but for frappucinos is whole milk.
    otherwise great job, this is really helpful!

    Reply
  • 12. Meghan  |  July 12, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    Actually, if milk is blank you get 2% milk by default, not whole milk. UNLESS its a frappucino, in which case its whole milk.

    Reply
  • 13. Starbucks n00b  |  August 12, 2010 at 9:19 am

    Just for the record, there is a code for extra ice. Frankly, there’s a code for pretty much anything additionally asked for.

    I believe the code is as simple as XICE or XI. I could be wrong though; I’ve only been working for about 3 days now haha.

    Reply
  • 14. another starbucks worker  |  September 14, 2010 at 3:36 am

    i found this searching for what the code is across stores as Double Blended? At one starbucks we wrote XX for double blend, another was just 2 blend

    Reply
  • 15. SBUX Employee  |  October 4, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    @another Starbucks Worker…. At my store we use 2xBL in the custom box.

    Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino=PSF
    Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino-PSCF

    For no water in Arizona, we use H20 with a slash through it.

    @Kya… For extra ice we add XICE in the custom box.

    Little known tibit.. Most Starbucks stores are different. It honestly changes from city to city with different practices, cup markings, and atmospheres. :)
    Good Job with most of the secrets though!

    Reply
  • 16. Katelyn  |  December 5, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    What does it mean if it says “room” on the side of a cup that is an iced coffee?

    Reply
    • 17. Barista  |  February 21, 2011 at 9:34 pm

      means room for creme and sugar

      Reply
  • 18. Another Starbucks Employee  |  December 18, 2010 at 11:18 am

    Actually, you’re kind of wrong about the espresso having more caffeine. There’s 16oz of coffee in a grande cup and an espresso shot is 1oz. By volume, the espresso has about 54mg more of caffeine. :)

    @Katelyn Some people like room left in their iced coffee so they can add their own half-and-half.

    Reply
    • 19. Chad Upton  |  January 18, 2011 at 1:08 am

      You’re right that espresso has more caffeine by volume. But, I was comparing by serving because I don’t think many people order more than 2 or 3 ounces of espresso.

      Reply
  • 20. Starbucks Worker  |  January 18, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    Syrup come in pumps not shots. We use Cinnamon Dolce instead of cinnamon and that is CD. We also have Sugar free Cinnamon Dolce and Sugar Free Caramel. (SFCD and SFC). Double blended at my store was DB. Also, extra ice is XICE. Pumpkin Spice Frappucino is PSF. No water is H20 with a line through it. Alot of those syrups have been discontinued. % is 2 percent milk not half whole and half nonfat. I’m guessing you have a really old book.

    Reply
  • 21. SBux Intl.  |  August 7, 2011 at 7:23 am

    The codes does seem to differ a little because here in the Bahamas our Cream based drinks are CRM in the drink box. Example a Vanilla Cream Frappuccino would be V in the syrup box and CRM in the drink box.

    Reply
  • 22. SBux Intl.  |  August 7, 2011 at 7:29 am

    Oh I forgot to use the Streawberries & Cream as my example as I noticed you used STB or something like that to mark the drink when here we use SB in the syrup box and CRM in the drink box. I guess starbucks language while being basically the same, there are some accents and slangs etc based on location. lolol

    Reply
  • 23. JP  |  August 16, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    “A Starbucks grande coffee has 330mg of caffeine. If you want to spike it, each additional shot of espresso adds 75mg of caffeine. Yes, espresso has less caffeine than coffee beans.”
    NOT the truth…. a Grande cup has 16oz of brewed coffee and 330mg of caffeine, while a shot of espresso has 1oz and 75mg of caffeine. Therefore a grande cup of espresso would have 450mg of caffeine which is considerably more.
    By the way,
    - Espresso can be just a name of the blend and roast, it is a coffee bean and could be brewed in many different ways.
    - Espresso is also the name of the brew process. So, you can virtually use any type of coffee beans to pull a shot of espresso.

    Reply
  • 24. Jack  |  September 25, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    In drinks BTL = Black Tea Lemonade

    Reply
  • 25. Nick  |  October 6, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    Im an employee at starbucks and the codes vary form store to store and staff make their own codes up between eachother

    Reply
  • 26. Rylan  |  November 17, 2011 at 12:26 am

    PSL = Pumpkin Spice Latte
    PSF = Pumkin Spice Frappuccino
    PSCF = Pumkin Spice Créme Frappuccino
    PSFL = Pumkin Spice Frappuccino Lite

    CBL = Caramel Brulé Latte
    CBF = Caramel Brulé Frappuccino
    CBCF = Caramel Brulé Créme Frappuccino
    CBFL = Caramel Brulé Frappuccino Lite

    GL = Gingerbread Latte
    GF = Gingerbread Frappuccino
    GCF = Gingerbread Créme Frappuccino
    GFL = Gingerbread Frappuccino Lite

    PM = Peppermint Mocha
    PMF = Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino
    PMCF = Peppermint Mocha Créme Frappuccino
    PMFL = Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino Lite

    SKM = Skinny Mocha
    SKPM = Skinny Peppermint Mocha
    (skinny means the drink is prepared with nonfat milk, no whipped topping, and is also sugar free)

    PWM = Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
    PWMF = Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino
    PWMCF = Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha Créme Frappuccino
    PWMFL = Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino Lite

    EL = Eggnog Latte
    EF = Eggnog Frappuccino
    ECF = Eggnog Créme Frappuccino
    EFL = Eggnog Frappuccino Lite

    CHEG = Chai Eggnog Tea Latte ( My Personal Favourite <3 )

    Hope this helps :P

    Reply
  • 27. estee  |  November 18, 2011 at 11:12 pm

    i just started working at Barnes & Noble in the cafe, we sell starbucks drinks. it’s totally kicking my ass, and i can’t remember or catch on to any of the codes and what drinks get whipped cream. i’m stressing over it. someone help me

    Reply
    • 28. chrisalexr  |  December 21, 2011 at 5:27 am

      lol estee by now you’ve probably caught on. I’ve been working at a Starbucks in an Albertsons for many months now and at first it was hard remembering the drinks. Basically for most hot drinks (excluding Cafe Americanos) the number or expresso shots stay the same. A tall gets one shot and grande and venti recieve two shots. It’s the same for iced lates, except the venti gets three shots of expresso. Now for syrup (moca, vanilla, carmel, etc.) tall gets 3 pumps, grande 4, venti 6. Fraps are totally different…for the coffee roast, a tall gets 2 pumps, grande 3, and venti 4. Then tall gets 2 pumps of syrup and 2 pumps of base. if cream based, then skip the coffee roast.

      Reply
      • 29. chrisalexr  |  December 21, 2011 at 5:28 am

        ooops sorry, my mistake. venti hot drink gets 5 pumps of syrup not 6

  • 30. chris  |  December 26, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    Lol that book is soooo outdated. We don’t have half those drinks or ingredients anymore

    Reply
  • 31. eanowakattack  |  January 4, 2012 at 1:28 am

    I agree the book you have is out dated. At my store we used a lot of our own codes or varying codes. no foam could be “-F” or and F crossed out, or “- foam”, “no foam” or ‘foam’ crossed out. It just depends.
    Ask your Barista, they’ll tell you what the codes are.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s

Trackback this post  |  Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed


Follow Broken Secrets

Secret Stats

  • 1,583,694 visitors

Recent Secrets

Secret Categories

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 440 other followers

Read Secrets on Your Kindle

Contact Info


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 440 other followers