more on starbucks
tripp
::22 may 2007 :: 04:33pm
i went back to starbucks today for some more of my hard-hitting investigative journalism.
1. the menu has the heading 'espresso' and in italics underneath, it reads 'hot or iced'. caps are like 4th on the list, in the left column, surrounded by americano and latte. regardless of starbucks policy, i am not insane for trying to order a 'short iced cap' several months ago. (and yes, i know i used 'short' instead of 'extra small'. sucks to me for being a hypocrite.)
second, i tried to order an ice-blended mocha. and this created another stir. they kept insisting i wanted a frappuccino. i said 'but that's not the same drink, right? i want an iced mocha, but i want the ice blended. that's it.'
i was told 'we aren't supposed to do this, but i will for you.' i tried to ask the reasoning there; i want to understand why starbucks is anti-blended ice.
it seems that the iced mocha has more coffee in it than a frap. i would also wager that the frap has more sugar. and i would finally wager that it costs more.
i watched the girl make my drink. she made the mocha, dumped ice into the cup and then blended the entire thing. which, magically, increased the size of the drink to a large cup.
i never got a real answer as to why they don't want to blend ice for you. i can (and will) assume at this point that it's a bullshit rule.
man, starbucks stinks. (and yes, i go there. it is the only coffeeshop within walking distance of my apartment. i could spend about 15-20 minutes to walk further, but considering starbucks is less than a 3 minute walk, it's tough to justify.)
* as i reach the end of my drink now, i will concede, as i was told, that it doesnt blend too well. this last bit is water-y. this doesn't explain anything however. only that starbucks can't make a blended drink like everyone else in the universe.
You're frightening me. Maybe you're the type who needs to work…perhaps idleness makes you crazy.
There's no rule that says they can't blend an iced mocha, but it's simply just not a good idea. The liquid isn't thick enough, the ice melts quickly, and you end up with half chunks of ice and half watery iced mocha.
Why don't you just order a mocha frap with a shot of espresso next time instead of raging against the machine?
i'm not against smart raging, but i think april makes a good point with her suggestion above.
also, i'd wager that whatever coffeehouse's "ice-blended" drink that you are trying to emulate is more than just the regular drink plus ice plus blender. sweetener, creamer, etc. i think the name is deceptively simple and thus the unsatisfactory, watery recreatton.