Introducing our New Standard of Latte and More
We’re excited to announce that on 14th March we will be introducing a new standard for many of our most popular espresso based drinks like Lattes and Cappuccinos.
For years, people have told us they love our coffee, and more recently we have seen a trend towards customers wanting a stronger coffee taste. For example we have seen a 60% rise in the number of people adding an extra shot over the last few years, and our Flat White which has a more intense coffee flavour has been very popular since its introduction in 2009.
In response to this customer trend, from 14th March we will be adding an extra shot of 100% Fairtrade espresso to all of our Tall and Venti sized milk based espresso drinks – as standard*. This means that your Latte, Cappuccino, Caffe Mocha and Caramel Macchiato will now contain 2 shots of espresso in a Tall, and 3 shots of espresso in a Venti – and we won’t charge you more for it. We believe that the Grande was just right as it was, so there will be no change to that size.
Our research told us that our customers are excited by the idea of stronger tasting coffee. Therefore after careful consideration, we have decided to introduce this change right away in all of our stores.
Whilst our standard is changing, of course we think you should have your coffee the way you want it. If you like it how it was before we’ll happily make it that way too, just let your barista know.
We’d love to hear your thoughts once you’ve tried a coffee made to the new standard, so let us know what you think.
I’m looking forward to my daily tall skinny latte being just a bit stronger—and hope you’ll enjoy yours, too.
*We will be adding more coffee to our Tall & Venti sized Lattes, Cappuccinos, Caffe Mochas and Caramel Macchiatos. There will be no change to the following drinks: Americanos and Espresso Frappuccinos as these already come with more espresso as standard; and Flat White which is only available in the Short size.
Change Region
Love this news. My favourite double-tall latte is now just my favourite latte.
Lucky you!!! I didn't have the same luck as you:(
I had a horrible experience this morning for asking for my Americano to be made to my taste. I got nearly hit by a barista and the supervisor was a spectator. I I wonder what's next. You never know with Starbucks: it's full of surprises.
Good news I guess, but that's yet another benefit of the Starbucks Card eroded (free extra shots). I don't think it's worth loaning you the money any more.
Oh dear Now I have to remember to ask for a single shot Latte! I like it as it is!!
I agree with peeebeee as this now means that the you get less for using your Starbucks Card. Lets hope that Starbucks adds an alternate benefit to the Starbucks card very soon!
Great news. I have been adding that shot for years and paying extra of course.
Also, I am a gold member but have still been charged for my extra shot.
Thank you for the Free drink with every 15.
A free drink with every 15 visits, remember. Other coffee brands' loyalty schemes reward you for every drink, or for the value of your spend. Not Starbucks.
nice.
Congratulations Starbucks UK. My double tall wet latte will now just be a tall wet latte. I've been a registered card user since the scheme was launched in the UK and so I've always enjoyed my extra shot free - I wasn't too keen on hot milk with a hint of coffee. Thanks again Starbucks. Will this policy be extended in the US & Canada or will I still have to ask for a double shot over the pond?
What's a wet latte?
It's where there's more liquid, less foam, so you get more drink for your money.
As far as eroding the benefit of the card, mustn't forget it still counts the number of purchases for the free drink reward; and don't forget you'll still get the soya and syrups FOC..
Great news but I just wish you could get bigger tumblers to enjoy them in. Tall just aint big enough!!!!
I also agree with peeebeee and philwstarbucks. The Starbucks card just isn't so attractive any more. Since the new rewards scheme, I've stopped buying Starbucks beans (which I previously bought 1 or 2 bags of a week), and now tend to go to Costa more often for my drinks. At least with their card, you don't have to preload it with your money first.With the new Starbucks rewards, a free drink with every 15 misses the mark by miles. We used to get 50p off every filter coffee drink. Sadly no more.
So what you're saying is that when I ask for one shot I will still be paying for two shots regardless! And on top of that when I ask for Soya milk because I am ALLERGIC to cows milk, you're going to be paying more for that too. Explain to me how as a customer I benefit from this......?
Goodbye Starbucks, Hello Costa.
I agree with you that starbucks seem to be losing there way in customer focus.
You wont be paying more of course, cos you will get extra shot in your coffee for free, because now there was only one shot in a tall drink. and if you get a starbucks card, you can have soya milk for free and maybe syrup free too .. I think there are only benefits out of that .. anyway, every customer is different, so I think Starbucks is just trying to focus on customers too much, as many of them like stronger coffee .. at the end, everybody has a choice ..
Well even though I am a gold card holder, I have always had to pay for my extra shot as service stations are all franchise and unable to accept loyalty card. To mean the loyalty has no benefit anymore. I am really sad to say, my loyalties are swaying towards costa, who have always had the three shot venti latte. Although costa coffee is not as consistent, the customer focus and experience is proving to be better. Howard needs to take a new look at Starbucks uk.
Whilst this move doesn't affect me... I drink Grande 4 shot Americanos... I have to agree with the devaluing of the rewards card. When it started there wasn't much benefit, then I got regular emails asking my opinion of the card, we then saw the free WiFi (doesnt work half the time) and the free extras (great for me, I get my extra shot for free) and offers every now and then, but since the new system, I am a gold card holder but haven't been getting my free shots, have contacted customer....
...services who gave me the distinct impression that there is nothing wrong with my account, but should check my receipts in future.
Anywhoo... It seems pointless loaning Starbucks 50 quid every month now... Time to support the local coffee houses.
I'm not a coffee person as I usually have my tea at Starbucks, and maybe hot chocolate every now and then. I've always wanted to have a decaf tea option at Starbucks as many other retailers do. Some people are banned to have caffeine by their doctors so I think Starbucks can have this option.
This is a brilliant idea. I've always thought the drinks should give more emphasis on coffee than on anything else. I personally think it's a switch from weak coffee taste to average, not from average to strong. Anyway, it's great!
On a side note, it would be great also to bring back Tazo tea at Starbucks!
Has the grande been made rather obsolete?
You're going to lose a lot of business giving the unwitting customer heart attacks. The average Starbucks coffee already has double the caffeine of a normal one. Now quadruple? 4 a day is the ceiling level before it becomes detrimental to you. If hadnt read the flyer i'd have been so mad to find out that i was being double dosed.
@maymayme3 - Close, but no cigar. Starbucks coffee has the lowest caffeine content of any coffee house in the UK according to a recent survey by Edinburgh University. The extra shot will simply bring the caffeine content closer to Costa and Cafe Nero and the like.
The reason for the woeful caffeine content is because Starbucks roasts the cr*p out of all their beans and as a result, all the lovely, lovely caffeine is burnt away and the coffee itself tastes bitter and horrible.
@studentBob. It's a little bewildering why you are going to Starbucks still then or bothering to write on their web page. Personally I hate the taste of costa and find it bitter and burnt every time. Each to their own I guess.
Well, why do you go to Costa?
I agree, the darker the roast the less caffine in the bean, starbucks coffee contains little oil as a result making a much weaker roast
On a side note there has only been one coffee related death to date.
I don't mind the change re the extra shot. I also love Starbucks coffee taste and how it's brewed. What I do mind is the change to the Starbucks card. When most coffee shops reward you with a free drink every 6 drinks or so, we now get rewarded every 15 drinks!! Sadly you have lost customer focus. As an ex employee from way back I can confirm the savings are not passed onto the staff for a fair wage. Unimpressed with your profits and lack of care for people. Have been looking else where sadly
I really like this change as I always ordered the extra shot in latte, I also share the concern over the loyalty card, because I find it a hassle to preload it.
I have too say I love the Starbucks roast, for me it is easily the best.
Can I have my money back for all of those extra shots I've paid for since you now agree that my coffee was weak?
I'm HATING the extra shot. Please make it a request option to have it stronger.
I always like Starbucks because it was generally weaker than everywhere else. And yes, i know i can ask for a single shot but it seems fair (and logical) that you should have to ask for more, not for less.
An extra shot at last. I do like my coffee to tast of coffee, and not just all milk, but why not the grande, I will just have to keep using the card when I need that size, but at services station I will go for the tall, as i dont want to pay for the extra shot, and they dont except the starbucks card, or just go on until I find a srevice station that does Costa.
I object to getting 1 star for each purchas....not for each coffee {if one person goes and buys a couple of cups} Other places reward you with a free coffee every 6th on {or thereabouts} I've just got a card but dont think I'll be using it much.
See the rewards complaint blog has been archieve despite it still being active - way to go Starbucks now we know you really appreciate what your customers say!
This has been a Costa standard for ages... think there is some copying going on here!
Great, thanks Starbucks...now my favorite latte just tastes burnt, like every other godawful coffee shop in London!! You people who wanted it stronger...buy a double shot, thats what its for! Bring back the old latte!
I always have latte with caramel drizzle-even with my card I have to pay extra for the drizzle which makes no sense when other toppings are free!
Great, so you've got lattes right. What about working on cappuccinos? More exactly, can you standardise the drink? Sometimes it's frothy, sometimes it's a milky coffee. Even within a store, one barista delivers something different from another. And as for Starbucks in motorway locations .......