I don’t know about you, but the first few times I went to Starbucks alone I was beyond overwhelmed. I didn’t know what a “macchiato” was, I was just in need of some caffeine, and I didn’t want to hold up the line. But finally after years of frequenting the overpriced coffee chain, I’ve learned a thing or two about customizing my order. Because of that, and the fact that my two best friends from home both got jobs as baristas when we were in high school, I’ve learned some lesser-known tricks of the trade.
1. Not All Espresso is Created Equal
Believe it or not, espresso shots are more complex than you’d think. At every Starbucks, the espresso machine can vary the espresso bean-to-coffee ratio to make the flavor bolder or milder. If you like your espresso-based drinks to have a more intense flavor, ask for a “long shot” of espresso. On the flip side, if you want your drink to be a little less bitter but you still want that caffeine, ask for your barista to use a “Ristretto” shot, which is mostly used in Starbucks’s newest drink, the flat white. Both of these shots–as well as a regular shot of espresso–can be used in your favorite espresso-based drinks (like a caramel macchiato or a skinny vanilla latte) or added to any regular coffee beverage. Now cue the caffeine jitters.
2. Just About Anything Goes in a Frappuccino
For those days when you’re just not in the mood for a hot drink or you want to treat yourself to the coffeehouse version of a milkshake, you don’t have to limit yourself to the frappuccinos on the menu. There are plenty of ways to customize your order that you’d never even think of. For example, if you bring in a fun-size version of your favorite candy bar, your barista can blend it into a vanilla bean or coffee frappuccino (really you could blend it into any frapp on the menu, but these two are best because they don’t have overwhelming flavors on their own). Or if you buy a cookie or brownie from the baked goods case they can blend that in as well. That’s one way to simplify your afternoon snack! Or if those options seem too off-the-wall, you can also ask your barista to blend extra whipped cream directly into your frappuccino if you really want to indulge. It may not be the most low-cal option, but once in a while you deserve a treat.
3. Add Flavor to your Regular Hot Coffee
I get it: you’re in a rush between classes and just need a quick pick-me-up from Starbucks. You’re planning on just getting a hot coffee, but don’t miss out on the wonderful world of Starbucks syrups. Normally added to specialty drinks, baristas are more than happy adding a few pumps of your favorite syrup to whatever you order. It adds a little bit of extra sweetness to your coffee, almost like you used a flavored creamer. My personal favorites are hazelnut, vanilla, and cinnamon dolce, plus their sugar-free counterparts for those days when I hit the E-Hall dessert bar a little too hard. Baristas generally put three pumps of syrup in a tall drink, four in a grande, and five in a venti, but you can totally alter those numbers to your liking!
So overall, this is just the tip of the iceberg; there’s a seemingly endless number of ways you can customize your coffee order. I’m still learning how to get the most value for my overpriced cup of Joe, but I thought I’d pass along some of what I know so far. I will say this though–not all baristas have the same tricks up their sleeve. I’m just going off of what my friends have told me, but that doesn’t mean these are hard and fast rules. In my experience though, if you’re patient and don’t overwhelm them while they’re busy, most baristas will try their hardest to make something you’ll enjoy. I hope some of you try out these tips and find your new favorite Starbucks order!