# Does Starbucks have a secret menu or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 11, 2005, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172 "2005-01-11T05:10:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/21 "2005-01-11T19:50:11Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > What’s the difference? > While we’re on the subject…In-N-Out _does_ have a secret menu. Are there any other places that do this? When I was Googling for the Starbucks nonexistent secret menu, I kept getting the one for In-N-Out. Probably a lot of places would make certain things that are off the menu, but not necessarily secret. My cousin once asked McD’s to give her some no-salt fries and they actually complied. If you tried to do that with Burger King, you’d get nothing because they’re just salt sticks anyway. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/22 "2005-01-11T19:56:15Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > I went into a Starbucks once and asked for an iced coffee. And they said that they didn’t sell them. I could get a blender drink with ground up ice and coffee, but apparently just pouring the coffee over a few ice cubes was too difficult for them. What’s \* that \* all about? They might not have been able to do it because they didn’t have any iced coffee prepared. At my cafe we had a pot of decaf and a regular blend kept in the fridge so that when we poured it over ice it wouldn’t instantly melt it and water it down to grossness. However, when people wanted one of the coffees iced that we didn’t have chilled, I’d explain it and if they still wanted it I’d just do it. It’s their drink, they can have it how they want. Oh, and the term for half and half is usually called “breve.” You can get a latte breve for instance. Cappuccinos breve were a godsend because it’s easy to get the foam with half and half. Soy cappuccinos, on the other hand, make the baby Jesus cry. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/23 "2005-01-11T19:58:22Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > What’s the difference? I hate double posting, but I thought I’d answer this one. A cafe au lait is a regular brewed coffee with steamed milk in it. A latte is the same thing but instead of coffee it’s espresso. ---
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/24 "2005-01-11T21:18:47Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Well, Starbuck’s gives me cafe au lait when I request it (and no, that’s not a latte), even though it’s not on the menu. Does that count? Ah, grasshoper, you are not drinking cafe au lait, you are drinking a cafe misto. The caffeine gnomes of Seattle have deemed it so. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/25 "2005-01-11T21:43:33Z")
A “cafe misto”? Like, a Brazilian mixed coffee drink? Ooh–can you get a cafezinho at Starbucks, too? If so, I may have to change my feelings about those guys. ---
**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/26 "2005-01-11T21:46:24Z")
Holy cow I went to Starbucks this morning and had the new [Chantico](http://http://www.starbucks.com/retail/nutrition_beverage_detail.asp?selProducts=162&strAction=GETDEFAULT&x=26&y=1) drinking chocolate. It was outta this world. Pure chocolate. Mmmm. But at 51 carbs for 6 oz. that is way too many carbs for me. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/27 "2005-01-11T21:49:20Z")
Darnit. Link didn’t work. Try again [Chantico Drinking Chocolate](http://www.starbucks.com/retail/nutrition_beverage_detail.asp?selProducts=162&strAction=GETDEFAULT&x=26&y=1) . ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/28 "2005-01-11T21:52:10Z")
> [@Max Torque](#): > > Around Christmas, they usually put a “peppermint mocha latte” on the menu, but when the season’s over, they take it off. Still, you can get them in July if you want, just by asking for it by name. Nitpick: there’s no such thing (at Starbucks and most other coffee places) as a mocha latte. It’s either a mocha (latte + chocolate) or a latte (steamed milk, espresso, and foam). There are some places (such as Cinnabon) that have trademarked blended coffee milkshake things that have names like Mochalatta chill, etc. But if you walk into a Starbucks and ask for a mocha latte, they’ll probably ask you if you want a mocha or a latte. As for the seasonal stuff: their peppermint flavor used to be a seasonal flavor but it isn’t anymore, so you can get it year-round. Pumpkin and gingerbread flavors you can get during Christmastime, and you can get egg nog instead of your milk, then, too. But not during the rest of the year. Mr. Gazer is saying that there are special featured drinks every now and again that they hype, and put on the menu and have special buttons for on their registers. When they retire that featured drink, you can usually still get it, even if it isn’t on the menu or register. For instance, one of my favorite non-coffee summer frou-frou drinks is a Chocolate Creme Frappuchino. They don’t technically have that anymore, and new baristas might not know what I’m talking about when I order it. But it’s basically a Vanilla Creme Frappuchino with a couple of squirts of chocolate syrup. The possible exception to this theory about getting no-longer-featured drinks is the Frappuchinos; since those are made with special bases to which the baristas add coffee, ice, etc., if the company is no longer making that base, you won’t be able to get the same exact drink. However, a good barista should be able to concoct something similar for you most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/29 "2005-01-11T22:46:51Z")
Pet peeve: Anyone who refers to a mocha as a mocha latte I always wanted to shoot steam at. Mocha. That’s it. Really. In case you couldn’t tell, I worked at a B&N Starbucks for about 2 years. Breve = half and half instead of milk. Au Lait (NOT Ole, damnit) = half coffee, half steamed milk. Cafe and Cocoa = Au Lait with mocha. Any other questions as to the lingo? I’s here for you, man. And no one ever asked for a zebra. The closest we got was “Jungle love” from a regular who always had a half white/half regular mocha. But we just called his drink the Bob (name changed). But, yeah. There wasn’t a secret menu, unless you count all the custom drinks we can do. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/30 "2005-01-11T22:49:50Z")
> [@Ashkicker](#): > > Darnit. Link didn’t work. Try again [Chantico Drinking Chocolate](http://www.starbucks.com/retail/nutrition_beverage_detail.asp?selProducts=162&strAction=GETDEFAULT&x=26&y=1) . Tried this today, a few hours ago… I’m still bouncing off the walls. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/31 "2005-01-11T22:50:17Z")
> [@stargazer](#): > > Nitpick: there’s no such thing (at Starbucks and most other coffee places) as a mocha latte. It’s either a mocha (latte + chocolate) or a latte (steamed milk, espresso, and foam). There are some places (such as Cinnabon) that have trademarked blended coffee milkshake things that have names like Mochalatta chill, etc. > > But if you walk into a Starbucks and ask for a mocha latte, they’ll probably ask you if you want a mocha or a latte. I ordered what the sign said, and the sign said “peppermint mocha latte”. So don’t blame me, blame the sign makers. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/32 "2005-01-11T22:54:28Z")
> [@](#): > > My cousin once asked McD’s to give her some no-salt fries and they actually complied. If you tried to do that with Burger King, you’d get nothing because they’re just salt sticks anyway. Working at Burger King is where I learned you could do this. Now I always order my fries without salt. There’s enough salt in the ketchup for my tastes. As for the OP… Does Starbuck secretly have anything that’s drinkable? If they do it’s a secret to me. I received a $25 gift card and I gave it away. Couldn’t find anything to buy there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/33 "2005-01-11T23:07:20Z")
> [@](#): > > The possible exception to this theory about getting no-longer-featured drinks is the Frappuchinos; since those are made with special bases to which the baristas add coffee, ice, etc., if the company is no longer making that base, you won’t be able to get the same exact drink. However, a good barista should be able to concoct something similar for you most of the time. Actually, the frappuchino bases already contain coffee. We’d just add ice and flavor (if it was flavored). Where I worked, we had no decaf frap, so . . . ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/34 "2005-01-11T23:11:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Does Starbuck secretly have anything that’s drinkable? If they do it’s a secret to me. Depends on what you like. I don’t like coffee, but I love the Strawberry Creme Frappuchina, the Chai Frap, and the white mocha with 1/2 the espresso. Steamers are good (steamed milk with flavor syrup) and Italian Sodas. Mmmm. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/35 "2005-01-12T02:23:13Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > I received a $25 gift card and I gave it away. Couldn’t find anything to buy there. 😃 [hijack] If you actually wanted to get something for the gift card you should have tried a gift card swap site online. They’ll usually charge you a flat fee to list it or they’ll buy it off you for some percentage of the actual value. Not as good as actually getting the full use of it, but better than giving it away! [/hijack] As far as I remember, mocha latte pretty much equalled just plain latte. They’re essentially the same thing, minus the foam, plus some sort of flavoring. I would classify a vanilla latte as a latte, or a hazelnut latte as a latte, so I just classify a mocha as a latte as well. It’s Starbucks macchiato that bugs me. It is NOT a caramel something something. It IS a shot of espresso with foam on top. That was always a source of much confusion. And yes, I know that technically Starbucks calls it a “caramel macchiato,” but still, if you’re going to get upset about mocha latte, this should put you into an inferno of rage. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/36 "2005-01-12T07:25:20Z")
You can order anything, in any combo. But if you order it different then the check boxes on the cup **YOU WILL BE CORRECTED!** Customer: Yeah, I’d like a large mocha, no whiping cream, non-fat milk, about half the chocolate and one squirt of peppermint please. “Barista”: You want a Venti One pump peppermint two and a half pump mocha non fat no whip mocha? Customer: You know what? go ahead and put whip on there - and add a couple of shots. “Barista”: Ok, so you want a Quad Venti One pump peppermint two and a half pump mocha non fat with whip mocha? Customer: Ok, can you make that half decaf in a double cup? “Barista”: _sigh_. So that’s a double cupped half-decaf Quad Venti One pump peppermint two and a half pump mocha non fat with whip mocha? Customer: Is that drink Aktins friendly? “Barista”: I dunno Customer: Let’s add sugar free vanilla,… and make that with half and half. “Barista”: _grunts_ Ok, so you want a double cupped half-decaf Quad Venti One pump peppermint two and a half pump mocha sugar-free vanilla breve with whip mocha? Customer: Naw. That sounds kind of gross. What kind of tea do you have? ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/37 "2005-01-12T13:56:43Z")
The “secret menu” thing makes for an interesting business plan, doesn’t it? “I’ve got a great idea! Let’s make stuff we want to sell for profit, and then _not tell anybody about it._” As an aside, one of the most frustrating experiences of my life involved going into one of those pecialized coffee shops (not Starbucks, as it happens, just a storefront in a mall) and ordering “a cup of coffee”. The snotty little counter creep nearly earned himself a broken nose as a tip. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/38 "2005-01-12T14:01:56Z")
I asked for a **Skull and Bones** and the Pope served me. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/39 "2005-01-12T14:38:31Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > Ooh–can you get a cafezinho at Starbucks, too? > > If so, I may have to change my feelings about those guys. If you ever find a place anywhere outside Brazil (preferably in Europe) where you can get a real cafezinho, please, please, _ **please** _ tell me about it. I would be willing to travel large distances (as long as it’s closer and cheaper than going to Brazil) for a real cafezinho! ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/40 "2005-01-12T18:07:28Z")
> [@audiobottle](#): > > As far as I remember, mocha latte pretty much equalled just plain latte. They’re essentially the same thing, minus the foam, plus some sort of flavoring. I would classify a vanilla latte as a latte, or a hazelnut latte as a latte, so I just classify a mocha as a latte as well. Well, no, not really. A plain latte is espresso mixed with steamed milk, and topped with foam. A vanilla or hazelnut latte (or other flavors) is espresso mixed with steamed milk and some shots of the flavor syrup (the same ones used to make Italian soda), then topped with foam. A mocha is a thick chocolate syrup (some places use Hershey’s, just like yer ice cream) mixed with espresso and steamed milk, and topped with foam or whipped cream. They are similar, yes, but a mocha is _not_ just a plain latte. > [@audiobottle](#): > > It’s Starbucks macchiato that bugs me. It is NOT a caramel something something. It IS a shot of espresso with foam on top. That was always a source of much confusion. And yes, I know that technically Starbucks calls it a “caramel macchiato,” but still, if you’re going to get upset about mocha latte, this should put you into an inferno of rage. The Starbucks Caramel Macchiato is a macchiato espresso drink… with caramel. That’s why it’s called a _Caramel_ Macchiato. I don’t drink them, but from what I recall, it’s caramel (and vanilla, maybe) on the bottom of the cup or lining the cup, then the steamed milk is poured in, with foam on top. The espresso is then poured through the foam, marking it – thus the “Macchiato.” Caramel syrup is then squirted on top. So, Starbucks’ Caramel Macchiato is a variation on the traditional Macchiato – but I don’t see why it bothers you that they choose to highlight a flavored drink instead of the original. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172.md?page=3)