A Word Nerd’s Guide to Starbucks Sizes

Wondrous Words Wednesday

It was a busy Thursday morning. The kids and I had cross-country practice, a meeting at Starbucks, and worst of all (for my boys), clothes shopping. I needed a bribe, preferably a tasty one. And since we were going by Starbucks anyway…

I wanted to find the drink that tasted the most like chocolate and the least like coffee. Our friend Jared suggested the Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino. Oh my, that sounded good, even to my oldest, who harbors an irrational hatred for Starbucks. Something about the dim light and “creepy jazz music”.

Photo Credit: Elliot Brown via flickr CC-BY
Photo Credit: Elliot Brown via flickr CC-BY

I ordered three grandes and sucked down my delicious Frappucino, choosing not to think about the calories I was ingesting. When we picked up daughter from swim practice, she saw the traces of whipped cream in our cups and protested. Back to Starbucks we went for her Frappuccino. (Heaven forbid discrepancies in drink consumption among siblings.)

When the barista asked my daughter if she wanted a tall or a grande, daughter looked at me and said, “What the heck is a ‘tall’?” When I explained that a tall was a small, she was even more perplexed.
So here we have it, the low down on Starbucks sizes.

Last week I swore this wasn’t a cooking blog, but here I am writing about food again. What can I say, it’s another great love of mine, besides words. To learn more interesting words, join Kathy’s Wondrous Words Wednesday meme, where bloggers share new words they’ve learned or favorites they enjoy.

Starbucks Sizes: The Low Down

Starbucks supposedly created its own sizes to set itself apart from other coffee shops. (As if the price of their drinks doesn’t do that already! ) Here’s the deal:

  • Short= 8 fl oz, and was Starbucks original name for their small
  • Tall = 12 fl oz and was originally the Starbucks large. Now, compared to the other sizes, it’s a small. At 12 oz.
  • Grande = 16 fl oz and means large in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French
  • Venti = 20 fl oz and means 20 in Italian; Iced Venti drinks are 24 fl oz; hot drinks are 20 oz
  • Trenta = 31 fl oz and means 30 in Italian; this size is only used for iced drinks

Frappuccino meNeedless to say, with a hefty dose of sugar and caffeine in their bloodstreams, my boys had plenty of energy for clothes shopping after their Frappuccinos. For that reason, and the damage to my wallet, we won’t be indulging again any time soon. And, the caloric cost of that Grande Double Chocolaty Chip Frap? 400 calories. Yikes! Time for more cross-country practice!

Thanks to Lindsay Goodwin, coffee and tea expert, and her post at About.com

Word Nerd Workout

wondrous memeWhat’s your favorite Starbucks drink, and do you know any other crazy terms for sizes? Thanks for playing along.

Don’t forget to visit Kathy’s site to learn more interesting words.

Julia

Julia Tomiak
I believe in the power of words to improve our lives, and I help people find interesting words to read. Member of SCBWI.

13 Comments

  1. I don’t drink at Starbucks very often. When I do, it’s usually in desperation because there is no other option. Therefore, I’m invariably cranky and not in the mood for their silly sizes. I will demand a SMALL and stare the barista (is that another word they invented?) in the eye, daring her to correct me. Usually, she doesn’t. 😛

  2. For Kathy and I who don’t drink coffee, this was an educational post. (lol) I had no idea Starbucks had invented their own measuring system. One small example of the power of big business.

  3. Although I like Starbucks, I have a local coffee cafe I frequent. I treat myself to a “fuufuu” coffee once a week. I order a Grande (20oz) Wyoming Morning Latte, skinny, extra hot! It’s espresso, milk foam, caramel and white chocolate!! Don’t ask how many calories, I’m sure the “skinny” takes it WAY DOWN!! LOL

    Other funny terms for sizes: in quilting- a fat quarter is a piece of fabric, 22″X 18″, a regular 1/4 yard would be 9″ (1/4 of a yard) by the width of the fabric (usually 44-45″) That is a long skinny piece, a fat quarter is more usable fabric. Both are 396 sq inches. Also, if you purchase a Jelly Roll, it is 40 pieces of 2.5″ fabric, usually coordinated in color and maybe designer. ( no calories at all here! ) There is your Home Ec. lesson for today. ( OH, they call it Consumer Science, these days)

  4. Who could possibly need a 20 oz coffee? Good grief.

    Thanks for running this post. I’m always so confused at Starbucks and end up saying something “I’ll have the smallest you have” which marks me as a rank amateur in the world of coffee drinkers 😉

  5. My son doesn’t like Starbucks either – he calls it Five Bucks. I’m not a coffee drinker so I don’t go there often but was totally confused when I was with a friend who ordered a tall and got a small – I sure could have used this guide then!

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