On Feb. 24, Starbucks announced that they would be cutting thirteen of their drinks from their menu. The items were officially removed on March 4.
According to USA Today, Starbucks decided to cut these drinks because they were unpopular among customers, complex to make, or too similar to other drinks offered on the menu. Cutting these drinks would allow employees to focus their efforts on a more concise list of beverages and improve quality.
Nine of the thirteen discontinued drinks are Frappuccinos, including the Espresso, Caffè Vanilla, Java Chip, White Chocolate Mocha, Chai Crème, Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crème, Double Chocolaty Chip Crème, Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème, and White Chocolate Crème Frappuccinos.
Alongside the nine frappuccinos, Starbucks is also cutting its Iced Matcha Lemonade, the Royal English Breakfast Latte, the Honey Almond Milk Flat White, and the beloved White Hot Chocolate.
“My favorite drink, the Matcha Lemonade, got discontinued,” senior Caroline Batson said. “I tried to get something else, but there was nothing similar.”
However, according to a post on the Starbucks Instagram page, only the non-coffee version of the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino is getting cut, but the coffee version isn’t.
“At first, I thought they were cutting off all the Frappuccinos, but apparently it’s just the non-coffee version,” junior Eden Dominski said. “My original thoughts were ‘This would be an awful decision if they cut the coffee Frappuccinos. The Frappuccinos honestly make Starbucks, Starbucks.”
These product cuts are all a part of Starbucks’s new “Back to Starbucks” plan, which also includes requiring employees to write on cups, implementing a condiment bar, and using more ceramic mugs.
“I actually love using a mug whenever I sit down at Starbucks,” Ms. Keith said. “But I feel like forcing people to take more time making a drink wouldn’t improve business.”
While some people like the use of ceramic mugs, the new policy of workers having to write on cups is less popular among customers such as Livia Carroll, Brady Johnson, and Ms. Keith, who all shared this sentiment.
“Somebody drew a whole detailed face on my cup once,” freshman Livia Carroll said. “And I was thinking, ‘No wonder it took so long.’”
However, some students enjoy the writing they receive on their cups.
“I think the writing on cups is cute,” Batson said.
The “Back to Starbucks” plan began in September 2024 and has slowly been implemented in stores around America.