Do your customers order the 'Ghetto Latte'?

Since you're not a regular or an employee, allow me to clarify. Our sizes are short, tall, grande and venti. Short is 8 oz, venti is 20, iced venti is 23 to account for the ice. So there's a size for every need. When you order a doppio espresso it comes in a short for hot and a tall for iced. In an iced tall this would allow for 6 oz of additional milk. In a short cup it would allow for 6 as well. In a venti however, it allows for up to 21 oz of milk, almost 3 CUPS!!! I think we can all agree that's not why the carafes are out there. Let's also keep in mind that Starbucks just had to raise its prices on average 9 cents a drink because of the high prices of MILK. So this is why I consider it stealing. That milk would cost you between $2.50 and $3.00 if you paid for it. And I don't accept the argument that Starbucks is too expensive so we should stick it to the man. If it's to expensive for you, go to 7-11 for your coffee. Don't steal. It is what it is, no one is twisting your arm and forcing you to drink gourmet coffee. I hope this didn't sound preachy, it wasn't directed at you Idlewild, just at the general public :)

I see your point. But I wouldn't consider it "stealing" if Starbucks is aware of what these customers are doing and is giving them a large cup for their double shot anyway, just because they ask for it. Maybe Starbucks should just instruct employees to tell the customer that they can only be given the right-sized cup for their order (and explain that to the customer in a nice way). While I know that Starbucks does sell the 'short' size, it seems kind of sneaky on their part that it doesn't seem to be actually listed on the menu--you have to know about it and ask for it. But I agree that it's silly for people to complain about the prices and then keep paying them every day anyway. Expensive gourmet coffee is not a necessity of life; if someone doesn't like Starbucks prices, they should just buy their coffee elsewhere, or [gasp!] make it at home themselves (which is what I do).

I've heard rumblings that Starbucks may actually stop giving out the venti sized doppios, but until then I would like to reiterate that the prices weren't raised to give the employees a raise as many people seem to believe (if I've had someone say 'there goes your tip' once I've heard it a million times!), it was due to the price of milk, so these sorts of things raise the prices for everyone!