It’s true that you are probably familiar with Starbucks product sizes and pricing. For example, many of us would be able to order a grande iced latte with ease. However, if you travel around the world you will find that Starbucks offers different size names than at home. It’s not just the cup size that differs either, but also the drink sizes. So what’s going on? Are Starbucks coffee sizes the same? To investigate, we dug deep into the Starbucks menu worldwide so you can feel confident when ordering wherever you are.
When we talk about Starbucks coffee sizes, we are talking about two different kinds of sizing systems.The ‘Venti’ size, along with ‘Grande’ and ‘Tall’ all come from the Italian language – ‘Grande’ and ‘Tall’ are easy to figure out, and ‘Venti’ translates to ‘twenty’. This system is common in the US, Canada and a few other countries.
In other parts of the world, sizes are measured using the metric system. This system begins at tiny ‘Short’(8oz), continues through ‘Tall’ (12oz), ‘Grande’ (16oz) and onto ‘Venti’ (20oz), and then onto ‘Trenta’ (31oz) in some countries.
So while you will find Starbucks coffee sizes tend to remain the same in terms of ounces, the names of these sizes may vary from country to country. For example, in the UK Starbucks menu will typically include the sizes ‘Short’, ‘Tall’, ‘Grande’, and ‘Venti Hot’. However, cold drinks such as iced coffees, slushes and smoothies are typically limited to ‘Tall’ and ‘Grande’.
Take US Coastal manager in charge of customer education, Casey Atwood, who explains that, “In the US, the sizes are Tall, Grande, and Venti Hot and Venti iced. In Europe, they generally use the metric system, which is Short, Tall, Grande, and so on. We also have a unique cup size, the Trenta, which is only available for certain iced beverages and is about 31 ounces”.
Starbucks offer different sizes, different names, and sometimes even different options from location to location. To overcome any confusion, customers can find the country specific size information on the Starbucks website. Starbucks advise customers to contact a local store to confirm availability like flavor and Starbucks Coffee Ordering for a full list of product choices and differences in countries.
How is global pricing affected?
Since Starbucks sizing systems vary from country to country, global pricing can also fluctuate. While there is a base price, customers may find that ordering the same size in different countries may come with a different cost associated to it. This is due to country economy and local currency, as well as different demand of products in different locations.
Take the ‘Grande Size’ as an example – this size in the US may cost a customer $2.69, while in Japan it could cost customers around $5. It is worth taking into consideration that the majority of this difference is down to the exchange rate. For comparison, £1 (UK) is equal to $1.50 (US) or ¥159 (Japan).
Atwoods also explains that, “People don’t think twice about their espresso or drip coffee order. Whereas for Frappuccino® blended beverage flavor and size make a huge difference. Prices vary depending on where you are in the world, so if you’re used to Grande iced strawberry lemonade and now you’re in London, you need to do your research”.
Social norms are responsible for ordering preferences in different countries. There are certain sizes that are more popular than others in some countries. For example, in the UK, the Grande (16oz) size is the most popular, followed by Tall (12oz) and Short (8oz). In Germany on the other hand, the Tall (12oz) is more popular than the Grande and Short sizes.
In today’s world, convenience is key. Unfortunately, this sometimes comes at the expense of taking the time to learn social norms and ordering tricks, but at least with Starbucks size similarities there will be fewer headaches.
As a result of this social norm, ordering your regular venti size in certain countries can lead to some uncomfortable stares and strange looks. This is why it’s important to take the time to research local habits and customs when travelling, especially when placing orders in Starbucks.
What about hot and cold drinks?
It is important to note that when ordering at Starbucks you may notice that some menu items are only available in certain sizes. For example, cold drinks such as iced coffees, slushes and smoothies are typically limited to ‘Tall’ and ‘Grande’ sizes in the US.
Atwoods goes on to explain that, “In the US, the cold beverages have slightly different sizes than the traditional hot coffee. The cold sizes are: Tall (12 fl. oz.), Grande (16 fl. oz.), and Trenta (31 fl. oz.).Hot beverage sizes are: Short (8 fl. oz.), Tall (12 fl. oz.), Grande (16 fl. oz.), Venti (20 fl. oz.), and Venti Iced (24 fl. oz.)”.
These size differences are also found when looking closer at Starbucks ‘Blonde’ espresso, which can be served in ‘Short’, ‘Tall’, ‘Grande’, and ‘Venti’ sizes. The difference here is that ‘Short’ contains 8oz of milk, ‘Tall’ contains 10oz, ‘Grande’ contains 12oz and ‘Venti’ contains 16oz of milk.
Conclusion
So, are Starbucks coffee sizes the same? The answer is yes and no. Starbucks does offer different size names in different countries. This can be confusing for customers, as the ‘Venti’ size in one country could be ‘Trenta’ in another. In addition, certain sizes may only be offered for certain drinks or espresso in different countries.
Overall, it’s important to remember that a large part of the price difference is down to the exchange rate. If customers want to avoid any confusion due to the differences in the sizing systems, it may be wise to visit the local Starbucks website and compare the menu options available.
Are starbucks coffee sizes the same regardless of hot or cold drinks?
The coffee size choice at Starbucks can vary depending on whether a drink is hot or cold, although the majority of the sizes remain the same. Cold drinks such as iced coffees, slushes and smoothies are typically limited to ‘Tall’ and ‘Grande’ sizes in the US, while in Europe they go further up to ‘Venti’ size. In contrast, hot drinks such as espresso come in ‘Tall’, ‘Grande’, ‘Venti’, and for certain iced beverages, up to a ‘Trenta’ size.
The popularity of sizes for hot and cold drinks can also differ from country to country. In the UK the Grande (16oz) is the most popular size for cold drinks, followed by Tall (12oz) and Short (8oz), while in Germany it is the Tall (12oz) that is most popular. As a result of this, customers may find that ordering the same size in different countries may come with a different cost associated to it.
How do different countries react to the size system?
Due to the differences in the size systems across different countries, customers can react in different ways. In some countries ordering a larger size, for example the ‘Venti’ size, may result in strange looks from fellow customers and staff. Thus it is important for customers to take the time to research local customs when traveling, especially when ordering from Starbucks in those countries.
The company itself understands the importance of this, and provides customers with the country specific size information on the Starbucks website, along with contact information to specific stores to confirm availability and ordering options. Customers should make use of this service to ensure they are familiar with the sizes at each location, thus avoiding any potential confusion.
Can sizes be customised?
At Starbucks, customers do have the option to customise their orders. If they are not satisfied with what the size system offers, they have the freedom to request a ‘custom cup’. Rather than ordering the pre-defined cups that vary from country to country, customers can order custom sizes from Short (8oz) to Venti (20oz) for hot drinks and Trenta (31oz) for iced drinks.
Customers can also request a custom cup size for cold drinks such as iced coffees, slushes and smoothies, although it is not generally listed on the menu. In this case, when ordering a custom cup size, the price for drinks may vary. As a result, customers should consider the size difference between pre-defined cups, as these come with a set price.
What advice can be given to customers?
US Coastal manager Casey Atwood advises customers to do their research when ordering in different countries, particularly when ordering Frappuccino® blended beverages. Customers should also try to keep in mind the size differences between hot and cold drinks, and remain mindful of the potential cost implications associated with different sizes.
Starbucks also recommend customers consult their local stores for technical information on the menu options and to familiarise themselves with all of their product choices. Customers should also keep in mind that for cold drinks, custom sizes are available outside of the menu options.
