Brewing Up a Size Comparison
When it comes to making sure your cup runs over with coffee, understanding the measurements involved can make all the difference. A Large Starbucks Coffee measures 20 fluid ounces, or 591 milliliters, providing plenty of caffeine to start the day. But understanding just how much liquid 20 ounces is and why that’s the standard size can be more complicated. While a large Starbucks coffee is a reliable measure of how much liquid you’ll get, the difficulties associated with converting fluid ounces to milliliters can leave drinkers confused.
The metric system uses a standard unit of measure – the liter – when it comes to liquid items. A liter is equal to 1,000 milliliters, which means a large Starbucks Coffee would contain approximately half a liter. Converting it to ounces is a bit more complicated, however. While both measurements are used to measure the same item, metric and imperial measures have different sizes for their respective unit measurements.
Customers in the United States or US territories are used to measuring liquid in ounces, with eight ounces considered a standard cup size. But the international metric system considers 250 milliliters to be the equivalent of a cup, which comes out to eight point four ounces. That’s where the confusion lies when trying to convert fluid ounces to milliliters.
The Intersection of Common Sense and Measuring Cups
The reason Starbucks drinks come in 20-ounce sizes is because it struck a balance between the standard cup sizes used in the different systems. This also means that 20 ounces also comes out to 600 milliliters, providing plenty of coffee to get through a day or to share with a friend.
In the past, customers wanting to purchase a large cup of coffee could only rely on their own common sense to determine the measure. With no standard to follow, restaurants, cafés, and even Starbucks itself had different cup sizes for their drinks. That made it confusing if customers ever decided to switch cafés, or even just switch sizes.
In more recent years, Starbucks has developed a more universal system, allowing customers to better gauge how much liquid they’re purchasing. By instituting the 20-ounce size as their “Large” coffee, they enabled customers to easily convert the amount they want to the corresponding measurement whether they’re using the metric or imperial systems.
Calculating into the Future
Today, cups of coffee at Starbucks come in three sizes: Short (eight ounces), Tall (12 ounces), and Grande (20 ounces). Customers have a better understanding of how much coffee they’re getting in each drink and can make selections based on the amount of caffeine they want, or the amount of time until their next coffee break.
Staying up to date on these measurements is important, however, as Starbucks frequently changes its cup sizes. Just a few years ago, for example, there was a “Venti” drink in addition to the Tall, Grande and Short sizes. The Venti drink was 24 ounces, which the company determined to be a bit too much for the average coffee lover. But the extended cup size enabled customers to purchase large quantities in one order.
Customers familiar with the metric system find it much easier to understand the size differences between cups. While the International System of Units (SI) uses milliliters as its measurement, many customers still double-check by converting to the imperial system, which is often more recognizable. The more customers know and understand the differences in cup sizes, the more control they’ll have over their coffee consumption.
Caffeinated Creativity
Understanding the measurement of cup sizes can also empower customers to make their own creations. Have a craving for a Grande Mocha Coffee made with five shots of espresso? Ordering it is a cinch once you understand the amounts involved in each drink. The possibilities are endless for customers who can combine the different cup sizes and espresso shots to create custom drinks.
That same concept can also be applied to other items. For example, a recipe might call for two tablespoons of chopped onion. Understanding how equivalent amounts look in a measuring cup will help you make sure your recipe turns out perfectly. In other words, knowledge of cup sizes can help broaden your culinary horizons.
A Larger Perspective
In the global marketplace, different countries have different types of measurements. When ordering items for international companies, for example, understanding the metrology and precision measurements associated with the items is essential. Conversing between countries about measurements is also important and requires a mutual understanding of differing systems.
When countries enter agreements or develop different products in cooperation with each other, understanding the different measurement systems used is essential. Not all countries convert their measuring systems to existing global standards. In fact, some countries simply create their own set of rules when it comes to supplying and consuming goods.
These rules are typically based on the country’s unique history and culture. That’s why understanding local and global measurements is important when dealing with different kinds of companies. Knowing the amount of coffee in a large Starbucks cup may not seem important, but understanding measurements on a larger scale prepares customers for more complex tasks if needed.
The Cold, Hard Measurement of Reality
When it comes to something as simple as a cup of coffee, understanding the measurements involved will go a long way in getting the perfect cup. With the metric system set up to divide a liter into one thousand milliliters and the imperial system using ounces as its measuring unit, customers may find it difficult to determine whether they’re getting the precise amount of liquid they desire. That’s why Starbucks created the “Large” cup size as a reliable reference point for customers to use.
Equipped with the knowledge of cup sizes, customers are also able to branch out and customize the exact type of coffee they prefer. Whether they’re ordering a customized cup of joe or trying out a new recipe, the precise measurements will make sure their order turns out to be exactly what they’d imagined.
The Global Cup
When dealing with customers across the world, understanding the differences between various measurement systems is essential. Metrology provides the necessary skills to precisely measure different items, which is invaluable when dealing with customers in different countries. This knowledge also prepares customers for larger tasks in the future should they need to take on such tasks.
So when it comes to understanding the measurements behind the drinks we consume, it may be helpful to start keeping a cup in hand. That way, you can ensure you’re getting the exact amount of liquid you need in whatever size you choose.
The Coffeemaker’s Kitchen
Coffee makers and connoisseurs alike can use the Starbucks measurements to whip up their own creations. By understanding the different sizes available to them, they can craft their perfect cup and experiment with flavors, milks and shots to create that perfect blend. Brewers can also look at other measurements and blend their coffee with equal parts of the ingredients found in a recipe.
In the kitchen, too, a basic understanding of measurements can help avoid errors in recipes. Having a good grasp of the difference between a tablespoon and a teaspoon can make the difference between an abysmal and magnificent dish. This can be more easily achieved by having a few measuring cups on hand. Mastering the skill of measuring ingredients, particularly liquid items, is essential.
By understanding the different measurements of a large Starbucks cup and how to convert them, customers can make sure their orders are perfect every time. That same knowledge can also be applied when making a variety of other items, from recipes to new inventions. It all starts with getting the measurements right.
