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The Best Kept Secret at Starbucks

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I’m 13 days away from a book deadline (not that anyone is counting…) and 43 days away from another one.

It’s at about this point that showering becomes optional.

I’ve got a lot of words to write, and then put into the right order. There isn’t a lot of fun reading, chatting or other exciting stuff going on. Normally, I would sooth myself with loads of baked goods. The problem with that is that I have once again turned myself into Weight Watcher and there is a price to be paid for indulgence. Oh, and I’ve given up soda except for twice a month. Sigh…

My last refuge? Coffee.

I wish I were a black coffee kinda girl. But I’m just not. And a latte still has a bunch of calories – even with non-fat milk. But you know what doesn’t? A misto.

At least half the time I order my misto at the inside counter at a Starbucks, another customer will ask me what that drink is (and a couple of times over the past five years, I’ve explained it to a barista or two.)

A misto is half drip coffee, half steamed milk. If you order it non-fat, it is only two Weight Watchers Plus Points. I add a little sugar-free vanilla sryup and it’s a beautiful thing.

I want to have some interruptions to my day here (fun ones, that is…) so if you tell me what your favorite drink is at Starbucks, I’ll put you in a drawing for me to buy if for you with a $5 Starbucks card. Post it by Thursday 6:00 PST and I will announce the winner on Friday.

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  • http://www.cidevents.com Debbie Ruiz

    My favorite drink at Starbucks is a Venti Refresh Tea with 1/2 inch of ice at the top. I know it doesn’t sound exciting but it’s all minty! the hot tea is really to hot to drink when you get it so therefore the ice. But the ice has to be at the top not at the bottom, because if it’s at the bottom you still can’t drink the tea right away. Of course it took me several months to figure out how much ice and where to put it.

  • http://www.cidevents.com Debbie Ruiz

    My favorite drink at Starbucks is a Venti Refresh Tea with 1/2 inch of ice at the top. I know it doesn’t sound exciting but it’s all minty! the hot tea is really to hot to drink when you get it so therefore the ice. But the ice has to be at the top not at the bottom, because if it’s at the bottom you still can’t drink the tea right away. Of course it took me several months to figure out how much ice and where to put it.

  • http://www.chattykelly.com Kelly Combs

    Their new Coconut Mocha Frappe is my current favorite. But is there really a “bad” drink at Starbucks? I think not. :-)

  • http://stonesoupforfive.blogspot.com/ Kari

    I LOVE an iced coffee, light ice, 2 pumps white mocha, caramel on the wall, room for cream. In fact, I might just need one this morning!! I don’t know if I’m brave enough for a misto… though it sounds interesting. I’m a coffee wimp.

  • Anonymous

    I too am a misto drinker. I love mine with a couple pumps of caramel… OR cinnamon dulce YUMM.

    My second favorite has been a little norm lately (I don’t know why) bold coffee with caramel and a splash of breve.

  • Monica

    oops totally posted that anonymously “(

    Trying again…
    I too am a misto drinker. I love mine with a couple pumps of caramel… OR cinnamon dulce YUMM.

    My second favorite has been a little norm lately (I don’t know why) bold coffee with caramel and a splash of breve. Having one now actually “)

  • MarcyM

    In the morning I’m a plain coffe with cream kinda girl but in the afternoon…an iced Mocha hits the spot!

  • brandi

    My favorite was their Mocha Valencia, it was a chocolate orange coffee that was pure bliss! Then they stopped making it!!! Ugh. Now its a Peppermint Mocha.

  • http://www.laurakramer.org gerhard kramer

    My favorite is a Grande Skinny Extra Hot Hazelnut Latte.
    But where’s the Starbucks Secret… I was hoping to read about a secret menu, like In N Out Burger’s Animal Style. Oh well.

  • Tonya

    I stil love the skinny vanilla latte. Made with sugar free vanilla syrup & non-fat milk, the espresso gives it the stronger coffee flavor that I like. My favorite of all time was the Green Tea Frap, but they jacked the formula and it NOT worth the calories anymore. :/

  • Tonya Walter

    oh Brandi! I had forgotten about that one – that was DELICIOUS! for a while you ould still have them make it, but then they disco’d the valencia syrup :(

  • Julie

    Get ready…here’s how I order…. Iced venti, half caf, non-fat, no-whip, white mocha. Yum!

  • http://thedistracteddomestic.blogspot.com/ Regena

    Okay, I know this is gonna make me look weird, okay weirder than I already am. but I don’t drink coffee. I don’t like Starbucks’ tea, their hot chocolate is marginal…a little thin for my taste.
    So how do I order at Starbucks? Giant cookie please…oatmeal raisin….that one right there….with the golden, brown, crunchy edges. Oh wait……is that a giant rice krispie treat? Ahhhhhhh….gimme a sec….cheesecake…………… ahhhhhhhhhhh……….no, wait……cookie, yeah cookie…………

  • Amy Cherry

    My favorite is a grande peppermint white mocha frappacino, nonfat milk, no whip, double blended so I don’t have any ice stuck in the straw. It is so refreshing in the hot summer. Too bad it is so cold here today or I might have to have one.

  • Kiley

    Tazo Shaken Iced Passion Tea

  • Autumn Hicks

    My favorite is pumkin spice latte when in season. When off season Carmel latte:)

  • http://www.spergerswoman.blogspot.com Amy

    Kathi,
    I’m such a “mood drinker”! If it’s raining outside… a Vanilla Roobios Latte (I usually order a tall in a grande cup with extra foam!!)
    If it’s hot outside, their Passion Tea (with no classic, three splendas please!)
    The Pumkin Spice Latte makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside… but I LOVE that it’s seasonal because it keeps it special.
    And for the every day ordinary I have two “go to” drinks : Tall Vanilla Latte, breve (in a grande cup with extra foam, of course!) or a Peppermint Mocha (no whip).

    I’ve loved reading everyone’s drinks!!! As a former “barista” at a different coffee shop I love hearing how people order their coffee!
    Here’s a fun one for you when you really need a pick me up… We called it “A Shot in the Dark.” I think Sbux calls it “Red Eye”. It’s a black cup of coffee with a shot or two of espresso!
    Also, a “real” cappachino is not at all what you would typically order from Sbux. I LOVED making them because they require really good quality foam and that’s not easy to do. You put a splash (and by splash I mean maybe 2 Tablespoons) of steamed milk in the bottom of the cup, then you fill it with thick foam, and pour the shots of esspresso right down into the middle…. mmmm heaven!!!

  • Renee Vaquera

    Oh Kathi…don’t get me started…ha ha

    My favorite is the Venti Chai Tea Latte with no water and 2 pumps Cinnamon Dulce and 2 pumps Vanilla Syrup. Is that bad? Oh, yes it is! But it is pure happiness in a cup! Thanks for the reminder. Going to have to go get one now!! Have a happy day1

  • Shaun T.

    Iced Venti, 6shot, toffee nut, breve, lt. ice, lt. foam, Starbucks Double… sometimes Ill get a 1/2 caf. 8 shot if I feel like filling all the boxes.

  • Ann

    Grande, half caf, soy mocha, no whip. 4 points or so.
    It used to be less when they had sugar free pumps for the mocha.

    If I want fewer points/calories I go for half caf, drip and add Splenda with a shake of the cocoa mix at the counter which I claim to be zero points because it’s a condiment like mustard. ;)

    When I drink coffee at Starbucks it’s to be with my coffee klatch. The beverage is secondary to the comraderie that goes on hold during the summer months and I will miss it.

  • Ann

    Oops, that’s 5 points for the Grande, 3 for the tall. They have a nifty nutrition page on their website where you can punch in which kind of creamer you use and it changes the calories accordingly.

    And I forgot my email address on the previous post.

  • http://www.spergerswoman.blogspot.com amy

    Oh and by the way… do you know why Starbucks water/ice tastes so amazing? It’s because it’s triple filtered!!! They believe great water helps make great coffee (which is true) and so they filter their water. In summer time I get a venti cup of ice every time I’m there so that I can crunch it when I’m done with my drink!!!

  • http://www.sszsilvercreek.com Ree Ortiz

    Double tall nonfact latte, no foam; bring my own Stevia!!! But then I also *do* sprinkle the top w/ a little bit of the powdered chocolate they have…!

  • Ree

    Just realized – that’s not my “favorite”, since I forgot about the very-seasonal eggnog latte – don’t even tell me the caloric content….at least once/Xmas season I *have* to have one!

  • http://www.familymusings.com Jennifer S

    I started drinking coffee while I was a Weight Watcher because it had fewer points than the soda I adored. So, my 2-point drink of choice was a grande non-fat latte with SF Hazelnut syrup and 2 Spendas. Plus, I counted it as a dairy!

  • http://www.MelissaMashburn.com Mel’s World with Melissa Mashburn

    Ohhhhh, that sounds good, and super smart on the points too! I’m an Iced Venti Nonfat Vanilla Latte kinda girl…thinking about going to get one right now! :)

  • Becky Hellwig

    No, No Kathi I am not copying you… My favorite is the Misto with extra foam and 2 raw sugars. Can you tell I love the drive thru. They put 2 raw sugars in for me. Prior to that, I would ask them for a cappacino with drip coffee. They didn’t get it. Well, they would still charge me the cappacino price. Now they make it right and give me extra foam:) Plus it’s cheaper than those other fancy drinks:)

    Becky

  • http://www.AdelleGabrielson.com Adelle Gabrielson

    I’m a sucker for a Peppermint Mocha – and not just at the holidays, either!

    Best wishes as you zoom towards the finish line!

  • http://marlataviano.com Marla Taviano

    Chai latte, cinnamon dolce latte, pumpkin spice latte, gingerbread latte…. one favorite?? Praying for you and your deadlines, friend! So exciting, but wow, that’s tough.

  • http://angelaspringer@hotmail.com alh1203

    Chai latte with skim milk for me. Just had one yesterday! Yummy!

  • http://www.christianmamasguide.com erin

    A misto, eh? I’ve never heard of it… but if I ever get on a health kick (read: In 6 days when I need to start losing this baby weight) I might just have to try it. BUT, right now, when I’m NOT on a health kick, my favorite drink is a caramel light frappucino. Mmmmmm.

  • http://180degrees4singlemoms.blogspot.com Nicole Blean

    Thanks for the misto tip, Kathi! I can’t wait to try it. I always order a non-fat, sugar free vanilla latte, but I am going to try misto next time. Good luck with your upcomming deadlines!

  • Kate

    My favorite was a Grande White Chocolate Mocha, UNTIL they posted the calorie counts on all their menus. Now I don’t get it that often and get a Carmel Macchiato which is surprisingly a lot less calories. When I do get it, I get it Nonfat and without the whip. But it’s not the same! :( I loved living in ignorance. I didn’t need to know it was almost 500 calories!

  • Emily

    My favorite drink changes from day to day. Right now it’s warm and that makes me want a Venti iced passion tea…I know it’s not coffee but it’s very good!

  • Christi

    I love the Chai Latte Tea, hot in the winter and iced in the summer. Also the Pumpkin Latte. Yummy….

  • Marisol

    Hey! First time I heard someone love a misto just like me! My favorite the past few months is vanilla misto with extra foam :)

  • Jody

    My all time favorite is the grande mocha Frapp, but they have an awesome hot apple cider with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle. So good in the winter time.

  • Cathy Welch

    My “usual” is a Grande Cafe Latte, 2 raw sugars, extra hot.made with 2% milk. I especially love it that they call the sweetener “Sugar in the Raw” at Starbucks!

  • jessica

    non-fat sugar free double grande vanilla frappe’ with no whip:)

  • Paula

    A creme brulee latte – it’s advertised as a seasonal drink but they’ll make it any time of year!