Posted on 07/14/2014 6:22:44 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Sameera planned carefully for her attempt at breaking a world record. She obtained permission from the store where her attempt would take place, and even made sure to alert media outlets ahead of time. She even brought the proper equipment and a support team. What record was she out to break? She sought to make the most expensive single free Starbucks drink of all time.
The initial cash register total was more than $60, but scanning her loyalty card brought the total down to $57.75. You know, only $57.75.
The previous record, as you may have learned from Consumerist or from hundreds of other news outlets, was set in May with a $54 frozen drink concoction made from 60 shots of espresso and a lot of very delicious, very sweet things.
World records, of course, are set only to be broken, and Sameera decided to make a run at this one. “I asked the baristas if this was okay, and they spoke with the manager who also said it would be fine,” she wrote to Consumerist. “I waited till just before closing time so that I wouldn’t be inconveniencing the baristas while they’re attending to customers. They were really excited about making the drink as well, so that was pretty cool.” That’s important: if the store staff found the request daunting, obviously one shouldn’t complete the attempt.
We at Consumerist are apparently now the governing body of attempts at the world’s largest free drink from Starbucks. It turns out that the comprehensive rankings are on this post at Caffeine informer.
We’ve talked to Starbucks and await their response. They did not publicly approve of the previous attempt, at least on the corporate level. We will update this post when we find out what they have to say about this super-beverage. We heard back from Starbucks. Their position on the record-breaking beverage phenomenon is that it is technically against Starbucks’ own policies to serve blended drinks by the vat: a Frappuccino, which this beverage theoretically started as, can’t be served in a container larger than 24 ounces. Also, they don’t think that Sameera’s beverage would taste very good, though they put it in more polite terms.
Here’s the written statement they sent us:
With over 170,000 ways to customize beverages at Starbucks, we know that personalization is a big part of the Starbucks Experience for both our customers and our partners (employees), however this particular customization was excessive and something that we do not encourage. We want to ensure our customers receive the highest quality and most delicious tasting food or beverage products from us and, we don’t believe that this particular beverage choice was reflective of that.
Per our existing policy, beverages larger than Trenta size (31 oz.) cannot be made or served. This includes personal cups that exceed 31 oz (or a Trenta-sized cup). For blended beverages and espresso drinks, those cannot be made or served in sizes larger than a Venti (24 oz cold cup/20 oz hot cup).
Maybe the next challenge should be to try all of the chain’s claimed 170,000 possible combinations. That would take you about 466 years. Drink up!
Drink it all really fast, then run outside and blow yourself up.
This little Dennis Leary gem is the first thing that came to mind when I started reading this. $61, to each their own I guess.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f_dxLiuXuw
Another First World problem.
Basically, it’s 60 shots of espresso with a couple of squirts of syrup. You can break this record yourself the next time the price of coffee goes up.
Stupid to use the loyalty card.
The statement by Starbucks says 31 ounces is the limit, so it might not actually be a Starbucks drink even though it was made at a Starbucks.
Wouldn’t someone actually have to consume the drink for it to be considered a drink?
Starbucks .... The home away from home for
millenials, queers, sons out of their basements,
antigunners, and now, mohammedans.
Wilkow. The best talk show on radio.
Oh, am I echoing someone?
Beyond absurd.
Wilkow on SiriusXM Patriot channel 125. Well, he may be echoing you. I just heard him talking about third world problems and first world problems and how we are going the way of Venezuela which had first world problems until Chavez took over and then they have shortages of everything including water. Imagine having water rationed to only three days per week. That is happening in Caracas.That is third world.
“This little Dennis Leary gem is the first thing that came to mind when I started reading this.”
Thanks for posting that; it had me almost rolling on the floor laughing!
It’s already happening in Detroit, in a way. They refuse to pay their water bills and think we should pay them.
Jeez...and, I thought I didn’t have life.
gluttony....
applies even if she didn’t actually drink the thing
Starbucks, where it takes a bunch of bucks ... for this?
In contrast, I have to convince the barista that for my free drink I really do just want a “tall dark black”. No, I don’t want a venti loaded with sugar and fat! Coffee please, just...coffee, sensibly sized.
Was it free? Or was it $57.75?
Frito: Yeah, well, I really don't think we have time for a hand job, Joe.
Starbucks hasn’t sued? Even though they stole the name from Herman Melville.
The drink would have been $57.75, but she had a “free drink” credit. There is no limit on what that drink can be; most people get the biggest most elaborate thing they can. (I have to explain that I really do just want a normal sized coffee, nothing in it.)
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