Have you ever found yourself looking at the Starbucks menu board and wondering why, instead of being labeled small, medium, and large, the sizes seem to be called after a language lesson? You’re not the only one if you have. For those who are unfamiliar, Starbucks coffee sizes can be a little confusing, but worry not! We’re here to assist you sort through the numerous sizes and caffeine possibilities and to solve the enigma of those titles with Italian inspiration.
Unraveling the Origins
We need to go back to the early 1980s, when Howard Schultz, the company’s creator, had a life-changing trip to Italy, in order to comprehend Starbucks’ unique size method. Inspired to introduce the real Italian coffee experience to America, Schultz was mesmerized by the lively café culture of Italy. Because of this, when Starbucks originally came into being, it coined phrases like grande, latte, and macchiato, which evoked the allure of Italian coffee shops.
Starbucks originally carried three sizes: short, tall, and grande. When Venti was later introduced, this hierarchy was upset, and many consumers were perplexed by the obviously incongruous name scheme.
Starbucks Coffee Sizes at a Glance
Demi (3 ounces)
Short (8 ounces)
Tall (12 ounces)
Grande (16 ounces)
Venti (20 ounces for hot drinks, 24 ounces for cold drinks)
Trenta (30 ounces)
What Each Starbucks Coffee Size Really Means
Demi
The word “demi” comes from the French “demitasse,” which means half a cup. The ancestry of this small cup goes back to 1906 in Italy. It holds only 3 ounces, thus it’s only meant to be used for espresso shots, which come out to around an ounce apiece. Because of its small size, it’s perfect for sipping a single or double shot of espresso (called a doppio, which is two ounces).
Short
With 8 ounces of capacity, the short is the smallest beverage size offered by Starbucks. We only provide this little cup for hot drinks, such as brewed coffee and espresso blends. Single shots of espresso are served with short milk-based beverages like lattes and cappuccinos. One shot of espresso is also included in a short Americano, which is made with water. Selecting single shots is a great option for people who are sensitive to the jitters that come with drinking coffee because they include less caffeine than a typical cup of coffee.
Tall
It’s interesting to note that Starbucks refers to its second-smallest size as the “tall.” It holds 12 ounces and can hold both hot and cold liquids. One shot of espresso is provided with tall milk-based drinks. The tall Americano and shaken espresso, on the other hand, are exceptions since they contain two shots of espresso for a stronger caffeine hit.
Grande
“Grande” is Spanish for “large,” but in the world of Starbucks, where more is usually better, it’s a medium option. Regardless of temperature, Starbucks’ grande-sized drinks are 16 ounces in volume. Two shots of espresso are used to make grande size espresso-based cocktails. But in keeping with Starbucks tradition, the Americano and shaken espresso are unique in that they come with an extra shot, giving you three shots of espresso to give you an energy boost.
Venti
Because the venti menu at Starbucks has two different sizes, it can be confusing to figure out. Twenty ounces of coffee make up a hot venti beverage; the word “venti” itself means “20” in Italian. On the other hand, the cold venti has a little bit greater capacity—24 ounces. Due to their notable height, both versions could be a little difficult for people who are constantly on the go.
Unexpectedly, a venti hot drink has the same amount of espresso—two shots—as a grande, although having a bigger volume. The extra volume is mostly made up of syrup and milk. But a venti Americano, with an astounding four shots of espresso, packs a powerful caffeine hit.
The venti cold drink’s slightly larger capacity includes an additional shot, for a total of three shots for milk-based beverages and one more shot for shaken espresso.
Trenta Cold
The Trenta, the newest model in Starbucks’ size variety, created a stir when it was unveiled in 2011. Eater pointed out that this enormous 30-ounce option is larger than most people’s stomachs. The Trenta size is only available in cold beverages. It may hold iced tea, iced tea lemonade, iced coffee, cold brew, and Starbucks Refreshers, among other refreshments.
Espresso Exceptions
Espresso exceptions are situations in which specific Starbucks drinks don’t follow the usual shot count for drinks with espresso as their base. These standout examples are distinguished by their distinct techniques of preparation or differences in ingredients that result in changes to the quantity of espresso shots utilized. Specialty drinks like flat white lattes and Frappuccinos are examples of espresso exceptions; they could have a different shot count than regular espresso drinks.