Starbucks prices are so high now, there's one drink in the app that costs nearly $45
Inflation has come for everything: your rent, groceries, therapist bill — and, yes, even your daily Starbucks order.
Over the past decade, Starbucks prices have climbed an insane 39%, according to The Takeout, outpacing even the national inflation rate, which comes in at a whopping 31%. That Mocha Frappuccino you drank all summer long? It's up 32%. Your cozy Chai Tea Latte is up 30%. Even a medium latte is now $4.45 (it was $3.65 in 2014).
3 Starbucks prices have spiked 39% over the past decade.
Ned Snowman – stock.adobe.com
And yet, despite the price hikes and CEO Brian Niccol tightening rewards to give each purchase even less bang for your buck, brand loyalists aren't budging and are even digging deeper into their wallets.
For some Starbucks aficionados, that means paying $45 for their daily caffeine boost.
The $44.97 Venti Matcha Crème Frappuccino is the most expensive option on the customizable menu, built by someone with a thirst for chaos and a tolerance for 12 espresso and 12 affogato-style shots.
3 The most expensive Starbucks drink costs a whopping $45.
ozmen – stock.adobe.com
Let's break it down.
To start, you'll need a Venti Matcha Crème Frappuccino ($6.25) as your base. From there, add on:
12 espresso shots: $15
12 affogato-style shots: $15
Mocha & dark caramel sauces: $1.60
Caramel drizzle: 60 cents
Frappuccino chips + chai: $1.60
Caramel crunch topping: 50 cents
Vanilla bean & chocolate malt powder (4 scoops each): $1
Whipped cream: Free (thank goodness)
3 Hot drinks tended to cost less than their frozen counterparts.
jetcityimage – stock.adobe.com
Total before tax: $41.55. Factor in tax, and you're looking at $44.97 for a beverage that is pricier than a doctor's visit co-pay.
Customizing your drink at Starbucks is a game of strategy. Espresso shots and cold foams are the most expensive upgrades, coming in at $1.25, while syrups and drizzles range from 60 cents to 80 cents each. Cold foam can't be added to Frappuccinos, while affogato shots are Frappuccino-only.
Interestingly, hot drinks don't even come close to matching the price of frappuccinos. The most expensive hot drink one could build — a Matcha Latte — topped out at $40.37.
Will it taste good? Who's to say? Will your stomach forgive you? Perhaps not.
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