Why is Starbucks' eggnog latte so awful this year?

Christy Z. writes to STARBUCKS GOSSIP: I am a longtime Starbucks fan and absolutely love their holiday drinks. But this year I was quite taken aback by the taste of the eggnog latte. The spice in the drink tasted "off" and I simply chalked it up to a bad experience...didn't mention a thing. Three weeks later, my sister visited a completely different store. She walked into the house and handed me her cup telling me that she bought an eggnog latte and it tasted like sage or dill.

Can anyone explain what, if any, changes have been made to the spice in the eggnog latte this year? It seems odd that the two of us would have exactly the same experience weeks apart at different stores. It tastes like someone swapped the nutmeg with something else and it tastes very strange.

Comments

[Jeff]

Each market buys their eggnog from a local dairy. We don't add any spice to it (except for nutmeg on top). Must be a problem with the dairy.

[Rocket City Barista]

I ditto Jeff's comments. We use 2 parts whole eggnogg and 1 part whole milk. Espresso, eggnogg mix, and nutmeg on top.

Unless there's some bad nutmeg going around, I'd check the eggnogg vendor.

[Mich]

We don't put anything else in it besides eggnog which comes from a local dairy vendor, and our usual espresso roast. Must be a problem with the vendor

[wombatbarista]

I was under the impression that it was one part eggnog two parts whole milk. I would check the promo book, ROcket City Barista.

[Sheik]

If you let the eggnog latte sit out for awhile after steaming, the eggnog will totally CONGEAL and will be even gross to LOOK at let alone taste. Maybe THAT is the problem.

[NJ BARISTA]

Personally, I'm not a fan of eggnog so I stay away from them, but I tried a few this year and I don't remember any strange dill taste. We only use eggnog and espresso roast as well.

[Xpresso]

It's definitely 2 parts nog, 1 part milk. Rocket City Barista has it right. Although, I would probably prefer the reverse ratio...Eggnog is waaaaay to rich for this holiday Scrooge.

[Ken]

My daughter has purchased several eggnog lattes in the last few weeks and has had no problems.

[416barista]

I hate the nog.....The smell, the taste and the horrible sound!!! But it should taste the same as always....and it's definitely 2 parts nog, 1 part milk!!

[sohotbarista]

Eggnog is the worst thing that has ever happened to starbucks. It is gross, makes terrible noises, and is the most goshawfulthing to clean out of the steam wands. DEFINATELY 2 parts nog to one part milk. The people who order "skim" eggnog are so annoying. Read the health stuff on the back of the eggnogy box. That stuff is so bad for you.
Just nutmeg, espresso roast, and the nog. Make sure it's mixed right, not standing too long. Everything should be fine.
We try and sample the nog lattes 2 or 3 times a day. It's a joke. Noone takes them.

(Side question, why doesn't starbucks have any starbucks "trucks". All the deliverys in my area, near DC, come in white unmarked trucks. My manager just says we contract out shipping to little companies. There has to be some strange conspiracy.)

[ErieShift]

I did notice that with our second shipment of Nutmeg that it had a much brighter and richer color than that of the original shipment that we recieved. I am not sure if that will affect the taste since I always opt to have it not put on my triple grande non fat eggnog latte. It is hard to figure out where the problem lies with the dill taste in the nog.

Another thing that we have noticed in our stores is that if we dont throw out our steaming pitchers when they get that nasty thick scaly milk ring on the inside of them the taste of whatever is steamed in them is affected.

[AhnGhatti]

I was wondering that too. Then to if we had our own trucks, some nut would be on the news because they hijacked the truck trying to get syrup to sell on ebay. Maybe we better keep it the way it is. Unmarked.

On the note of eggnog, be lucky your not getting alot of customers asking for soy of organic eggnog. We have too many asking were I am. Do you ask for soy or organic (sometimes spiked) eggnog at a party, NO! Same goes for skim. It really is annoying when people ask for anything other than the mix or plain eggnog.

[Florida Barista]

Oh my god I know, I hate people who order SOY Eggnog lattes.. I have to explain to them that yes in face egg nog has dairy in it. They seem dumbfounded and say thats okay. Do customers think that eggnog is just another syrup flavor?

[416barista]

I hate when your steaming nog, and its so loud and people around the bar area look at you like your an idiot and like you have no idea what your doing.....People, its not us, its the damn nog!!!

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

Did it occur to any off you that you aren't putting in the shots soon enough and the shots die? Also, I know some stores definitely don't rinse out their eggnog pitchers every time. I only make my own drinks because I know that I follow all the correct procedures. Clean your steam wand, steam pitchers, and steam fresh eggnog! Follow standards and procedures already.

[njbaristachick]

Sage or dill? Uh...whatever...I'm not a fan of the eggnog, but my brother LOVES it...Eh.

[Bariesta]

that's what you get for drinking that stuff

[Dima]

People, it is possible to make eggnog not to scream quite as much. Mine doesn't scream. It's all in technique.

[Xpresso]

Even if I try to reduce the screaming of the eggnog by aerating it more, I get splashed in the face with it. It's just obstinate and obnoxious. Eggnog just seems angry that it's being steamed...

[Scorpio370]

I don't care for eggnog, but did try it, it tasted normal to me. There was no dill or sage flavor. As for the screaming pitcher, foam it a little and if it doesn't go away, it will lessen the noise.

Also, even thought I don't like the eggnog, I do have to reccomend the no water chia eggnog. That tastes great. If you don't like the richness of the eggnog, then have them put the water in like normal.

[Hassan Nazzir]

Eggs are meant to be eaten not drank.

Stupid Americans think this little breakfast of theirs is so wonderful.

Fry your eggs. Don't steam them.

[Chi-town's best/angriest barista]

egg nog = disgusting. in any form.

that is all.

[newbarista]

Eggnog Lattes are gross.

CHEGS are gross.

Infact, I have a grudge against egg nog.

1% 2% Eggnog Lattes dont exist...live with it.

Soy Eggnog Latte? WTF?

my favorite, Lactate Eggnog Latte, for the Lactose Intolerant.

Cant wait for the 26th...no more eggnog!!

As for the CDL and SFCDL, can't wait, liquid crack.

[D]

Eggs are meant to be eaten not drank.

Stupid Americans think this little breakfast of theirs is so wonderful.

Fry your eggs. Don't steam them.

Posted by: Hassan Nazzir | Dec 12, 2006 9:02:03 PM

Are you stupid or are you trying to be funny?

[Sue in Seattle]

Hassan Nazzir, Eggnog is from BRITISH culture, not American.

[parkersstarbuck]

Well ... we havent gotten eggnog here in austria but we have gingerbread and i love this one.

[Superbarista]

ErieShift - Have you ever tried scrubbing the pitcher?

Floridabarista - My new favorite drink is a soy cheg. ^_^

DIMA and Boston rebel - <3 you guys, technique and policy. Gotta love it. You both speak truth.

[litlnemo]

"Do customers think that eggnog is just another syrup flavor?"

I mentioned this in another thread, but yes, some coffee shops actually use egg nog syrup for their egg nog lattes. It's not that uncommon. So customers who assume Starbucks does the same aren't being stupid, necessarily -- perhaps Starbucks should emphasize that they use the real thing.

Also, different egg nog brands can have different flavors. I love egg nog but there is one brand I have had bad experiences with a few times -- the egg nog had a weird, sort of meaty flavor to it. So my guess is that the egg nog provider has crappy egg nog where you are.

[SBUXGUY97]

Make sure your barista ALWAYS steams your milk, soy or eggnog fresh. It's the standard.

fyi sbuxguy97 the standard is you may resteam the milk once - if it has never been resteamed or made extra hot the first time and has not fallen below 140 and you must resteam it to 165. But the optimum is make ever drink fresh.

[justabarista]

my favorite way to have eggnog is T 2gb wc el tastes like you dunked a gb cookie in your eggnog. Yummy

[Barista]

You are also suposed to stop steaming the eggnog mix at 140 degrees and then it gets a little more hot with the wand still in it. Refer to "the drink bible"

[Lou Sussler]

Maybe people are asking for soy nog because it is available in the supermarket. And maybe you shouldn't be so quick to sneer at or hate the people who ask for it.

Silk brand has a Soy Nog that is absolutely delicious (IMO) and is probably somewhat more healthy than the real thing.

I've never had a nog at the Bucks but I would try it if you had the Soy Nog.

[Mrs. T.]

As horrible as the Starbucks gingerbread latte is, I certainly won't be trying the eggnog one! Ugh!!!

[Jeff]

We've been cutting our eggnog with skim milk for the last three years. What is the real standard?

[Becca]

you cut the eggnog with whole milk for the regular eggnog mix, and you cut it with skim for the eggnog light mix. You should have a pitcher (or more) of each in your fridge.

[Theolaxor]

actually sbxguy97 has a point. i always steam fresh milk for drinks, unless i have enough freshly steamed milk left over for the next one. it makes a huge difference(i think it does anyways) in the taste and quality of the beverage. its also easy to do if you use small pitchers exclusively.

[Sarah]

A lot of our customers have been asking for the RF eggnog latte with half steamed non-fat and half of the RF eggnog. I think that's the only way I'd try it. It can be frustrating to make such specialized drinks, but that's what we're here for, you know working at a "specialty" coffee shop and all. And as fussy as my customers are about their drinks, they're quality people that show us they love us by tipping well. Out of all the stores in our district we get the most tips consistently.

QUESTION: where, exactly, does it say how to cut theeggnog???My new store thinks you dont have to cut it!!!!!!! Yikes!

[averrycafinatedbarrista]

yeah, definately 2 parts egnong, one part milk.

the one thing i have noticed is that many people think its a flavor syrup and not actual milk, which is amusing when i show them the extra egnong pitcher.

Customer: "does your egnong come in S.F."
Me: *pulls out the carton*, "nope"
Customer: "oh."

still gets my goat every time

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

Depending on the situation I always steam enough milk to order plus enough milk to remake the drink in case something is wrong with the first beverage. I do not believe in resteaming milk just like I don't believe in soy eggnog!

[LMD]

How my store does it:

We fill up the eggnog mix pitcher to the 1 Liter mark with straight up egg nog, then to the next .5 Liter mark (this is 1.5 liters of liquid for those of you keeping count) with whole milk.

In the event of something like nonfat eggnog, we first explain that using nonfat milk with eggnog really isn't going to help with the fat or calories. Then we procede to fill a small metal pitcher to the appropriate ratio of eggnog : nonfat milk for the drink size.

We've yet to have an order for soynog, though.

[njbaristachick]

Sugar Free Eggnog? When will people learn?!

Yea someone ordered a soy eggnog from me. I tried convincing them that there was dairy in it but they said, "Oh don't worry about it, that's alright."

..weirdo.

[Bariesta]

People i understand the standards and practices of Starbucks but realize that when people say mean things on here they are venting let us vent our frustrations already. Quit telling us that we should be grateful and love our job because at the end of the day that's all it is a job. Leave the corporate talk at work.

[Soyweird]

I'm always puzzled by people who go on about making sure a drink is made with soy...and then ask to have whip on top.

[BaristaBess]

Dima, I'm with you, it's all in the technique.

Eggnog doesn't *have* to screech and splatter. Slow down with it, take a second to find the point where it "rolls" through the pitcher, no noise, no spatter and you'll get a beautiful creamy texture that doesn't fizzle when you add the nutmeg on top.

[Chinchilla]

This is chinchilla standing in for wombat. We just checked the promo workbook and our manager seems to have discretely misplaced her knowledge about starbucks standards in her rum and coke. We retract the incorrect statement about the eggnog, whole milk ratio. Further more, we are now one step closer to not being stupid texans.

[baristainsticks]

eggnog seems to me to be a waste of time..... to actually find the eggnog pitcher, make it scream and splatter in your face, and pour it with someone bumping into you so the thick x hot eggnog is down your leg and in your shoe.... i say NO to eggnog.... who's with me!

[CuteBarista!]

we were recently told by our DM that the policy (at least in our district) is NO resteaming milk whatsoever.

anyone else hear about this?

[IcedSoyLatte]

all i can say is...."Thank God the New Year is almost here, and the jolly holiday drinks will be gone." I'm so over the eggnog shiz.