Critic: Starbucks skinny drink was "thin, weak, and infused with a weird chemical flavor"

That's Chicago Tribune food/drink blogger Monica Eng's reaction to her skinny latte with the new mocha flavor. "The whole thing was reminiscent of something you would have gotten out of a 1980s-style coffee machine and then complained about," she writes. "Ostensibly, somewhere in the drink there is a shot of Starbucks 'Signature espresso' and perhaps some real cocoa powder but you wouldn't know it in this whisper of a drink that makes you feel like you are depriving and poisoning yourself at the same time." Other reactions? (Read the review at ChicagoTribune.com)

Comments

THe Reduced Fat Lemon Cherry Coffe Cake has 10 g of Fat in each serving

[Mary]

"Skinny" drinks have always tasted unpleasant to me. Once I started eating better, I gave myself two options...when I go to Starbucks, I could get a non-fat/sugar-free syrup latte in my normal size (grande), or a normal latte in a smaller size (tall). I decided to go with the latter; less coffee to drink, but it's much more enjoyable. It's a few more calories than the skinny drink, but I'll take a few extra calories if that means I'm able to really enjoy what I'm drinking.

[espressoterraca]

I agree, I tasted the Skinny Mocha and think it is AWFUL.

[christin]

I had two skinny vanilla lattes yesterday. i was in love. Now, I'd had a skinny hazelnut before (back when it was a tall nonfat sugar free hazelnut latte) and I HATED it. but it must have just been the syrup. I really, really liked the SF Vanilla syrup. and today I had the caramel and it was great. i hesitate on the mocha, but that's just common sense. sugar-free chocolate just doesn't appeal to me. it's unnatural.

That said, I'm ALL about this ordering short cut. thank GOD.

[Erin]

She probably just had a bad barista make her coffee. I've been drinking "skinny" Cinnamon Dolce Lattes for awhile now (when we still had to call them grande non-fat sugar free cinnamon dolces and they taste fine. Obviously skim milk and sugar free syrup isn't going to have the same serious "wow factor" that full fat, full sugar drinks do. Frankly I'm pretty happy that I only have to say skinny cinnamon dolce now.

once you drink enough fake sugar, the human body figures out how to convert that same fake sugar into the real deal and it does no good... people, people, don't want to be overweight? change your life and your choices... enjoy the real deal, just less often... it will be much more enjoyable plus more special when you do it only occasionally... sugar-free is ridiculous for many reasons... its silly for adults to believe they can get something (good, real flavor) for nothing (no calories)

[Bladerunner]

Thank You Food Critic. Half of our staff has spat out the SF Mocha, after tasting it. Again Starbucks has dropped the ball. Whoever ok'd this flavor should be fired.

[Mary]

once you drink enough fake sugar, the human body figures out how to convert that same fake sugar into the real deal and it does no good

Interesting...I assume you have some reputable source to back that up with?

its relatively common knowledge... google it

and artificial sweeteners do convert to FORMALDEHYDE and can cause lupus... just not worth it... plus it messes up the brain into not knowing when to stop eating

[Adam]

Up until now, I don't think the sugar-free syrups have been that bad. They don't taste just like their counterparts, but hey, neither does Coke and Diet Coke. They have their own tastes. However the SF Mocha is absolutely nauseating. What a terrible idea.

side-note: Is the skinny promo working? My store ran out of non-fat milk this morning.

[B-Mo]

I can't drink that sugar-free stuff. It creeps me out. I'd rather have a tall drink with the real stuff than some venti skinny nonsense any day. IMHO, if you're trying to avoid the calories, get coffee.

A 2005 study was published by the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). This study was significantly larger than previous ones. So what did they find?

“Our study has shown that aspartame is a multipotential carcinogenic compound whose carcinogenic effects are also evident at a daily dose of 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg), notably less than the current acceptable daily intake for humans,” the authors write.

I've been drinking sugarfree, nonfat lattes for a long time even before the skinny promotion came out and I think they do a pretty good job on most of the sugarfree syrups for the most part. However the sugarfree mocha is revolting.(I literally gagged) It doesn't even remotely resemble the flavor of chocolate.

"its relatively common knowledge... google it "

You can also google the earth is flat and get thousands of hits.

[Scott]

At my current 165 lbs, I'd have to consume 1500 mg of aspartame to get your alleged carcinogenic effect. That's like 10 cans of diet soda.

Good thing I use Splenda. Maybe you've heard it tastes like sugar cuz it's made from sugar? Ah, but it's 10 percent evil, and that makes all the difference.

[magic1]

I have no problems with sugar-free anything - I drink sugar free hot cocoa at home, and I've had the sugar free hazelnut, dolce and vanilla lattes (with non-skim milk) at Starbucks in the past. But the reviewer is right on - the skinny mocha is NASTY! Such a disappointment. Not sure if it's entirely the syrup though. No matter what some amateur nutritionists might say, some of us have VERY bad reactions to "natural sugar" (talk about an oxymoron) and can't have any. I'd rather have a drink with sugar-free flavoring but 2% milk. This new "skinny" nonsense does me no good.

[Sheik]

"You can also google the earth is flat and get thousands of hits."

HA HA HA HAA!!!!!!

[Carol]

At my current 165 lbs, I'd have to consume 1500 mg of aspartame to get your alleged carcinogenic effect. That's like 10 cans of diet soda.

Believe it or not, some people do consume that much diet soda every day...if not more. (Yes, I was shocked too!) I think when you deprive yourself of real foods, your body eventually rebels, which is why were the number one nation for "diets" yet we are also the fattest and most unhealthy nation in the world. I agree wholeheartedly with the "everything in moderation" theory, and it's served me well over the years -- unlike the diets I've been on that never worked.

[jenna]

does anyone remember that awful mint chocolate syrup? it was thin and runny like the sf mocha is. tasted just as bad.

[Javaccino]

Well, the writer of the article quoted tried the sf mocha which is absolutely dreadful. There was already a long thread about the stuff. So I'm not going to go on about it.

My espresso drink? A short cappuccino with or without just one pump of real mocha. This is my partner beverage, too, so I could get a vente lord-knows-what for the same price, but I don't.

[Grebby]

I stopped reading at "small (sorry, can't get used to saying "tall" for 12 oz.)"

Yeah, I can see how after decades of Starbucks and every other coffee house in America using "short" and "tall," it would still take some getting used to in 2008.

I don't care for the sugar-free syrups either, but I rarely order drinks with syrup anyway. I'll try the flavor-of-the-month once or twice but that's about all.

[FLASM]

I think our SF's are with splenda, not aspartame though - right? I prefer them to the sugar version because I don't like having the aftertaste of sugar in my mouth.

Anyway, whoever said their store spit it out when they tried it, we did too! Someone said liquid tootsie rolls. I thought more along the lines of poison.

Speaking of poison...have you warmed a cherry lemon coffee cake? Weridest smell ever.

I don't care for SF syrups personally, but the other flavors are bearable. The mocha, however, is truly dreadful and thank goodness somebody pointed it out besides partners.

[Blanc]

One of my friends works at Starbucks. The mocha comes pre-made in a syrup bottle instead of the kind they make, like the original. The sugar free mocha by itself smells like godiva chocolate liquor and does remotely taste like chocolate, but the aftertaste it leaves is that of artificial sweetener, no chocolate flavor at all. I like all the other sugar free syrups but this doesn't taste right in anything. Except maybe with another regular syrup mixed in to drown out the flavor.

[CaliSM]

As a partner, I try to stay as optomistic about the decisions and offerings made by the company. However, I have to agree that the SFMO is nasty. It tastes like liquid tootsie rolls, which make me want to wretch. As for the aspartame arguement going on...Starbucks uses sucralose (splenda) products in their SF products. The only aspartame offered is in the little packets on the condiment bar.

[nkalish]

I tried the skinny mocha today and couldn't drink it. I replaced it with a cafe mocha with regular syrup and skim milk and that was just fine. The syrup was what made the drink taste vile and weird.

While I was in the Starbucks having the mocha, I saw a lot of other people ordering skinny drinks. I wondered how they liked them.

On other occasions I've tried the sugar free gingerbread syrup and that's not too bad.

[chitown's best/angriest barista]

i tried everything i could think of to make the SFM drinkable (except changing the milk, since i can only drink soy) and i couldn't do it! less pumps, more shots, more foam, less foam, adding other syrups, etc., but there was nothing i could possibly do! ack! and i tried the SFCDL for the first time, and oh man, that's even worse than i expected! i'm sticking to tea.

the skinny mocha tasted like cherry cough syrup to me....

[KGS]

why does nobody talk about those people who need to gain a couple of pounds. i am sick and tired of hearing people complain about their weight and shape and calories.
get a life, eat right, exercise and for sanity of others please shut up. i really dont need to know about your dietary problems.

I think "skinny latte" sounds ridiculous and it's confusing to baristas who've been taught to call and write the cup one way and now have to learn another way to call and write the same drink.

[Jennifer]

Would someone please tell my why Starbucks still does not offer fat-free half and half, either at the condiment counter or behind the counter like they do with soy milk?

If you've never had it, it's wonderful! All the flavor and thick creamy goodness of full-fat half and half without any of the artery-clogging bad stuff. How the dairy wizards figured out how to remove the fat, and still make it taste just like the regular stuff, I will never know.

"Ingredients: Nonfat milk, milk*, corn syrup solids, artificial color**, sugar, dipotassium phosphate, sodium citrate, mono and diglycerides*, carageenan, natural and artifical flavors, vitamin A palmitate.

*Adds a trivial amount of fat

**An ingreadient not normally found in half and half."

[barista lane]

Why couldn't they just replace the sugar in the regular mocha powder with artificial sweetener? I bet it would actually be palatable...

Well I don't know about other stores, but finding another place to store even more of the stirred mocha (if we had sugar free in the giant tins like the regular) would be next to impossible.

"Would someone please tell my why Starbucks still does not offer fat-free half and half, either at the condiment counter or behind the counter like they do with soy milk?"

We don't offer fat free soy either, honey....

The reputation of the skinny drinks are likely to be ruined by the catastrophe that is sugar free mocha. Obviously it tastes like tootsie rolls dissolved in battery acid, which doesn't surprise me, considering there is no cocoa in the syrup. Unfortunately, the reactions people have to the SFM will probably be generalized to assume that all of the SF syrups taste like crap, which is definitely not true.

Starbucks still has something going with the sugar free syrups, but SFM is going to cause problems.

"Would someone please tell my why Starbucks still does not offer fat-free half and half, either at the condiment counter or behind the counter like they do with soy milk?"

We don't offer fat free soy either, honey....

[Dolce]

SFM aka Tootsie Roll Latte (this is what my store calls it now)

truly vile in any form

However, people with diabetes probably won't know what real mocha tastes like so they might like this stuff!

[Justin]

I almost want to try a sugar free mocha just to see how bad it really is ;)

[Lindsey]

I usually drink all my drinks with SF Vanilla, and I was really excited when I heard we were coming out with SF Mocha. However, I thought it would be a powder like our regular mocha, and was shocked when it was in a bottle. I tried it about 3 weeks ago for partner sampling, and was disgusted.

The idea is great, but Starbucks needs to go back to the drawing board and try again . . .

[J]

My co-worker tried the SFM and said she could barely swallow it. She asked the Barista's to make her a regular mocha and they wouldn't give her a new drink without charging her for it.

that's wrong, they should of remade her drink no questions asked... we've remade drinks with a smile for much much less... JSY people...

[Marcus]

I only get lattes (never had one with syrup)...I wonder why people counting calories don't just SKIP syrup altogether...I mean, it seems obvious to me that some chemical sugar free stuff is gonna taste bad--why not just have coffee and milk--both are natural and pretty healthful.

[Ritastar$]

All the sugar free stuff tastes like smashed @$$hol. Bitter chemical and down right putrid.

[starskilled]

i spilled some sfm on my hands yesterday and it stained them semi-permanently for several hours. i am discouraged by these decisions and feel like this bidness is going to run us out of bidness. we can listen about it on xm radio while ingesting the rat poison tootsie roll with the aftertaste of vomit (i am not kidding) and drinking xpresso from a george jetson push button machine. mmmmm. i can google about it while becoming a member of the t mobile and sipping on the furthest thing from a "hand crafted" italian inspired espresso beverage. this company is probably going to the crappers. just watch, by the end of next year, the benefits will change.

-nostra-f'n-skinny damus

[zoom]

I've been with the company for a long, long time, and have been asked thousands of times when will starbucks release a sf mocha. To say that I'm bitterly disappointed at this offering would be a huge understatement. Our stores in our area(Fresno) has done countless tests for beverages, and I can't fathom how this was approved beyond the first few test markets amazes me. It reminds me of petite cookies....dreadfully awful that wasn't fit to feed my dog. I think the initial shipment of 12 bottles will be sitting in backroom for a long time...

[BURRISTA]

As has already been said over and over again, SFM is definitely not all it's pumped up to be by the company. What I disagree with, however, is how I hear of baristas telling customers right off the bat how horrible and disgusting it is.

If SFM is getting such a bad rap even before a customer tries it, the skinny line of drinks will DEFINITELY fail. When I am asked about the skinny drinks, I describe it in the most positive way possible, and have decided to let the CUSTOMERS decide whether or not they like it. It's not up to us to decide, and I don't think we should be telling customers what to think about it. Give it a chance, and let customers try it with an open mind.

[tess]

the skinny drinks are horrible. i have always thought that about the chemical-ified sugar free syrups. i am embarassed to be apart of this movement that further puts "good and bad" labels on food (and drinks)and, if it were possible, makes society more calorie conscience. its disgusting...and not just the taste.

is the skinny mocha written SFM or SFMO?

[goinkrazy6215]

I'm a shift at starbucks and i didn't expect the skinny platform to be so popular. Today is the first open i'm working and right now on my half i continue to hear "Grande skinny vanilla latte. Venti skinny mocha." I'm very surprised.

I finally tasted a sample of the Skinny Mocha yesterday. Not bad, but definitely watered down. Not normal tasting. I don't have to worry about wanting/needing to drink a Skinny anything, I don't put that SF poison into my body anymore! We have been selling the Skinny line though. Go figure!

[dzippy]

Diabetics know what chocolate tastes like. You can have sugar, you just have to be careful and monitor it.
Trust me, they'll see Sugar-Free Mocha as the fraud it is.

How are people feeling about the 'honey' latte and the 'art of espresso' (button pushing) promos later this year.
p.s. If they come up with a 'honey' syrup instead of using real honey, I'll die.

[goinkrazy6215]

what are the 'honey' latte and 'are of espresso' promos?

honey latte? art of espresso? (why not espresso or latte art?) i have not heard about these yet, what else can you tell us?

[Spoon]

I tried the honey latte and it was really good! In fact, it may be my new favorite drink. Haven't tried the skinny mocha yet, but I'm very curious now.

[Misty]

I have no problems with our sugar-free syrups, because I'm not sensitive to artificial sweeteners like some people, but I was absolutely shocked with the sugar-free mocha. When I heard that we were doing one, I thought it was powder-based like the regular one. I tried it, and it does taste like a icky Tootsie Roll (I think it's great that's a wide consensus) and smells like cheap tequila.

Please remove this monstrosity, Starbucks!

Where is this honey latte?

[Dawn]

Maybe my taster is off, but I had a skinny caramel mocha this morning, and while it did have a bit of the chemical-sweetener taste, as many SF syrups do if you're not used to them, I didn't think it was terrible. In fact, I thought it was pretty damn tasty. I just get really psyched when new SF stuff comes out since I limit sugar intake. I did add some Splenda to it to sweeten it up a little, so that may have also changed the taste that everyone is disliking. I hope that if SF mocha gets pulled, that it doesn't deterr Starbucks from launching other SF things!

[Kittymoose]

I tried the SFM yesterday and it was the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted (And I've had goose-blood soup). My SM simply smiled and said "well...you have to like it." Ugh. I said "So pretty much I have to lie to people" and she just smiled.

I had a girl come through, probably 12 years old, and ask for a skinny frappuchino. I told her I could do it light with sugar free syrup and she was like "I need to make it as light as possible"

She weight 110 lbs. Now, mind you, she was taller than me, and 110 lbs is the MIDRANGE for my healthy weight, being shorter. I'm willing to bet she's "light frappuchino-ing" herself into an eating disorder.

[Kittymoose]

And by "weight 110" I mean weighed. Oops.

[Lee G]

"Would someone please tell my why Starbucks still does not offer fat-free half and half,...If you've never had it, it's wonderful! All the flavor and thick creamy goodness of full-fat half and half without any of the artery-clogging bad stuff. How the dairy wizards figured out how to remove the fat,..."

Actually, nearly every "fat-free" product version (of a "normal" food that contains fat such as half and half) has it's fat removed and that missing portion is then replaced with corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup. This is true for fat free baked goods and dairy products as well as other prepared products. In most cases you'll still have almost the same amount of calories, but you'll just be getting them from corn syrup instead of from fat. IMV I'll take fat calories any day over those from corn syrup which has a very bad rap these days on the health front, even worse than fat.

As for sugar free artificial sweetener laden products: just say "no". None of these are good for you and unless you have diabetes and really need to watch your sugar intake, you should not be eating that franken-food.

Moderation is the key. You don't have to eat artificial garbage so you can stuff yourself with multiple servings - just have one small serving with real food ingredients instead.

[Scriblerus]

Ugggggh, I tried the sugar-free mocha today, and while the initial taste was ok, the rest of it was WEIRD. Never again. NEVER again.

[Juicy]

Dawn,

Even if Sugar-Free Mocha does not do well, which honestly I don't think it will, as long as the entire promotion as a whole is successful I am sure they will continue introducing sugar-free syrups. Hopefully they will learn their mistake from sugar-free mocha though.

[Javaccino]

I'm starting to have customers ask me if the sf mocha is any good. How should I answer?

1)I could be honest and say "no". (yeah, that would sound good, Starbucks selling something their own people don't like)
or
2)I could be honest and say "I'm not really not that into flavored coffee" (but then, what the hell am I doing in Starbucks, isn't that what we do here?)
or
3)I could lie and say i haven't tried it yet. (So, why am I selling something I haven't tried myself?)

I don't like being in this position.

[Legendary_or_bust]

Javaccino, this is what I would say:

You can try a sample (I would make a tall) -- if you don't like it -- I will make you any other drink. Now, will I charge you? Depends on the person, their attutude, and how they interacted with me. I think it's situation. I would let THEM try it rather than relying on me, because I don't like a lot of things others do, and vice versa. This IS capitalism. If people like something, we give it to them and don't dictate.

[coastcat]

So I finally got to try the SF Mocha. Won't be ordering a second, ugh. Oddly harsh and chemical in flavor, like off-brand instant hot chocolate from the dollar store.

Returning to my usual SF hazelnut, thanks anyway.

The possible failure of SFM shouldn't doom the whole skinny line. Nonfat sugar-free lattes are fine - I practically live on the damn things - it's just this one syrup that's unpleasant.

[s.munt]

The New Sugar Free Mocha - or "sugar free chocolate flavored syrup" smells like a chocolate sharpie. You couldn't pay me to drink the soya sauce like substance.

[kylin]

i hate the skinny. but ive never liked nonfat milk to begin with. i usually get soy. but i think ill stick with te SF syrups because i guess i dont really taste a difference.

It's marked SKM.

And skinny is really working in my store. My customers love it.

[McAuliflower]

how out of touch is America with their food?

"really liked the SF Vanilla syrup. and today I had the caramel and it was great.i hesitate on the mocha, but that's just common sense. sugar-free chocolate just doesn't appeal to me. it's unnatural."

because making caramel without sugar makes sense to you?

[JavaJunkie]

Wow. Tried the skinny mocha today. Shocking, chemical, and just plain nasty. I am a hardcore Starbuck's enthusiast, and it pains me to say, this is the worst thing I have ever had the misfortune to try. It's hard to believe Starbucks would release it to the public.

"how out of touch is America with their food?

"really liked the SF Vanilla syrup. and today I had the caramel and it was great.i hesitate on the mocha, but that's just common sense. sugar-free chocolate just doesn't appeal to me. it's unnatural."

because making caramel without sugar makes sense to you? "

Hahahahah THIS MADE MY DAY

[SoCAL STARBUCKS REBEL]

BRING BACK THE CHANTICO!!!!

[ian]

skinny was a good idea with a retarded name. people come into my store (i'm an ex-starbucks barista, now working for a different coffee shop/bar) asking for a guilt-free drink, and I know exactly what they mean.

[artemisia]

as a skinny person, people are always giving me dirty looks & telling me to eat a sandwich, even though its genetic. calling these drinks 'skinny' is a bit offensive to me, its not like we call regular mochas 'fat', calling out a grande 'skinny' vanilla latte sounds just as ridiculous as saying i want a grande 'fat ass' mocha.

I think it's odd that there is so much sodium in the SF syrups....but none in the regular ones.

[barista2]

sugar free is not even SUGAR free!

[Ruby Doomsday]

None of our partners like sugar Free Mocha, even our store manager. She doesn't even force us to recommend it -- merely tell the customer that while we don't personally love it, we will gladly make them a sample and replace the drink if they don't like it. This seems like about the most honest way of going about things. Oh, an unnerving little factoid about the syrup itself... it dries GREEN!

[TCOFFEE]

sfm...dreadfully miserable.

[mickey]

javaccino: how about (4) "let me sample it for you... sugar sensitive customers are delighted with an additional SF option and I'd like to know what you think!" How about INVOLVING your customer in YOUR learning, in your store, in our business. "We are", as Jim Alling puts it, "in the PEOPLE business, serving coffee."

There are syrup flavors I don't like. Personally, I don't care for Toffee Nut or Hazel Nut or any nut in my coffee, frankly. Not a fan of Peppermint, even at xmas and am not sure how to describe the gastrnomic impact the lite frappuccino base has on my system. Lucky for me, among the thousands of beverage options, variations and combos in the Starbucks line-up - there are several options I love. Just as in the whole bean line-up, there are some I love, some I find interesting, and some that just aren't for me. Something for everyone, not everything for someone.

My husband is diabetic. He's THRILLED with the SFM option, loves the flavor, and considers significant Starbucks' effort to provide something for the million or so diabetics in North America. You don't like it? Don't drink it! [you can always have your 64g/sugar grande almond mocha with extra whip - but not everyone can.] But above all, do not ruin the customer's experience and interest in being INVOLVED in what is going on in your store. Sample it, and ask them how they like it - and explain how important it is for the growing numbers of people in NA with chronic dietary restructions to have options. They may still have their regular Mocha instead, but next time the may bring their sister/brother/mother/father/friend who has serious dietary challenge and enjoy a Starbucks visit together.

Imagine, Visualize, Try... really try being Legendary.

This is how I handle the SFM:

If a customer orders it confidently, I will ask them if they've tried it. If they say yes, then I say I'm glad they liked it. If they say no, I say let me know what you think when you try it. And if they don't like it, I will definitely make them anything else they want.

If they ask me if I like it, I will say "It's not my favorite, I prefer the sugar free vanilla, but we have several other customers who have tried it and like it. If you try it and decide you don't care for it, I'll make you something else."

[ChickenGirl]

How Mom & Pop drive-thru is 'skinny' anyway? I've been a customer for over 20 years (Seattle). It took all those years to train us customers to order properly, now this. Skinny? Really lowering the bar, Howard.
Worried about calories enough to have to go SF? Try just stepping down the size or heck, order a misto with more coffee than milk! Kid tested, Weightwatchers approved!

[brainybarista]

Anybody had to wipe up any SF Mocha? Wipe some up and then wash your rag. The rag turns bright red.

One of my baristas sampled the SKM the other night and then complained for HOURS that she could still taste it.

The real question is how much longer we'll need to wait before they release SF Chai and mess that up, too.

[Beth]

creeping thing is, its stains your skin...

[Becca]

Artemisia: "as a skinny person, people are always giving me dirty looks & telling me to eat a sandwich, even though its genetic. calling these drinks 'skinny' is a bit offensive to me, its not like we call regular mochas 'fat', calling out a grande 'skinny' vanilla latte sounds just as ridiculous as saying i want a grande 'fat ass' mocha."

This is what I have the biggest problem with. I think it sounds judgmental. It's like saying that if you drink a sf,fat free drink it will make you skinny and regular drinks will make you fat. Personally I am heavier and would feel uncomfortable ordering a "skinny" latte.

[Kate]

I've never been a fan of sugar-free anything, and I just drink plain lattes anyway so I am sorta indifferent on the matter. And I refuse to call out "tall skinny vanilla latte!" I still say "tall sugar free vanilla nonfat latte!" Nobody at my store really cares, and we're such a frappuccino-heavy store that it's not too big of a deal for us.

Sugar free mocha smells like chocolate liqueur, and I really wish it tasted like it too.

[Not Starry Eyed Over This]

The Sugar Free Mocha is so bad I couldnt even drink but a few sips. You really missed the mark on this one Starbucks.

[dc]

the sugar free mocha tastes like poison.

I know the 1st comment states that there are 10 g of fat in the lemon cherry coffee cake, but how many calories, carbs, & protein does it have?

[anon]

dont lie. simply, "im not into sugar free" give em a sample and let the consumer decide. the true test will be seen over time. will sales support it.

[Michael]

I read email that said the SF Mocha was geared toward people who are familiar with the taste of Splenda. And for people who drink diet soda's.

[pyr]

I am a fan of sugar free products (being sugar sensitive) but this sugar free mocha was absolutely disgusting and gave me a horrible headache.

didn't anybody taste this stuff before they sent it out??

I am quite familiar with the taste of splenda and only drink diet soda.

I -still- think the SF mocha tastes nothing like chocolate and is really gross. At all. In fact, really, NO SF mocha syrup I've ever tried has tasted like chocolate.

[Chris - still sick to my stomach]

'Skinny' mocha tastes like a toxic dump - there is no way that Starbucks did any beta testing of this.. well, at least not with humans.

YUCK

[Darleen]

Imagine, Visualize, Try... really try being Legendary

Oh Mickey you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind hey Mickey!
I love it!!! Thank you!

[Starista17]

Well, honestly, I am kind of glad the critic said that about the skinny *cringes* mocha.

It does taste like crap.

Not even remotely close to mocha syrup.

It's sick.

Maybe that kind of review will get our lovely bux thinking about just what a dumb idea this whole "skinny" thing is.

FYI- I refuse to call drinks as skinny. Unless I am making fun of it. Who's with me??

[James]

As I sip my coffee, I just wanted to comment on the branding of the new Skinny coffee drinks. I have regularly ordered non-fat lattes from Starbucks for several years now, and I also appreciate the addition of some of the sugar-free syrup options when the mood strikes me as it did today; however, as a male I find it a bit annoying to hear shouted across the store Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte for James!…it's just a bit emasculating.

I am married with a daughter and another child on the way, so I am quite comfortable with my masculinity, but it is still rather obnoxious as it has a quite apparent feminine tone. I even ordered my drink the old way ignoring the new menu...grande non-fat cinnamon dolce latte w/sugar free syrup & no-whip. I still love Starbucks coffee, but I have to say I'm tempted to stop at the Coffee Bean (which I actually walk by normally to go to the Starbucks) for my next cup and avoid the whole 'Skinny' scene. Just thought I'd give you this male's perspective.

why are we suddenly opposed to calling things what they really are and instead need cutesy code-names for them to make ourselves feel better about our addictions? no matter how starbucks tries to market it, there's almost nothing we sell that's healthy for you (except perhaps the plain hot teas or the fruit bowl) and drinking it won't make you skinny, so stop fooling yourself honey. what next, "positive" names for drugs and alcohol so we can feel better about that too? get real!

[almostanasm]

Baristas- check out the OTHER ingredients in our beloved SFM. Specifically, the food colourings. Then, go home and google them. They are two food colourings that in many countries are restricted in use, and ones that MANY people can have allergies/sensativities too....

I've noticed with every new promotional syrup, we tend to go through a bottle of syrup around every 2-3 days (eg gingerbread, pumpkin etc) when first launched. We opened our SFM on Dec 28th to do partner samples. I'd say we're maybe a third of the way through that bottle by now.

i took one sip, didnt even swallow, and still nearly puked!

[tessat]

here in canada, "skinny" is the way they brand non-fat drinks at our main competitor, second cup. It is something I've always resented when second cup customers order skinny lattes, I hate that everyone will do it now. I never felt comfortable ordering "skinny" drinks, it sounds frivolous and vain. Also, I see the pained expressions of overweight people ordering "skinny" lattes, like they're afraid someone will hear them.

[BaristaKay]

The SF Mocha smells like alcohol/cough syrup! Disgusting. None of my customers like it, either.

I had by first skinny mocha and it was the most disgusting drink I've ever had. It tasted so artificial that it didn't resemble a mocha at all. I would not ever buy this drink again and would suggest anyone thinking of buying it to save your money instead. Drink less mocha if you have to but at least enjoy the indulgence of the real thing.

[Kimberly]

Is it too late to comment on this? I always get non-fat and sugar-free drinks with whip. With whip has always been assumed unless I say no-whip. This week, every morning, the barrista has replied to me after my drink order "So you want a skinny?" and I say "No, i want whip, so it's not a skinny." ARGH. All it did was make things MORE complex.

[dek]

I'm not crazy about the Skinny drink platform because I just think it sounds stupid. But, I must admit it makes marking cups easier as long as the customer doesn't change anything about the basic order. I have to say though, that the SF Mocha was not a good addition to the SF line-up. Since it's a syrup and not made from a powder, like the regular mocha, it has that artificial after-taste, so it hasn't been very successful.

[not to crazy about the SFM syrup]

I don't care either way about the skinny program, I kind of like calling it out. It makes me feel skinny, haha.

Anyways, who tested the sugar free mocha?! I kind of think it tastes like a stale tootsie roll, nasty. It is going to scare away any new customers from ordering our mochas, they are going to try it, not like it, then thinking our regular mocha taste like the SF version they will never buy a regular mocha.

I have been letting customers know when they order it, that if they don't like it I will make them a regular non fat mocha, I also do explain that it may taste not that great.

Oh my god sugar free mocha is DISGUSTING, I would never go back if I was a first time customer!

[not to crazy about the SFM syrup]

I don't care either way about the skinny program, I kind of like calling it out. It makes me feel skinny, haha.

Anyways, who tested the sugar free mocha?! I kind of think it tastes like a stale tootsie roll, nasty. It is going to scare away any new customers from ordering our mochas, they are going to try it, not like it, then thinking our regular mocha taste like the SF version they will never buy a regular mocha.

I have been letting customers know when they order it, that if they don't like it I will make them a regular non fat mocha, I also do explain that it may taste not that great.

[ouch]

"However, people with diabetes probably won't know what real mocha tastes like so they might like this stuff!"

So are you saying that we should assume that diabetics have no taste buds? Yes, lets trick them into buying this foul drink and them maybe vomiting on our clean just mopped floors. Sorry for the sarcasm, but I still can't believe that such a great company with wonderful products would purposely bring a product that is so disgusting through our doors.

Is someone trying to sabotage Starbucks by adding "vomit" extract into a sugar free base then labeling it sugar free mocha? Just wondering.

[nthasfm]

I had to remake 3 drinks today because they didn't like the flavor of the sugar free mocha. This is going to start effecting line times soon. Are we TRYING to loose customers. Is this the new direction of our company.

[Xan]

The smell of the Sugarfree Mocha absolutely nauseates me.

[Scout's Honor]

The skinny mocha was the only drink I've been tempted to return. I usually decide I need to learn from my ordering mistakes and just not order something I don't like again. This time was different. Nasty. No coffee or chocolate taste. Foamy, slightly slimy. Yuck. And i drink diet soda, use equal and non-fat half and half in my drip coffee and still think it was gross. Never again. Bux did a terrible job in market testing on this one.

[Melissa]

THE SKINNY MOCHA IS HORRIBLE...SICK SICK SICK

[Bob]

Whenever I have to make a skinny mocha I feel my insides turning. I can't smell the syrup or I start gagging. FORGET tasting it, I cant even get past the smell.

The Customers in my store LOVE all of the other skinny lattes so much but some have brought back the skinny mocha saying its too gross to even drink it

[Lia]

I agree about the sf mocha. I work at Starbucks though and many people order it. I guess if you are used to the aftertaste it doesn't offend you. The regular mocha is not sweet at all. I now order my own mocha non fat with no whip, instead of a venti I get a grande. I'd rather have less with the real mocha.

[heather]

I have been getting carmal machitos forever with sugar free vanille syrups, non fat milk, and light drizzle which is the only thing that contained sugar. I am a skinny girl i just dont take in alot of sugar its a health thing. and the skinny carmal latte is Awesome, and its alot less work saying then what i was saying to make the machioto as healthy as possible. I say if you dont like get your regular drink. The skinny part should not offend anyone., unless your just insecure and you refuse to help yourself be skinny...anyways sorry for the bad spelling. try thr carmal its yummy

[Slender Latte. Anyone?]

I wonder if maybe skinny people should feel weird ordering a drink with the name skinny. I wonder if anyone has thought about that.

[Weary]

POSTED BY: | JAN 4, 2008 4:00:10 PM

"get a life, eat right, exercise and for sanity of others please shut up. i really dont need to know about your dietary problems."
*
I'll second that!

[wordsmith]

"At my current 165 lbs, I'd have to consume 1500 mg of aspartame to get your alleged carcinogenic effect. That's like 10 cans of diet soda."

If you believe that, you are deluding (and killing) yourself. When you stop to think that Searle, the company that developed and produces aspartame artificial sweetner, surgically removed tumors from test subject animals in order to conceal the devastating effects of their product; aspartame was banned from any liquid products for human consumption but the FDA subsequently overturned its ban, can you really think "skinny lattes" or any other artificially flavored products are healthy? I've never been what one would remotely call a health nut but, after recent developments, I distrust any such artificial sweeteners and a lot of other things besides.

Doesn't it make you ask yourself, even for an instant, "Who really owns the government?"

[s sandifer]

Half and Half is a mixture of milk and cream with an 18% fat content. Cream is what makes it half and half and if you had low fat half and half you would just have low fat milk. There is no such thing as skinny half and half. It is impossible to make skinny drinks taste as good as regular drinks because skinny means low fat which is watered down milk.

[LHSIS1]

I saw the Skinny Mocha at my local store for the first time this week. Wasn't thinking clearly, as I hadn't had coffee yet, and ordered it. The barista handed it to me, and I thought maybe she was wearing lots of hand lotion when she prepared it from the funky smell coming from the cup. Even with the lid removed, the nastiness was unbearable. I had a sip of water, then tried again. Nope. Too bad I'd left the store already, or I'd have asked for a normal drink instead. From now on, if I want a "skinny drink" I'll get a skim latte. No SF syrups ever again!