A Starbucks fan begs: Please sell peppermint mochas, eggnog lattes and gingerbread lattes at least through March!

Why cut us off right after the holiday? writes one Starbucks-lover. "Aren't you supposed to give the customer what she wants? I think the company would receive dividends in customer goodwill and extra sales if it extended the holiday beverage season through at least March." (Read more at BloggingStocks.com)

Comments

you can get peppermint mochas all year round. the peppermint syrup is not seasonal.

[Jade]

Why not ask at the counter..? I know they make me the green tea frap all year round. ;)

[Sheik]

Eggnog Latte's get cut right after the new year because we can call our dairy supplier and cut the eggnog supply in a matter of minutes. Who cares.. does anyone even order eggnog latte anymore anyway considering Pep Mocha's popularity?

GB Latte we'll have so long as our syrup supply lasts. We usually have ours till April or May

And PM can be ordered year round.

[Chi-towns best/angriest barista]

please don't start with the "give the customer what she wants" that just sounds horribly bitchy and demanding, and frankly, if you pulled that in my store, i would make sure you didn't get what you wanted.

but anyway, yes, you can get a PM all year long. i made several frapps like that this summer, and every time, someone had to comment "that smells like christmas." the only thing different is it won't have the red sugar sprinkles. darn.

and as for eggnog, i'm rather glad we don't have that any longer than the holiday season. i don't want to steam eggnog for more than 2 months out of the year. it's a nasty noisy disgusting mess. and i won't even get started on the unhealth of it. i think that's deal with in another thread.

[Becca]

you cn barely find eggnog at grocery stores year round, and you want us to make drinks with them in the summer? mmmmm now that sounds tasty.. 40 degrees out (C) and you think to yourself, "you know what I want? I want a venti cup of eggnog!"

[barockstar]

it creates demand and anticipation..
and excitement around the holidays.

turkey and stuffing wouldn't be so damn awesome if you had it every sunday now, would it??

[LG]

The dairy doesn't produce eggnog year-round. There isn't a demand for it. And the handful of customers who would want eggnog lattes until summer don't constitute much of a demand. Our supply would expire and go bad and we'd have to throw it away before we ever used all of it. Then we'd lose money. We really don't get much of a discount on dairy products. We get about 10 cents off the normal rate. It's expensive.

Now, Cinnamon Dolce makes an excellent holiday follow-up beverage.

[coffeeguy]

Gingerbread latte- We sell it until the syrup runs out.

Mint Mocha- Sold year round just ask for it we will be happy to make them. :)

Eggnog Latte- Personally our city we just keep ordering eggnog until either

a) There is very little or no requests for it anymore
b) Our Dairy provider stops providing eggnog.

[Memememe]

Good news is... a store will continue to sell the seasonal drinks until their supplies for it run out. Mocha and Peppermint we keep on hand all the time, we can make that anyday of the year. As for things like gingerbread, I suggest going to the smaller, slower stores, their supply will probably last a little longer than the big busy guys. Eggnog.. Okay, can't help you there. As someone above me said, we just cut off ordering it. Meh.. its a must, we need to make room for the new drinks coming out after holiday. And lots of people love those ones just as much. But if its going to be anything like the Fall phases, my store will have supplies until the cows come home.

[Jeff]

"Give the customer what they want?" I rather resent that, on behalf of Starbucks. We are incredibly accomodating - we'll customize your drink eight ways from Sunday, and if it doesn't taste right, we'll remake it till it does. At some coffees, if the brewing cycle forces you to wait a couple of minutes for your coffee (oh no!) it's on the house. We'll also take the cheese off of your ham sandwich. And we do it all gladly because we want to please our customers, who do pay a premium for our drinks. But we set the menus and calendars to fit demand and with the bottom line in mind, and to demand in the name of "customer service" that we keep eggnog around just in case one guy wants a tall eggnog latte is crossing the line. Sorry, that's not the formula for a successful business.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

Also it has to do with marketting schemes. Starbucks does raise its prices that often, and only a dime or so. However, its important to note that one way Starbucks can increase its customer count is by offering seasonal drinks such as the EL, GBL, and PM.
Also, does anybody remember how good the CDL was? It goes great in CH. Does anybody know when we will run out of MPL or MPM? How about the PSL, because we were selling it until like mid-April last year. Also, do any stores run into trouble with maintaining their supply of GT or GTL because stores here run out.
I like to drink my EL uncut and no-foam.

[barockstar]

the maple has expired; check your dates.
and it was supposed to be 'sinked'(down the drain) for the launch of holiday, so if you're still selling it...ooops.

[coffeeguy]

If that's true Barockstar then please tell me why it's still on my till screen. :P

And please as well tell me why pumpkin spice latte is on our holiday menu board as well. :P

[OMG Barista Boi]

"Aren't you supposed to give the customer what she wants?"

Please die.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

I'll give her want she wants. A big fat straw so she can suck it up.

[coffeeguy]

Now that's just mean. Seriously.

Our customers have high standards with us for a reason. Let's not undermine that here with insults. It's silly to insult someone over the internet. It's downright silly.

[CuteBarista!]

it's nice that some people think that standing behind a counter wearing a green apron gives them permission to be evil and nasty.

it's all humanity, people. LOVE IT.

[Luvjava]

Will someone go find MEMEMEME and tell her to read this.

Shut up.

And stop whining. And the only other thing you should "do on behalf of Starbucks" is quit.

What if your attitude was around when Frappuccino was adopted full time? Or non fat milk? Or any of the other items we now sell year round.

Get a better argument.

[HopkinsBella]

Oh please. Why bother having "special" drinks for the holidays at all? I ask this question of my fellow customers, not of Starbucks. Are the customers that want this part of the crew keeps Christmas decorations up all year in their houses (not joking--I have neighbors that do this)?

[Bariesta]

You know it's refreshing to know others are as mean spirited as me. As far as customer satisfaction hey here's one what about employee satisfaction. I have little to no problems the way Starbucks treats their employees (i mean the company as a whole) but as far as having eggnog all year around oh god no! To any customers reading this: It smells terriable when steaming (i hate going home smelling like it). Hey if you like it so much buy a machine and stock up on it during the holiday season and make it your damn self. That way you can see what hell it is dealing with that crap.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

OK, here's another spin on the whole thing about not having those drinks year-round. Do you want it to be winter or summer all the time. Variety is very important. Life operates in cycles and rhythms. There is a time for gingerbread lattes and a time for maple lattes. For we have been given seasons for all things and when that season passes away so do those things until they return again. The need for stability in Starbucks beverage menus is a deeper human desire for being, truth and good in our lives. However, the fact is that life is full of potentiality reaching actuality. Our existence is defined by a Heraclitean flux and so do the Starbucks beverage menu. We should grasp the existential joy of time and when the flower fades and waves crash upon the ocean, rejoice in them and weep not for all passes into shadows and dust. Out of nothing we have come and into the nothingness we are destined.

[Barista sUz]

If you want PM, you can get it all year round. GBLs aren't that great, so I don't see it as a big loss. Eggnog lattes.. WELL, if you have your own espresso machine you could easily make that at home yourself&make Eggnog Chai too. Get a machine. It saves money. Also, there's a reason why the grocery stores put out the eggnog during the holidays only... &we seem to agree that no one wants it any longer than the holidays.
Not to mention, I agree with everyone else when it comes to eggnog.
I.HATE.STEAMING.IT.
It's really annoying cos we only have space for a 2 liter pitcher of eggnog. So we're constantly pouring more and having to add the whole milk, etc. Annoying.

barista suz, what about "eggnog lite"?

[Theolaxor]

eggnog light (RF Eggnog) is 2/3 nog and 1/3 non-fat compared to 2/3 nog and 1/3 regula milk
its not that light, and it kills me when people order "Venti non-fat eggnog lattes."

[peevedmgr]

I think this can be answered in a nice way.

It's a holiday tradition. Starbucks has a variety of new wonderful drinks that come out all the time. Just like family we have traditions and the gingerbread latte and eggnog lattes are just a few of ours.

It is true that the dairy industry doesn't make eggnog all year and yes we *could* serve the gingerbread latte all year. But would you still get that warm feeling when you walk into your favorite starbucks the first day of the holiday promotion and see the gingerbread latte up on the red board?

It's a tradition. It's something to look forward to. We promise to keep putting out new tasty items. And if you need that kick of holiday sprit as many before me have said you can get the peppermint mocha all year round, it just wont have the cute red sprinkles.

[Kat]

Some of you need to get a different job. Sorry, but it IS up to you to give the customer what they want. It's because they are buying at your store that you HAVE a job.

[NYC Angry barista]

"non-fat eggnog"

i used to try to explain to people that its actually real honest to goodness eggnog mixed with milk and that there is no NON-FAT (or skim as us new yorkers call it) and all i ever get is a blank stare and a *blink-blink*...so they just get the regular mix.

I used to try to tell people ordering so pumpkin spice lattes that there was dairy in the syrup but after the 20th "i really dont fucking care" i just stopped mentioning it.

[NYC Angry barista]

thats totally supposed to be "soy pumpkin spice"

[Bariesta]

Hey Kat i agree with you i do need to get a differnt job but this one beats the hell out of the toy store, why? Because i hate children.

As for your having a job comment i'm sure many would agree that if we wern't working at Starbucks there are plenty more jobs out there. I don't care what anyone says Starbucks is not the be all of employment. (Kat please don't take this as a attack because that is not how it's intended).

But seriously i don't mind giving the customer what they want WITHIN REASON. I just wish the customers would realize how much they are spoiled and be satisfied with how hard we all work, is that too much to ask?

The reason you read so many partners complaining because this is a great way to vent so let us do it.

[Barista to the Stars]

I get a kick out of the "non fat eggnogg" people. I take the extra minute to explain that the drink is made with honest to goodness real live eggnogg and there is nothing "non fat" about it. The look on their stupid little faces is priceless.

Yeah, that's mean. I don't care. There's another reason why eggnogg is only available once a year -- it's HEAVY CREAM. It's horrible for you. Really, really horrible. What -- are you going to add a venti eggnogg latte to your weekly menu? Good luck with that. I'll bet your weight is up 15 or so pounds and your LDL is up 10 or so points by next Christmas.

Barista to the Stars

[Kat]

Bariesta, believe me, I do undestand the need to vent about customers. I worked retail for ten years, I know what it's like to have unreasonable customers. I guess it just didn't seem like the original poster was being rude, so wasn't sure why some folks were jumping on her comment so tersely. But I don't have to make eggnog drinks all day long either (thank god, because I hate eggnog!)

[Becca]

NYC Angry Barista- I've tried telling the same thing to the people who order soy caramel macchiatos, do they care? no. Heck, they don't even ask of our mocha has dairy in it. Even though it doesn't, you would think they would ask, since it is supposedly chocolate.
As per egg nog,, here's a q. What mf% is used in other districts? We use the 2% egg nog, but I know there is stuff out there that is up to 6% mf (ex. hood golden and vanilla egg nogs)

[prose]

A sort-of-random PM question -- is the PM made from a single syrup, or is there a separate peppermint syrup? Would it be possible to get a peppermint-and-cream blended frappucino w/o mocha? My doesn't-like-chocolate-but-is-crazy-for-peppermint daughter would love that....

More on topic, I love eggnog, and I like the sweet drinks, but really, once a year is plenty...

[Becca]

PMs are made with a mocha syrup and a separate peppermint syrup, so it would most deffinately be a possibility to get a peppermint-and-cream frap. If it's an odd consistency, ask for white mocha to be added.

[Chi-towns best/angriest barista]

actually our mocha does have dairy in it, dry powdered milk of some kind. which bugs the hell out of me, cuz as a vegan, i'd like a soy mocha, but i can't have one. this is especially annoying if customers ask about a drink (ex: PSL) and i have to lie and say i've tried it. and like it.

[Theolaxor]

Im pretty sure our eggnog is somewhere between 6 and like 90%- its like paste

[billybob]

Prose, we have syrup frappuccino blended cremes on the menu so you can have any flavour you want, including peppermint. I hope your daughter likes it. :)

[blonde barista]

chi-towns best, just say "actually, i'm a vegan so i stick to _____, but all of my partners are raving about it..." or something. i was told there are "creative" ways of phrasing things so that you don't have to lie, i felt so guilty about it...

[LG]

It's NOT our job to determine what is on the menu, and therefore, it's not our job to give customers what they want. We only have certain products available to us at certain times. However, corporate will listen (sometimes) to the customers. If you want eggnog year-round, write to corporate. If you want the Target employees near your house to wear Santa hats year-round, just contact their corporate offices. If you want Wal-Mart to start playing Christmas music year-round, just call up the head offices in Arkansas. Because, you know, large corporations are all about giving into the whims of a couple of odd customers.

[JustABarista]

I just looked it up on the site. A tall eggnog latte made with whole milk has 320 calories and 16g of fat. Made with nonfat, it has 270 calories and 8g of fat. So, 8g is a pretty big savings, but it is a nasty drink. I had a request for one made with HWC the other day. Yuck.

[CuteBarista!]

are you sure the mocha has dairy in it? i read it a couple times and i didn't find anything.

if not, shit, i've just been giving one of my favorite customers who's a vegan dairy for over a year. :|

[chocolate city angrybarista]

making extra-dry nonfat eggnog cappucinos KILLS ME. making venti extra whip eggnog lattes for 300lb customers hurts my conscience. but, uh, yeah, why the hell is the maple/pumpkin spice still on the menu and till? i haven't looked, but i'm sure the dates are more than expired - it wouldn't surprise me at all.

"if not, shit, i've just been giving one of my favorite customers who's a vegan dairy for over a year. :|"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA AWESOME!!!!! :)))))

eggnog milkfat? have you seen southern people? it's probably about 17%.

[sbuxnewbie]

barockstar and chocolate city angrybarista:

I just checked, and the expiration date on the maple syrup is February 2007, in our store. I didn't check the pumpkin spice.

I really hope that they both go away soon, but we keep getting requests for PSL and maple lattes/macchiatos.

As to year-round eggnog lattes, it just won't happen, because our distributors don't sell eggnog much past December 31, and rarely before November 15.

At least in the NE US, that's how it looks.

[Becca]

cutebarista! I've read the mocha multiple times and never seen any dairy products on the ingredients list.

[Becca]

click on my name for an image of the mocha bag... no dairy there

[Ohio Vegan]

Becca, isn't that the bar mocha powder that goes on the condiment bar--not the thick syrup that goes in mochas? shouldnt there be an ingredient list on starbucks.com or something? I'm going to look now.

[Becca]

nope. "Bar Mocha" bags are used for the syrup in drinks. (The image is a canadian bag, hance the french). The chocolate sprinkles are ina tub.

[Ohio Vegan]

d'oh...that would explain the mixing directions on the bag. my mistake, haha. so the mocha syrup is actually non-dairy? that's good news.

[alex]

Sheik-

You have no idea how popular eggnog lattes are in our store. They are far more popular than peppermint mochas, and every week since we've had the drinks, we've run out of eggnog and had to buy some from the local grocery store since my ASM doesn't know how much to order.

[chocolate city angrybarista]

"nope. "Bar Mocha" bags are used for the syrup in drinks. (The image is a canadian bag, hance the french). The chocolate sprinkles are ina tub."

we get the french bags too. but that's because we're in new orleans and nobody is able to speak spanish. or english, for that matter.