Frappuccino gripe: "Why would Starbucks 'fix' something that's not broken?"

One of the complaints at MyStarbucksIdea.com: "I understand that SB wanted to make the Frappachinos more customizable, but the new one does not taste anywhere close to the old one, it has a terrible aftertaste and it made me (and a few others I know) sick to my stomach." (I love the various Frappuccino misspellings.) Read "New 'Frappachino'" || Jump to the second page of comments.

Comments

[blueinmd]

I had half a tall and it upset my stomach. I'm sensing a pattern....

[blueinmd]

In related news:

Stevia, or the singular stevioside, at least in some studies, seems to affect the male reproductive organs. This was the conclusion of a group of European scientists in early 2006.

* The study showed that when male rats were fed high doses of stevioside for 22 months, sperm production was severely reduced, the weight of the seminal vesicles declined, and there was an increase of cell proliferation in their testicles. In time, this could easily cause infertility or other reproductive problems.

* In another study, female hamsters were fed large amounts of a derivative of stevioside called steviol. Here the scientists found that the female hamsters had fewer and smaller offspring. Studies indicate that large amounts of stevioside can interfere with the absorption of carbohydrates in animals and disrupt the conversion of food into energy within cells. Scientists are particularly worried about this development, especially as it pertains to children.

[dontbelieveeverything]

they also tried to claim that to be true of drinking mountain dew back in the day...so don't believe everything you read. Not that I'm gung go on the stuff, but still

[Frapps]

I drink a tall-coffee-lite daily. No, not a bad habit as the nutritional value is actually better than one Yoplait Yogurt (lower cal, lower grams of sugar, etc).

I tried the new frap. I agree, the taste was not great. It left a very poor after taste. When I let the frap sit for 20 minutes, it separated and had stuff floating on top. Not appealing.

I am not a milk drinker, the fact they make the coffee-lite frapps with non-fat milk is not tasty (w/the old frapps, you could not taste the dairy). Asking for soy means a TON more sugar.

This does sadden me. I enjoyed going into Sbux daily, recognizing the baristas, enjoying their small chat, etc. Everyone that works at Sbux always seems pleasant. I am not sure I will continue my daily habit now. I will continue to give the new frapp a try, but initial guess is that I won't be doing it daily.

I too am curious when the nutritional information will be available for the new frapps.

[snowwhite]

@bluemind: you have to remember that this is in HIGH doses. with the studies they did on aspartame that gave rats cancer, the amount of aspartame they gave to the rats is an amount that is impossible for humans to consume on a daily basis. in moderation, aspartame isn't going to give you cancer and i'm sure in moderation stevia isn't going to wreak havoc on the reproductive organs. plus, high amounts of sugar puts you at risk of being overweight which puts you at risk for CVD, diabetes etc.

@frapps: if you set the old frappuccinos out for a long period of time they settled like that too. the first time i tried the new ones, i thought they were ok but the more i did try them the more i liked them. ps: a new tall coffee light frappuccino is 80 calories - pretty similar to the old one.

[notsureaboutthefrapps]

@frapps-the old base was made with nonfat milk already

[Frapps]

@notsureaboutthefrapps I realize the old base had dairy. My point as I stated in my comment was "The new base you can taste the dairy".

[me myself and I]

That's almost like someone complaining about the fact they can detect a hint of coffee flavour in a WM...

[NORTHWEST]

New Frappuccino.......ROCKS. All doubters do not understand that this is real food, not pre-packed shit shipped from Switzerland six months ago. Grow up, and drink the kool-aid. ALL of my blended customers are requesting the new recipe and we have not launched.

I hope more neophytes drink the new recipe and get sick. That will mean less idiots to try and explain the recipe to. Phew.

My partners love less prep too.

[Raw Love]

As I read these comments I am amazed by the comments regarding "Nutritional Value." You dont need this documented information to recognize and understand that the content of the syrups alone are legal poisons. Do your research people. Calories mean almost nothing. Putting preservative into your body and artificial chemicals creates an inbalance. We are being held back from our amazing potential because of our tongue. Turn off the TV and take some time to figure out what you are putting into your body.

[Swooshman]

I think everyone needs to just calm down about the new Frappuccino Blended coffee. At least we finally have something to take our minds off of VIA for once, YAY! With the new mix you have the option of adding more Frappuccino Roast to create more of a coffee taste. Also that after taste could be coming from the "GUM" that is used to thicken the beverage, you might considering adding more coffee or less base, just ask your baristas to play around with it different pumps to nail it down but the texture and quality of the beverage is amazing. If you let one of the old beverages sit around a while they would seperate very quickly. Just be patient, this is new it will be ok, I promise!

[erstwhile]

GUM is one of my favorite "real foods." Yummy. I have two to three servings a day.

[Karol]

The "new" Mocha Frappuccino is completely bland and no matter how they try to customize it for you, so it tastes like it used to...it doesn't work. I went inside the Starbucks I go almost everyday to, yesterday. The manager, who is a real sweetheart, really tried her best to make it good, but after 4 attempts, nothing came close. Unfortunately, for both me and Starbucks, I won't be going thru the drive thru every morning anymore. At least my pocket book will like saving the $4.55 everyday, and I'm sure my health will be much better too.

[shift misto]

@Midwest
does the less AM prep balance out with the more steps to make? I havn't trained for these yet, but i did see a sheet in breakroom with a list of steps. We are a very frapheavy store and it had me nervous.

annd...
I GET TO MAKE THESE TODAY YAYYYYY!

[Northwest]

Estwhile, don't want the gums? don't order the base.

[adoubleshotofclarity]

@Raw Love says the person trolling internet message boards...

[Bananas]

I'm iffy on the new frappuccinos. I have training this wednesday. I had my store manager make me a Vanilla Bean Frapp and i thought it tasted different but not worse. It had a fresher taste and a less chemical aftertaste. I'm glad the company is taking a step to remove high fructose corn syrup from things.

[mschris]

The new way of making a frappuccino is terrible. That great Starbucks coffee taste is gone. Now you are left with a milky sweet drink. If I wanted a milk shake I would have ordered one. I hope this is just a test and they will go back to making it the old, regular, excellent way. I have been drinking frappuccinos since the day they came out and now have to stop because of this change. That is sad. Go back, Starbucks, to the original way !!!

[Guiser]

The new Mocha Frappuccino tastes like dirt. They are completely flat with none of the subtle flavors of the original. Even the employees at the Starbucks I frequent didn't like the new drink. That should tell the company something...

[Raw Love]

@Northwest MUCH LOVE BROTHER :D

[blueinmd]

@Northwest

"...I hope more neophytes drink the new recipe and get sick. ..."

Nice attitude. ;-)

P.S: Stevia has a distinct aftertaste, which may be what some of you are tasting in the new drink. Just fyi...

[ExSbuxManager]

@MARCUS
the chips used to be chocolate. THey changed them as a cost cutting measure which is when they changed the name.

I quite the bucks after almost 6 years and was spared the frenzy of this launch, but am curious, the coffee concentrate going into the new fraps... is it fresh? Or it is an instant mix? A syrup shipped in from the roasting plant? I can't imagine its fresh as that would be prep in a no prep.

I like the idea of this from an old managers stand point. There was nothing worse than having a line out the door on a summer weekend and selling fraps faster than you could make prep. If all you have to fret over now is whipped cream, thats fabulous! And I love that I could get extra coffee flavor because the old recipe was still too sweet and not rich enough in coffee and adding an espresso shot didn't always give the desired results.

[MIMI]

WELL EVERBODY I DECIDED TO GIVE THE NEW FRAP ANOTHER SHOT AND I STILL FEEL THE SAME IT'S NASTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT TASTES ALOT LIKE A SLIMFAST ON ICE, AND HAS THE AFTER TASTE OF ENSURE NUTRITIONAL DRINKS AND FRANKLY IT GROSSES ME OUT SO I WONT BE RETURNING TO STARBUCKS UNTIL THEY BRING BACK THE OLD RECIPE.....I'M SURE ALOT OF YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME...IT'S KIND OF LIKE IF MCDONALDS CHANGED THEIR BIG MAC THATS LIKE THEIR SIGNATURE SO Y WOULD STARBUCKS TAKE AWAY THE FRAP. I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD OF KEPT THE OLD BASE AND CUSTOMIZED IT FOR WHOMEVER WANTED IT CUSTOMIZED..RIGHT AND ALL OF YOU WHO THINK THAT STARBUCKS REALLY CARES ABOUT HEALTH LOL THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY HAHAHAHA THEY FIGURED THAT THIS WAY IS CHEAPER ...HMMMMMM I WONDER HOW LONG THIS WILL LAST? EVERYBODY WE SHOULD BOYCOTT STARBUX UNTILL IT BRINGS BACK THE OLD =)

[Melody]

Wow MiMi. I recommend not writing in caps - your thoughts will get treated with more respect if in sentence case, and really, this blog might not be your best outlet. Your best outlet might be mystarbucksidea.com - You can talk directly to Starbucks at MSI.

[MIMI]

Lol...Thank you Melody. I think I was venting. I'm more upset at the fact, and I'm pretty damn sure that everyone here will agree with me that Starbucks tried to trick the consumer by not even announcing the new recipe,like everyone wouldn't taste the difference; yeah right lol...

So Melody thanx for the idea and I will go to the website. And for the record I was'nt looking for respect like i said I was venting thanxs
tah tah

[MIMI]

Oh @ Melody I forgot to mention how much is starbucks paying you to comment after everbody's comment and try to make it positive lol... I went to your website an Unofficial starbucks website for fans,hmmmmm can I go on there to comment as well.

[Melody (@MiMi)]

@MiMi - I don't work for Starbucks. I can gripe and whine with the best of them. If you want to open up the door to that then we need to talk about (i) Pike Place Roast (ii) Barista attitude about brew on demand, at times (iii) labor too thin (iv) Starbucks card rewards that don't totally make sense, and canned replies to inquiry on that ... But it's exhausting complaining too much, and it wears me out.

But you can comment anywhere you like - Don't let me stop you. I could give you a list of about 5 or 6 Starbucks blogs outside of the official ones produced by Starbucks.

[Meagz]

I work for a starbucks and I have yet to meet someone who does not like the new way we make them. and for those who say its not enough coffee thats the great part of them being custom, you can add extra frappuccino roast.

[mnmsr4me]

@MIMI, I don't think Starbucks was trying to trick anyone by not announcing the new recipe. We were just planning on announcing with the (planned) launch on May 4th. Due to some VERY POOR DECISION MAKING on someone somewhere's part, we ran out and had to switch to the new stuff. I like the new fraps, but the execution totally sucked.

[xbuckaroo]

melody.....

Your comments always crack me up! It bet you are a fun attorney ( I believe you said you were one). I wish I lived in the Seattle area so I could meet you.

I used to work for Starbucks, and got fired for a co workers stupidity, cuz I did not squeal on her. Someone else did though....And we both got canned!

Life does go on....All is miss is tips and my mark outs. I still love espresso roast.....

Peace

[joey s]

I tried the new frap a week ago and hated it. The taste was horrible and it made me sick to my stomach. After going 6 days without a frap I found another starbucks here in town that still has the old base so at least for the next week or 2 I will get to enjoy my fraps after that I will be giving up starbucks at least until they go back to the old base. And I would like to add for the people that have stated that they have yet to meet a customer that disliked the new base that I am a customer and a daily one at that, so now you have met a customer that hates the new base a will no longer be a customer because of it

[Alex Root]

Dear hopefulls, Starbucks is NOT going back to the old base. The company wouldn't waste the time to:
1) Engineer these products over two or three years ago
2) Test them in various markets around the country
3) Completely eliminate production of the old base
4) Make all stores get ready for the new recipes
5) Prepare a nation-wide marketing campaign and launch

...ALL to go back to the old way of doing things just because internet trolls with a severe caffeine addiction are suffering from chemical withdrawls.

If you can taste THAT MUCH of a noticeable difference in the frappes, you drink too many frappes.

I applaud SBUX for making efforts to have healthier drinks for customers. This is brilliant in both a operational, cost (possibly), and customer health standpoint.

Quit yer bitchin' and focus on something more important than a blended beverage.

[shift misto]

back to report. ive had my frap training. and made half a dozen of these babies. and... i like them.
Sure its a little wierd with the gum base thing, but gum base is in alot of things we eat, we just don't usually call it out by name like its a side of ranch dressing. (as a note i tried to sub honey for GB, it was not a good idea).

i think they taste more ice cream-y with the new recipe and it doesnt have that weird frapbase aftertaste. i think customers will love it because they dont have to pay as much for extra caffeine shots. oh and the prep isn't that bad once you do it enough. the only think i dont like is the syrup pump discrepancies. if its still measurable by the old pump, why throw new ratios into the mix? now i have to use one count 1/2/3 for peppermint, and another count 2/3/4 for mocha. all the while explaining to baristas that consistency is the mother of legendary (irony much?)... the LEAN guy must have had the day off there.

[vonie]

Does all the frapp base have Stevia? I thought only the light did, but I asked at the store today and was told all frapp base has Stevia.Anyone know for sure?

[ohbrother]

only the light base has stevia...those partners were ill informed

[SeattleSloop]

People, can we all get along?
CUSTOMERS, you know, the ones that come in and spend money in your store and leave some change in your tip jar despite YOU having a bad day and flinging an improperly made drink at them, have been asking for customizable drinks for a long time...SBUX listened to THEM. Plus, it just makes sense.
Everything is an adjustment in life, deal with it or find another job.

[Jacky]

I was certified on making them today and tried different flavors and all three bases. I loved them and think that if people give it a chance they will like it. I thought the consistency was so much better and no more uncrushed ice.

[Brian]

I must say the new frappucino's have done well here in Tampa. We have been a test market for the past two years. We have seen major changes since the start. Adding classic, not adding classic, new base with classic, base without classic. it's been hell. Personally, i think it will be successful. The pouring into the cup actually reduces waste if you make it properly.

[MIMI]

Okay everybody I actually found a recipe that kind of tastes like the old frap a little sweeter but it will do. So ask your barista for a coffee frap with 2 counts coffee, nonfatmilk, and a shot of espresso. It's not like the old one but it will do lol and this is coming from somebody that bitched and complained at first... but oh well if u cant beat em them join em lol.. so this is as close as your going to get to the coffee frap lol the only thing is that you will be super wired lol....

[Michelle]

Store partner here and extremely concerned about the change. I have tried them repeatedly and have found they are not as sweet, not as creamy or rich as the old...just saying. The regular CRF/etc customers will be disapointed and if they stay will want extreme customization of the original recipe...which means more service time. Instead of CRF, it will be X-coffee, 4pump tall, double blended CRF :(

[Fran Franzone]

I have had a Mocha Frappacino w/Extra Ice, Triple Blend, EVERY day for the last two years (yes I said 2 years) Add that up and it comes to A LOT OF MONEY!
They changed my favorite vice.. :) I mean drink. I tried it once and threw it away. I tried it again and got so sick that I had a headache for hours and my tongue was like glue. I ate gum/mints/bread trying to get rid of the aftertaste. Terrible Terrible choice. Whoever states that it tastes the same or better has NO idea what the original, yummy, delicious, thick and creamy Mocha Frappacino tasted like.
NO MORE STARBUCKS FOR ME.. Just add $3.49 Plus $1.00 tip, For 7 days a week for 52 weeks. I guess I should thank you guys for saving me money, BUT I DON'T.. I'M SAD!!!

[GP]

I've gone from 1 a day to 0 per day (Java Chip Frap Light) and can't stand the new recipe. Ended up throwing 2 out.

Starbucks made a choice... so be it. But they have lost me as a very regular customer.

I'm stunned that there are "store partners" here telling customers to "deal with it" and "just give it a chance". I did - I don't like them - no biggie... I'm moving on. In both of my stores they apologized and tried to make it right. I feel bad for the employees.

Maybe it will be a huge hit. But not with me.

[Stoney]

What ever you Starbuck's employees say, it is a rotten trick to unexpectedly change a recipe for a drink that costs $4.00!!!! I didn't pay $ 4.00 for the experience of standing line at a Starbuck's, or the drive-thru line. I didn't pay $4.00 a drink to say hi to a person in a green apron. I paid $4.00 for the TASTE OF THE DRINK!!!!! PURE AND SIMPLE!! I can't and won't pay for something I don't like and should have to "get used to" !! I won't get used to it, because I won't be drinking something I don't like! It was bitter and sour, and left a horrible after- taste! YUCK! Rethink this change, Starbucks!

[quityourbitchin]

yea, a few unhappy customers are not going to make starbucks tuck tail, issue an apology and go back to the old frapps. It's just not going to happen

[Robin V]

my name is Robin. I have bought a frap from SB everyday for the past 3 years.. I stopped after I tried the new way 3 times...Who's bright idea?

SB lost a customer...

ANY CHANCE IT MIGHT COME BACK???

Robin---Beaumont Calif.

[Cathy-El Centro, CA]

I never comment on the internet to anything, but this I must. My only vice are fraps at Starbucks and whatever they did to them is absolutely, positively horrible. My mouth tastes like burnt coffee after I take a sip. I too will not be giving Starbucks any more of my hard earned dinero if this is my only option. Shame on you.

[John Smith]

Bye Bye the American Frapp...

Drove my Chevy to Starbucks but now they sell crapp....

(Sung to the tune of American Pie)

[Natalia]

This is terrible! Why!? Why!???

[Kat]

Funky taste and horrible aftertaste - *Bucks ... why did you tinker with frap perfection - from frap to crap. Thanks for saving me exactly $2,482 per year. I WON'T be back.

[Glen]

Blah blah blah recipe blah blah blah nutrition blah blah blah calories.

It's the taste, STUPID!

This morning my venti GTF tasted horrible and when I took the lid off it smells like rotting lawn clippings. Threw it AND my starbucks gold card away.

Goodbye Starbucks, I wonder what Tully's has for blended non-coffee drinks...