11 Things You May Not Have Known About Starbucks

You might think you know everything you need to know about Starbucks. After all, you probably know your usual drink order, and really, what else do you need to know?

Well, it turns out that there are a lot of little known facts about this super popular coffee franchise. You probably already know that it started in Seattle and that it seems like it’s now on just about every street corner and inside every Target in America, but there are a lot more fun facts that are simply fascinating.

Scroll down to discover 11 things you probably don’t already know about Starbucks. See if they change your perspective of the coffee chain. They might even influence your drink order.

  1. How Much Caffeine You’re Really Getting

    There’s a lot more caffeine in Starbucks coffee than in the average cup of coffee you brew yourself at home. A 16 ounce cup of brewed coffee usually has about 160 milligrams of caffeine; however, Starbucks coffee usually has about 330 milligrams of caffeine in a 16 ounce serving. That’s especially good to keep in mind if you’re pregnant and trying to limit your caffeine intake.

  2. Cup Sizes That Aren’t on the Menu

    You can get an 8-ounce cup of your favorite beverage. Ask for a “short.” This is the size used for kids. If you’re extra thirsty and ordering an iced beverage, you can get a whooping 31-ounce cup. Order a “trenta.”

  3. Free Coffee

    If you’re looking for a job and want free coffee, consider Starbucks. Baristas get a free pound of coffee every single week.

  4. Discontinued Drinks

    If your favorite coffee drink is no longer on the Starbucks menu, don’t worry; you can still order it! As long as Starbucks still has the ingredients available to make the drink you want, they will make it for you. Just ask! Yes, this includes seasonal drinks.

  5. Pumpkin Spice Latte

    Speaking of limited edition beverages, you can thank Stanford athlete Peter Dukes for the fall-favorite Pumpkin Spice Latte. He came up with the idea.

  6. The 10-Minute Rule

    All Starbucks locations are required to serve guests 10 minutes before they are scheduled to open and 10 minutes after they are scheduled to close.

  7. The Blond Roast

    Think ordering the blond roast will be less intense than a dark roast? Think again. The blond roast actually has more caffeine than the darker roasts. For example, a tall blond roast has 270 milligrams of caffeine while a tall dark roast has 195 milligrams of caffeine.

  8. The Logo

    The original Starbucks logo was quite a bit more risqué than the current one. This image is a good side-by-side comparison.

  9. Whipped Cream

    Starbucks never uses store bought whipped cream. They make their own and use it for every drink that comes with whipped cream.

  10. Scents Are Not Allowed

    Starbucks doesn’t want your barista’s cologne to impact the way your coffee tastes, so their dress code bans “Perfume, cologne, shaving lotion or highly fragrant deodorants or powders may not be worn because the smell affects the taste and aroma of our coffee.”

  11. Seattle’s Best

    Seattle’s Best coffee is actually owned by Starbucks.