If ain’t broke don’t fix it…

Has anyone seen the commercials? "However-You-Want-It Frappuccino Blended Beverage" from Starbucks. The signature frozen summer drink is now changed into a hot mess of flavors, toppings and shots. Yea, I mean if dignity didn’t already stand in your way, as soon you can walk into a Starbucks and order Venti quad soy two-pump sugar-free vanilla dry cappuccino with chocolate shavings.

I used to work at Starbucks senior year of high school and during college (made a lot great friends there that I am blessed to have in my life today). Being at the “Frappe Station” during a hot July day at a tourist stop Starbucks location was cruel and unusual punishment. And I used to be there a lot because of my gift of remembering everything. Customers not knowing the difference between: coffee frap, coffee frappe light, and vanilla bean frappe. If you didn’t have a good barista writing the drinks, IT’S NOT FUN!

To replace the old Frappuccinos, which were PERFECTLY fine, now we have: coffee (regular, double, triple or decaf); syrup (vanilla, white mocha, mocha, peppermint, hazelnut, and caramel); a choice of milk (nonfat, 2 percent, whole or soy); and a topping (whipped cream, mocha drizzle, and chocolate shavings). Coffee-free beverages are also available, including strawberries, vanilla bean, chai, green tea and double chocolate chip.

So when I saw this new “However-You-Want-It Frappuccino” I wondered why Starbucks? However-You-Want-It, isn't that the whole concept of Starbucks already? Why Starbucks, when barista’s are fast, why make their lives more difficult? Now customers are going to ask for Frappe’s that are half coffee, half skim, light on the whip with extra chocolate curls and caramel sauce, in under two minutes during the 4pm rush. Did they also forget that there are customers with the crazy iced espresso drinks! Yes folks, customers who insist on having hot foam in their iced cappuccino despite health department laws that forbid baristas to do so?

Starbucks, I understand you are upset at McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts for taking your flow, I would be too. But haven’t you heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Best of luck, and good luck barista’s during the frappe 2010 season. At least the happy hour promo for the launch of this However-you-want-it Frappe will end next week, and you guys can actually go to a real happy hour to celebrate :)

While we are on the subject, my favorite frappe drink is the caramel frappe. I keep it simple:

xoxo

Kosi