Many coffee lovers agree: there's nothing like a peppermint mocha to get you in the holiday spirit — or a pumpkin latte, gingerbread latte, or fill in the blank here with your favorite sugar Starbucks drink. But you know (deep down inside) that many Starbucks beverages are filled with sugar — they're just so delicious, who can resist?
If you ever wondered what your lovely Starbucks barista thinks about your drink order, wonder no more. We asked a Starbucks employee to share which one coffee she never recommends ordering. Here's what she has to say.
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The One Coffee You Should Never Order At Starbucks
Of all the beverages on Starbucks' menu, there's one category of deliciousness that many fans consider their favorite: the icy, sweet frappuccino. Jenny*, who works at a Starbucks in New York and asked that her real name not be used, advises anyone who is watching their calories to avoid frapps at all costs — but if you're going to indulge there's one specific frappuccino that's super sinful.
"I don't think anyone thinks about how much sugar they're drinking when they order a frapp like the Zombie, which has fake apple and caramel flavors and freaking pink-dyed whipped cream," Jenny says. "Another frappuccino that is famously bad, like so bad it's become a running joke, is the Chocolaty Chip Créme frapp, which has more than 400 calories — just for a grande!"
Frappuccino Fails
The occasional frapp, when you treat it like a dessert and not a coffee, is totally fine. Why not indulge once in awhile? But nutritional facts don't lie: a grande Chocolaty Chip Créme frappuccino contains 13 grams of saturated fat and 52 grams of sugar. And that otherwordly pink whipped cream in your Zombie frapp? That's made with dextrose, a simple sugar that raises blood sugar levels in a flash, but can send you crashing after that high.
If you're trying to lose weight or lower your sugar intake, treat these super-sweet Starbucks beverages as you would an ice-cream sundae. Enjoy them on occasion, but remember they share nothing in common with your basic morning cup of Joe.