As the weather gets even warmer, many Starbucks fans are opting for Refreshers when visiting their local store. The chain, as many know, offers customers the ability to customize their favorite drinks like these when it comes to sizes, amount of ice added, types of milk, etc.
This week, many fans are continuing to express their frustration with the coffee giant on social media after it just began charging an extra dollar to get a famous Refresher beverage with ‘light ice,’ or if ordered without water.
As noted on the official Starbucks website, Refreshers are cold beverages made with flavored juices, freeze-dried fruit chunks, water, milk (with non-dairy options offered), and lemonade.
@claiireedee Were mad @Starbucks ♬ original sound – clairediamantidis
Starbucks Faces Backlash for Extra Charge on Refresher Customizations
On TikTok and Twitter, countless fans are sharing their experiences with this new “ridiculous” charge as one tweeted, and to note “how shocked” they feel after learning about it. On May 11th, TikToker @claiireedee uploaded a video with friends in a car at a Starbucks drive-thru, holding up a grande-sized Strawberry Açaí Lemonade with “light ice.”
The creators of the video explained that they discovered an additional $1 charge for “no water and an extra strawberry açaí base,” when this wasn’t ordered, simply just “light ice” was. They noted that a Starbucks employee confirmed to them that the charge was for the light ice, making the originally “priced $5.25 for a grande” drink become “almost $7.00.”
Starbucks charging extra for light ice in refreshers is so dramatic and greedy
— the black zoe saldana (@sharonbmills) May 10, 2023
They then told Starbucks to “do better” as fellow customers in the comment section shared their thoughts. “7 for a grande is crazyyyyyy,” one wrote as another who identified themselves as a Starbucks worker added, “every worker thinks it’s stupid too.”
On Twitter, one fan wrote, “[Strarbucks is] already filling half the cup with ice. Their profits haven’t suffered so this is pure greed.” Another replied, “Starbucks charging extra for light ice in refreshers is so dramatic and greedy.”
There are no changes to Starbucks’ ice policy, you can still customize any beverage, including Starbucks Refreshers, with light or no ice free of charge. – Kevin
— Starbucks Care (@StarbucksCare) May 14, 2023
Someone else chimed in, tweeting, “They will charge me extra because they will not be adding water to my drink ?? Wtf” as one other customer wrote to the chain, “stop charging an extra fee for no water or some ice in spring drinks – refreshers. Pathetic.”
On May 14th, the Starbucks Care account on Twitter wrote to a fan, “There are no changes to Starbucks‘ ice policy, you can still customize any beverage, including Starbucks Refreshers, with light or no ice free of charge.” Here’s what else we know about the new “no water” Refresher charge:
Starbucks will soon charge customers $1 for ‘no water’ Refresher drinks — and some baristas are dreading the change https://t.co/RHIMijipdz
— Insider Business (@BusinessInsider) May 8, 2023
Paying for ‘Light Ice’: What Starbucks Customers Should Know About Customizing Their Refreshers
According to Starbucks, a “no water” charge is necessary because these popular juice drinks are more expensive to make when not diluted with water or more ice. In a recent statement made after the charge was initiated earlier this month, the company wrote, “There will be an additional cost of $1 for Starbucks Refreshers Beverages customized with no water, as this customization requires extra ingredients.”
In an email sent to CBS, Neil Saunders, managing director of retail at GlobalData explained, “Refresher drinks without water cost more to make, so Starbucks is really just asking customers to pay a fair value for what they’re getting.”
“There will be an additional cost of $1 for Starbucks Refreshers Beverages customized with no water, as this customization requires extra ingredients,” the company said in a statement.https://t.co/BtRLBpiqcl
— CBS News Miami (@CBSMiami) May 10, 2023
He added, “In the current environment where raw material costs are rising and margins are squeezed, Starbucks probably finds it necessary to take a more stringent stance on pricing. However, like any change it will not be welcomed by customers some of whom will see it as stingy and a rip off.”
