BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
Lots of changes coming to Starbucks soon
If you have three of your friends in a room, chances are they all drink a different type of milk in their coffee. I’m an almond girly, for instance, but my BFF swears by oat milk. That means both of us are thrilled to hear that we won’t be upcharged for our preferred nondairy milk at Starbucks as of Nov 7. The coffee purveyor has announced the end of extra charges for nondairy milks, along with bringing back handwritten names in Sharpie on those iconic green-and-white cups. Nostalgia plus an update to accommodate our many milk options? Yes, please.
Starbucks’ new CEO Brian Niccol shared the news this week, quipping that it might be hard to find 200,000 Sharpies to distribute to the company’s thousands of stores. ”Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just going to the Staples and picking up some Sharpies,” he told CNBC. That’s OK, Brian … we can wait a little longer while you find those markers because we are so happy to hear our names will be written by baristas like in Starbucks days of old instead of printed out by a computer on a sticker.
In this article: YETI Rambler 20-oz Stainless Steel Vacuum-Insulated Tumbler, Stanley Aerolight Transit Bottle and Owala SmoothSip Insulated Stainless Steel Coffee Tumbler
The milk update, however, will be a lot easier to implement. ”Core to the Starbucks Experience is the ability to customize your beverage to make it yours. By removing the extra charge for nondairy milks, we’re embracing all the ways our customers enjoy their Starbucks,” said Niccol in a press release. This will be a very welcome change, as the company explains that a milk substitution is the second-most requested customization from customers, behind adding a shot of espresso. Now, customers can ask for soy milk, oat milk, almond milk or coconut milk and not incur an additional fee for their coffee order.
The brand is definitely trying to win us over with these recent changes. ”I made a commitment that we’d get back to Starbucks, focusing on what has always set Starbucks apart — a welcoming coffeehouse where people gather and we serve the finest coffee handcrafted by our skilled baristas,” said Niccol. “This is just one of many changes we’ll make to ensure a visit to Starbucks is worth it every time.”
The best travel mugs out there
Since Starbucks will let customers bring a clean, reusable cup to fill with the beverage of their choice, here are a few of the best travel mugs to keep on hand for those ‘Bucks fill-ups.
YETI Rambler 20-oz Stainless Steel Vacuum-Insulated Tumbler
This classic tumbler comes in more than 30 colors, so there is truly something for everyone. The 20-ounce size is perfect for your morning Joe, and the MagSlider lid helps keep your beverage warm between sips.
SHOP NOW
Stanley Aerolight Transit Bottle
This vacuum-insulated bottle brings Stanley style and practical portability. The brand promises a hot drink will stay hot for up to four hours, which is hopefully not how long it will take to drink a coffee, but if you have small children, it’s entirely possible. It’s available in 12-, 16- and 20-ounce sizes and a dozen colors.
SHOP NOW
Owala SmoothSip Insulated Stainless Steel Coffee Tumbler
According to my teenage daughter, Owala is the new coolest tumbler on the block, so be ahead of your kids in coolness levels by grabbing one of these for your morning commute juice. It’s available in 10- or 20-ounce sizes and four colors.
SHOP NOW
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.