Whether it’s a PSL, a flat white, or a chai latte with oat milk, buying a silly little drink can really brighten up your day.
When the caffeine cravings arise, many people will head to Starbucks to satisfy them, and while the drinks are tasty, it turns out your go-to order could actually get even better.
Dee Bespalova — who was recently crowned Starbucks UK’s 2024 Barista Champion, making her the best Starbucks barista in the country — has shared her little-known secrets and tips to hack your drink, and the best part is they’re 100% free to try.
The coffee pro claims you can easily improve your beverage by either using a few different words when you order, or by making a tweak or two to the ingredients.
She claims the language you use at the counter can drastically change the drink you are given, and shares two words that you might want to start saying.
‘Sometimes it can feel like coffee has its own language, and I’ve picked up a lot of new terminology during my time behind the bar.
‘Some of the terms are more familiar than others — we’ve all heard international visitors request “non-fat”, AKA skimmed milk, and the classic order of a “skinny” latte just means a latte made with skimmed milk, rather than regular.
‘But have you ever heard of a “wet” cappuccino? Or perhaps you prefer yours dry? A cappuccino is a delicious blend of coffee, steamed milk and that traditional foamy top. A “wet” cappuccino changes up the ratios a little and has more steamed milk and less foam, while a dry cappuccino has less steamed milk and more foam.’
Coffee aficionados among us might already be using this terminology, as the words aren’t new, but they do make a difference — as will switching the coffee beans in your drink.
Dee recommends ‘customising’ your beans, as there are three different coffee roasts to choose from at Starbucks: Medium Roast (which is the standard), Dark Roast, or Blonde Roast.
‘Most drinks are made with our Medium Roast, but you can switch this up for either the more intense Dark Roast, with its bolder, full-bodied flavour, or the somewhat lesser known Blonde Roast. This lighter bean is a bit gentler on the senses and has a naturally sweet, citrussy flavour to it,’ she explains.
And if you want to add a fun little twist to your drink, but don’t want to pay extra for flavoured syrups, then you could always consider switching up your milk for a dairy-free alternative.
‘Dairy alts at Starbucks are offered at no extra charge, but if you’re a bit stuck for where to start, choose a drink with a dairy alternative as standard. For example, the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso is designed to work best with the delicious roast nutty flavours of oat dairy alternative’
She continues: ‘A lot of work has gone into optimising dairy alternatives since they first arrived in coffee shops, and these days, many of them even steam better than skimmed milk, which lacks the fat that helps to develop that velvety smooth texture. Try a dairy alternative to get that luxurious mouthfeel at no extra cost. From my experience, Oat Milk at Starbucks steams best.’
Other top tips include looking out for baristas who have a black apron, instead of those iconic green ones.
The darker shade isn’t just a style choice, it signifies experience. Baristas who wear these are known as ‘Coffee Masters’, as they’ve passed all of the company’s rigorous training levels.
‘If you’re ever stuck for a bit of inspiration to change up your order, or just want to learn a bit more about the drink in your hand — the black apron is your go to. Ask them anything (about coffee…),’ Dee adds.
And if you find yourself sitting in your local Starbucks for a long period of time, but don’t want to spend a fortune buying several coffees throughout the day, it’s worth asking if they have filter coffee.
This cheaper drink starts from £1.95 for a Tall cup (prices may vary by location), and is a simple replacement for your go-to americano. The best part is, once you’ve paid for that initial java jolt, refills of filter coffee are free, so you can enjoy as many cups as you’d like.
If Starbucks isn’t your go-to spot for a hot drink, then don’t worry as there are also a number of ways to claim free coffees at other top chains.
If you have the apps and loyalty schemes for places such as Caffè Nero, Costa and Greggs, there are a number of ways to nab yourself a freebie.
For Caffè Nero lovers, every person you successfully refer to the Nero app will get a free hot drink once they’ve made their first purchase, and you’ll get a free drink for yourself too.
Greggs customers who download the app are rewarded with a free hot beverage for doing so, and Costa customers can collect Beans in-store via the app or ask a barista for a receipt to add beans retrospectively. Once 10 Beans are collected, customers receive a free drink.
But the coffee purveyors also randomly give away freebies for a limited time (and you get a free cake on your birthday which is redeemable for a week).
Starbucks also has a very similar loyalty points system for its rewards customers. You collect three stars for every £1 spent, and once you reach 150 stars, you get a free drink of any size. Reach 450 stars and you are awarded Gold status, this means extra shots of espresso, selected syrups, and whipped cream are all on the house.
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