The problem with Starbucks iced coffee is the ice. It melts, which turns the coffee into a watered down swill that you have to force chug down your throat because you need the caffeine and throwing it away would be a waste of your hard earned money.
But in the future that might not be an issue because about 100 Starbucks locations in St. Louis, Missouri and Baltimore, Maryland are testing ice cubes made with coffee. The photo above was sent in my Impulsive Buy reader Caitlin J at a Starbucks in Bel Air, Maryland.
At the participating locations, the coffee ice cubes can be added to any iced espresso or brewed coffee beverage for an extra 80 cents.
Update: Here’s a photo of what they actually look like. It was sent in by reader Juba who works at a location in Baltimore.
If you’ve tried it, let us know what you think of it in the comments.
Come on, SB: 80¢ more for coffee ice cubes in iced coffee?
The Coffee used to make the ice cubes costs money , so why would there not be an upcharge?
Exactly! Not only does the coffee cost money, but the process of making ice itself is not cheap. The freezer units are expensive to use and maintain. Being in Florida im happy to have the option to pay the 80 cents if I choose to. Key word is its optional!
@Marianne: Yep, making ice costs money, but SB needs to make ice for the drink regardless. I’m just saying, charging for coffee-flavored ice cubes, in a coffee house, for an iced coffee, and at 80¢, just feels “off” to me. I understand the rationale behind it (the extra coffee in the drink, the extra labor to make the cubes), but it still feels “off” for this specific drink.
@Bob: Because it’s an iced coffee, with coffee as the main ingredient. I understand why SB wants to charge money for the “flavored” ice cubes, but in an iced coffee (as vs. adding the cubes to a separate drink), It just seems “off” to me–this simply is an undiluted iced coffee.
Work for the Siren in Baltimore and we’re a test store. It looks NOTHING like the photo but is actually pretty good. I think it’s worth the 80 cents especially if you’re getting a venti or trenta drink.
Juba,
I live in Delaware and would like to come down to try these . Where is the Siren? Do you know any of the other test stores? Are they all in Baltimore proper or are any in the north ‘burbs (White Marsh, etc.)? I remember hunting down the Chestnut Praline when B-More was thr test market. Thanks!
I’ve been waiting for coffee ice cubes to arrive in Starbucks for years, now! It’s so exciting that they are finally starting to incorporate them into stores. I’m truly hoping it will go over well and that they’ll start selling them locally, soon! In the meantime, I just bought a new ice cube tray I plan on using to make some of my own!
Can I buy other drinks and add coffee ice cubes to them? Why should my choice be limited to adding them to coffee? Maybe I want a tea (or iced tea)/coffee ice cube hybrid? I don’t want that, but maybe there is something that will go good together. Can I buy just a cup of coffee ice cubes by themselves?
Sure. We made a frappuccino with them. Gave it an extra coffee kick like adding an espresso shot but without thinning out the drink like the hot shot does. Had someone get an iced caramel macchiato with them, looked really pretty. I’m assuming you could just get a cup of them for 80 cents
It was actually at the Starbucks in Bel Air, Maryland, not Baltimore, but close! 😉
Bel Air? That’s awesome! I live just over the DE border from Elkton, so that’s totally doable. Let me know if you see it elsewhere in Harford or Cecil County. Thanks!