Craving Frappuccinos in January (Secret Menu)

January 14th... 55 degree weather! And that's not even the warmest it has been this winter. Sadly as I write this it's currently 8 degrees and UNL is having a snow day; oh how the weather changes. Anyway, Derek and I were headed to a baby shower in Franklin and of course anytime we are driving toward western Nebraska it is a necessity to stop at the Starbucks right off I-80 in York, NE. It was perfect Frappuccino weather! We were in a hurry to make it to dinner so we went through the drive through.

After my sister, Jessica heard I created a blog dedicated to my love for Starbucks she suggested I try new things that aren’t necessarily on the menu. But because I knew better I wouldn’t dare call it ordering off the “secret menu” (which makes baristas cringe and roll their eyes).  If you read here on Reddit, it’s not that baristas hate making custom drinks; they hate the 13-year-old girl who barges in and begs for a Grande “OMG Brownie” Frappuccino that her BFF Brittney snapchatted her to try. The reality is that the barista doesn’t know what’s in the OMG Brownie Frappuccino because it doesn’t exist as a real drink. But if Brittney would have told her to order:

•         Coffee based Frappuccino
•         Double Chocolate Chunk Brownie from the bakery
•         Add 1.5 pumps of white mocha syrup
•         Add 1.5 pumps of toffee nut syrup
•         Top with whip (regular or chocolate) and cookie crumble

Then no questions asked from the barista. However a custom drink like this is going to cost you $6 plus dollars for a Grande.

         Jessica saw a recipe for a White Chocolate Mocha with Java Chips Frappuccino. This sounded amazing to me because the White Chocolate Mocha is my favorite hot drink. So I decided to try her recommendation. I did enjoy it; it was very sweet, creamy and had a bold vanilla taste. I asked Derek to weigh in on what he thought and he said: “It tastes like a vanilla milkshake with no coffee. No wait! It tastes like the bottled vanilla Frappuccino you buy at the store.” I chucked at this because after hearing that, that’s all I could think it tasted like.

         Derek’s favorite drink is the Salted Caramel Frappuccino, which of course is a seasonal drink to his dismay. But because we were on a customizing kick I told him to ask the barista if they could still make a version of it. Interesting enough the base mix is a mocha Frappuccino instead of a caramel. And then they add toffee nut syrup and caramel drizzle on top. Basically what is missing is the key ingredient of salt flakes on top. However I don’t even think having the salt flakes on top would of helped this drink. It tasted burnt and extremely flavorless. Derek has ordered this drink before and it has been just fine but for some reason this drink didn’t make the cut. It's possible the espresso shot had gone bitter or this was just punishment for being in a hurry and having to go through the drive thru but by any means this drink was not up to par.

What do you guys think? Should I continue to try "secret menu drinks" or should I keep to the regular menu to avoid having a barista spit in my drink?Comment below! 

xcxc (Hugs and Coffee)

-Kristy 

The Flat White

The responds about Starbuck's new drink called "The Flat White" has been something they probably didn't expect... To be honest, it is somewhat of an embarrassment.  Now if you haven't heard by now what The Flat White is, if for some reason you're living under a rock or your internet has been down for the last month or something you're in luck. It is an espresso beverage made with two ristretto shots, combined with a thin layer of velvety steamed whole milk and finished with a latte art dot, according to the Starbuck website. An easier definition is a "flavorless latte" or "warm milk and espresso".

I'll be honest; I was ecstatic to hear that Starbucks was adding a new drink to their espresso menu. They even showed confidence that it was not just a fad seasonal drink by adding it to the permanent menu. I thought that this was a good sign. I should stop and clarify that The Flat White isn't actually a new drink it's been around since the 70s developed in Australia. To read about what the Aussies and Kiwis think of Starbucks drink click here.  It is new however for Starbucks.

I started my Sunday morning by taking a drive to Target knowing the first stop I would make would be to Starbucks right inside of Target (My definition of a perfect Sunday, coffee and Target :)!  )  I was a little hesitant of whether this Starbuck would even be serving The Flat White because we are generally a little slow here in the Midwest with new trends. But fortunately for me I walked up to the barista and order a grande Flat White. This was my first purchase with the start of my $100 to Starbucks. After I was handed my drink I began to walk around. The first thing I noticed about the drink before I even tried it was that it was scorching hot!! I know the barista did not forget to give me a sleeve, but she might have put lava in my cup instead. I proceeded to just wait and walk around more until it cooled. I might add it took a very long time to cool whereas my hand was literally turning red from the hot contents. When I decided it was time for the first drink my immediate thought was: "There is no sugar in here!!" As you'll remember from my first entry I take my coffee with both cream and sugar. My boyfriend Derek says I don't even know what actual coffee tastes like because I add so much extra stuff in it. But I run the blog in our relationship ;) Anyway, I felt that The Flat White just tasted like a flavorless latte, or very thick, warm milk, but not like a cappuccino where that is foam thick.

Unfortunately I will most likely not be getting this drink again. All was not completely disappointing though, I did get some wonderful Strawberry Champagne tea that I highly recommend and some adorable glass decorations.

xcxc (Hugs and Coffee)

- Kristy

The Beginning of $100 of Starbucks

"I am an avid coffee drinker." The first step to any problem is admitting that you have a problem. I don't have a problem with coffee... I have a problem without it! My love for coffee is something that started younger than most. I was about five or six years old and my grandmother would let my older sister and I have coffee in the morning with her; now at this age we would put so much sugar in our coffee it never fully dissolved and so much cream it was basically sugar and cream.

Fast forward about six years and coffee was a drink I would enjoy only on the weekends for breakfast. Since this was a weekend treat I remember I would fill an extra cup and save it for the following dreadful Monday to warm up and get me through junior high. It was no coincidence that in September of 2006 God answered a pray that brought a Starbucks to North Platte, Nebraska. This was HUGE for North Platte. We were no longer just a small community with Buffalo Bill as our classic indicator; no, no, no.. We were a small community with Buffalo Bill and one of the first Starbucks in Nebraska as our indicator! With Starbucks right off Interstate 80, North Platte was now on the map to many people who would no longer have to stop at some dive truck stop for a water downed pop and now were granted the wish of hot, aromatic coffee beverages.

My sophomore year of high school jolly, old Saint Nick brought our family the greatest and possibly a rather most deadly gift of a Keurig!! This began the start to a beautiful friendship that would allow me to start the day, everyday with fresh, lovely coffee. College has been no problem where I upgraded to my own Keurig and I am a daughter to a woman who basically owns a lifetime supply of K-cups. Also a self titled "local" at one of the four Starbuck's in Lincoln.

So now that you are all caught up to the present, you're probably wondering where this is all going. Well for Christmas this year I received an outstanding one.hundered.dollars exactly in gift cards for Starbucks. This was obviously due to fate or that I have great friends and family that know me so well. So without further ado I present: "One Hundred Dollars of Starbucks" an update of different drinks and experiences from Starbucks.

Enjoy!

xcxc (hugs and coffee)

-Kristy