What’s better than stopping at Starbucks for a delicious pick-me-up? Whether you like sweet, seasonal drinks (Hello, PSL!), a black cup of coffee, or even tea, there’s no shortage of options at this popular coffee chain. The only problem with all of those options is that it can be difficult to make a decision. Sometimes turning to employees can help you narrow things down.
While your go-to Starbucks order should be determined by your personal preferences, it doesn’t hurt to hear about what employees recommend not ordering. After all, do you really want to spend your money on something the barista themselves would warn against? Of course, every barista has their own taste—but many agree that the hot chocolate at Starbucks is simply subpar and not worth your cash. Read on to learn more about why you may want to think twice before ordering one.
Why employees say to skip the hot chocolate at Starbucks
Love hot chocolate? You're not alone! Few drinks are as cozy and nostalgic as this sweet, festive drink. However, while there are tons of places to find great hot chocolate out there, baristas have told Insider that Starbucks isn't one of them.
No, we're not going to give you a spiel about how this drink is unhealthy because it's loaded with sugar. In fact, there are tons of unhealthy Starbucks menu items that are probably worse. According to baristas, the real reason you should avoid the hot chocolate at Starbucks is that it's simply poor quality.
While some restaurants will use real chocolate or cocoa powder to whip up their hot chocolate, Starbucks uses none of the above. Instead, they simply use chocolate sauce. "You're paying $4 or more for a cup of milk and some chocolate sauce, which is the same sauce we use to make mochas," Barista Trang Pham told Insider.
Former Starbucks barista Alexa Bay shared a similar sentiment: "For what it is, the hot chocolate at Starbucks is overpriced," she said. "It's just milk and chocolate syrup." That's basically chocolate milk!
If you really want to get your money's worth, we suggest opting for something a little fancier. There are plenty of caffeine-free drinks that are delicious. You could even get a coffee-free Frappuccino (despite the health risks).
If you do like a bit of caffeine, why not take that hot chocolate to the next level with a mocha? Blay descripts this as "a grown-up hot chocolate because of the addition of espresso," noting that "The espresso has just enough bitterness to tone down the sweetness of the chocolate syrup." Perfect!
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