Starbucks switching to 2% milk

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts)
Jun 4th 2007 3:00PM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products, Nutrition & Supplements

If you're a coffee drinker, this may interest you. Starbucks recently announced that they'll soon be making 2% milk the default milk in their espresso drinks. Citing increased consumer requests for the lower-fat milk and the fact that more Americans are buying low-fat milk for their homes, Starbucks tested the switch in a few locations and were impressed by consumer response.

Changing from whole milk to 2% lowers the calories in a 16-oz. latte by roughly one-third and significantly lowers the fat content as well. It's still not health food, but an improvement nonetheless.

Source

Comments (99)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Joe K 6-07-2007 @ 7:46AM

Switching to 2% Milk is not only a smart marketing move from a health perspective for Starbucks, but it is also a strong business move. With the ethanol-fuel boom and global demand for corn increasing, milk (and soybean) prices have increased, which creates just another pressure on Starbucks stock, which is at its 52-week low.
Also, many food companies are now buying milk produced without the use of the artificial bovine growth hormones, RVST. The hormones help increase productivity, and a decrease in its usage crimps supply, driving up price as well. During a recent conference call, Starbucks' CEO Mike Casey said: "We did a very small hedging operation with regard to dairy about 18 months ago, but we couldn't get sufficient interest from a counterparty [for it] to be significant for us." So SBUX is also "feeling the burn" of higher dairy costs.

nowlin tubbs 6-07-2007 @ 7:51AM

Why would you put milk in coffee? Some of them there coffee drinks cost $5.00 and taste like a dollar malt from the Dairy Queen.

MKris 6-07-2007 @ 8:11AM

Them there coffee drinks???????? When was the last time you were at Dairy Queen I don't see any dollar malts on there menu. I don't see anything for a dollar on there menu. Love those $5.00 coffee drinks. Yummmmmmmmmm.

MKris 6-07-2007 @ 11:10AM

Them there coffee drinks??????????? I don't remember seeing any dollar malts at Dairy Queen. Love those $5.00 coffee drinks Yummmmmmmmm

nina 6-07-2007 @ 8:18AM

it really doesn't matter what you do with your coffee , because it is the worst i have ever tasted!!!!!! if you don't get the frappa frappa mocha deal with all kinds of fattening crap in it is horrible!! you need to go to dunkin donuts and learn what coffee should taste like!! if i wanted esspresso i would orde it........ that is what starbucks tastes like sorry i think it is horrible.

Fran 6-07-2007 @ 8:20AM

Hey here is a big savings if You like caramel Macciato's
I bought cafe bustello espresso coffee
i used caramel liquid non dairy creamer added some 2%milk & make it iced or hot it is delicious & taste just like star bucks caramel macciato & You c an make quite alot of coffees at home for abot the price of 2 ventis at star bucks

DebB 6-07-2007 @ 8:40AM

Starbucks is just getting onboard a ship that already sailed months ago...McDonald's has been using 2% for months, even offering a non-fat milk option......and McDonald's tastes better.

KJ 6-07-2007 @ 12:15PM

Let me just say that I drink 1% in my own home, but when I go out to "treat" myself that should be exactly what it is, a treat. I know that it sounds almost crazy in the hyper health concious society we live in, but on the rare occasion when I enjoy a latte I want the real deal. Oh well, I guess I will just have to request it made with half & half. Oh darn...

Steve 6-07-2007 @ 9:35AM

Starbucks isn't that good - just expensive! Go to Panera Bread - the selection is great and it costs less! I hear they use the best beans available, and it sure does taste like it. Everything isn't so strong and bitter that it burns your palette and tongue. Highly recommend everyone try it!

joaquin 6-08-2007 @ 11:43AM

DebB, who cares what order companies switch to healthier milk? Starbucks was continuing to do something that worked for them by using whole milk as the default, and while McDonalds switched, Sbux was in the process of testing 2% milk in a few locations. What does it matter? It's not like Starbucks was sitting around trying to make people fat while McDonalds was encouraging a healthy lifestyle, which is what I think your comment is implying. Hmm...someone seems curiously bitter about Starbucks...

niki 6-07-2007 @ 7:35PM

I like white mochas...but i get them nonfat and they taste the same as the whole milk white mochas...i havent tried it with the other drinks but those taste the same

cateravenwing 6-07-2007 @ 9:28AM

MKris, please brush up on the spelling—their/there--ridiculous.

I do not buy coffee at Starbucks, period. The mark-up for Latte is through the roof. I just don't find the ambiance, i.e. the counter jocks, the wood floors, etc..., all that enchanting; certainly not enchanting enough to pay $5 for a coffee. Besides, I drink soy in my coffee and that's not an option in those places. Milk is dirty, with over 300,000 pus cells per ml (about an ounce). That's just disgusting!

Jon Lytle 6-07-2007 @ 9:56AM

I have never been a health concious person, but our family has been using 2% for 20 years. I drink SBUX almost everyday and began using soy a year ago. It actually only took me 2 or 3 times to begin liking the taste and now I use it in my cereal. Try it once!

Listen2me 6-07-2007 @ 2:39PM

I had a great coffee shop down the corner; then Starfucks showed up and the people all turned surburbia. It is middle America going to the middle of nowhere. Thanks for lining the pockets of the not so common folk. Funny, you are all probably dems. 2% was the issue, right.

Dee 6-07-2007 @ 9:33AM

Java Jazz in Chesapeake Va has great coffee and only uses Skim Milk so I dont have to ask for Non Fat I know I am getting it. There prices are also great and they have a wide variety of Monin Sugar Free Syrups. There is more to coffee than a symbol.

cissy 6-07-2007 @ 9:33AM

I never knew what good coffee was until I went to Europe........!!!...I am "embarrassed" to think how naive our society is when it comes to good coffee...!!!...and now you want to "remove" a whole milk for less fat?...Maybe we should learn how to eat first, then we wouldn't have to cut back to "accomodate" obesity!!

Elena 6-07-2007 @ 9:33AM

I agree with Nina. Give me Dunkin Donuts anyday because I think it's so much better than Starbucks. Starbucks coffee is so strong you don't need to spend more money ordering an expresso.

Julie 6-07-2007 @ 9:40AM

Hey, now wait a minute! I used to be one of those "Counter Jockeys" and maybe you should ask one of us before you make a statement about what Starbucks does and does not serve. Starbucks does serve soy milk as an option instead of adding milk to their espresso drinks. You have to ask for it. I think if someone likes a particular beverage they should get it. Not everyone likes espresso but don't put the beverage down just because you don't care for it.

Listen2me 6-07-2007 @ 10:05AM

Dee,
Java Jazz sounds local!! If true, my blessings!!!! Anytime you may actually have a chance to meet the people behind the product, THAT is a sign of community. Receiving a proxy from the board of directors sours any milk.