Starbucks is the ultimate coffee house for almost everyone today! From youngsters to working people, everyone needs their daily dose of Starbucks coffee.
Hence, I have found that a lot of people are unaware of the type of cream and ingredients that Starbucks baristas use. After all, it may get confusing since there are so many types of cream available.
However, note that generally, Starbucks baristas use half and half cream, unless you specify another type of cream.
In this guide, I have also elaborated on all the other questions that you may have regarding Starbucks cream. So, read on!
What Does Cream Mean at Starbucks?
If you ever go to Starbucks, you may feel confused about the cream they use. After all, it may not be specified which type of cream it is.
MUST READ: What Cream Does Starbucks Use In Iced Coffee?
So, remember that whenever you ask for anything with cream, it means half and half cream. If you want some other kind of cream with your drink, you always need to specify it to the barista.
Moreover, if you want to prepare a Starbucks-style drink at home, then half and half is the best choice.
Is Starbucks Heavy Cream the Same As Sweet Cream?
No, even though sweet cream may seem like heavy cream, it has some variations in it. Let’s see how sweet cream is different from heavy cream at Starbucks.
The sweet cream from Starbucks contains heavy cream along with two other ingredients – vanilla syrup and 2% milk. The syrup is responsible for the sweet taste that you find in your sweet cream.
However, if you’re planning to prepare sweet cream at home, I recommend trying out the below recipe:
- Take about 2 cups of half-and-half cream. In that add ½ cup of sweetened condensed milk along with 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.
- Whisk the entire mixture till all the elements are blended well. You will have a smooth cream-like consistency.
- You can use this cream immediately or even pour it into a jar. Then, refrigerate it until you want to use it.
In this way, you can prepare your Starbucks-like sweet cream right at home too!
What Is Starbucks Creamer Made Of?
If you simply don’t enjoy black coffee, cream or creamer is your savior! Both cream and creamer can help in changing the consistency of coffee by making it thicker. They can also help in softening the bitter nature of the coffee if you don’t like it.
The difference between cream and creamer is that cream contains milk whereas creamer is a non-dairy alternative to cream.
Starbucks offers various creamers that consist of either soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. As creamers are non-dairy, they don’t contain cow milk or cream.
Now, there are various types of dairy cream available at Starbucks too such as:
- Half and Half cream that consists of 50% heavy cream and 50% milk.
- Heavy cream that consists of pure cream from milk only.
- Sweet cream that consists of heavy cream, vanilla syrup, and milk.
If you want to prepare Starbucks-style coffee at home, they also have ready-made creamers available in various flavors like hazelnut and mocha.
Does Starbucks Use Half and Half or Heavy Cream?
As mentioned above, Starbucks mainly uses half and half cream for most of their drinks if you haven’t specified anything. If it’s written ‘breve’, then also it stands for half and half cream.
But, if you want heavy cream for your order, you have to specifically tell that to your barista.
Now, what is the exact difference between half and half, or heavy cream at Starbucks? Well, it lies in the overall composition. As the name suggests, a half-and-half cream consists of half milk and half heavy cream. On the other hand, heavy cream is the thick cream skimmed from the top of milk.
Hence, heavy cream consists of more fat and is also heavier in nature. Whereas, if you have noticed, half and half cream is slightly lighter and also low in fat.
So, if you want light cream that doesn’t have a lot of fat, then make sure you get half and half cream. Or, if you want proper and rich cream, order or use heavy cream with your beverage.
Does Starbucks Charge for Heavy Cream?
If you’re specifically asking for heavy cream at Starbucks, then there is no exact answer for how much they can charge you. There are mainly three possibilities for this:
- They May Not Charge At All
First, if you’re in good luck, Starbucks may not charge you extra at all for heavy cream or even whipped cream. It is because a lot of people who have been to Starbucks haven’t been charged for asking for heavy cream or heavy whipped cream.
So, make sure that you ask them if it’s free of cost or not.
- They May Charge Depending On The Manager
In some cases, Starbucks baristas do charge people for asking for heavy cream or whipped cream.
It depends on the management and the employees. Some managers may ask the baristas to charge for the heavy cream. Some don’t.
Moreover, you can also ask them regarding the charges and why they are applicable since many other Starbucks don’t charge.
- They May Charge For More Quantity
The last possibility is that you may be charged if the heavy cream quantity is more (more than four ounces). For instance, if the entire drink requires heavy cream, then you will have to pay extra for it.
On the other hand, the barista may not charge you if the quantity of heavy cream required is less than four ounces.
Final Thoughts
I hope after this guide, Starbucks cream is no longer a mystery to you! You can also keep the above things in mind whenever you go to Starbucks next.
If you don’t like half and half cream in your drink, be sure to specify heavy cream. You may or may not be charged for it depending on the manager present there.