Starbucks is famous for their unique lingo. Some people still haven’t fully grasped the names of their cup sizes. What is a venti anyways?!
But more specifically, what does ‘double blended’ mean at Starbucks? I’m constantly hearing it and am not too sure. So I looked into it and this is what I found…
What Does Starbucks ‘Double Blended’ Mean?
“Double blended” means to mix twice, and when you ask at Starbucks for your drink to be mixed twice, you’re telling the barista to give it two rounds on the blending machine. Many Starbucks fans ask for this because they believe it makes their drink smoother and thicker and nicer to drink.
This article takes a look at Starbucks blended drinks and the blending process baristas use to make them. We also look at what “double blending” means and how it changes your drink.
Can You Get A Starbucks Frappuccino Not Blended?
A Frappuccino is by definition a Starbucks blended iced coffee drink. The blending refers to how the drinks are mixed during preparation. The drinks consist of coffee or crème bases, blended with ice and flavoured syrups and usually topped with whipped cream (and/or spices).
If you ask for your Frappuccino to be unblended, then you’re asking for it to not be mixed at all. Some customers ask for this because they want to take the drink home and blend it themselves, usually because they want a more “thorough” blend.
However, the problem with this is that the ice melts on the way home and the Frappuccino ends up watery, thin, and kind of ordinary. Fans of Starbucks Frappuccinos have recommended making your own Frappes at home with proper recipes rather than carrying an unblended drink home to have later.
What Does ‘Double Blending’ mean?
Starbucks use the Vitamix Blending Station Advance (48 ounce), which they call “The Quiet One”. These machines are fast and quiet, and they’re used to mix all of the Starbucks blended drinks.
Some consumers ask for their drinks (usually the Frappuccinos) to be blended twice. This is because the frappuccinos are made with combinations of milk, ice, cream, syrups and flavours, espresso shots or tea bases, and are essentially thick, creamy drinks. If you ask for a double blend, the barista will put your drink through two blending cycles.
Double blending emphasizes the thickness and creaminess and mixes the ice more thoroughly, making the drink quicker and easier to consume. Note though, that double blended drinks take longer to make.
Many Frappuccino fans concoct their own versions of the drink, adding and changing ingredients to make the drink even thicker. Many of these versions require double blending to make them drinkable.
What Are The Best Blended Starbucks Drinks?
Fans have uploaded lists of the best blended Starbucks drinks, and some include recipes to personalize the standard Starbucks options. If you’re concerned about your health, just search for “low sugar” or “low fat” Starbucks blended drinks.
Let’s look at an example of one of the most popular blended Starbucks drinks:
The Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino® Blended Beverage has 470 calories, 60g sugar and 22g of fat. On the Starbucks menu, you’ll find a full nutrition and ingredients list for each item.
The drink three size options. It’s made with milk, espresso, Frappuccino roast, dark caramel sauce, caramel crunch topping, caramel drizzle, and whipped cream, and sweeteners of your choice.
Note that the drink is not all heaped into a glass and then blended. Rather, the buttery caramel syrup is blended with coffee, milk and ice, then topped with a layer of dark caramel sauce, whipped cream, caramel drizzle and a crunchy caramel-sugar topping.
In other words, it’s constructed in stages and layers, and takes a lot of barista attention and time.
How Do You Order Double Blended Drinks On The Starbucks App?
You can’t actually order a double blended drink on the Starbucks app. This is because it’s not a standard feature of any of their drinks. Starbucks recommend that you only ask for this personal modification in person and instore.
This way, the barista can confirm that the drink you order is suitable for double blending. Remember that the request also means that your drink will take longer to prepare.
Want to learn more about Starbucks? Check out these related posts to learn why is Starbucks so expensive, does Starbucks serve breakfast all day and what do the lines on Starbucks cups mean.
Conclusion…
Consumer interest in altering preparation techniques (and preparation time) of Starbucks drinks has resulted in a flurry of requests and questions about “double blending”.
The term, which refers to blending a drink twice, results in a drink which fans believe is smoother, thicker, and easier to drink.
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