Starbucks has announced changes to its pricing structure for beverage add-ins, such as matcha and syrups, in a move towards standardizing costs across all its locations. This update comes as part of a broader effort to enhance customer experience under the leadership of CEO Brian Niccol. Starting now, customers will be charged 80 cents for any combination of syrup or sauce added to an unflavored drink, rather than incurring individual charges for each addition. However, if a customer chooses to substitute a sauce or syrup in a drink that is already flavored, like adding vanilla syrup to a Caffè Mocha, there will be no additional charge.
In addition to syrup pricing, Starbucks will implement a fee of $1 for adding matcha powder to non-matcha beverages. For those interested in including dried fruit in their drinks, the cost will be 50 cents. The changes were first reported by Bloomberg News. These pricing adjustments reflect Niccol’s commitment to revamping the Starbucks brand and driving growth within the company.
He aims not only to streamline pricing but also to enhance customer service and create an inviting atmosphere at Starbucks cafes, where patrons feel encouraged to linger. As part of this initiative, Starbucks is also testing a new feature in its app that will provide real-time pricing updates when customers order food or drinks. This feature aims to improve transparency, allowing customers to see how much their selections will cost at checkout. Despite the new pricing for certain add-ins, customers will still be able to enjoy the classic syrup, a liquid sugar similar to simple syrup, at no additional cost with any drink order.