Customers would and have thrown massive fits over underfilled drinks and it’s not worth the fight at all. If they order and pay for a diluted refresher or iced latte and it tastes like ass, it’s 100% their problem ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ hopefully they’ll learn that we make things the way they do because it’s specifically formulated to taste good or maybe just start getting gas station coffee if they’re that cheap

The worst customers are the ones who order drinks with no ice or light ice. I’ve been called a fucking bitch and had popcorn thrown at me because there was too much ice in a drink. It’s not worth the immaturity.

I personally think Starbucks should impose a no ice fee like an extra dollar or something. I have a regular that comes in and gets 2 Trenta berry refreshers, no ice, no water. Then she uses that to make her drinks through the week. That’s almost a full box of concentrate for each drink. That profit loss for the drinks I could have made with that is a lot.

Just use the add dairy button. That’s what I do

So I’m a barista myself and one time was picking up iced lattes to bring home for my boyfriend and one of his friends and I told the partner on pos “no ice, but no need to fill it up to the top - just to the third line is fine, we will add ice at home” and I still got milk to the top haha. I didn’t care because it was a white mocha and a caramel latte and my boyfriend and his friends wouldn’t know the difference or care.

From the other perspective, yes I think traditional customers would cause more of an uprising over a partially empty cup and I think if they say it tastes weak, then suggesting to them that if they are ordering it without ice, adding an extra shot next time may help to balance out the additional milk 🤷🏼‍♀️

I actually recently asked my RD this question. His response was understandable. "People in Seattle don't think you are giving them full cups when asking for no ice or no water. That's probably why you don't see a upcharge for it. They assume you are giving them the 'correct' amount of product."
It makes sense. They aren't out in the field, Seattle doesn't have on hands experience everyday with this issue.
I did ask him if we were permitted to do what Seattle intends (give them half empty cups etc) he said yes. Even though my RD and DM where present for that ok, I still can't do it. It just looks like I'm being an ass on purpose.
My RD is bringing this issue to Seattle though and I was happy to hear it's moving up :)