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Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind

r/starbucksbaristas

Full History - 2022 - 10 - 02 - ID#xtvd2j

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Iced Brewed Tea Lattes (London fog, Royal English Bfast, etc.) Confusion/rant (self.starbucksbaristas)

submitted by glo-frog

So I’ve seen some posts about making iced brewed tea lattes, as well as heard from fellow partners about how they make them, and I wonder if anyone is being trained to use the pour-over tea pot thing to measure the proper amount of hot water for iced tea lattes since the sizes are on the pot? I was trained to use it for those two purposes 3.5 years ago when I started, and every time I use it to prep an iced London fog, I get questioned for it, like “why aren’t you using a tall hot cup?” I thought that standard was to use the pour-over kettle with the iced measurements on the side… have I been doing it wrong and there’s actually no proper tool to measure with other than wasting hot cups?? 😭 genuinely concerned, because the lattes always seem to come out right, I just don’t want to push my way for less waste if I’m wrong!

EDIT/UPDATE: 10-3
I just compared the “half full hot cup” standard measurements to the “kettle iced drink measurements” and they are exactly the same for tall, grande, and venti. So I get that it might be standard to waste a hot cup, but technically using the kettle is more accurate (measurement lines) and less wasteful. So idk why the standard was changed if it was! Kind of weird on Starbucks’ part since we are supposed to have reduced waste :(

clouds183 60 points 9m ago

standard is to grab an equivalent size hot cup, fill half way with hot water, steep for 3-5 minutes, then pour into shaker to base line, add milk, syrup, ice and shake. it’s not in standard to use the kettle.

pastelldillann 28 points 9m ago

Iced brewed tea lattes are supposed to be shaken?

clouds183 30 points 9m ago

yes, just like the iced teas on cold bar would be.

pastelldillann 8 points 9m ago

Well i can understand *shaken* iced teas and refreshers being shaken, as they’re advertised as shaken drinks, but since it’s a tea *latte* we’re talking about, i guess i’m not really getting why we would shake it. It’s a drink that typically comes hot, and we don’t shake it when it’s hot, so I’d assume we don’t shake it when it’s iced either. I wasn’t taught to shake it either. is there anywhere i can find written standard on this?

edit: instead of downvoting me can y’all show me the standard on this?? 💀😭

new_direction_ 37 points 9m ago

The standard is literally written in the recipe card. It’s to ensure the drink is properly mixed and to cool it down. You were taught wrong. Unfortunately, this standard often falls through the cracks since these are less commonly ordered drinks.

Cathach2 22 points 9m ago

Like the iced matcha *latte*, it gets shaken

AmbitiousCriticism 8 points 9m ago

If you're mixing different temp liquids with ice, you shake them. So that the ice actually gets to do its job. This is my pet peeve as an ex partner who still orders these sometimes.

gingergal-n-dog 5 points 9m ago

Same. I think it was a recipe change in the last 18 months. But not sure. Def not how I was trained.

glo-frog [OP] 10 points 9m ago

Okay! If that’s really the standard, I’ll accept it lol. I just wish I could find it in the training or recipe cards 😭 it seems silly that we have to use a hot cup just to pour it into an iced beverage and throw the cup away, you think they’d change that :( like we can’t even use a steaming pitcher with the same amount of water? What’s that about 😭 thank you for your help!

clouds183 7 points 9m ago

it’s on the recipe cards for it. if you don’t have the physical cards you can look it up on the ipads on store resources - beverage resource manual

opheliasfault 2 points 9m ago

The recipe changed in 2021! I was also doing what you were doing when I went back from maternity leave, and the green beans looked at me like I had three heads

glo-frog [OP] 1 points 9m ago

UGH. That’s so silly, I’m not sure why they would change it to encourage more waste 😭

Electrical_Metal_106 2 points 9m ago

On the iPad in store resources you can find the recipe. I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with using the pour over kettle. It will result in the same thing, brewed tea. I totally agree with you about not wanting to waste a cup. We are supposed to be a green company after all.

glo-frog [OP] 2 points 9m ago

Thank you! I always forget to check that, I was able to find it and saw the “hot cup half full” measurement is the standard, which was disappointing, but you’re right, I can’t find a reason why it would be wrong to prepare in the kettle since the measurements are the same 🤷🏼‍♀️

OakTreeTrash 8 points 9m ago

I thought hot tea was always a shot cup. Even in Trentas a short cup fills it to the first line.

RosieHarlan 4 points 9m ago

Yeah it’s two bags in a short cup because the tea is supposed to be concentrated since it gets watered down with ice.

clouds183 9 points 9m ago

nope. check the beverage cards. it says grab a hot cup in the equivalent size and fill half way with hot water.

edit: don’t downvote me unless you’ve read the bev resource cards yourself.

gingergal-n-dog 4 points 9m ago

I have checked the iPad within the last 3 months as my ssv was using your method. (In the USA.) You are incorrect. Standard recipe is to use the pour over kettle's iced beverage lines to steep tea. Then pour in shaker and follow through. Why wise would these lines exist if not for a specific purpose??
I know this because I was never trained to use the shaker and my ssv was adamant that the shaker was part of the plan.
We were both half right and half wrong.
1. Add water into pour over kettle to iced tea markings
This becomes your concentrate for the latte. Steep for 4-5 minute depending on tea type.
2. Fill shaker to appropriate base line, add milk, syrup and ice.
Idk where the use of the hot cup came from other than an improvised method used to speed things up. It is wrong.

RosieHarlan 2 points 9m ago

Seems dumb since half a venti cup of tea is 3x more than you need to make it, thus diluting the flavor.

clouds183 -3 points 9m ago

you were taught incorrectly then. check your bev cards.

amassofworms 24 points 9m ago

Okay here’s some from sk Canada and I’m pretty sure I’m right about this

Grande Iced London fog
Take the pour over thing
two earl tea bags and hot water to grande iced line
5 minute timer
Get tea shaker
Wait 5 min
Fill tea to tea line
2% to next line
4 pumps vanilla
Grande Ice
Shake

Grande REB tea latte

Take the pour over thing
two reb tea bags and hot water to grande iced line
5 minute timer
Get tea shaker
Wait 5 min
Fill tea to tea line
2% to next line
4 pumps liquid cane
Grande Ice
Shake

Custom iced chai latte

Take the pour over thing
two chai tea bags and hot water to grande iced line
5 minute timer
Get tea shaker
Wait 5 min
Fill tea to tea line
2% to next line
4 pumps classic
Grande Ice
Shake

Edit: autocorrect

glo-frog [OP] 11 points 9m ago

That’s how I’ve been doing it, using the iced measurements in the pour over thing, I always assumed that’s what those measurements were for since that’s what I was trained, also I’ve never had to make an iced pour-over coffee 😅

gabby24681 2 points 9m ago

Did once. Ever.

sero5074 14 points 9m ago

I work at a local coffee shop now and the way we make them is with iced black tea and whatever syrup and milk. I wish starbucks did this too instead of the whole steeping thing

glo-frog [OP] 10 points 9m ago

Tbh I used to do this only sometimes with our iced black tea to customers who ordered one in DT during peak, to cut down the steeping time 😅 but then I became a barista trainer and I’m trying to do things the standard way 🥲

sero5074 4 points 9m ago

Yea definitely don’t do that cuz you’ll get in troubles ;-;

megs1288 7 points 9m ago

For the royal English breakfast I just use the ice black tea and don’t add water

laurpast 3 points 9m ago

This!!! I test tasted both of them to see if it messed it up but it’s legit identical

rnaggie53 7 points 9m ago

You’re right I think. I noticed recently that the inside of the pitcher has those markings on it & suddenly everything clicked. If that’s not the standard it should be. I feel like whoever is making the recipe cards messed up lol.

lilmissambersue 6 points 9m ago

We just had our training and both the managers at the training told us we are supposed to use the little pourover thingy with the lines inside. One side is for tea one side is for coffee.
If you do it that way it's consistent and not too watered down.
And then shake it with ice and milk and syrup in the shaker.

nonogender 4 points 9m ago

tbh i think its bc people got lazy bc i was a 320 partner (started june 2021) and have never heard of using the kettle to make these. part of it is probably bc we also didnt even make pour-overs lmao

Realistickmhart997 4 points 9m ago

The recipe card states to use the proper size hot cup filled half way with hot water then put your tea bags in and let it steep for the proper amount of time. At my location we use the the pour over pot seeing as it has the lines for the iced drinks and it has the right amount of tea when you pour it into the shaker. Also not waisting a cup. Don't think there is a wrong method in doing that as long as the end result is what the customer asked for🤷‍♀️

bunnysbigcookie 3 points 9m ago

i’ve always used the pour over kettle but it’s honestly it’s half the amount of water you’d normally put in a hot drink so i get what they’re saying

somewheredaydreaming 3 points 9m ago

Hello, they are the SAME measurements! Keep on keeping on my dude

glo-frog [OP] 3 points 9m ago

Just tested that out this morning before I saw your comment! Thank you, I didn’t know they were the same measurements, so at least I was making the drinks with the right proportions lol

somewheredaydreaming 2 points 9m ago

Of course! Sorry our community is filled with gatekeepers and toxicity): few people could have just given you the simple answer instead of trying to argue but that's literally all this sub is good for apparently LMAO some of these comments have me shook

glo-frog [OP] 2 points 9m ago

You’re so kind 🥹 I was genuinely concerned that I’ve been using the wrong measurements since it seemed unlikely the standard would be to “eyeball” measurements in a wasted hot cup 😭 at least now I know and everyone can stop fighting maybe haha. And thank you!! I thought a little update might be helpful so I didn’t have to reply to everyone :)

somewheredaydreaming 2 points 9m ago

Love the edit you added too so people can find the quick answer, you rock!

mossygreentree13 2 points 9m ago

The standard is to use the pour over kettle! Iced London Fog with oatmilk is my favorite drink along with my first starbucks manager, she taught me and she is a 162 partner

croissantboyy 2 points 9m ago

i'm 98% certain that the "iced" measurement lines the pour over pot are for iced coffee pour overs. idk if it has a dual purpose for the iced tea lattes...
i do the half cup of equivalent size or a size down when steeping

[deleted] 1 points 9m ago

[deleted]

clouds183 1 points 9m ago

how would you not waste a hot cup?

Bhaisaab86 -3 points 9m ago

I just use the tea shakers. Hot water to the base line, toss in the tea bags, take ‘em out after 5 minutes, add milk and syrup and ice, dump into cup.

clouds183 3 points 9m ago

that’s not the standard though.

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