Well, I know what I’m doing this weekend: Wandering across the street to my local Starbucks, grabbing a brand new Granita, and hunkering down by the pool with my refreshing beverage and a book. And while we’re on the subject, how much does a Starbucks Granita cost, anyway? Good news: I have all the information you need, straight from the source. Isn't the internet grand?
First, the lowdown: As of June 14 (today, y’all!), Granitas in three different flavors have joined the Starbucks Sunset Menu. After 3 p.m. at participating locations throughout the summer, you’ll be able to snag the Starbucks Caramel Espresso Granita, the Teavana Youthberry White Tea Granita, and the Starbucks Strawberry Lemon Limeade Granita as a delightful way to cool off. Consisting of finely shaved ice topped with espresso, white tea, or house-made limeade, each of these drinks offers a delicious twist on an Italian classic.
So: How much do they cost? Like all Starbucks drinks, the exact price is going to vary by market; if you live in a place with a higher cost of living, you can expect to pay a little more than you would in a place with a lower cost of living. There are also, however, variations between the drinks. For the curious, here’s the breakdown:
If You Opt For A Teavana Youthberry White Tea Granita Or A Starbucks Strawberry Lemon Limeade Granita…
You can expect to shell out between $3.45 and $3.75 for a 12-ounce Tall, according to a Starbucks spokesperson. Delicious, refreshing self-care treat for under $4? Yes, please. (Here, the white tea flavor is on the left, while the limeade one is on the right. Just, y'know, FYI.)
If You Get A Starbucks Caramel Espresso Granita…
You’re going to pay a little more (again for a 12-ounce Tall): Between $3.95 and $4.25. This is to be expected, as coffee is generally a little pricier than tea or fruit juices are. Which leads us to our next question:
Why Does Coffee Cost More Than Tea?
There are a lot of factors that come into play here, but it comes primarily down to two things: The labor involved in growing and roasting coffee beans, and the fact that we’re facing a coffee shortage.
First, the labor thing: Producing coffee is complicated, and it requires a lot of equipment and skilled laborers. First, you have to grow it; then you have to roast it; then you have to ship it; then you have to brew it. It actually takes about four to five years for a coffee tree to even start producing coffee in the first place; then, once it’s reached its coffee producing stage, it goes through a couple of steps: The tree flowers first, and from that point, it’s another six to nine months before the small green “cherries” that actually hold the seeds that become coffee beans appear. Then the cherries have to ripen before they’re harvested…
…And all that is just the beginning. For the curious, you can check out the step-by-step process of how coffee is actually made here, from seed to cup. I mean, producing tea is no walk in the park, either, but it generally tends to be a less expensive and involved process than coffee production. So, that’s going to factor into the price difference between tea and coffee drinks, generally speaking.
Then there’s the matter of the coffee shortage: The largest coffee growing regions have been facing drought conditions for a substantial period of time, which has made growing more difficult than usual. Furthermore, demand for coffee is growing faster than it can be supplied. Tea isn’t facing the same problems right now.
But Wait! There’s More!
From June 14 to June 26, Starbucks is running a special Sunset Menu receipt offer: If you go to Starbucks in the morning, bring your receipt from that trip back to a participating Starbucks store after 3 p.m. that day. If you do, you’ll be able to grab a 16-ounce Grande Granita for just $3 — no matter which flavor your order.
Is it the weekend yet? Because seriously, you guys. Granita. Pool. Book. Yes.
Images: Starbucks; Giphy (2)
