Customers looking to get a little extra out of one popular Starbucks drink will now have to pay more, as the company announced it will begin adding an additional charge starting Tuesday.
The extra charge is in reference to the $1 customers will now see added to their bill if they request no water to be added to their Starbucks Refreshers, in lieu of adding more of the drink’s base, a Starbucks spokesperson told Insider.
The Refresher drinks consist of juice and green tea and are often cut with water. When customers request no water to be added to the drink, baristas add more of the drink’s base instead, resulting in consumers getting more of the product.
Now, Starbucks says it is adding the charge to crack down on the customization.
“This change allows us to provide a more consistent approach to customization, similar to other beverage customizations such as adding an espresso shot or syrup, which incur an additional charge,” the spokesperson told Insider.
While Starbucks may be ready for its baristas to add the charge, the coffee makers aren’t as thrilled.
“I definitely am a little nervous about how the customers will react because it’s not our choice… It’s a corporate decision,” one Chicago-area barista shared with Audacy on the promise of anonymity. “[The customers] take it out on the partners even though we don’t make those decisions.”
This sentiment was echoed amongst other baristas for the company, with some telling Insider that they are also feeling weary about the potential backlash they could see over the new charge.
The fear of potential backlash is nothing new, as baristas reported facing angry customers in the past over things like discontinued items and how Starbucks Star rewards are earned.
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