A special thanks to Aaron for sharing this “buyer’s guide” on the Consumerist from a supposed employee of Starbucks:
Insiders: Confessions Of A Starbucks Barista - Consumerist

If you read beyond the explanation of why Starbucks coffee does not taste burnt, you’ll find that some of the info explains why an iced coffee costs more than a similiar-sized hot coffee (stronger coffee to compensate for the ice, which would otherwise water down your coffee).

There are a few money-saving, helpful hints as well. One such tidbit is that Frappucinos are overpriced (no surprise there). My favorite, though, since my wife likes these is:

If you like the taste of espresso with a chai latte, ask them to ring it up as a latte with chai syrup added instead of a chai latte with espresso added. Espresso costs about fifty cents to add a shot while syrup is only thirty cents.

I’m all about saving twenty cents. With how much we go to Starbucks, that’ll add up!