Starbucks shakes up pricing for extra syrups, sauces under new CEO
Starbucks is revamping its drink modification pricing, the latest in a series of changes under new CEO Brian Niccol.
As of June 24, the coffeehouse chain is charging 80 cents for any additional combination of syrup or sauce to an unflavored beverage. Adding or substituting sauces or syrups to a preflavored beverage – such as adding vanilla syrup to a mocha, or adding classic syrup to any beverage – will be free. Previously, prices varied across sauce and syrup flavors and drinks.
Starbucks is also charging 80 cents per additional chai concentrate, 50 cents per scoop of dried fruit and $1 for a scoop of matcha powder in non-matcha drinks. In matcha beverages, extra scoops will increase the price to the cost of the next size; for example, a grande matcha latte with an additional scoop will cost the same as a venti matcha latte.
The changes, first reported by Bloomberg, are meant to add customer value and ensure consistency, according to Starbucks spokesperson Lori Torgerson.
To make additional charges easier to track, the company is also testing a new feature in its app that shows updated pricing as customers modify their orders, rather than revealing the final price at checkout.
Niccol has worked to turn around a recent sales slump since joining Starbucks in September 2024. The former Chipotle CEO's "Back to Starbucks” strategy has also pushed for a simplified, revamped menu and more comfortable stores.