Why Venti Starbucks Lattes Aren't Worth The Money

The love of coffee in the U.S. is no secret. 64 percent of Americans enjoy at least one cup on a daily basis (via Reuters), and plenty of us coffee-lovers are heading into Starbucks to grab our daily latte. The next time you put in your order though, think carefully about what size latte you get — you may be handing over extra money for no reason. Thanks to a Starbucks employee (via Business Insider), we now know that a venti latte isn't all it's stirred up to be.

If you're a caffeine addict who never skips a morning run to Starbucks, you may want to sit down for this. You've been paying that extra markup to upgrade from a grande to a venti because you won't make it through the day without that extra dose of caffeine, but guess what? There is no extra caffeine in a venti. A venti latte from Starbucks has two shots of espresso, which is the same amount as a grande — both sizes contain 150 milligrams of caffeine. When you order a venti, really all you're asking for is the same amount of caffeine with a little extra milk and sugar. If you want that extra shot of espresso, you'll have to pay (even more) for it. 

If the thought of paying for that extra shot makes you cringe, order your latte iced. A venti iced latte actually comes with three shots of espresso, giving you 225 milligrams of caffeine (though the iced version is 4 ounces larger than the hot).

But hey, if two shots of espresso has been keeping you caffeinated this whole time, then how about you save some money on all that extra milk? The next time you go to Starbucks, just order a grande latte in a venti cup and then add in your own milk.

When it comes to added sugar and extra calories, there are some coffee drinks you know you should stay far away from, but who knew a venti was one of them?