The Starbucks Drink Nobody Orders But Should

The last few gulps of any big drink isn't going to taste great. Whether we're talking about milkshakes, soft drinks, or coffee, it's usually too cold or too warm by the time you get to the bottom of it. Luckily, in the case of coffee — specifically Starbucks coffee — there's something we can do about it: Order a "short" drink instead of a "tall."

The smallest size offered on the Starbucks menu is a 12-ounce tall. But for those in the know there's also a short, which gets you a more petite 8-ounce cup. Even though this option isn't listed on the Starbucks menu, it's always available for those who ask (via Wise Bread). 

There are a few benefits of ordering a short drink at Starbucks. 

The first is that age-old coffee temperature dilemma. If you order a big cup of coffee, chances are the first few sips are hot, aromatic, warming, and flavorful. But as you keep sipping and the coffee starts cooling, it gets worse and worse, until you're struggling through the last acidic sips because you want to get your money's worth (via Lifehacker). When you order a short, there's simply less coffee, meaning you can drink it faster and enjoy it at its best. 

The second reason you should order a short at Starbucks is because your espresso-based drinks will taste more authentic. Short and tall Starbucks drinks (other than drip coffee) contain the same amount of espresso, and only the ratio of milk and flavorings change. That means short Starbucks drinks have a more concentrated espresso flavor and about the same amount of caffeine as a tall, which is good news for those who need a jolt in the morning (via Caffeine Informer). It also means that a short cappuccino is closer to The World Barista Championship ideal of a 5-6 ounce cappuccino, while a 12 ounce tall ends up tasting too milky (via Slate).

The third and final reason why ordering a short can be a good idea is that it's usually about 30 cents cheaper than a tall, all while containing the same amount of espresso. 

It's hard to find a Starbucks drink that nobody knows about, but the short has seemingly flown under the radar. Until now, that is.