What Those Green Sticks At Starbucks Are Really Called
It has probably happened to all of us at least once: You're rushing to grab your favorite coffee from your go-to cafe counter when the hot liquid splashes up out of the hole in the lid, getting your hands and possibly your clothes sticky and stained. Luckily, Starbucks has long been aware of this problem, which is why it serves its drinks with a small green stick inserted into the opening from where you sip, thus preventing splashback when customers grab their drinks too quickly.
We all know they are handy little tools — some of us may even use them every day, depending on how often you indulge your Starbucks fix — but most of us don't know what to actually call the little sticks if we have to ask for them at the register. Of course, most Starbucks baristas will probably know what you're talking about if you ask for a "little stick" or a "stopper," but what is their official name?
The green pegs are officially called splash sticks
Luckily, Steve Johnson of The Baltimore Sun set out to answer this pressing question a few years ago, reaching out to baristas and readers to find the correct moniker to use. While many people responded with their own favorite pet names for the stick, including "spill stick," "coffee portal blocker," and "cup harpoons," no one seemed to know the official term. However, further digging revealed the true answer on a My Starbucks Idea blog post from all the way back in 2008, when the little tools were first introduced.
"Thanks for your many ideas and comments about providing something for our lids to minimize coffee splashes. As a result of your feedback about spills out of the sip hole, we have been testing splash sticks in limited markets to gauge customer interest," the blog post read (via The Baltimore Sun). The site also noted that splash sticks can be "cleaned and reused," so you can make a more eco-friendly choice by holding onto it and bringing it with you for your upcoming Starbucks trip. But now, the next time you go into a Starbucks, you can also feel empowered knowing you have the proper name to call the useful little splash stick if you need to request one.