I appreciate the switch. If it were me, I'd do some more market research. I'd rather skim be the default. If you want more fat, then just ask for it. I'd rather the fat free version be default- - this is what EVERYONE should drink. Full fat milks should really only be consumed by little ones up to the age of 2. Once a tot turns 2, he/she should also drink skim. Fat is good for NOBODY (except as mentioned above), and the general population would be better served adjusting their texture and taste to fat free milk. Of course, I am all for balance in dieting, so if you want the higher fat milk, you can ask for it. Again, this is my opinion; if I were running the business, I'd do the market research to find out what to offer the public. Maybe switching to 2% for a few years, then to skim.

p.s. I wholeheartedly agree that the amount of syrup is over the top! Do their syrups contain high fructose corn syrup?

p.p.s. on another note, does Starbucks recycle? Or does all of the "trash" really make it to the landfill?

hey shmucks out there who drink the starbuck coffee its making you skinny in your pocket.wake up stop supporting them. there crooks.

i think it's a good idea... i tried a skim latte.. and did NOT notice the difference... it's all about choice.. 2% as a default...i don't think is a bad thing... you order what you would like... but i do think more sugar free alternatives to their "fun" drinks would make ME happier! :) peace...

They need to expand their offerings of sugar-free syrups. Currently they have SF Vanilla and Hazelnut. During holiday times they offer SF Cinnamon - Dulce something or the other. It's ridiculous that our local Wegmans supermarket offers SF Almond, SF Irish Cream, SF Vanilla, SF Hazelnut, SF Toffee Nut, etc. and Starbucks offers only two SF syrups - - -

Uh, yeah, just for the added note about the "sugar" in they're syrups... They do have Sugar Free Syrups... like Sugar Free caramel, Sugar Free Cinniman Dolce, etc and you CAN NOT taste the fact that they are sugar free... they dont have a sweetener type taste to it. Just a little FYI there.

It seems ironic that as research is finally figuring out coffee itself is actually pretty darn healthy for you, so many people and franchises are using it as an excuse to have a high-fat, high sugar dessert.

Use some nonfat or 1% and a little evil splenda, and save your dessert calories for a real dessert like a cupcake!

(Yes, Crabby is always this grouchy. Her own annoying health blog has a post on the health benefits of coffee if you want to know more about it:
http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/2007/05/coffee-mighty-fine-beverage-after-all.html

I don't think this is a bad thing though I personally prefer the taste of whole milk to 2%. Might I also point out that whole milk could also be called 3% so the difference is only 1%. To me it makes a big difference in the taste. And the gentleman who complains that starbucks only offers 2 sugarfree options that's not true. They have been adding to the sugarfree line up and if memory serves me it's up to 4 or 5 with more in the works.

I agree with Melissa about recyling. They should really take initiative in recyling all of their cups, tops and sleaves for their drinks. They strive to present themselves as an 'earthy' type of establishment..when if you spend a couple hours at a Starbucks and see how many times they change the trash, it's sad that these recyclable products are just being disposed of in the TRASH! I also think that if you will be sitting in, that they should serve drinks in washable cups (same as in restaurants).

As for the 2% milk..i'm surprised it has taken them this long to figure out that people in this country really don't prefer whole milk. I always ask for skim milk, and you really CAN'T tell the difference..with all that syrup they pump into their drinks. :)

If you're going to make it 2%, why not 1% instead? There is absolutely NO difference in taste. I personally would not mind non-fat, but you can always just ask for that.
But 1% is the BEST.

If you're going to make it 2%, why not 1% instead? There is absolutely NO difference in taste. I personally would not mind non-fat, but you can always just ask for that.
But 1% is the BEST.

I've always ordered the non-fat milk for my Lattes and it tastes great because I think the syrup more than makes up for the difference. As for the syrup I think they shouldn't switch to any ARTIFICIAL sweeteners, our bodies don't know what to do wit that CRAP, it treats it as a toxic substance and puts our livers & kidneys hard to work! Not good! BUT natural sweeteners are ok in moderation, we're all adults and can tell them to minus a pump or two of syrup if we choose. As for the recylcling, I agree that this should be a given at this establixhment that passes themselves off as being as earth-friendly as they do. SO.......Starbucks.......Ease up on the syrup, recylcle all your trash, use FAT-FREE milk by default, and offer faithful, daily, big-time spending customers like me some kind of frequent-buyer card/program for a litlle reward now and then for being such loyal customers that spend a lot of cash in your establishments!!!! ;)

I agree using the lower fat milk makes sense. However, I never, ever buy anything at Starbucks - their coffee is the most horrible I've ever tasted - tastes burnt. This is genius marketing - take a nasty product, attach a certain cache to it, and make it desirable to consumers. Must have the same marketing firm as Victoria's Secret. Kudos to this marketing team!!

Starbuck's will make you skinny all right...IN THE WALLET!!

The change is good, lower fat would be better, but, as adults, we can ask for 1% or non-fat... I always order skim milk Mochas' with half the syrup... it still makes a good tasting drink. I don't trust any artificial sweeteners...and please do not give children all of these artificial sweeteners, they can get used to very little sugar easily if started from a young age. Their little brains and organs are growing, these lab created sweeteners are not good for them.

For the person who scolded starbucks for not recycling, how about a little personal responsibility? If a person drinks thier entire drink at the establishment, they have reusable cup that you can get your drink in and plates to get your snacks served on. Most of the people I see ordering drinks take their drinks and leave. What they do with their cups when they get to thier destination, who knows? They also offer a discount if you bring your own cup. Thus eliminating the need for most recycling.

Since I've been on Kimkins http://www.kimkins.com/329.html
I have been losing about a lb a day - but can't have caffiene - caffiene spikes insulin, and consequently stores fat. Low fat is not necessarily the way to go - it's the carbs that keep you fat - I can have coffee as long as it's decaf and use half and half because a little goes a long way.

We'll actually Starbucks is a VERY "green" company! They do recycle. All of the paper supplies :shopping bags, pastry bags, cup sleeves are 100% recyclable and their cups are used with a specially formulated liner inside the cup now, so they too can be recycled. Starbucks also offers a "ground for your garden" program to help eliminate the huge value of coffee ground would go to landfills and they really help your gardens too. Many stores (if their city has facilities) recycle their milk cartons and boxes their shipments come in or the offer their boxes to any customers who might be moving.

Starbucks should follow the lead of the local shops and offer a 15% discount on beverages in their reusable mug. I bought a reusable mug ($10) from a local coffee shop and everytime I get a drink, I save 15% on my beverages. Bonus for the environment too by not throwing the paper cup in the garbage.

oh, and Starbucks offers a 10 cent discount if you bring your own cup as an insentive to save that from waste. And offer "for here" mugs, plates, forks, etc. As well as if you buy whole bean coffe at starbucks, if you bring that bag back in and have them re-use it for your next pound, you'll get that same discount. many store managers require their employees to use ceramic mugs for their free drinks while they work...b/c that adds up on their own!

I would go for the skim milk myself.
I have drank skim for years! Drinking even 2% milk, to me, is like drinking molasses...