Back to School Week 2017: My Go-To Study Drinks From Starbucks (Under $3)
We all know Starbucks can get expensive and on a student budget it's not always the best choice to grab a coffee from Starbucks every day to feed the addiction or fuel yourself in the mornings. However, when you are out of the house and need something to power you through a study session, I have some high-caffeine, low-cost Starbucks drinks to recommend!
(Disclaimer: the prices listed are before tax)
1. The Vietnamese Iced Coffee *Hack*
How to order:
- 2 espresso shots on ice in a Grande cup
- 3 pumps of white mocha syrup
- splash of milk (highly recommend but optional)
Cost: $2.55
Energy Boost Rating: 4/5
This grande size of the Vietnamese iced coffee has two shots of espresso which has 150mg of caffeine (according to Starbucks' nutrition values), not including any sugar high you'll probably get from the added syrup haha. This amount of caffeine is approximately equivalent to a grande iced coffee but tastes so much better in my opinion.
Extra Tips!
- Mix well and let the ice melt a little! Vietnamese iced coffee is meant to taste strong but letting the ice melt a little will balance the flavor out.
- When I'm out, I actually order 3 shots of espresso, 4 pumps of white mocha, splash of milk, in a Venti cup. It's only 80 cents more for one more shot of espresso, but for the sake of keeping it under $3 I shared the grande sized version!
- No need for splenda or to add sugar either. The white mocha syrup adds just the right amount of sweetness that tastes the same as condensed milk used with traditional Vietnamese coffee.
2. Venti Iced Coffee with Milk
To get the biggest bang for your buck is to order any of Starbucks' brewed/iced coffees or teas. If you have a Starbucks gold card refills are free if you stay in the store. If you don't have gold, refills are only 50 cents. Therefore, if you know you're going to stay in the Starbucks for hours on end and need to be constantly fueled, I'd recommend ordering a grande or venti iced coffee (with milk if you prefer it).
How to order:
- Venti iced coffee
- 2% milk (optional)
Cost: $2.95 plus free refills
Energy Boost Rating: 5/5
The venti iced coffee without milk has 235 mg of caffeine. The venti iced coffee with milk has 170mg of caffeine. If you're going to get refills, you'll be constantly caffeinated during your study sesh with this iced coffee.
Extra Tips!
- I recommend ordering a grande if you know you'll want to order something different so that you don't have to finish such a large drink first. The grande is 30 cents cheaper and you will still get free refills.
- MAJOR TIP: Before you leave, get a refill of only iced coffee with no ice! You can save it and customize to drink later at home or at some point over the next few days even!
3. Pike Place Roast Coffee
This is a medium roast coffee with a HIGH caffeine content. I'm not much of a hot coffee drinker but once in a while, if it's cold outside or if I'm desperate I'll order a hot coffee for the high caffeine content. *Drink this at your own risk. I am very sensitive to caffeine and can only sip this coffee over the day and save it over the course of a few days. (I normally share the ^^above suggested drinks)
How to order:
- Grande Pike Place coffee
- With 2% milk (optional)
Cost: $2.25 plus free refills
Energy Boost Rating: *scale broken due to too much caffeine*
Okay in all seriousness, this Pike Place coffee has one of the highest caffeine contents out of all of the drinks Starbucks carries. In just a grande, it contains 310mg of caffeine. If you order a venti, you are subjecting yourself to 410mg of caffeine! If you need it, you need it, so go on and conquer your responsibilities!
Extra Tips!
- I (obviously) get mine with milk to make the taste less bitter and watery, and to dilute the amount of coffee I'd be getting.
- Don't forget your refill before you leave!
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