Tall, Grande and Venti.  Most people are familiar with the sizes that Starbucks Coffee offers to their caffeine-addicted customers, right?

Wrong.

Did you know that Starbucks’ smallest sized cup is actually a “Short?” Of course you did not because it is not published on their overly customized, chalkboard-want-to-be menus.  The unheard of “Short” is not even displayed in most stores.

When I went to my local Starbucks to investigate, I asked why they did not present their “Short” to their consumers.  They replied by explaining it was the “kid size.”

I am sorry, but what “kid” drinks coffee?

Have you ever seen a kindergartner being dropped off at school with a caramel macchiato?

I am not even going to get into the names that Starbucks has chosen for their cup sizes, but the tiniest size printed on the menu is a Tall, which is 12 fluid ounces.  The Short is eight fluid ounces – the size of an average cup of Joe.

That’s approximately 34% less coffee than a Tall, coffee that people have been purchasing thinking that they were being economically intelligent by buying the “smallest” cup.

So not only are Americans voluntarily paying for overpriced coffee thinking they are smart, but they are being scammed into paying even more.

Guess what people?  You are not as smart as you think.

And you know what else?  You do not have to wait 10 months for your seasonal drink to reappear on the menu.

Other than the pumpkin spice latte and a few other select items, if you ask for it, Starbucks will give it to you.

Starbucks seems to be this name brand that people love to show off as if it is some designer label.  But how many of you coffee-loving Seahawks actually like Starbucks coffee enough to pay $4 to $5 a cup?

Do people not realize there are other coffee companies out there?

If you ask me, it is not even worth it. But then again maybe you are not asking me.  In which case, please continue purchasing overly-priced liquid caffeine.

You are only being sucked into the advertising façade.