'Venti' Not Enough? Starbucks Supersizes Iced Beverages with New 'Trenta' Cup
Americans Are Living Larger and at 31 Ounces, They Can Now Down a Quart-Sized Drink
By ALYSSA PRY
Jan. 17, 2011—
Coffee addicts have a new reason to celebrate—Starbucks announced Sunday it will begin offering a new menu item: the 31-ounce Trenta cup.
The new size is seven ounces larger than the current Venti and will be used exclusively for iced coffee, iced tea and lemonade beverages, the company said in a press release.
For a lucky few, Tuesday is the day to supersize your favorite coffee treat.
Arizona, Texas, Florida and 14 other states will roll out the new size on January 18, followed by California on Feb. 1.
The rest of the country will have to wait until May 3, when all of the coffee shops in the US will begin serving the Trenta.
Starbucks Corp has unveiled a variety of changes over the past several months as they step up competition with their newest rival, McDonald's McCafe.
In 2009, the world's largest fast-food chain took a new approach to their menu and offered a variety of coffee-house-style beverages, including frappes, fruit smoothies, and lattes at much cheaper prices than Starbuck's equivalents.
But Starbucks continues to stay ahead of the curve.
The company is going over plans to begin serving regional wine and beer and artisan cheeses, and redesign the locations for a cozier and greener vibe, according to a new prototype by Starbucks executives.
In January, the company unveiled an updated logo, which eliminated the words "Starbucks" and "Coffee." CEO Howard Schultz wrote on the Starbucks website that the changes will "continue to embrace our heritage in ways that ensure we remain relevant and poised for future growth."
But their big plans will start with a big cup, which some fear will lead to an even bigger waistline.
However, the company was quick to point out that unsweetened versions of their drinks will still have fewer than 90 calories, with sweetened versions under 230 calories.
While the new size may not do much damage to one's figure, consumers should watch their wallets: the Trenta will be an average of 50 cents more than the Venti, the next largest size.