If you’re confused by the names for the cup sizes at Starbucks, you’re not alone. Not only are some of the terms in Italian, but they also don’t seem to follow a logical order.
So if you’re among those wondering how big a Venti is at Starbucks, read on! You’ll find some of the mysteries solved here!
Key Takeaways
How Big Is A Venti At Starbucks In 2022?
The size of a Venti at Starbucks depends on whether it’s a hot or cold drink. Venti means “twenty” in Italian, and the size for hot drinks holds 20 fluid ounces. However, a Venti for cold drinks holds 24 fluid ounces. The only cup larger than Venti is Trenta, which means “thirty” in Italian.
You may also be wondering what all the different cup sizes at Starbucks are, how much liquid they hold, and what the names mean. So, read on to find all the answers to your questions!
What Are Starbucks’ Drinks Sizes?
Sometimes, everything about Starbucks cup sizes is confusing: the names, the absence of logical order in cup sizes, and the fact that the same cup can be different sizes for hot and cold drinks.
But, Starbucks very thoughtfully does provide some information about cup sizes on its website, so you can get a sense of how much beverage you’re getting in your order.
For example, here’s the official line-up of Starbucks cup sizes:
- Short (holds eight fluid ounces)
- Tall holds 12 fluid ounces)
- Grande (holds 16 fluid ounces)
- Venti Hot (holds 20 fluid ounces)
- Venti Cold (holds 24 fluid ounces)
- Trenta Cold (holds 31 fluid ounces)
Is A Venti A Large At Starbucks?
People have also wondered if Venti could be considered a large size. However, a Venti is the second-largest size of Starbucks cups.
That’s also complicated because although Grande means “large,” Venti and Trenta are both bigger than the Grande size at Starbucks.
As you can see from the list above, Venti is the second-largest drink size and looking at the sizes in ascending order, you could consider Short to be small and Tall to medium.
Furthermore, this would make Grande a large and Venti the extra-large, and the newest size, Trenta, would be an extra-large or jumbo size.
Is Venti Or Grande Bigger At Starbucks?
Venti, which holds 20 or 24 fluid ounces, is bigger than Grande, containing 16 fluid ounces.
Are The Sizes The Same For Hot And Cold Drinks At Starbucks?
As you can see from the list above, hot and cold drink cup sizes are not always the same.
For example, the Venti cup for hot drinks holds 20 fluid ounces, but the Venti cup for cold beverages is larger and holds 24 fluid ounces.
The largest size, Trenta, holds 31 fluid ounces and is only used for cold drinks, including Teavana Shaken Iced Tea, Teavana Shaken Iced Tea Lemonade, Iced Coffee, Cold Brew, and Starbucks Refreshers.
Why Are Starbucks Drink Sizes Weird?
Many people find it difficult to order beverages at Starbucks because the cup sizes don’t follow standard coffee shop usage.
However, Starbucks’ sizes are so weird because they are a mixture of the company’s history and current naming practices.
For example, when former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz opened his first coffee shop Il Giorno, there were three cup sizes; short, tall, and grande.
After Il Giorno became Starbucks, Venti was added because of the demand for a larger size than Grande.
Is A Venti A Large At Starbucks?
Also, there’s confusion caused by the drink names, as the terms for Starbucks cup sizes are taken from Italian and become part of the lore of Starbucks.
With that, the Starbucks stores’ original inspiration was the neighborhood coffee houses that former CEO Howard Schultz saw on his visit there in the 1980s.
So what do the names mean?
- Grande is Italian for Large
- Venti is Italian for 20
- Trenta is Italian for 30
As Grande is the large size at Starbucks, Venti would be the extra-large.
How Do You Order At Starbucks Like A Pro?
While Starbucks baristas are always very helpful, you can order like a pro if you know the different sizes and customizations and which ones you want.
So, it helps to know the different cup sizes and how much hot or cold beverage they hold. But that’s not all you need to know.
Now that you know what the names mean, you should also be aware that they are not a literal description of the contents.
So going by the names, it would seem that a Venti would hold 20 fluid ounces, and a Trenta would hold 30 fluid ounces. But it’s not that simple.
For example, a Venti does not always hold 20 fluid ounces, only when used for a hot drink. For a cold drink, the Venti cup size holds 24 fluid ounces.
Likewise, just because Trenta means 30, you can’t assume it holds 30 fluid ounces, as a Trenta cup holds 31 fluid ounces of cold beverage.
Why Is It Helpful To Know About Starbucks Cup Sizes?
Once you know the different Starbucks cup sizes, it should be easier to order your drink.
Also, it will help the barista focus on getting your order ready instead of a complicated discussion about cup sizes.
Additionally, knowing the cup sizes assures you’ll know exactly how much lemonade or latte you’re getting and also get a rough idea of how many calories you will be consuming.
Of course, cup size is only a rough guide to the amount of calories in a drink.
However, you’ll find all ingredients and nutrition information on foods and drinks on the Starbucks website under “Menu.”
To know more about Starbucks, you can also read our posts on whether or not Starbucks has oat milk, if Starbucks has boba, and the Starbucks happy hour program.
Conclusion
Starbucks cup sizes are confusing for most people, and one question many have is how big a Venti is at Starbucks.
In fact, a Venti for a hot drink, which holds 20 fluid ounces, is a little smaller than a Venti for a cold drink, which contains 24 fluid ounces.
Additionally, Venti is the second-largest cup at Starbucks and is bigger than Grande, which means “large.”