USC freshman Conor Mellor is willing to fight for his Frappuccino of choice.
“If someone cut my Frappuccino, I’d start a riot,” Mellor said.
Mellor, a self-proclaimed “caramel ribbon crunch guy,” was one of many Trojans to sound the alarm this week after the coffee behemoth announced it was getting rid of some menu items, including nine Frappuccino flavors.
In a press release from Starbucks, the company said it is “simplifying our menu to focus on fewer, more popular items, executed with excellence.” The company stated that this menu cut will “reduce wait times” and “improve quality and consistency.”
Brian Niccol, Starbucks’ new CEO, said in an earnings call to expect a 30% reduction in both beverages and food.
Among some of the cut menu items are the White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino, Cookie Crumble Crème Frappuccino, Espresso Frappuccino and the wildly popular Java Chip Frappuccino.
Several articles and blogs mention Java Chip as one of the best Frappuccinos. In fact, Spoon University, a popular food site, ranked Java Chip as the top Starbucks Frappuccino because the “mousse tasting chocolate chip milkshake is the perfect combination of happiness and comfort.”
Another site, Eat This, Not That put Java Chip at number two, second only to the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino. They described the Frappuccino as “a treat for the tastebuds.”
This dramatic reduction comes amid other big Starbucks changes to revamp the chain. Niccol has set the goal of delivering all orders in less than four minutes, according to the Associated Press. In addition, he announced that Starbucks would be laying off over 1,000 employees globally.
Starbucks has gone back to handwriting personal messages on their customer’s cups in an effort to foster connection. All of these initiatives have been implemented as part of a broader strategy to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction at Starbucks.
Many Trojans said they are unbothered by these menu cuts because they consider Frappuccinos a thing of the past.
“I don’t think I’ve had a Frappuccino since I was in eighth grade, but I really liked them then,” said freshman business student Alex Childs. These days, Childs orders matcha at Starbucks, adding that if someone wants a Frappuccino, they “might as well just go get a milkshake.”
“I’d get them when I was in middle school,” said Sam Clark, a sophomore majoring in economics and data science. Back then, he said he’d get the Caramel Frappuccino.
“If you’re getting a Frappuccino in 2025, you’ve just gotta figure it out,” Clark said.
Clark also suggested milkshakes as an alternative to the popular Starbucks Frappuccino.
Dakota Maichel, a freshman studying biology, prefers the Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino when she orders one.
“Thankfully my favorite Frappuccino didn’t get discontinued and taken off the menu, so I’m lowkey okay with it,” Maichel said.
But, Maichel acknowledged “the heartbreak for others.”
On the other hand, some Trojans suggested the Frappuccino cuts could be good for society.
“I think it’s a positive thing because at the end of the day, kids are drinking less sugar,” said Derrick Shabani, a sophomore majoring in business. “I’m glad they did it.”
Shabani said he really liked Frappuccinos growing up, but explained that the sugar content made him stop drinking them.
“Maybe there’s someone out there thinking: ‘Hey, you know what — maybe I should just get the healthier option now,’” Omar Pinheiro, a senior studying applied math, said.
Still, others don’t find the changes to be so sweet.
Paris Agapitos, a sophomore and psychology major said, “I would totally sign a petition to bring [Java Chip] back.” She said the Java Chip was “the only frap I’d actually get,” adding that “I always had it growing up.”
Now, she prefers a cold brew.
Although Mellor’s favorite flavor is safe for now, he said that he “feel[s] for my other frappuccino lovers who don’t have their go-tos.”
And if they do cancel his favorite?
“I’d make sure I’d get it somehow,” Mellor said.