Review: Starbucks - Extra Coffee Caramel Frappuccino

Starbucks' Extra Coffee Caramel Frappuccino is a new menu item coinciding with the launch of Starbucks' "however-you-want-it" Frappuccino.

Caramel Frappuccinos are made of coffee blended with caramel sauce, milk, and ice and then topped with whipped cream.  Extra coffee adds an unspecified extra bit of coffee.  A Venti (24 ounces, oh the irony) Extra Coffee Caramel Frappuccino is pretty expensive at $5.05.  It's a good thing I bought mines during Frappuccino Happy Hour for half-off.

I'm not sure what possessed me to buy a Venti-sized Extra Coffee Caramel Frappuccino.  I think I let the whole half-price thing get to my head.  "The more you buy, the more you save!" kind of thinking that I try, but mostly fail, to avoid.  I'm a marketing sheep.  "Baaaa..."

As I walked into the house with my Venti Frappuccino, the sister asked, somewhat excited, (and probably somewhat disgusted) if it was a "Plenta"-sized drink.  I told her that it would have to be the size of a KFC bucket to be a Plenta.  She had a good point though, it was pretty tall.  Too tall for the normal Starbucks straw which made me work a little to drink it.

Starbucks recently changed their Frappuccino formulation and there have been complaints, but apparently, they used to use milk powder and are trying to eliminate high-fructose corn syrup and the like from their menu.  I haven't had a Frappuccino in years though, so I really can't tell the difference.  I have noticed that the Frappuccino tends to separate into slush and liquid, so you should stir it a bit with the straw for a better drinking experience.

So how did it taste?  It does have a stronger coffee flavor but not overly so.  Like most caramel drinks, the Extra Coffee Caramel Frappuccino was very sweet with a strong caramel flavor.  I would say the overriding flavor is caramel and not coffee despite the extra coffee.

I've noticed that Starbucks' Frappuccinos are just not as creamy as McDonald's Frappes.  They tend to have more coffee and less cream (no cream actually, unless you count whipped).  Basically, what that means is it won't make you as fat, but it will lighten your wallet a bit more.  I did notice that the caramel smells very buttery.

If I were to choose between this and the McDonald's Caramel Frappe, I would choose the Caramel Frappe because it's creamier.  If you prefer more coffee and less cream though, the Caramel Frappuccino might be more up your alley.  Either way, I'd never pay $5.05 for one.

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Nutritional Info (24 fl oz with whole milk and whip)

Calories - 490 (from Fat - 150)

Fat - 16g (Saturated Fat - 10g)

Sodium - 290mg

Carbs - 79g (Sugar - 77g)

Protein - 6g
Caffeine - 200mg (120mg without "Extra Coffee")