Starbucks pumpkin drinks are back, so I had my first one of the season… Got a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. Sadly, it was almost totally flavorless. 😞

• 

I’m not sure why I still try. I hadn’t had Starbucks in months for this reason… There are three locations near me, and they all botch simple drinks (no special requests/mods) every time. My husband’s too.

It didn’t use to be this way… in particular when the newest one opened it could be counted on to make perfect drinks. Then it steadily declined. And no one wants to be a Karen… so I’ll often trash my full $6 drink, a rare treat, rather than complain to a tired barista. 😢 The times I have asked for it to be fixed or remade were when I was with someone else who would have felt uncomfortable if I simply stared at my drink and didn’t drink while they did.

And you may say, “well don’t buy overpriced Starbucks at all then” but I don’t go there for the good “coffee”. The chain has been a steady presence in my life where many important memories were formed & parts of my books written. Sometimes I just want to go back, and enjoy a syrupy drink… it shouldn’t be so hard when I never ask for any modifications to them.

I still sometimes have the occasional perfect (or, you know, just moderately enjoyable) drink, but it’s so rare. I had already gone from “Starbucks through the year” to “Starbucks only at Fall & Christmas” (because those drinks seemed impossible to screw up) and now… it may be just “Starbucks at Christmas”.

Until that gets botched too. Lol. I dunno. I may give a PSL one last try. I’m just bummed, man.