Hello all! The new tool update is now live. It brings huge changes behind the scenes: smart deletion, better nutritional logic, and a full customization revamp. You can read about all the changes on the changelog page.
However, today I want to focus on one specific feature. This is the Milk and Milk Splash options. Are they actually different? And more importantly, how do you customize them for your perfect drink?
Contents
My Deep Dive: Why Milk Portions Matter
This particular upgrade took me a long, long time. I had to fully analyze the entire Starbucks drink dataset. My goal was simple. I needed to understand how nutritional values shift. This includes different sizes and customizations.
Honestly, this was super time-consuming work. It was incredibly fascinating, though. I had planned a full video walk-through. But I figured this info is too good to wait. So, I’m breaking it all down here now. I promise a video walk-through is still coming soon!
Are Milk and Milk Splash Truly Different?
The short answer is a definitive Yes. They are absolutely different.
Their use varies significantly from drink to drink. Some beverages call for a standard milk size. Others only need a splash of milk.
I previously noticed a puzzling trend. Some drinks were showing much higher calorie values than expected. This simply didn’t make sense to me. Then I dug into Starbucks’ actual portioning methods.
It turns out that not all milk is added equally. This is the key insight: some drinks use a full, standard milk portion; others use a small, splash-sized amount. This “splash” usually just finishes a drink, or it might simply enhance the flavor.
🥛 What’s New in Milk Customization?
Milk customization is now much more accurate. It’s also way more flexible than before.
You will now see two separate milk-related options. This happens when customizing your drink.
one. Milk (Standard Portion)
This refers to the standard milk servings. These are typically found in most base drinks. Think of lattes, hot teas, or Frappuccinos.
Options here include:
- Two percent Milk – about eighty calories
- Whole Milk – about one hundred calories
- Almond Milk – about sixty calories
- Oat Milk and more
This is the primary milk option. Starbucks uses a standard portion by default here.
two. Milk Splash (Smaller Quantity)
You will see this second option just below the standard milk section. It’s labeled Milk Splash. This refers to a smaller, “splash-sized” serving.
This smaller quantity is used in drinks like:
- Iced London Fog Tea Latte
- Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
- Certain Iced Teas and Brewed Coffees
Why the split? Well, I analyzed over eight hundred plus size variations of Starbucks drinks. I found that many only use half a standard portion. Sometimes it’s even less! It’s often shown as an inch-based quantity.
Crucially, the Milk Splash is similar to the old “Creamer” option. However, it offers much more feature upgradation.
Therefore, for accurate calorie calculations, this update lets you:
- Select “No Milk” in the standard section if it’s not needed.
- Use the separate Milk Splash section. Here you pick your type and size (one-fourth inch, one-half inch, three-fourths inch, or no splash).
Example: Iced London Fog Tea Latte (Tall)
Let’s look at a concrete example. The Starbucks preloaded ingredients for a Tall Iced London Fog Tea Latte are:
- Splash of Two percent Milk – one-half inch
- Vanilla Syrup times three
- Tea Bag times one
- Ice times one
- Total Calories: one hundred
If you break down the calories:
- Vanilla Syrup equals twenty calories multiplied by three, which equals sixty calories.
- The remaining forty calories comes from the splash of milk (one-half inch). It is not a full serving of milk.
🛠️ How Do You Customize the Milk?
Now you can tweak your milk options easily. You have two or three ways to customize. It completely depends on your preference. Now you can add either the standard milk size or just a milk splash.
Replacing or Adding Standard Milk
Sometimes you just want to add standard milk. Or perhaps you need to replace the existing one. Maybe you want to reduce calories. For instance, switch from Whole Milk to Almond Milk. Alternatively, you might just want to customize the taste.
To do this:
- Simply select your desired milk from the Milk dropdown.
- The tool will automatically adjust the calorie count. This is based on your new selection.
If you’re adding milk (where none was preloaded), you’ll see:
Added Milk:
Two percent Milk
If you’re replacing an existing milk option, you’ll see:
Milk Change:
Whole Milk -> Almond Milk
This tracking makes changes easy to follow. It’s simple both visually and nutritionally.
No Standard Milk – Only the Splash Version
You might prefer to skip the standard milk entirely. In some cases, you only want a splash. This is a smaller quantity of milk. It’s perfect for drinks needing just a hint of creaminess. It avoids the full calories.
Here’s how to manage that:
- If Milk is preloaded, set it to “No Milk” from the Milk dropdown.
- Then, simply add the Splash of Milk of your choice. Use the second dropdown right below the Milk section.
You can set these in any order. Set “No Milk” before or after selecting the splash. Just remember this: If standard milk isn’t preloaded, you can skip the “No Milk” part.
When you remove the preloaded milk: You’ll see:
Milk Change:
Whole Milk -> No Milk
Customizing the Splash
Finally, you have four splash sizes to pick from: one-fourth inch, one-half inch, three-fourths inch, or No Splash. The “No Splash” option is handy for removing a preloaded splash.
Once you add a splash milk, the UI will reflect your choice:
Milk Splash Customizations:
Splash of Almond Milk: one-half inch
You can even mix and match splashes! Feel free to get creative. Play around to find your perfect combination.
I’m working on a quick video guide as we speak. So, stay tuned for a visual walkthrough soon! Meanwhile, please experiment with the new options. Let me know what feels intuitive. Also tell me if anything is confusing!
What’s your go-to non-dairy splash size? Let me know in the comments!
