Life

Here's How Much This New Sbux Treat Costs

by Lara Rutherford-Morrison

Today, Starbucks announced a new arrival: The Affogato-Style Frappuccino. Now that your initial involuntary drooling has subsided, it’s time to budget for your summer Starbucks habit because, let’s face it, you’re going to be buying one of these babies everyday. So how much does a Starbucks Affogato-Style Frappuccino cost? I’ve got the deets on that below, but here’s the short answer: This creamy, icy coffee extravaganza is coming your way for less than five bucks. Not a bad price for caffeinated happiness in a cup, right?

In case you’re not up to speed on Starbuck’s latest offering, the Affogato-Style Frappuccino is inspired by the affogato, an Italian dessert made up of gelato with espresso poured over the top. In the Starbucks version, you get a shot of espresso poured over your favorite Frappuccino. The company is officially offering Vanilla Bean, Caramel, and Mocha Affogato-Style Frappuccinos, but you can ask for any flavor of Frappuccino to be served “affogato-style.”

Because the base prices for different flavors of Frappuccino vary, the prices of the Affogato-Style will change according to what you order. Prices of Starbucks products also vary a bit according to where you live (As Bustle’s Lucia Peters has pointed out, prices tend to be higher in major cities than in more suburban areas), but here’s a general outline of what you can expect to pay for an Affogato-Style Frapp: According to a Starbucks spokesperson, a Tall (12 oz.) Affogato-Style Frappuccino in Vanilla Bean, Caramel, or Mocha will run you between $4.25 and $4.75, depending on the market. If you order another flavor of Frappuccino (like, say, a White Chocolate Mocha or a Cinnamon Dolce Frapp) affogato-style, it’ll add $0.80 to $0.90 onto that drink’s usual price.

That’s not nothing, obviously, but less than five bucks doesn’t seem like too crazy a price some liquid self-indulgence. And if you really want to treat yourself without breaking the bank, try pairing your fancy Frapp with some cheap (or free!) summertime activities. Might I suggest the following?

1. Go to movies in the park.

A lot of cities and towns host movie-in-the-park series in the summer, and they are usually free. I used to live in a city that hosted free classic movies in the park every week in the summers, and each year had a theme (old-school horror, musicals, Alfred Hitchcock films, and so on). Going to watch old movies under the stars with a basket full of snacks and drinks was possibly my favorite thing ever. Check with your local Parks and Rec department to see what’s happening in your area.

2. Have a picnic (for one, if need be!)

Having an elaborate picnic with friends in the summer is really fun, of course, but not everything has to be a big to-do. If it’s a nice day, grab yourself a blanket, a beverage, and some sunscreen, and park yourself in your favorite nearby park.

3. Borrow library books.

OK, so you may not be allowed to actually take your Starbucks drinks into your local library, but borrowing books (and then going somewhere cozy and quiet to read them) is a fun and free(!) way to try out new authors and have some rewarding downtime.

4. Scout out the flea market.

If you’re an impulsive purchaser, this may not be the best idea for your budget, but trolling flea markets and vintage shops often seems like a perfect combination of shopping and museum-going. Even if you don’t buy anything, you’ll probably see some weird stuff you’ve never encountered before. And who knows? Maybe you’ll find that random item you’ve always wanted for just the right price.

5. Have some DIY spa time.

Spas can be hella expensive, but there are lots of DIY spa treatments you can do on the cheap, often with ingredients you already have at home. For example, here is a list of DIY facemasks you can make from stuff in your kitchen.

Affogato-Style Frappuccinos go on sale July 7 and will continue through the summer.

Images: Courtesy of Starbucks; Giphy