Last week, latte lovers Siera Strumlauf and Benjamin Robles filed a class action lawsuit against Starbucks in California, accusing the chain of 'negligent misrepresentation and fraud' with regards to the in-store marketing of Starbucks lattes. According to the plaintiffs, Starbucks 'knowingly and systematically' deceives its customers by serving them beverages that are, on average, 25 per cent smaller than the volumes advertised alongside cup sizes in-store. The linchpin of the lawsuit appears to be Starbucks' latte recipe, which prevents baristas from filling up latte cups to the full liquid volume advertised in Starbucks stores.
'The serving cup used for grande beverages holds exactly 16 fluid ounces, when completely full,' the court documents filed on March 16 read. 'However, Starbucks' standardised recipe for its grande lattes calls to fill the serving cup “up to one quarter inch below cup rim.” Thus, when used in conjunction with its standardised recipe, Starbucks serving cups do not permit, 12-ounce, 16-ounce and 20-ounce lattes.'
A measly quarter inch of latte may seem like a scrimpy margin of error upon which to hinge a lawsuit. However, the plaintiffs argue that by routinely 'shortchanging' latter drinkers everywhere, Starbucks has 'saved countless millions of dollars in the cost of goods sold and was unjustly enriched by taking payment for more product than it delivers.' The class action will be open to all US consumers who have purchased a Starbucks latte if approved.
Starbucks has acknowledged the lawsuit and dismissed it as 'without merit.'
Source: AJC.com; Court Documents
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