Suit says Starbucks underfilled lattes; company says customers told of 'likelihood of variations'
Citing standard Starbucks cups that allegedly are too small to hold the advertised number of ounces, two California customers have filed suit against the company on behalf of themselves and fellow consumers.
The complaint was filed last week in the Northern District of California.
It alleges that “Starbucks lattes are uniformly underfilled pursuant to a standardized recipe. Tall lattes are not 12 fluid ounces, grande lattes are not 16 fluid ounces, and venti lattes are not 20 fluid ounces,” since the standardized recipe calls for the cups to be filled a quarter-inch short of the brim, and the cups must be filled to the top to hold the advertised amount.
Asserting claims under California consumer statutes and for breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, negligent misrepresentation and fraud, the suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages and attorney fees, among other relief.
A Starbucks representative told Eater that the company has done nothing wrong.
“We are aware of the plaintiffs’ claims, which we fully believe to be without merit,” the representative said. “We are proud to serve our customers high-quality, handcrafted and customized beverages, and we inform customers of the likelihood of variations.”
Hat tip: Cox Media Group.
