Starbucks sued for putting too much ice in its cold drinks

Just how important is the ice in an iced coffee?

That question is now up for debate, as an Illinois woman has filed suit against Starbucks, claiming that the coffee chain is “under-filling” its cold beverages, duping customers and serving drinks that contain less coffee than advertised.

“Starbucks is misleading customers who expect to receive the advertised amount of fluid ounces,” states the class-action lawsuit, which was filed last week in federal court. “For example, if a gallon of gas is advertised as costing three dollars, and a customer pays three dollars and pumps gas, that customer is expecting to receive a gallon of gas – not approximately half a gallon.”

The plaintiff who filed the suit, Stacy Pincus, alleges that those who purchase cold beverages at Starbucks receive far less coffee than advertised. The lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, notes that the claims also apply to iced tea and other cold beverages prepared by Starbucks employees.

“We are aware of the plaintiff’s claims, which we fully believe to be without merit,” Starbucks spokeswoman Jaime Riley said in a statement on Monday. “Our customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any ‘iced’ beverage. If a customer is not satisfied with their beverage preparation, we will gladly remake it.”

On its menus, Starbucks advertises “tall” drinks as 12 fluid ounces; “grande” drinks as 16 fluid ounces; “venti”sized cold drinks as 24 fluid ounces; and its “trenta” cold drinks as 30 fluid ounces.