Starbucks Anyone?

[I hate gluten]

Well been on the diet for a week and curious about starbucks coffee (them making it not buying it). Anyone know anything. I would assume it ok. But you can not assume anything with Celiacs. I do not eat their snacks, but I am a coffee addict. Picked it up when the fatigue was so bad that it took all may energy to drive there. I can say that I feel I do not NEED it anymore. But it is my guilty pleasure. Figuring I am going to have to go Casein free soon, but may have to have one more trip to say goodbye. I hate the taste of plain expresso, but give me a fuo-fue triple grande white choc. mocha and i am good of three hours. Anyone tried their coffee with soy? Now I am sure it is alot harder with Casein free than gluten free there. Just curious.

[Mother of Jibril]

I've read that the only drinks at Starbucks that are NOT safe (in terms of gluten) are the frapuccinos and the Vivanno protein drinks. It's best if you ask them to use a clean pitcher and clean the steam wand before they make your drink.

Personally, I think coffee drinks with soy milk are good! Unlike some other coffee shops I've been to, Starbucks is good about leaving off the whipped cream. Not everything can be made dairy-free though. The regular hot chocolate is OK, but the "signature" hot chocolates are not. My favorite (before I became super-sensitive and had to stop eating out) was a no-water chai with soy milk. Now I just drink tea when I go there with friends or colleagues.

[ang1e0251]

Starbuck's uses Silk Soy Milk Vanilla the same as I have at home. I like them but I have to warn you, I have been dairy free most of my life so I do not even remember the tase of milk, except that it was yucky. You will have a learning curve as you adjust to the flavor. It's not going to be a perfect match for the milk you are used to. That doesn't mean it will be bad just different. Give yourself time and keep drinking it and you will adjust and even crave it before long. I first only used it flavored like with coffee to learn the new flavor. I still don't sit down with a glass of it but I do use it anywhere I would have milk; pudding, pumpkin pie, smoothies, soup, with cereal.

The rule of thumb when cooking with soy is to use the sweetened kind only for sweet things like coffee and desserts. Use the unsweetened kind for savory cooking like salt based casseroles. I think it is called organic.

[Gemini]

  I hate gluten! said:

Well been on the diet for a week and curious about starbucks coffee (them making it not buying it). Anyone know anything. I would assume it ok. But you can not assume anything with Celiacs. I do not eat their snacks, but I am a coffee addict. Picked it up when the fatigue was so bad that it took all may energy to drive there. I can say that I feel I do not NEED it anymore. But it is my guilty pleasure. Figuring I am going to have to go Casein free soon, but may have to have one more trip to say goodbye. I hate the taste of plain expresso, but give me a fuo-fue triple grande white choc. mocha and i am good of three hours. Anyone tried their coffee with soy? Now I am sure it is alot harder with Casein free than gluten free there. Just curious.

I drink only one thing at Bucky's....a soy chai latte and it is MUCH better than the milk version! I have tried the coffee lattes but I like the chai better. Doesn't mean they aren't good also but I prefer tea to coffee. I doubt you will be disappointed.

[Jenny (AZ via TX)]

I drink decaf, non-fat lattes. I don't like rice milk or soy milk. I have to do the decaf because caffeine makes me too jittery. I try to take a lactaid before drinking it but sometimes I don't and I'm still OK. I don't drink them everyday like I used to but probably 3-4 times a week. So far, so good.

I have to say though that I gave up coffee for the first few months. It didn't sit well on my stomach. I have it every morning at home in addition to the Starbucks.

[wschmucks]

Hey Guys--

Side note: I just posted in the "labels and ingredients section", that Starbucks is in the middle of a "soy milk transition" (i thought it was funny that they called it that). They will no longer be using Silk, it will be replaced with a non-branded soy milk, which I called today to confirm IS gluten free. I was nervous at first.

I have also been told that the mochas, and syrups used for flavoring ARE gluten free. Sprinkles they may add later are not. And at the counter where you can add ur sugar-- the vanilla powder is NOT gluten free (its gotten me before, and this forum has confirmded not gluten-free).

[ang1e0251]

Thanks for the update!!

[I hate gluten]

wschmucks you are so awesome. thanks for checking that out for us! Thanks!

[Chrissyb]

I drink the de-cafe mocha with soy and for the most part I have no problem. There have been a few times it has bothered me but not every time and to me it taste good.

[saintamber]

I drink a Starbucks, Grande No-whip Soy Mocha with a triple shot, every day at 9am. I have been reassured more than once by my local "barista" that it is Gluten Free. I cant live without my Starbucks, fattening breakfast drink.

I also have a Kuering single cup coffee maker, and drink Caribou Morning blend coffee when I cant get to Starbucks, with Coffee-mate french vanilla creamer and 2 Splenda, probably 3-4 times a day... (yes, I'm an addict, but I have 3 yr old twins and I need the pick-me-up) and so far, i haven't had a reaction to it.

Good luck in your endeavor. I've been gluten-free for 9 months, and I am SOOOO happy!!! and feel SOOO much better. It's all worth the trouble!

Am