Maricopa Starbies Baristas Speak Out as Corporate Axes 13 Menu Favorites

Starbucks is set to make significant changes as it lays off 1,100 corporate employees. Following this announcement, the coffee giant will streamline its menu, removing 13 items by March 4.

This decision comes under the leadership of new CEO and Chairman Brian Niccol, who emphasized the need to focus on fewer, more popular offerings. The reduction will total approximately 30% in the months ahead.

The Seattle-based company revealed to the Associated Press that among the items being eliminated are nine Frappuccino drinks, along with the iced matcha lemonade, white hot chocolate, London fog latte, and honey almond milk flat white. Starbucks noted that these items are not only low in sales but are also considered complex to prepare.

Despite the cutbacks, local baristas expressed mixed feelings about the changes. Some stated that the dismissed items aren’t overly complicated. “We really don’t have any drinks that are too complicated,” explained a barista at the Starbucks kiosk in Bashas’ on John Wayne Parkway. “The complicated ones are the custom drinks, wanting a drink blended and then customizations on top of each other.”