While this is not very relevant in the aspect of a normal school newspaper, I feel like this topic is very relevant when it comes to MSMS with our long study nights (until 11:59 a.m.) and the stress of just being at the school.

I have a confession to make. I had never had Starbucks before coming to MSMS. So that means I can’t truly sit here and tell you the best Starbucks drinks because, to be bashful, I’ve never had a true Starbucks drink. What I can tell you is the best drinks from the Starbucks located in Fant Library.

The first drink I had from Starbucks was a vanilla cappuccino. I come from a family of black coffee drinkers (I am one myself), so I don’t particularly care for flavored coffee. The only flavored coffee my family drinks is a cappuccino, so I thought I would start with something I already knew for my first drink. Needless to say, the drink was great. Although it is not my favorite thing at Starbucks, I  will grab a cappuccino occasionally when I’m not feeling extra sweet. If you like sweet coffee, this is not the drink for you. Also, if you do not like foam, do not get this because it is about ⅓ of the way full of foam.

If you don’t like the foam, I recommend the vanilla latte. It is a cappuccino with half the amount of foam. I do not like lattes because I like the foam of a cappuccino, and I also find them to be pretty basic for the price you pay.

If your running on a budget, you can get iced coffee. Iced coffee will save you a few dollars and still tastes pretty good. My favorite thing to get is an iced coffee with almond milk and 3 pumps of vanilla. This brings me to my next ramble. Almond milk is so much better than the regular 2% milk they put in there!

If you’re not in the mood for coffee you can snag another one of my favorites: Iced Passion Tea, specifically the Passion Fruit kind. I also really like the little refresher packets they have. Both of these are good options if you’re looking for a “healthier” option over the caffeine-filled drinks you normally get. The Passion Tea will not save you a lot compared to a regular coffee drink but the refreshers are pretty cheap.

Before I tell you my favorite drink, I’ll clue you in on what not to get. I hate the cafe americano. This drink is basically just espresso and water. Why would you pay for espresso with water, when you can just get espresso shots and add water to it. That is to basic of a drink to pay Starbucks’ price. If you’re looking for a quick boost of caffeine, just take two shots of espresso. Never mind, don’t actually do that. Your heart won’t explode because I have had to do that about 3 times now, but I’m sure it’s bad for your health or something. Also, another thing I don’t like is any of the mocha drinks. I can’t even taste the coffee in them because they are so sweet. I guess if you don’t like coffee, you may like these. Also, I do not like their sandwiches. They are soggy and frozen at the same time. Do not waste your precious money on these!

And the moment you’ve all been waiting for…. My all time favorite Starbucks drink is a Venti Iced Caramel Macchiato with 3 extra shots of espresso. Yes, I know, 6 shots of espresso. My heart is going to explode. I have gotten these extra shots in my drink for so long that a drink without them tastes too sweet. The macchiato is even better with almond milk and it’s always nice when you have a really nice barista who loads you down with caramel sauce on top. So hop on over to Fant Library (or your local Starbucks) and get one after you finish reading all of the great articles from the Vision.