Butterbeer at Starbucks...?

The big topic on my Facebook feed today, and two completely different people sent me these articles:

Butterbeer Starbucks Harry Potter by Pop Watch






Forget Pumpkin Spice Starbucks Now Serves Butterbeer by Cinemablend



There are several more floating out there and I wish to set the record straight to all those wrongly informed Harry Potter fans.

First off, I will start with something a friend of mine, a barista at Starbucks himself, commented on this article by Slash Film, with:


"As a barista, this is the most frustrating thing I've read in a while. There is no such thing as a Starbucks secret menu. If someone comes in and asks for this while I'm working I will pretend to not understand that its from Harry Potter and instead explain to them that we don't serve alcohol. Also this article says toffee nut is a holiday syrup. That is wrong."

*(I'm sure he will still serve the drink if you ask for it, but inside he won't be happy.)

I am wondering where all this hype is coming from? It is kind of odd and crazy especially if this is something on the 'menu' at Starbucks but you specifically have to ask for the ingredients.

• A Creme Frappuccino base. Don’t skimp on the fat by asking for skim or 2% milk as whole milk is required for the right consistency.
• Add 3 pumps of caramel syrup.
• Add 3 pumps of toffee nut syrup.
• Top with caramel drizzle

 And going off of these ingredients, this doesn't seem to fit with what the drink was described as in the books. The books described butterbeer tasting as "a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch" and the above listed ingredients seem like they won't make it taste like that. It is a shame that people think that they can just take something similar to butterbeer and call it such because they know they will make money from the many Harry Potter fans.



Several years ago, I created my own butterbeer recipe, it isn't perfect but if you like to make your own at home and not spend $5+ on one from Starbucks here is the recipe.

Butterbeer from Harry Potter

·       ⅓ cup Butterscotch Syrup

1 tablespoon Butter

1 cup Club Soda

View full recipe

1. In a microwaveable bowl, melt butter into butterscotch in the microwave for 30 seconds.

2. Stir and add club soda, be careful, it will fizz because of the sugar. Heat another 30 seconds. Transfer to a cup and enjoy.

-Charlotte