Have you ever wondered why does Starbucks call mediums a Grande and a small a tall? In this article I am going to give you the history behind why Starbucks has Tall, Grande, Venti instead of the traditional small, medium, large sizes.
How it Began
When Starbucks first opened it’s doors in 1971 they only had two sizes: short and tall. The short, 8 oz, is the most accurate size to what the Italians drink on a daily basis. The tall, 12 oz, was the largest size you could get back then and was Starbucks way of upping the volume for the American culture. Then people started asking for more, even bigger sizes! Because bigger is better right? 
The Demand for More!
In response Starbucks added two more sizes to the menu: Grande and Venti. Grande, which means big/large or huge in Italian (or Spanish), is the 16 oz size. Venti, which means 20 oz in Italian, is the 20 oz size. Why they went with these two names the world may never know. But it does shed some light on why the sizes are named such odd names, like the tall actually being the small, because one day in a time when the world made sense it actually was the tallest of the two.
Bonus
As a little known fact you can actually still order the short even though the size no longer appears on the menu. (The short is also the size they now use for kids drinks.)
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
hey jason,
thanks for this information, I always wondering why its called like that .
And all this time I thought it was just Starbucks trying to be chic. Thanks for the information and the history (of Starbucks) lesson. That does help to make things make more sense with regard to Starbucks’ menu.
Thanks for shedding some light on the size difference. (Hugs)Indigo
Somebody really needs to sanitize those steaming wands before I explode.
hi there
Now that you have explained it, it makes more sense why they call the sizes of their drink as such! thanks~
Thanks, I didn’t know the entire history of how it came about. I’ve been asked many times about why grande isn’t the largest size and even after I explain it to people, they still think it should be the large.
@Cameron – haha, ya that is a major issue at a lot of coffee shops.
@Mike from Daily Shot Of Coffee – @mrsmartinez – @Indigo – @Abrar – @Neil – Your Welcome! I am glad this helped give clarity. Any other things you would like some light shed on? I am always looking for article ideas.
If I Didn’t Know I’d Think U Had Some Experience With Starbucks Or Do Lots Of Reading, A Usual Nice Article. Information Is Good & Knowledge Is Power. I Use To Work At Starbucks In Lil 5 Points Atlanta. We Would Sell Our Short Coffees 4 A $1. If I’m Correct I Think They Made It A Standard Once The Got Rid Of All The La Marzoccas & Restructured Things. c|_|
The reference to Europe is so true. Just got back from Paris, and you will only find ONE Starbucks (least that is what I could find.) Yes, you will find only 8oz sizes in traditional european cafes and its not served in a paper cup! Honestly, the cafe espresso coffees where much better than the Starbucks version.
I found it hard to get back to liking the Grande that I normally order here in the States. I just may try a short to see if it would taste like European version. LOL.
@BaristaOnDutY – that’s pretty interesting. So they brought back the size on the menu for a bit?
As U Know They Always Had The Cups, They Didn’t Have Them On The Menu, But The POS Was Programed For Short Drinks. Most Of The Regulars Were HardCore Starbucks, They Knew What They Wanted.They Knew The Cup Was There & They Knew How Much They Wanted To Spend. It Was Funny Because Lots OF Them Would Sit Inside & Get Cheap Or Free Refills, So Why Pay $140/50 For A Tall When They Could Get $1 Short /W Free Refills That Saves .50 That Could Be Used The Next Day. I Miss Watching Customer Behaviors HaHa C|_| @Jason Coffee -
@Jason Coffee –
You might want to investigate why GIMME! coffee is the best tasting coffee you have ever had.
I will drive one hour to get a cup and I am not a coffee lover.
We’ve purchased their beans but it just isn’t the same as the wonderful taste from their little shop. There seems to be a molasses over tone to it.
The only locations I know of are Manhattan ( one) and Ithaca NY ( two).
It’s worth the trip.
This is saying a lot and you are making me want to check them out. That would be kind of a drive for me but when I am in the area I will have to check them out. Thanks for the heads up! How long have you been going there?
keep it up this nice sharing with have a different and a great post on this topic………
I don’t buy coffee at Starbucks or Gloria Jeans or whatever, I buy at the local deli or coffee shop-cafe type outlet. Sizes vary and so do tactics. Some offer a fair-sized glass but may have a thick (or false) bottom. Others can offer a smaller size but it’s all coffee, not glass. Some deliver in a tapered glass that looks good on the top two inches and gives the illusion of quantity, but it’s only an illusion. Coffee is over-priced but so are the coffee machines to make a brew at home, so we suffer and pay up.
Gotta have my Venti baby!
Matt
Um…Grande means large in Italian too. Considering the naming convention (Venti, etc.), I’m assuming they were intending that to be an Italian word, not Spanish.
@JD – I agree! Thanks for the input.
I never knew that about the talls and the shorts. I wonder if a short would be enough for me. Probably not since I am a grande girl! Anyway thanks for sharing!
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I always wondered where the names for the sizes came from. This post makes me think of the scene in Role Models where Danny is ordering a coffee at Starbucks. Just reading it is making me laugh. I have put the dialoge below:
Danny: Can I get a large black coffee?
Barista: A what?
Danny: Large black coffee.
Barista: Do you mean a venti?
Danny: No, I mean a large.
Barista: Venti is large.
Danny: No, venti is twenty. Large is large. In fact, tall is large and grande is Spanish for large. Venti is the only one that doesn’t mean large. It’s also the only one that’s Italian. Congratulations, you’re stupid in three languages.
Barista: A venti is a large coffee.
Danny: Really? Says who? Fellini? Do you accept lira or is it all euros now?