Even if you hate all things Valentine's Day, chances are you love Frappuccinos — which is why, when news broke that an Arizona barista devised a Starbucks secret Valentine's Day menu comprised of three deliciously frozen beverages, you were probably pretty excited. Yes, that means Feb. 14 looms closer on the calendar than you thought, but the prospect of a new, frosty Frappuccino is something that sets your heart aflutter. However, as is the case with all secret menus, Starbucks and otherwise, the key to getting your hands on these decadent pink drinks is knowing exactly how to order off the Starbucks secret Valentine's Day menu, because it's not as obvious as you think.
First, it's important to know what's on the Starbucks secret Valentine's Day menu. Tony Aguilar, a Starbucks employee at a Tucson store, first posted about this phenomenon earlier this month on Reddit, where he shared three different Valentine's Day-themed Frappuccinos he and his coworkers had created for the occasion using ingredients Starbucks currently had available. Even the most jaded in love could get flirtatious with drinks dubbed the Valentine Frappuccino, the Love Bean, and the Java Berry, thanks to a charming combination of chocolate curls, whipped cream, and raspberry syrup. Get a load of that tasty lineup:
Of course, if you walk into your local Starbucks asking for a Love Bean Frappuccino and your barista is anyone but Aguilar and his crew, they're likely going to look at you like you're crazy. The key to ordering any item off of Starbucks' "secret" menu is to know exactly what goes into each drink. That way, you can explain to your barista what you want included in your Frapp, and if they have the ingredients on hand, they can whip it up lickety split.
1. Valentine Frappuccino
Want to watch your phone blow up with Instagram like notifications? Order up a "Valentine" Frappuccino. This is actually three Frapps combined in one, so it's going to take some work. Ask for a Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino for the bottom layer (request extra shots of raspberry syrup if you want it to be extra pink). A regular ol' Vanilla Bean Frappuccino makes up the middle layer, and a Blackberry Frapp tops the whole thing off. Ask for whipped cream, because duh.
2. Love Bean Frappuccino
Perfect for people who love pink, love Frappuccinos, and love love. Plus, it's a pretty straightforward request, especially when compared to the Valentine Frappuccino. Order up a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino, but ask for a shot of raspberry syrup to make the whole thing pink. If your barista has raspberry-infused whipped cream (which was a mainstay, if you may recall, of Starbucks' anniversary Birthday Cake Frappuccino), make sure to ask for that as well. Sprinkle the whole thing with chocolate curls, and get ready to fall in love.
3. Java Berry Frappuccino
For those who hate things that are pink, but don't want to appear as a staunch Valentine's Day curmudgeon, this one is for you. Order up your fave Java Chip Frappuccino, and then asked for that yummy raspberry-infused whipped cream we talked about. Or, just go for regular whipped cream. Honestly, the beautiful part about any Starbucks' Frappuccino, whether it's from the "secret" menu or otherwise, is that no matter how you customize it, it's still going to taste like love.
Not feeling brave enough to order any of Aguilar's creations? It's all good — just ask for a regular Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino with whipped cream. It's still pink, delicious, and most importantly, Instagram-worthy. But just remember, it doesn't come with caffeine. So, if that's your true soulmate, you're better off just ordering up your favorite espresso-infused beverage, instead. Hey, the heart wants what the heart wants.
Images: Hirotomo T/Flickr
