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Two California residents filed a lawsuit against Starbucks claiming that the coffee chain knowingly serves customers lattes that are 25 per cent smaller than the menu claims.  

Siera Strumlauf and Benjamin Robles have accused the coffee chain of knowingly engaging in false advertising and committing fraud. 

The document states that the 'plaintiffs' counsel purchased and measured Starbucks Lattes at different stores, in different states, in different sizes, and in different flavors'. 

 

 

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Two California residents filed a lawsuit against Starbucks claiming that the coffee chain knowingly serves customers lattes that are 25 per cent smaller than the menu claims (file image)

 

 

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The plaintiffs allege that Starbucks not only uses too little liquid in its standard latte recipe but that its cups are not adequately large enough to contain the amount of beverage stated on their menu (pictured)

And each Latte was underfilled by approximately 25 per cent. 

In the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that Starbucks not only uses too little liquid in its standard latte recipe but that its cups are not adequately large enough to contain the amount of beverage stated on their size menu. 

No Starbucks latte was actually filled to the fluid ounces promised on Starbucks' menu, which say a Tall should be 12 fl oz, a Grande should be 16 fl oz and a Venti should be 20 fl oz.

For example, per the recipe, a Grande cup is too small to hold a 16 fl oz latte.  

The lawsuit is on behalf of purchasers of 'Starbucks Caffè Lattes, Flavored Lattes, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Egg Nog Lattes, Skinny Lattes, Skinny Flavored Lattes, Vanilla Lattes, and Skinny Vanilla Lattes'.

Court documents state, that Starbucks made a conscious decision to underfill its lattes to save money on milk, one of its most expensive ingredients, when the chain faced financial difficulty at the end of 2007. 

In order to cut costs, Starbucks 'reduced the amount of milk used by baristas and in Starbucks beverages'.

 

 

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Court documents state that Starbucks made a conscious decision to underfill its lattes to save money on milk, one of its most expensive ingredients, when the chain faced financial difficulty at the end of 2007 (file image)

'Starbucks knew that the etched “fill to” lines in its steaming pitchers resulted in underfilled beverages,' yet it continued to advertise its 'Tall beverages as “12 fl oz,” its Grande beverages as “16 fl oz” and its Venti beverages as “20 fl oz”'

According to the complaint, Starbucks underfilled its lattes 'thereby shortchanging its customers', and has saved 'countless millions of dollars in the cost of goods sold and was unjustly enriched by taking payment for more product than it delivers'.

 A Starbucks company spokesperson told BuzzFeed News: 'We are aware of the plaintiffs' claims, which we fully believe to be without merit. 

'We are proud to serve our customers high-quality, handcrafted and customized beverages, and we inform customers of the likelihood of variations.'

The lawyers are demanding a trial by jury and seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as restitution for all those affected, which could be millions of customers.