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So, as I was pulling up to get my latte this morning, the baristas were handing out samples of their new refreshers. I thought it tasted pretty good. I didn't feel like I was pouring straight cane syrup down my throat. I've been looking at the reviews and ingredients online, and it is honestly starting to look better than my daily latte and they come in VIA. They have a lower carb load than my latte and would be much more wallet friendly. Also, as I am low on energy (full time student and mom, and wife to a military man that is always TDY) I tend to reach for coffee a lot, which leaves me feeling dehydrated and nauseated. The refreshers being mostly water would be less likely to do that, and because of their lower carb status, would make me less likely to crave sugar in the afternoon.

Can anyone think of a reason that these would not be a good coffee replacement? I thought that erythritol, a sugar alcohol used in it, would be an issue, but it doesn't have nasty side effects and starves out the bacteria that cause dental carries.

Has anyone seen anything else on these? Obviously, I'm not going to be downing them like water, but for the points in my day when I need a little bump, is there any reason this isn't better than a latte?

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 My favorite part is the name. A company that mass produces tons of merchandise is schlepping "handcrafted" drinks. Perhaps the first batch was handcrafted, but guarantee there are huge machines "crafting" them now! – MathGirl72 Jul 11 at 16:35
"Organic" and "All-natural" is their new target market. – Nemesis Jul 11 at 19:20
Hmmm, not sure where the helpful advice is in either of these comments... I didn't come up with the name. I assume they say "Handcrafted" because these same drinks also come in VIA and in cans, so when you're ordering there is no confusion. In the future, if you don't have anything other than a snarky comment to add, then maybe rethink posting anything at all. – HaileyGallo Jul 12 at 18:55
If you are just looking for people to justify your "cheats" then maybe rethink posting questions at all. Be open to feedback if that's what you're looking for! And I doubt Mathgirl's lil comment about the name was a personal attack on you. No one here thinks you named the beverage. Chill! – Varelse Jul 17 at 6:28
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 If you think THAT'S rude, you are apparently new to the internet. i.imgur.com/pm8gm.gif – Varelse Jul 22 at 6:45
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9 Answers

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Ok. There is a LOT of misinformation on this one- if y'all want to keep snapping at things to discount their 'paleo purity' I'm really wondering what kind of good info I'm getting from this resource. I'm new to paleo- but I've been handcrafting Starbucks for a long time. Paleo options are everywhere. Starbucks isn't a magical place where everything is specifically catered to you- but yes you can build your own paleo treat. Refreshers are the first drink to ever get me off drinking a regular cup of coffee. They are super hydrating (especially if u ask the barista to make them with green -or black- tea instead of water). "hand crafted" refreshers are made with water, fruit ( berries or lime), and added green coffee extract shaken over ice. Green coffee extract comes from pre-roasted coffee beans. You might say it comes from the most primal state of coffee. There is stevia added to the green coffee extract concentrate but otherwise no added sugar or sweeteners. It has low calorie content, high antioxidant (even more when u add the tea options), and similar caffeine content per ounce as traditional cup of joe. No venom. Its not as perfectly pure as your own dug well water - but I'm happy to make it my guilt free preference.

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The VIA packets do have sugar in them, though--I looked at the ingredients in one and the first one listed was sugar. The barista giving out samples at my local Starbucks said it was "all natural ingredients" when I asked if they were sweetened, and I wasn't sure if he was dodging the question... – cavejen Aug 3 at 4:49
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Why wouldn't you just make them at home minus the sweeteners? All you'd need is a muddler and a tall glass. Heck, you could make a whole pitcher of them for what one of these would cost, lol.

  • Seltzer water
  • Fruit
  • Crushed mint

It's basically a mojito minus the cane syrup & rum.

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 Finally! A helpful solution. Thank you for this suggestion. I've never made or had a mojito, so I didn't know that they had similar favors and ingredients. Making a big concentrated batch once a week then adding it to a glass with some seltzer water sounds like an excellent idea. – HaileyGallo Jul 12 at 19:02
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 Not sure if you could make a concentrated batch, as the fruits and mint leaves would start to break down and go bad. But if you plan on drinking all that you're making within a day, you should be fine ;) And if you're going to use a pitcher, you'll probably need an entire bunch of mint. I think pulsing the mint & fruit together in the blender would be easier for large batches. Also want to recommend adding lime juice for flavor & vitamins! – Nemesis Jul 12 at 23:50
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 Next time you're out for some drinks, try a mojito. If made right, they'll go down like limey-minty-rummy deliciousness! With a hint of simply syrup to bring out the tang. – Nemesis Jul 12 at 23:53
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I'd rather have a little refined sugar than a chemical, myself, but that's up to you. If you're only drinking them occasionally, consider them a cheat and enjoy!

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 Luckie. You rock! – Crowlover Jul 12 at 6:44
Not to be an ahole, but sugar, water, sugar alcohols, they're all chemicals... Anyhow, they're all extracts from plants, so is it any worse than using vanilla extract? – HaileyGallo Jul 17 at 4:04
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 Well, don't be one then. :) I say that in the friendliest of ways, but I hope that you caught my meaning there. There is a difference between chemicals that occur in nature, in whole natural foods that we eat, and things that are produced by humans. I'd like to think I don't have to spell out the difference, and I hope you'd grasp the difference without me spelling it out. In either case, that is YOUR decision and I think I was fairly nice in conveying that it is your decision, and still not the end of the world if you have a different preference than I. – Varelse Jul 17 at 6:18
PS - I do use vanilla extract, but NOT vanillin. Again, your decision on what you want to use to feed yourself and your family, but if you come asking for input on PH, then please be gracious and accept input that is offered in a friendly and non-judgmental way, which I believe my answer was. – Varelse Jul 17 at 6:19
I am gracious to people whom actually listen and give helpful feedback and pay attention to the question in the original post...The question above was the Refresher vs The Daily Latte. Ty to stay on topic. – HaileyGallo Jul 22 at 2:14
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I'm pretty sure there's nothing Paleo about Starbucks.

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Again, what part of my initial question did this answer? There are actually quite a few options that are Paleo friendly at Starbucks, but that wasn't the issue here. – HaileyGallo Jul 12 at 18:57
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It's fake food. It's not natural and it's not paleo. At least coffee is made by nature.

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Coffee is made by nature? REally!? That's funny – Crowlover Jul 12 at 6:43
Coffee is HIGHLY processed, so don't get all high and mighty there. Paleo isn't supposed to be reenactment. We all have to live in the real modern world. Also, most of the ingredients in the refreshers are in fact, "made by nature". – HaileyGallo Jul 12 at 18:59
Also, things like seltzer water aren't "made by nature". Does that mean we shouldn't drink it? Just because it's made by nature, doesn't make it okay. Arsenic, anyone? – HaileyGallo Jul 12 at 19:03
Coffee grows on a tree. Really. It does. Starbucks refreshers are made of flavors in a lab. No thank you. – Diane Jul 13 at 1:47
youtube.com/… wow, yeah I never knew that coffee came right off the plant ready to go in the French press... Oh wait... I looked up all the ingredients, and they're not synthetic, they're all plant derived. Would I drink these in lieu of water? No. I'm looking for a good substitute for my daily latte. These have less carbs and hydrate me better than coffee, and don't taste like I'm crunching down on cane sugar. Again, I didn't ask for snarky, rude comments. I asked if anyone could pin down a reason why these weren't better than a latte. – HaileyGallo Jul 17 at 4:01
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I just googled it, they sound like a reasonable indulgence, not to be made a habit out of, but I do not see the harm. I am not a paleo purist, so as long as most of your diet is in check enjoy one, in fact I might even give them a try myself. I reccomend rooiboos tea at starbucks too, no caffine, fruity, delicious, and yes...paleo too.

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Yeah, I'm trying just a few sprinkles in club soda and ice with some chia seeds because I like the texture – HaileyGallo Jul 12 at 19:05
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 We love doing infused waters for something with a little flavor. Put fruit and water in a pictcher over night and let the flavor steep. Watermelon and basil is particularly good. – Team Oberg Jul 16 at 12:42
I tried watermelon in seltzer water last night, AWESOME. Your suggestion was helpful and relevant. – HaileyGallo Jul 22 at 22:29
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I work at Starbucks...there is PLENTY of sugar in the refreshers. When you look at the grande, for example, just visualize about 4 teaspoons of white sugar. Worth it?

The buzz words tell you that 'pure cane sugar' and 'natural caffeine' make this drink a good choice, but...Domino's is pure cane sugar, and Refreshers' caffeine is added, just like Coca-Cola. The whole 'natural' green coffee extract is a huge mask for the chemical extraction of caffeine from these beans. Also, there isn't that much caffeine in a refresher: only slightly more than tea. When you get 'energized,' probably a significant portion of that energy is coming from the sugar.

If you want the berry/lime flavor but don't want to suck down the 'pure cane sugar,' get an unsweetened iced tea and ask for the berries or limes to be shaken with your tea. OR, if you need the caffeine, just get an Americano - delicious, smooth, and guaranteed to be scalding hot. We'll hand you the heavy whipping cream if you ask for it.

Edited to add: A grande latte made with breve (half and half) will run you about the same amount of sugar (milk sugars), but at least you'll have significant milk fat to help blunt the glycemic affects. In my mind, this is why the latte (if it must be a latte or a refresher) is the superior choice.

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If energy is your real problem, grab a 5 Hour Energy and drink water. I feel better after one of those than I do after coffee. And yes, I drink Upgraded Coffee.

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What is upgraded coffee? – HaileyGallo Jul 12 at 19:02
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i just got nikkis coconut butter( with many flavors such as hazlenut brownie, vanilla cake batter), i have little mini containers (about 2-3) tablespoons it will hold, and just carry that in my purse, and stevia packets, and portion it out for when Im on the go..thats the best option for me right now

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