What You Need to Know About Starbucks' Trenta: The Secret 31-Ounce Drink Size

Starbucks fans may be familiar with venti or grande, but the secret Trenta size takes indulgence to a new level. Offering 31 ounces of cold beverages, the Trenta isn't listed on menus and is only available for select cold drinks, giving fans an extra boost when needed.

The Trenta, Starbucks’ Secret 31-Ounce Size, Offers an Indulgent Boost for Cold Drink Lovers

Starbucks enthusiasts are well-versed in the menu vocabulary, knowing to ask for a "venti" instead of a "large" or a "tall drip" for a small brewed coffee. Like ordering a Philly cheesesteak, navigating the Starbucks menu requires speaking the language. However, even the most seasoned Starbucks goers may need to know the secret, off-menu size: the Trenta. Only available in the U.S., the Trenta is the largest size offered by Starbucks, holding a massive 31-ounce cold beverage.

According to Tasting Table, the Trenta is shrouded in mystery, needs to be listed on the menu, and is only available at select locations for certain drinks. If you want to know whether your local Starbucks offers it, you'll need to ask. But is the Trenta an excessive indulgence, or just the right size for those days when a significant caffeine boost is required?

Introduced in 2011 after customer feedback indicated a demand for larger cold beverages, Starbucks began testing the Trenta in select markets. The larger cup size was initially available for drinks like iced coffee and iced tea lemonades, and after positive feedback, Starbucks expanded the offering across the U.S. in 2012.

The Trenta remains Starbucks' largest and priciest size, costing around 50 cents more than the 24-ounce Venti. For the extra cost, customers get seven more ounces of cold beverages plus at least one additional syrup pump for flavored drinks.

Before fully rolling out the Trenta size, Starbucks conducted months of testing across regions such as the Sunbelt, Northeast, and Chicago. By 2012, the Trenta size became available nationwide for those with a big thirst. While only some Starbucks locations carry it, customers can check availability via the Starbucks website or mobile app or ask their local barista.

Starbucks Limits Trenta Size to Cold Drinks, Keeps Venti as Largest Option for Hot Beverages

Despite its size, the Trenta is limited to only certain cold drinks. Customers hoping for a 31-ounce pumpkin spice latte or hot espresso beverage will be politely told no. According to Starbucks, the Trenta is reserved for non-espresso drinks like Refreshers, cold brew, iced coffee, and iced tea. The rationale behind limiting the Trenta to cold beverages is practical. Offering every drink in this size would increase wait times and inflate prices, making the Venti the most prominent option for hot drinks.

For those who still want a more potent drink, the workaround is simple: order a venti with an extra shot of espresso to up the caffeine content.

For Starbucks lovers outside the U.S., the Trenta size still needs to be discovered. The brand has yet to make plans to introduce the 31-ounce size in other markets, likely due to varying food and health regulations in different countries. International Starbucks customers will have to stick with a venti for now, while those visiting the U.S. can treat the Trenta as a unique, oversized souvenir.

Not all coffee drinkers are the same—some enjoy the pure taste of brewed coffee, while others seek out sweet and flavored beverages. Starbucks caters to both preferences, particularly its cold drinks, which often include flavored syrups. Each syrup pump adds about an ounce of flavor to the drink, with a tall getting three pumps, a grande four, a hot venti five, and an iced venti six. For the Trenta, customers can expect at least seven pumps, meaning of the 31-ounce drink, seven ounces could be flavored syrup. So, next time you sip your Trenta iced coffee, remember that there are many flavors in one giant cup.