Starbucks’ Best Size Coffee Isn’t on the Menu — You Can Still Order a ‘Short’

It’s well-known that Starbucks has a secret menu, but you might not realize that also includes a secret cup size.

Fun fact: AMC theaters DOES have a normal-sized soda cup they also don’t advertise – it’s called a “cameo” size.

But, back to Starbucks.

On the menu, Starbucks offers 3 cup sizes – a tall (12 ounces), a grande (16 ounces), and a venti (20 ounces). You may be aware that a trenta (31 ounces holy crow) is also an option, but did you know you can also get a smaller than a tall?

You can!

The short is an 8 ounce cuppa, which is more akin to the size of coffee you probably brew at home into a ceramic mug.

It used to be on the menu – the sizes were short, tall, and grade – but eventually, the venti became a thing instead.

Maybe because people are really tired I guess and 8 ounces doesn’t seem like enough coffee? Just a guess.

But here’s the thing: it can (and does) often make for better coffee.

Take the cappuccino, for instance, which should have a thick head of foamed milk over the espresso. When you order a tall (or larger), the foam breaks down, which mixes a more-than-optimal amount of milk into the coffee. And the short doesn’t have any less caffeine than a tall, either, just less milk.

Gawker’s (RIP) Tom Scocca made an argument for the 8 ounce cup of coffee several years ago, even in drip format.

“When you drink a coffee larger than a small coffee, the coffee gets cold before you can finish it. You begin with a steaming, uplifting sip, and by gradual stages you end up sucking down cold, aroma-less dregs. Everyone knows this. Even people who disdain small coffee will confess that their larger beverages end in misery.”

So, the next time you’re headed out for coffee, consider the short – it will be hot and made the way it’s supposed to be made. Win, win!

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Snuggle a Raccoon While You Sip Your Coffee at This Ukrainian Cafe

Raccoons can be scary, but here’s the truth: they’re adorable, and if I could have one as a pet without it totally destroying my house, there would be no way to stop me.

Basically, this cafe where tame raccoons play and let me pet them is my dream come true.

Image Credit: YouTube

The Raccoon Cafe, located in Kharkiv, Ukraine, is owned and operated by Mark Kolesnykov (a fellow raccoon enthusiast). He adopted a pair of raccoons, Liza and Bart, from a local eco-farm when they were just kits, and has provided them a safe, sound-proofed enclosure at his cafe to keep them happy while guests watch them do adorable things.

You know, because they’re raccoons.

Kolesnykov believes that people are loving his cafe; he has around 200 patrons every day, according to CNN, because even though we’ve seen videos of wild raccoons climbing, playing, and being generally delightful, few people have the chance to witness the behavior up close.

Image Credit: YouTube

Every guest can watch the raccoons, who Kolesnykov describes as “lively and mischievous,” but if you want to pet or feed them, you may have quite the wait (it’s a popular place).

While you’re waiting, you can enjoy the outside of the cafe, which is adorned with raccoons-as-superheroes – Rocket, from Guardians of the Galaxy, of course, but also raccoons cosplaying as Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, and others.

Image Credit: YouTube

Some have expressed concern about the well-being of Liza and Bart, since often times wild animals kept as part of a business can find themselves overstimulated and under-cared for, but Kolesnykov assures potential haters that he’s worked with a veterinary staff to make sure his raccoons are safe and happy.

Check it out:

I mean…I just might have to go and see for myself.

The post Snuggle a Raccoon While You Sip Your Coffee at This Ukrainian Cafe appeared first on UberFacts.

Snuggle a Raccoon While You Sip Your Coffee at This Ukrainian Cafe

Raccoons can be scary, but here’s the truth: they’re adorable, and if I could have one as a pet without it totally destroying my house, there would be no way to stop me.

Basically, this cafe where tame raccoons play and let me pet them is my dream come true.

Image Credit: YouTube

The Raccoon Cafe, located in Kharkiv, Ukraine, is owned and operated by Mark Kolesnykov (a fellow raccoon enthusiast). He adopted a pair of raccoons, Liza and Bart, from a local eco-farm when they were just kits, and has provided them a safe, sound-proofed enclosure at his cafe to keep them happy while guests watch them do adorable things.

You know, because they’re raccoons.

Kolesnykov believes that people are loving his cafe; he has around 200 patrons every day, according to CNN, because even though we’ve seen videos of wild raccoons climbing, playing, and being generally delightful, few people have the chance to witness the behavior up close.

Image Credit: YouTube

Every guest can watch the raccoons, who Kolesnykov describes as “lively and mischievous,” but if you want to pet or feed them, you may have quite the wait (it’s a popular place).

While you’re waiting, you can enjoy the outside of the cafe, which is adorned with raccoons-as-superheroes – Rocket, from Guardians of the Galaxy, of course, but also raccoons cosplaying as Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, and others.

Image Credit: YouTube

Some have expressed concern about the well-being of Liza and Bart, since often times wild animals kept as part of a business can find themselves overstimulated and under-cared for, but Kolesnykov assures potential haters that he’s worked with a veterinary staff to make sure his raccoons are safe and happy.

Check it out:

I mean…I just might have to go and see for myself.

The post Snuggle a Raccoon While You Sip Your Coffee at This Ukrainian Cafe appeared first on UberFacts.

This Beer Company Is on a Mission to Feed the Hungry

One beer company is on a mission to make a positive difference in the world by donating 100% of its profits to feed the hungry.

Jacquie Berglund, the founder of the beer brand Finnegans, says she was inspired by the Paul Newman Foundation and their 100% profit donation model. Finnegans is sold in four Midwest states, and every cent earned goes toward the Finnegans Community Fund, which works to provide food to the needy.

As the child of a waitress and janitor, Jacquie understands poverty and food insecurity on a personal level, FreeThink reports.

“I understand the condition of the working poor,” Jacquie said.

One in six people in the U.S. don’t have enough food for a healthy lifestyle, according to Allison Karpyn, associate professor in Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Delaware. Food insecurity doesn’t just mean starvation; sometimes it means a lack of consistent access to grocery stores with real, nutritious food.

“I’m a basic needs gal,” Jacquie said. “We live in the wealthiest country in the world. It’s a crime that people can’t meet their basic needs.”

Finnegans’ motto is that they “turn beer into food.” The profits go toward buying organic produce from local farmers and distributing that produce to food banks in the area. They also run a “reverse food truck” which collects food and monetary donations in exchange for beer samples.

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What does “doing good” mean to you, and how do you work that into your household? Your career? Your social life? Jacquie Berglund from @finnegansbeer has something to say about it! FINNEGANS is a brewery and taproom offering solutions to food insecurity and supporting social entrepreneurs. She’ll be joined by folks from @allsquarempls and @taremarket, and the whole thing is moderated by @minnesotapublicradio‘s @mariannecombs. Join us on June 27 for @towntalksonnicollet at @westminstertownhallforum for a great, free event and explore “Doing Well by Doing Good.” . . 5:00pm: Happy Hour with snacks and a cash bar 6:00pm: Panel discussion, with Q&A 7:00pm: Meet & Greet the Panel

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In 20 years of business, Finnegans has distributed about 2 million pounds of organic food to families in need, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon.

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The New Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew from Starbucks Is Here to Help You Get Ready for Fall

You know how hyped everyone gets when the pumpkin spice drinks get fired up at Starbucks every fall. Well, it’s time to add a new pumpkin-flavored beverage to your rotation.

Starbucks has launched the new Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, so we can all rejoice in the fact that we have even more options now. It’s available now in stores in the United States and Canada, and it looks like a welcome addition to all you coffee lovers out there.

Now, I know the weather isn’t cold enough yet, but it will be soon – and it’s never really too early for anything pumpkin-related, am I right? The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is the first new pumpkin-flavored coffee drink that Starbucks has released in 16 years, so you know people are definitely jonesing for it.

The drink is mostly cold brew and vanilla, but it has a pumpkin cream cold foam topping that is made with real pumpkins. Yes – real pumpkins. There’s also a dusting of pumpkin spice on the top for good measure.

If for some reason this new drink doesn’t suit your fancy, you still have a variety of pumpkin-themed treats you can enjoy at your local Starbucks. Pumpkin scones, pumpkin cream cheese muffins and Pumpkin Spice Madeleines, to name a few.

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Decided to be a basic bitch and try the new Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew from @starbucks I never had a PSL before, nor did I ever feel the need to get one. But so many people were saying that they liked this more, and that it was so good. So I broke, and gave into the peer pressure lol. I regret it, I didn't like it at all. It smelled like a pumpkin pie, but just tasted like slightly sweetened coffee. I would not purchase this again. I will just stick to my caramel macchiato's. #starbucks #pumpkincream #coldbrew #pumpkincreamcoldbrew #new #newdrink #prefercaramelmacchiato #sticktowhatiknow #itsanofromme #notabasicbitch #food #drink #coffee #foodie #foodstagram #foodofinstagram #drinkstagram #drinksofinstagram #coffeeofinstagram

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Clearly, you’re going to have a whole smorgasbord of pumpkin-related items to choose from at Starbucks this autumn. And here’s a little fact to get you in the mood: since Starbucks debuted its Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003, they’ve sold more than 424 million of those babies in the U.S. alone. I think we can now call this a national obsession, don’t you?

Bring on that fall weather!

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This Is Why You Should Chill Red Wine, According to an Expert

We’ve always heard that red wine should be served at room temperature. That said…the temperature isn’t the same in every room. Even in the same room, the temperature will vary depending on the time of year, or even the time of day.

The way to balance this out and get the most consistent flavor from your favorite red, it turns out, is to let it spend a little time chilling in the fridge.

Expert Ian Ferrier weighed in on how long and and how cold for Lifehacker.com, and here is some of his advice.

First up, if you’re not sure how cold to go, err on the side of colder, not warmer.

“Each wine has its own specific ideal temperature range but generally you want to lean on the cooler end of things than the warmer,” explained Ferrier, “because it’s always nice to drink a wine that’s warming up.” In terms of degrees, “you always want your reds at least in the 60- to 70-degree range. The main reason you don’t want a wine warmer than that is that the aromatics start to shift and the sensation of alcohol starts to take over when you stick your nose in the glass. You especially don’t want a warmer big red wine that tends to have a higher alcohol content. In general, think of it like drinking a warm Pabst versus an ice cold one. You taste different things and the mouthfeel is different.”

The lighter red you’ve chosen, the colder you can go.

“Generally,” explained Ferrier, “you can cool lighter reds even more, down to traditional white service temps [49-55℉]. You don’t want a big red to get this cold because, among other things, chilling the wine can increase the sensation of tannic structure and can make a wine bitter and sharp. With a lighter red it can brighten the acidity, enhance the structure and show off more floral aromatics. Every wine is different and has its own sweet spot.”

Bubbles love the ice cold.

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Bellissimo Sparkling Dolce Rosso Sweet sparkling red wine Indonesia – Australia Alc 8% | 750ml Nose:  Sweet black cherry and red berry aromas combine with hints of plum. Palate: Generous residual grape sweetness balanced beautifully with mouth watering natural acidity, finishing with fine tannins and sparkles on the tongue. Delivery to all over Indonesia. Free delivery JKT, SBY & BALI. #winebarrel #winebarrelindonesia #jualwine #jualredwine #jualwhitewine #jualchampagne #jualrosewine #jualsparklingwine #capediscovery #jualcapediscovery #jualwinejakarta #jualwinesurabaya #jualwinebali #bellissimo #jualbellissimo #bellissimowine #capediscoverywine #jualmoscato #bellissimomoscato #bellissimodolcerosso #cabernetmerlot #capediscoverychardonnay #capediscoverymerlot #capediscoveryshiraz #bellissimosparkling #sparklingwhitewine #sparklingredwine

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“As far as sparkling reds go, the wine itself generally follows the same principle as far as aromatics, structure, etc., but the big difference is the carbon dioxide in solution,” Ferrier told me. “If your wine is cold, the carbon dioxide stays in solution well and you get excellent fine bubbles, if it’s room temp your bottle probably will explode a little when you open it. Aside from that, it’s like a warm soda versus a cold soda— the carbonation is rough and unpleasant. The wine might be nice as it warms up, but at the point of opening a traditional ‘champagne style’ cork, you want an ice-cold wine.”

Go ahead and try it, see what you think! Either way, you get to drink some wine, so it’s a win-win!

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Drinking Water All Day IS NOT the Best Way to Stay Hydrated — Learn the Best Methods

I’ve heard my fair share of the advice “make sure you drink a lot of water!”

I’m guilty of worrying over whether my nieces and nephews are hydrating well enough, too, especially on these hot summer days. Dehydration causes fatigue, saps endurance, and can interfere with your mood and ability to concentrate.

And while the National Academy of Medicine does recommend adults drink between 91 and 125 fl oz of water every day, guzzling the stuff morning, noon, and night may not be the optimal way to keep hydrated.

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? Do you have access to clean drinking water whenever you want? ⠀ ⠀ ?Last UNICEF report says: 1 in 3 people globally do not have access to safe drinking water: ⠀ ? 2.2 billion people around the world do not have safely managed drinking water services ⠀ ?4.2 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation services ⠀ ?3 billion lack basic handwashing facilities ⠀ ??‍?Next time you think your life sucks remember the above and say thank you for what you have! ⠀ Much love ❤ • • • • • #unicef #un #motivation #appreciate #saythankyou #cleanwater #water #drinkingwater #report #savetheearth #bestlifescenario #travelbloggervibes #africa #children #kids #beirut #baalbek #byblos #lebanon

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Especially, says professor of public health David Nieman, if you’re not drinking it with a meal.

“If you’re drinking water and then, within two hours, your urine output is really high and is clear, that means the water is not staying in well…plain water has a tendency to slip right through the human digestive system when not accompanied by food or nutrients.”

In fact, if you think your clear urine is a sign you’re doing something right, that’s not exactly the case, either, according to the Cleveland Clinic – it’s a sign of “overhydration” in most cases.

A 2015 study found that many kinds of drinks help you rehydrate – some as efficiently as water – and that several different elements come into play when considering how much H2O is absorbed in the process. Their research found that if you ingest water along with animo acids, fats and other minerals, it seems to help the body retain the much needed hydration.

For that reason, orange juice, milk, tea, and sports drinks were all good options when hydration is your goal.

“People who are drinking bottles and bottles of water in between meals and with no food, they’re probably just peeing most of that out,” Neiman confirms.

Also? Drinking too much water can actually be harmful.

“In athletes or people who are exercising for hours, if they’re only drinking water, they can throw out too much sodium in their urine, which leads to an imbalance in the body’s sodium levels,” Nieman adds.

The result can be a potentially deadly condition called “hyponatremia,” and in those cases, sports drinks and other beverages that contain nutrients are a better option.

Even if you’re not an athlete, there are better ways than pounding water all day to keep your body and your brain running at optimal levels. Sipping water prevents an overload in the kidneys and helps your body retain and use the water you’ve drank.

Another good tip is to drink water before, during, and immediately after a meal or snack.

“Drinking water with amino acids or fats or vitamins or minerals helps the body take up more of the water, which is why beverages like milk and fruit juice tend to look pretty good in these hydration studies.”

Some of Neiman’s own research suggests that even eating a banana would be a better way to recover from a workout than drinking a bunch of water.

The long and short seems to be that you can and should keep drinking water, but it’s not a bad idea exercise more discretion in the whens and hows – not so much all at once, and taken with food whenever possible.

“Water is good for you,” Neiman cracks, “but you can drown in it, too.”

Words to live by.

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Four Loko Has a New Hard Seltzer Coming out Soon – Here Are Some of the Best Reactions from People Online

What a time to be alive!

Four Loko is getting in on the increasingly popular hard seltzer game and people are all kinds of worked up about it.

And the Four Loko folks are even being kind of cocky about it. When they made their announcement, they tagged a bunch of other seltzer companies just so they knew there was a (potential) new sheriff in town.

Photo Credit: Instagram

And Four Loko isn’t messing around. The new hard seltzer has 14% alcohol content while the popular White Claw only has 5%.

Let’s take a look at what people online think about this development.

1. Uh oh

2. Tears

3. Now I remember…

4. You know you will

5. Fired up

6. This might be rough

7. How bad can it be?

8. You got that right

9. In love again

10. Pretty much

11. Let’s just take it slow

12. A deadly game

13. Dear God, no!

14. Yes, they should…

15. Amen

I’m ready to give this a shot and see what kind of JOLT it gives me.

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A Texas Movie Theater Lets You Bring Your Dog and the Ticket Includes Bottomless Wine

This is what I’m talking about! And I have a feeling I’m not alone.

In fact, I’m willing to bet that armies of millions are lined up behind me in their overwhelming excitement about this news: there’ is now a movie theater where $15 buys you a ticket to the show and you can bring your dog with you. Oh, and you get unlimited wine or four whiskeys with that ticket.

Boom!

K9 Cinemas in Plano, Texas, is the name of the joint, and it opened in late 2018. There are only three rules people need to follow at the cinema: no more than two dogs per person (it costs $5 to bring an extra pup), you need to bring valid papers from your dog’s vet the first time you visit, and you need to clean up after your best friend. Also, you can buy snacks for yourself (obviously) and treats for your furry friend, too.

Eric Lankford, who founded K9 Cinemas, said, “I can’t believe we are breaking ground with a new niche nobody has done before — dogs and movies! We are excited to spread the smiles across your whole families faces, furry included, at a K9C near you coming soon!”

Lankford said about the business and beloved dog, Bear:

“Little did Bear and I know we would soon be published in every major publication you can name both nationally and worldwide. Turns out when you start a passion project with a decade of experience building businesses and turn that experience on to something you sincerely love, something special happens. I simply want to make other people as happy as Bear makes me. When our customers come through our doors it’s nothing but smiles and laughter.”

The theater doesn’t show first-run films yet, but instead screens one-off movies and hosts theme nights. And, of course, you better believe the theater has hosted Game of Thrones viewing parties.

Genius idea! I smell a franchise brewing…

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Check out These Funny Tweets About White Claw, the Hard Seltzer Drink That Is Sweeping the Nation

White Claw is an alcoholic hard seltzer drink that is blowing up all over the place right now. Everywhere you turn, you see something about White Claw.

The boozy drink has really been on people’s minds lately because of a funny parody video featuring YouTuber Trevor Wallace.

Here are some quality tweets about the fascination with White Claw.

1. The way it goes…

2. Boom!

3. Kind of sad

4. Yes!

5. LOL

6. That would be nice

7. Fight to the death

8. NO

9. Thanks for this

10. Get with the times!

11. That’s true love

12. Bonded for life

13. Amazing

14. Now it does

15. And, one more for good measure

Bottoms up!

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