A mom recently shared a Starbucks hack for kids and divided the Internet in the process. Lauryn Clare captions her now-viral Instagram reel, “If you can’t afford Starbucks for two, order your toddler a pup cup. It’s free and will make them just as happy as a $5 cake pop.” She’s referring to the secret menu item for dogs, known as the “pup cup” or a “puppuccino,” which is whipped cream in a three-ounce espresso-size cup, and Starbucks gives them out free for dogs.
In the clip, Clare shares that she was in the Starbucks drive-thru to use up a gift card with $4 and change on it when her two-year-old daughter, Adeline, woke from her nap. The mom knew the toddler would want something, so she thought of the pup cup and ordered one, even telling the barista it was for her little girl, not a dog. While some thought the money-saving tip was great, plenty of critics called out the Pennsylvania mother over it.
- “Taking advantage of the system,” one commented, while another wrote, “Welcome to the end of free pup cups.”
- “And this is why kids are spoiled and overloaded on sugar,” another shared. “How about they don’t get anything but love and a good example.”
- “Or just learn to say no sometimes,” offered one user, and another wrote, “If you have fast hands, you can also grab money out of those baskets at church. Why not, right?”
But it turns out, Clare wasn’t doing anything wrong and she’s not ruining free “pup cups” for anyone. A spokesperson for Starbucks tells Today.com, “We love seeing the different ways our customers brighten loved ones’ days with Starbucks.” They add that customers can order a side of whipped cream at no extra charge when they buy a beverage.
Source: Today