Let’s be real, most coffee based beverages are jam packed with extra calories, fats, sugars, and so on. I have never been a “fancy” coffee drinker, and 98% of my days I stick to black coffee with absolutely nothing added, but with free drinks being thrown my way I’ve tried to get creative. I’ve already shared my Starbucks smoothie creations, and I always get my iced teas unsweetened, but what if I want a coffee drink with a little pizzazz?
Insert the coffee frappuccino, the most basic of frappuccinos with just enough oomph to make you feel like you’re in with the “foo foo” drink club. I don’t care for the crazy sugary flavored fraps, and really enjoy the flavor of just the basic coffee. However, this is still a frappuccino which means it gets a sugary binding agent to help hold the goodness together. Well I don’t like that, so I decided to NIX the frap syrup base all together and sub in some natural sugar..in the form of a banana! PERFECT binding agent and GREAT flavor pair.
Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE me some sugar, but I would rather eat a cookie or an entire cake than get my sugar from syrups. To each their own. I also swap the frap roast (coffee portion) for fresh espresso shots for more of a coffee flavor. Swoon.
While I am on the topic of work, and other options, I just want to say my commute to work is quite enjoyable. It’s about a 20minute drive, and I am able to take back roads that I adore. Taking the road less traveled instead of the freeway makes for a calm drive to and from. One of my favorite roads on this commute is full of farms, cows, and a produce stand.
It’s adorable and makes me crave fall.
On a completely unrelated note my cereal spoke to me the other day.
Is this real life!?!
Those blueberries fused together to form a PERFECTLY proportioned Mickey Mouse head! This must be a sign..it’s almost been a year since I have been to Disneyland, which means it’s almost been a year since I ran my first half marathon!! I want to go back! I have officially started training for half marathon number three..here we gooooo!
Q: What’s your go to drink at Starbucks (or any coffee shop?) I have like five.
Blissfulbritt 
64 thoughts on “Other Options”
Amy @ A Desert Girl
My go-to drink at coffee shops are the vanilla lattes (yes, I like the froo-froo drinks) and sweetened black ice tea.
The blueberry Mickey Mouse is most definitely a sign that Disneyland NEEDS to be in your future ASAP. The blueberries have spoken.
Kailey (Caffeinated Runner)
I am so with you on having cake/a cookie instead of syrup so I will have to try out the banana order!! Looks creamy and delicious too 🙂
My go to order is a tall cafe americano with 1 pump SF Caramel 1 pump SF Mocha. So delicious.
sincerelylily
mickey ears! it is a sign! you must race there again…. we need to plan that trip in 2014 or 2015, girl running race weekend in the land of disney! i love that your blueberries speak message to you!!! this must be a sign that you will eventually probably own a huge garden and communicate with the plants like pochahontas and mother willow tree.
Or like that ferry from Ferngully….Crystal? Except your name is better. I dont like the name Crystal. Reminds me of meth (which is werid b/c i have never been around or near or anythign with it)
ANYWAYS, i digress-
i love your breakdown of the coffee. i can’t belive you drink it black….. ugh! i need a bit of cream and fake sugar to enjoy it. I always go for skinny vanilla lattes at starbuckys. dem be my fav…. but yes, sugar in syrup is lame compared to a cookie or cake-like morsel consumption.
At our wedding, we have a ‘coffee station’….. I might have to stock special things for coffee-lovers like you. Acutally, I honestly oculd just plan the whole thing around my love for Speedy and happiness of meeting you and Meg. We should have just eloped and had you two as witnesses. SEIROUSLY THOUGH.
sincerelylily
fairy*** not ferry…. wrong type of fairy. geez.
Brittany
Oh man, I just envisioned myself making friends with my plants..I live a sad life. HAHAHA no really that made me laugh out loud. I WOULD TOTALLY run Disney again!! I LOVED IT SO FREAKING MUCH! IT was magical. Please have coffee at your wedding..I love coffee ahaha.
Lisa
Totally agree on the liquid calories. I’d rather have them on something sweet like a muffin…not in my coffee thank you very much. I love their just plain black americanos. Even when it’s boiling out I can’t resist. I literally am in everyday. Maybe I have issues;)
I should really work at Starbucks just because I spend all my money there.
And I’m starting to crave Fall too! I just love it.
Brittany
I tried your americano with the chai tea bag a few days ago!! It was…different. HAha. I did like the hint of spice though.
Corrie Anne
I love skinny vanilla lattes. But on my nutrition challenge I just drink boring Americanos! I hear one of the new coffee shops in our neighborhood has a great almond milk iced coffee! Definitely gonna be trying that!
jessiebearwhat
Agreed on wanting a cake or cookie instead of a regular frap!
EverdayLivingPNW
did you actually eat blueberry mickey? How rude…and yes fru fru drinks are the bomb, but the sugar is not. I swear I am like crack hooked on them. I am trying just to drink lattes for now, but every so often I throw some caramel in there….it takes time to get off the sugar i tell you
spectacuLAUR
My go-to is at Starbucks is an Americano with one pump of some kind of syrup. I do love lattes and still have to try a soy latte! I really think it’d be for me since I don’t like things too sugary either. I’m TOTALLY with you in eating sugar via cakes and all things delicious over syrups. Such a waste. I want to run the Disney princess half SO badly. It’s one of my MAJOR dreams. We should totally go together 😉
Brittany
YES!! I would for sure run Disney again, and the princess half would be A BLAST!
cleaneatingveggiegirl
I must admit that I am pretty ready for Fall…the weather, the food, and the fun activities like corn mazes! 🙂
Ashlee@HisnHers
Ok, I almost always order coffee frap with soy and I had not idea it had a sugar syrup base! So is this something I could specialty order or is jsut for lucky baristas that make their own? That sounds delish!
Brittany
YES you can order this!! Just order your regular soy coffee frap and just ask them to add a banana instead of the frappuccino base!! Make sure they know you DO NOT want the frap base! It’s soooo delicious, let me know if you try one!
Also I really recommend getting espresso shots instead of the frap roast (they will know what you mean if you ask this) and aside from having a complicated order, it’s so worth it haha.
Alex @ therunwithin
I rarely get anything fancy from a coffee shop – I tend to do black iced coffee or hot coffee.so boring I know!
B.
I just made my own coffee frappucino the other night! I usually buy unsweetened almond milk but accidentally got the full sweetened vanilla version and needed something to do with it so I threw it in a blender with espresso and ice. It turned out decent. I prefer my coffee a little sweeter though (in my move to “clean eating” it’s the only thing I can’t make totally “clean” yet…sniff!) so I might have to try the banana trick out!
I also *love* backroads and will take them as much as humanly possible. One of my best friends always says “When you’re driving I never know where the hell I am but I know we’ll get there eventually.” Might as well enjoy your view, right??
chasingchels
Ok, I want a sign like that immediately since I’ve been itching to run a disney race for awhile! Can’t argue if the universe shows you that! I’m not a huge coffee fan (unless I”m really really dragging haha), so I usually end up getting plain black tea at coffee shops and adding some milk and honey! And I cannot WAIT for fall! Favorite season by far…and we are so hitting the corn mazes and haunted houses this year. Joe will just have to deal 😉
Megan
HMMM if I was a barista I would definitely make my own beverages. My faves are ice passion tea w/ no sugar during summer and a skinny vanilla late for winter. I probably go to starbucks about 6 times a year though… My all time favorite homemade coffee right now is coffee mixed with the no sugar added hot cocoa mixes mwahah – I love the taste of coffee in everything but coffee. Weird I know.
Khushboo Thadani (@KhushbooThadani)
I used to adore the Starbucks fraps but find them WAY too sweet now, which means iced americanos with soy milk are my go-tos instead. I get the refreshment value with the coffee flavor without feeling like I just drank a sugar bomb :)! I think you need to put your alternative on the Starbucks menu- sort it out 🙂
Brittany
There are so many things I would love to add to the menu!! HA!
Change of Pace
Looks like a beautiful drive- way better than a freeway!
I actually don’t like coffee or tea or any editions of them. I love places that offer hot apple cider!
Hope your training is going well!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I’m with you on the frapps. The coffee one is pretty much the only one I can tolerate, and even then, I’d usually rather get my sugar fix from something doughy and chocolatey. I need to try this banana frapp you speak of… sounds like a win. That being said, I usually go for a cappuccino, iced latte, orrrr just a plain old Pike.
Davida @The Healthy Maven
Totally agree that I would rather use my “sugar quota” on a cookie or cake than on a sugary drink! Not one for Starbucks but occasionally I will get a light coffee frap or an unsweetened ice tea.
Also I want to eat that cereal right now!
pjsassifras
Thank you! I’ve been trying to find a way to make a coffee smoothie that wasn’t loaded with calories and sugar. Is there a way to order this as a Starbucks ‘off menu’ item? Can I just ask for a BlissfulBrit?
Hot coffee gives me horrible heartburn, so I’m always an iced coffee gal. I thought the ‘lightly sweented’ version was great until I looked up the nutrional information. EEK!
Brittany
YES you can order this!! Just ask for a coffee frappuccino (it comes with whole milk as a standard so you can ask for an alternative if you want, they have 2%, nonfat, and soy) and then just ask them to add a banana in place of the frap base. Make sure they know you do not want the syrup base! I would love if this was named after my blog haha.
Also, I highly recommend getting espresso shots instead of the frap roast (they will know what you mean if you ask for this) it really brings out the coffee flavor!
pjsassifras
I am printing this out and just handing it to the barista at my local SBs whilst explaining to the manager it should henceforth be known as the Blissfull Britt.
ALSO, I am sending a copy to my husband’s bff who’s son manages a store in the Portland area. Look at me with the SB hookups!
You’ve either just invented a new drink or had me banned from Starbucks for life. I’m in a crazy mood today and willing to take the chance!
Brittany
Hahahahaha you are awesome!
kepotts
Is seeing Micky Mouse in your breakfast like all of those people who see Jesus in the clouds? Seems like it would be similar! As for the coffee, I’m a black with a splash of milk kind of gal…less room for error!
Amy
I’m so right there with you. I’d rather have my sugar in the form of chocolate cake, cookies, brownies, and ice cream! I haven’t been to Disneyland in over a year either… I’m absolutely aching to go back. It’d be super fun to go with you — we’d be the oldest little kids in the park! 🙂
Brittany
We would OWN the park! I would be standing in all the lines to snap pictures with my favorite characters. I LOVE DISNEYLAND!
Amy
We could even get you a special signature notebook for them to sign! I had multiple of those as a kid… I still remember when Goofy “hit” on me as a pre-teen by giving me a huge lick with his long tongue. But Pooh is still my favorite!
Oh my goodness, now I’m SUPER excited and want to go!! Come visit so we can!! 😀
Mary
I was exactly the same at Frankie & Benny’s. I always used to ate the same thing, until free food flew my way for the two years I was an Assistant Manager at the restaurant. The same thing every day gets boring and requires mixing up. I would often offer my concoctions to customers too. They need to test my mixes to check it’s not just me going crazy eating the same thing over and over. Usually they approved! 🙂
kathy@vodka and soda
i don’t drink bucks on a regular basis but i do love their peppermint mocha!!!
Christina Does It All
Banana= Genius!!! Never would have thought of that.
And love the Mickey Mouse blueberries. Hehehe.
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
I always just order coffee with room… until fall when pumpkin comes back of course! I too prefer my sugar in food form! I think a lot of people order all those crazy “coffee” drinks so they can say they drink coffee but don’t really enjoy the taste of it, does that make sense? haha. I am totally going to order a Blissful Britt the next time I head to SB!!!
Britta
Yippeeeee for marathon #3!!! Gah, so excited for ya! Oh man, I remember working at starbucks and (this is awful) but I would judge what people get. I worked there right around xmas time, when it seemed like everyone was ordering venti salted caramel hot chocolate’s and I would literally think, “you have dinner in a cup right there.” I also remember gaining about 1 hundred thousand pounds while I worked there 🙂 you know, just so there’s more of me to love. 😀 Love the scenic route to work!
Brittany
Umm I judge peoples drinks too. I used to judge everything people bought at Trader Joe’s too and when someone would come through my line with food I liked I would always talk about the items!! HAAH.
sugarcoatedsheridan
Um Disneyland!!! It’s a sign!!! I’ll meet you!! My favorite foo foo coffee would have to be the Starbucks White Chocolate Raspberry Mocha…I mean bring on the sugar!!!
Life After Swimming
I love the caramel ribbon crunch frap right now…only allowed myself to get it 2 times though because it’s horrible for you…definitely not whipped cream for me!
and look at those blueberries! that’s awesome!
Kristina at damntenpounds
What a good idea!! How did you find out about this? Sounds like something Starbucks would put on a secret menu. I’m pretty boring when it comes to my coffee. I’m with you. I’d rather keep it simple and save my calories for other treats 🙂
Brittany
I work at Starbucks! So I just decided to do it myself haha.
jessielovestorun
I wanna go to Disney! I say we put together a group & all meet there!!
Brittany
BEST IDEA I have heard all week!
dorseyml
My all time favorite is a Chai Tea Latte!
Meredith
You have much stronger willpower than me, lady! Java chip frap. to my face, it’s my weakness!! Lol. Followed by mocha and caramel(clearly I have like 5 too). Great idea about the espresso and the banana, love it! Good for you about your commute. I always found that a joyful commute helped my workday immensly!
kelly @ racesrepsramblings
That drink looks divine!! I want one 😦 Do you think another starbucks would let me specialize to that 😉 And I LOVE what your cereal said to you. It’s time for more Disneyworld. What a good message 😉 HAPPY Friday!
Brittany
YES you can for sure order this!! All you order is a coffee frap and just ask them to add a banana in place of the frap base. Make sure they know you do NOT want the frap base. Also I would recommend getting espresso shots instead of the frap roast (they will know what you mean if you ask for this) because it makes the coffee flavor POP!!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I’m with you; I like my sugar fix to come in the form of a dessert and not a drink. Plus, I think some of those syrups have sketchy ingredients and since I’m all about the ingredients, they’re usually out for me.
I absolutely see Mickey Mouse in your cereal, and I do beleive it’s a sign. You need to do another half marathon, and I think you should run one in Cleveland. Max would cheer you on.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
Woke up at Earth’s ass crack of dawn to grab coffee with my friend because she is moving tomorrow and she was going to be busy the rest of the day at her last day of work. I ordered a black medium straight up coffee… I am impressed with myself that I ordered a MEDIUM. Usually I order the GIGANTOR size as I am a GO BIG OR GO HOME kind of girl, but I knew that I would be BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS in the most annoying of ways, and I have to be presentable at 12pm. I don’t want to scare people away… I can easily do that WITHOUT caffeine swimming through my veins! Oh… I add STEVIA to my coffee, that’s how I make it bearable. Otherwise it tastes straight up like dog crap… How I know what dog crap tastes like, yeah, that’s a story for you.
OKAY NO NO NO I have NEVERRRRRRRRRR eaten dog poop before. PROMISE!
Meghan @ fitnesscrEATures
Oh that frap sounds awesome! I don’t ever order the fraps from the beautiful Starbucks, usually iced espresso drinks loaded with syrup instead (but, like you, I take my coffee black!). So I’m an anomaly, what are ya gonna do?
Haha, yay for your Mickey Mouse blueberries! 🙂 Have a fab weekend!
Elizabeth
My go to drink at Starbucks in a venti black coffee over ice and depending on how rich or poor I am that month, I add a shot of espresso. I was a barista/managed a coffee shop for 2 years after high school and I LOVED creating drinks. It was my favorite aspect of the job!!
alex@vegginout
I agree that I’d rather get my sugar fix from sources other than syrup (hello ice cream!). Love the idea to add a banana! Sounds kind of like a coffee smoothie. 🙂
Haha, the blueberry mickey mouse is adorable. I often find that my pancakes turn out like mickey. Sometimes it’s on purpose, but usually it’s because I have an inability to make round pancakes. 😉
And yayyy so glad you started your training!! Be sure to keep us updated! 🙂
Katherine
I’m totally not a fan of drinking all my calories! Desserts > any Starbucks syrup. I’m such a weird Starbucks customer. I always get a new type of tea. Even when it’s really hot. I don’t know why, but I love it! That’s so exciting that you started training! I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Amalia
I start my day off with my coffee and while it still has WAY too much milk in it for my liking, I’ve nixed the sugar and just have plain cinnamon! 1 tbsp is 18 calories, and if you have the right cinnamon (I.e. not the sugar laced stuff at Starbucks) its natural and even has health benefits. . . oh, and it makes you forget there is no sugar.
I love that you are enjoying your Starbucks journey and yes to your version of the frappuccino! Espresso, a banana and soy milk…. mmmmm.
Now if they only got their act together and brought in almond milk.
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats
Now you’ve given me a sign to go to Disneyland too 🙂
I love my chai lattes all the way! I also drink earl grey tea with honey and milk as well as green tea and jasmine tea. I love my tea!
Lucy @ Lucy On The Lookout
Ooh good trick with the banana sub – I admittedly am a biiiig fan of the ol’ frappucinos, but also tried to recreate them at home and it sadly fell short… But maybe it is because I didn’t put in a banana 😉 Look at that lovely sky above the farm! Hubba hubba!
P
Okay, your oatmeal is seriously hinting at Disneyland—-go, go, GO ;)!
Melissa @ Al Forno Mementos
Can you be my Starbucks barista? Maybe that’ll make me more inclined to drink Starbucks. (1 star til I’m gold member) haha and disneyland!! that’s so cute!! a definite sign you have to go! ps. your hometown has the best scenery.
olivetorun
Woo hoo to training for another race! 🙂 I always like the beginning of a new training schedule!
My go to is lame… I love tea and iced coffee <– nothing but a little cinnamon in it. Yes, I know 🙂
katalysthealth
My go to drink when its cold is a skinny vanilla latte and when its hot I like either unsweetened green iced tea lemonade or just an iced coffee with a pump of toffee nut syrup. Then I add some almond milk to it!! ❤
The Healthy Flavor
I used to loveeeeee those sugary frapps at Starbucks but can’t anymore since no almond milk…grrrrr! I also love cookies, cake, brownies, ice cream…I laughed at your comment of eating an entire cake!
Luv What You Do
So I don’t drink plain coffee…only fufu coffee drinks. Recently, I’ve been really into the caramel machiatos with soy at the bux but don’t like the caramel syrup (ie added sugar). I do love their green tea and black tea lattes!
Rach @ This Italian Family
Are you sure you don’t want to move to Memphis and work at the Starbucks next to my house?? Cause I would love to be in on this Brittany invented goodness!