Why is Starbucks so Addictive in 2023? Top 12 Reasons!

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Starbucks is one of the most popular coffee brands in the United States. The coffee shop chain is also one of the more addictive options available, but do you know why Starbucks is so addictive like a funny Wednesday meme?

If you’ve always wondered why Starbucks is addictive, read on to find out!

Why is Starbucks so Addictive?

The main reason Starbucks is so addictive is that most Starbucks drinks are high in caffeine. Caffeine is addictive, and your brain craves caffeine when you are feeling tired. Starbucks is also addictive because of the high sugar content in their popular drinks like venti frappuccinos.

Want to know more reasons why Starbucks is so addictive and keeps you coming back again and again?

1. Peer Pressure

Peer pressure refers to the sense of belonging you get by going to Starbucks with your family or group of friends. It is the same as people who only go with Apple or any other brand.

Another increasingly important aspect of peer pressure is social media and online presence. For some, it is essential to be associated only with certain brands and to show their loyalty or addiction to the brand online. Then there are the people completely obsessed with their favorite coffee shop.

If you search for “Starbucks” on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter, you will see the true size of the peer pressure.

2. High Caffeine Content

Man holding Starbucks cup

Image Credit: Omar Lopez, Unsplash

The main reason why Starbucks is so addictive is because of the high caffeine content in Starbucks drinks, and caffeine is an addictive substance like nicotine.

In addition, ingesting caffeine releases dopamine, a feel-good chemical that reinforces the urge to consume the substance.

3. High Sugar Content

Starbucks is known for the high sugar content of its drinks, and sugar is also an addictive substance that makes us feel drunk when we consume it.

In addition, according to some experts, sugar can be as addictive as cocaine because it produces dopamine and activates opioid receptors in our brain, which leads to addiction.

4. Dairy Fat

Starbucks drinks with toppings

Image credit: Starbucks

Combined with sugar and caffeine, dairy fat is addictive and makes you want to consume more Starbucks drinks with cream or whipped cream and espresso/coffee beans.

Also, like sugar, dairy can trigger the opioid response in the brain, and you will suffer withdrawal symptoms if you try to quit dairy fat overnight.

5. Salt

We already know how addictive salt is, and if you combine salt with sugar, caffeine, and dairy fat, you create an even stronger addiction, and that’s exactly what is found in most Starbucks drinks.

Also, our brains seek salt, and drinks like the Caramel Frappuccino give us pleasure because of the salt content of the caramel and dairy.

6. Adrenaline

Adrenaline is a chemical released in the brain when you drink Starbucks, thanks to the caffeine content, and this substance wakes you up and gives you energy.

When you have adrenaline, your heart beats faster, and you feel like you are on top of the world and can do anything in minutes instead of hours.

7. Starbucks Coffee is Strong

Some people don’t like Starbucks because the coffee is strong, while others get addicted to Starbucks because the coffee is strong.

However, the reason Starbucks coffee is so strong is that the company uses darker beans than most other restaurants.

Also, Starbucks roasts the beans at a higher temperature, which allows the company to produce more beans in less time.

8. Friendly Baristas

One thing that keeps customers coming back to Starbucks is the fact that the baristas are all very friendly, warm, and smiling as soon as you walk in.

The staff is helpful and willing to help customers find the perfect drink if they are looking for something special.

The friendliness of the staff and the certainty of great customer service at Starbucks can be addictive.

9. Starbucks is Everywhere

Starbucks coffee drive thru

Image credit: Starbucks

You can’t walk down a street without running into another Starbucks, and the fact that it’s everywhere and easily accessible makes it all the more addictive.

And with more than 15,000 locations in the U.S., Starbucks has made sure that coffee and espresso are coveted everywhere, no matter where you live.

10. Daily Routine

Drinking at Starbucks is a coping mechanism for many people and quickly becomes a part of their daily routine. Either because they are tired and need a pick-me-up or because they want to feel special or spoiled by a coffee.

For example, if you’re tired, you may be drinking a Starbucks drink to feel better because it’s a treat, and the caffeine makes you feel good inside and out.

11. Starbucks Rewards Program

Starbucks Prize and Delight Game

Starbucks offers a rewards program, and the rewards program itself can be addictive, especially if you go to Starbucks regularly.

They also organize games for their Starbucks Rewards members. In the recent games, you could play to win a brand new car, free handcrafted drinks for one year, Starbucks gift cards, and more.

If you are a Starbucks Rewards member at the green level, you get 2 stars for every $1 spent, a free birthday reward, and other great rewards.

The gold level is the middle tier of rewards. You receive monthly double-star days and additional rewards for every 125-star set, and you even get a gold membership card!

12. Easy Mobile App

While the company’s mobile app is a bit different from the other reasons Starbucks is addictive, it does offer customers an easy way to order and pay for their drinks at any time.

For example, Starbucks announced that customers paid for their drinks over 7 million times a week with their smartphones, which is an incredible achievement for any company.

Starbucks got people to engage with the mobile app and, with the simplicity of ordering and paying, created an even more addictive product because of its accessibility.

Takeaway

So why is Starbucks so addictive? There are several reasons for this: Firstly, most Starbucks drinks are high in caffeine and contain high fat and sugar. All of which may be addictive.

In addition, Starbucks has friendly baristas who make you feel welcome. Their coffee shops are convenient and comfortable and offer an attractive reward program. Overall, Starbucks is an addictive coffee shop with tempting beverages, where you may want to come back again and again.

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Featured image credit: Anton Novoderezhkin, TASS

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