Flaky California allows short latte lawsuit to proceed

A federal judge in California will allow the bulk of a lawsuit accusing Starbucks of systematically under-filling lattes to move forward. Two California residents are suing the Seattle-based coffee chain, claiming that Starbucks lattes are only filled to about 75 per cent of the cup’s capacity. The lawsuit says Starbucks instituted a recipe in 2009 to create smaller lattes in order to save money on milk. The news reports do not state legal chapter and verse but it is hard for many lawyers to understand illegality associated with under-filling a cup. Manufacturers downsize all the time. Buyer beware. Anyway, Starbucks says the company believes the lawsuit is “without merit” and it will be prepared to defend itself in court. He says if a customer is unhappy with a beverage, Starbucks will gladly remake it.