2010 Starbucks Coffee, Tea & Pastry Menu with Prices

If you walked into a Starbucks in 2010 and just pointed at the menu, you might have ended up with a tiny espresso or an overpriced Frappuccino when you really wanted a proper latte. But if you knew the exact drink names — and said them in English — you’d get the drink you wanted, in the right size, with the correct amount of coffee. This is the full breakdown of the 2010 Starbucks menu: what each drink cost, how big each size was, and what was actually in it.

In 2010, a tall (medium) Caffè Latte at Starbucks cost 23 RMB, a Caffè Mocha was 26 RMB, and a simple Americano was 19 RMB. Drink sizes were categorized as short (small), tall (medium), and grande (large), with prices increasing accordingly for each size across coffee, tea, and Frappuccinos.

Coffee Drinks on the 2010 Starbucks Menu

Starbucks in 2010 served classic espresso-based drinks with straightforward pricing by size. Here's how much each coffee cost, listed from small to large (short, tall/grande, venti were not always printed; '' = small, '' = medium, '' = large):

• Caffè Mocha: 23 RMB (small), 26 RMB (medium), 29 RMB (large) — described as “full, beautiful, and packed with chocolate sauce,” especially popular with female customers.
• Caffè Americano: 16 RMB (small), 19 RMB (medium), 23 RMB (large) — essentially black coffee, smoother than iced coffee, and preferred by those avoiding caffeine jitters.
• Caffè Latte: 19 RMB (small), 23 RMB (medium), 26 RMB (large) — a milk-forward coffee, favored by many, especially women.
• Cappuccino: 19 RMB (small), 23 RMB (medium), 26 RMB (large) — known for its foam, with better texture than other chains according to the source.
• Caramel Macchiato: 24 RMB (small), 27 RMB (medium), 30 RMB (large) — more complex than a Mocha, especially enjoyed as an iced drink.

Espresso itself (“”) was sold as a tiny, highly concentrated shot — the most intense option on the menu. The article suggests ordering drinks by their English names to ensure you get the full portion and avoid upsells to sugary, high-margin drinks like Frappuccinos.

Iced & Blended Drinks (Frappuccinos) in 2010

In summer, the go-to drink was a Frappuccino — a blended, ice-based coffee drink served in a large cup with a straw. The 2010 menu included several Frappuccino options, though exact prices for most weren’t detailed beyond mention of their popularity:

• Coffee Frappuccino
• Mocha Frappuccino
• Vanilla Frappuccino
• (Mango Tea Frappuccino)
• (Caramel Coffee Jelly)
• Coconut Mocha Frappuccino
• Green Tea Frappuccino
• Wild Berry Frappuccino

The source describes Frappuccinos as tasty but expensive and overly sweet compared to brewed coffee — advising customers to skip them unless actively craving something cold and dessert-like.

Tea Options at Starbucks in 2010

Though less discussed than coffee, Starbucks’ 2010 tea selection had five distinct flavors, though staff often gave customers whichever tea was handy unless a specific type was requested. The range spanned traditional to fruity:

• Traditional: (Earl Grey) — a classic black tea
• (Fruity teas) — more modern, sweeter blends
• Three transitional blends — flavoured teas that gradually shifted from traditional to fruity, with lighter colours

The article notes that most baristas didn’t pay close attention to the tea variety unless the customer specified, meaning you might get any of the five unless you asked for a particular one.

Decaf, Milk Options & Other Notes

The menu also referenced standard customisation options available in 2010:

• Decaf — decaffeinated coffee option
• Non-fat milk — skim or fat-free milk alternative

These options allowed some personalisation, though the focus remained on the core drinks.

Pastry & Snack Items in 2010

Starbucks in 2010 sold a small selection of cakes and cookies, with prices as follows:

• Blueberry Cheesecake: 16 RMB
• Black Forest Cake: 16 RMB
• Italian Cheesecake: 15 RMB
• New York Cheesecake: 14 RMB
• Italian Chocolate Biscuit: 4 RMB
• Italian Orange Biscuit: 4 RMB
• Chocolate Cookie: 2 RMB
• Milk Chocolate Cookie: 2 RMB

The pastries were simple but popular pairings with coffee orders, especially cakes like cheesecake varieties.

Pro Tips from the Original Article

The original Chinese piece advises ordering in English using the drink’s exact name (e.g., “double espresso”) to ensure you get the right size and avoid being upsold to Frappuccinos or other high-margin items. It also recommends taking your drink to go — the cups for in-store service were smaller and lacked space for customising with milk or water.

Example dialogue: “Hello, double espresso. Thank you.” — “Takeaway or dine in?” — “Takeaway.” — “Your double espresso will be ready shortly.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the most expensive coffee on the 2010 Starbucks menu?

The largest size Caffè Mocha cost 29 RMB, making it the priciest standard coffee drink listed. The large Caramel Macchiato was 30 RMB, slightly more expensive than the Mocha.

How much did a basic Americano cost in 2010 at Starbucks?

A Caffè Americano cost 16 RMB (small), 19 RMB (medium), and 23 RMB (large). It was described as smooth black coffee, less harsh than espresso and popular among those sensitive to caffeine.

Did Starbucks offer tea in 2010, and what kinds?

Yes, Starbucks offered five tea types in 2010: traditional Earl Grey, fruity blends, and three transitional flavours between traditional and fruity. Colours and sweetness varied by type, with staff often giving customers whichever tea was available unless specified.

What were the sizes called at Starbucks in 2010?

The sizes were referred to as (small), (medium), and (large), corresponding to what is now widely recognised as tall, grande, and venti. Pricing increased with each size.

Were Frappuccinos popular in 2010, and how much did they cost?

Frappuccinos were very popular in summer 2010. Though exact prices weren’t given for each, they were mentioned as tasty but expensive and overly sweet. Popular flavours included Coffee, Mocha, Vanilla, Mango Tea, and Coconut Mocha.

What pastries could you buy at Starbucks in 2010, and what were their prices?

Available pastries included Blueberry Cheesecake and Black Forest Cake (16 RMB each), Italian Cheesecake (15 RMB), New York Cheesecake (14 RMB), and cookies ranging from 2 RMB to 4 RMB each.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Classic Espresso Drinks

For recreating 2010-era Starbucks-style drinks at home, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend — designed for milk drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, it produces a rich crema and smooth body. The Black Cocoa Blend also works well for mochas, offering deep chocolatey notes that complement espresso. Both blends are optimised for espresso extraction and deliver consistent results. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.