A Ghetto Latte in Action

Over the weekend, I witnessed the mythical “ghetto latte” at the new Starbucks kiosk in Ala Moana. What’s a ghetto latte? That’s the unofficial nickname for a bare minimum espresso-based (or even coffee-based) drink. Pay for only two shots of espresso but ask for the drink in a large cup (grande or venti) then fill the rest of the cup with (free) milk from the bar. That’s ghetto as in poor or cheap.

Ghetto latte
Ghetto latte

I couldn’t hear the full order called out, but I did hear the part about a venti cup. Notice the empty space at the top that’s getting filled. Milk or creamer was already added when I took the pic and now a second carafe is about to be drained.