We know it’s still November, but we can’t help but get into the holiday spirit. And we’re not just talking about wrapping paper, cocktail dresses, and decking out our kitchens. We’re talking about adding a bit of cheer to our computers. Nerdy? Yes. Awesome? Also yes. Why not mix things up on the background of your computer by queueing up one of these 20 beautiful (and free!) holiday desktop wallpapers? Your computer will thank you.
For every beloved Starbucks item, there’s one that’s equally disliked. Whether they’re menu mainstays or have disappeared forever, Starbucks baristas and customers have some very strong opinions about the many menu items the chain's released over the years. This Reddit thread in particular details the discontinued Starbucks items that fans of The ‘Bux miss “the least” – AKA ones they were more than happy to say goodbye to.
Whether baristas were irked by the process of making them, their general flavor, or customers’ reception of ‘em, these discontinued Starbucks items departed from menus with a sincere “good riddance.”
Launched in collaboration with Ariana Grande back in 2019, the Starbucks Cloud Macchiato featured a fluffy, meringue-like foam topping made by blending nonfat milk, vanilla syrup, and a “cloud powder.” It was available to order in two familiar flavors: caramel and cinnamon.
Several Starbucks baristas noted that they simply did not care for making it, especially because the included cloud powder contained egg. This frustrated many plant-based customers, as the drink couldn’t possibly be made fully vegan.
“Was more annoying to make than anything,” one barista commented on Reddit. “Also they didn’t [really] advertise that it contained egg.”
“Tasted foul, irritating to make, having to explain that it cannot be made vegan (thanks Ariana…), and if it was mobile ordered you were almost guaranteed to receive a deflated cup of disappointment and regret,” another user said.
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I got to get a first taste of Starbucks’ Spicy Refreshers when they dropped during the summer of 2024. Admittedly, I didn't think they’d be that good, especially because at the time, it seemed like the chain was grasping at straws to retain their fan base. At the same time the spice-infused Refreshers launched, Starbucks also debuted their (short-lived) boba, and it was just wild. There was also a Spicy Cream Cold Foam included in the launch.
Out of the three Refresher flavors available (dragonfruit, strawberry, and pineapple), the pineapple one tasted the best. The trio turned out to be pretty hit or miss, and lots of fans and baristas agreed.
“Those spicy drinks feel like a fever dream,” one person wrote on Reddit. “Genuinely forgot we had those and forgot how horrible they were.”
Funnily enough, many more people weighed in and said the now-discontinued drinks were only tasty with a shot of tequila included. Fair enough!
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Introduced in January of 2024, Starbucks’ first-of-its-kind Oleato beverages were crafted using extra virgin olive oil. The chain promised a “luxurious and next-level” flavor, but these drinks ended up totally bombing. Many customers and baristas reportednot being able to drink them whatsoever, or simply feeling sick if they did sip ‘em down.
"The barista refunded me after she saw me spit it back into the cup," this Redditor said.
"At my location, NOBODY likes the olive oil," another person noted. "Not even us baristas, it’s disgusting honestly."
Oh, lord. This discontinued Starbucks drink from 2017 truly needs to be studied. Available for a limited time, the Unicorn Frappuccino went viral for its “flavor-shifting, color-changing" qualities. It was crafted with an insane lineup of ice, milk, pink powder, sour blue powder, crème syrup, mango syrup, and sour blue drizzle – this massive load of sugar concerned plenty of people, too.
A former partner on Reddit verified that the reception of the so-called "famed" Unicorn Frappuccino wasn't all that it was cracked up to be:
"I think the worst part for me was, although it looked cool/pretty, it tasted absolutely horrible," they wrote. "If I recall correctly, it was the thick mango syrup, white chocolate, and some sour blue drizzle. I would say at least half of the customers who actually managed to get one from my store would return them half-full saying it was ‘disgusting’. And honestly, I agreed."
“If you were working in 2014-15, you get 'Nam flashbacks when anyone mentions unicorns or mermaids," another barista commented.
Starbucks
Discontinued at the end of 2023 for being generally unpopular, Starbucks' Toasted Vanilla syrup wasn’t quite well-received by baristas.
“That toasted vanilla smelled like every middle school mean girl ever, and it tastes like butt,” one person commented.
“Can’t believe I completely blocked the toasted vanilla out of my memory,” another said. “Sh-t was so nasty.”
Crafted with green coffee extract, ice, and kiwi pieces, the long-gone Starbucks Kiwi Starfruit Refresher hit menus in 2020, but sadly fell off in favor of other Refresher flavors like pineapple and blackberry. Several Starbucks baristas were happy to see it go since it tasted so bad.
“I remember making it when I was training and thinking, ‘this shit smells like battery acid.,’” someone commented.
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It hasn't been difficult at all to lock into new episodes of The Pitt on Max. We might all be familiar with medical dramas by this point, but what sets The Pitt apart is that each episode covers one hour of a single night's shift — and this is basically the most intense shift of all time. And season 1, episode 14, "8:00 PM," ended with another major cliffhanger: Dr. McKay getting arrested for messing with her ankle monitor. We don't have to wait long to find out what happens to McKay, Whittaker, and Robby because The Pittseason finale airs next week!
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The Pitt season 1 finale airs on Max this Thursday,April 10 at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT.
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The Pitt episode 14, "8:00 P.M." ended on quite the cliffhanger after the ER team was hard at work to help the victims of the Pitt Fest shooting. Because after her ankle monitor begins beeping during the mass influx of patients, Dr. McKay hijacks it — and ends up in handcuffs by the time the credits roll.
"Even filming it was humiliating, because it was this flood of remembering that you are not good enough," actress Fiona Dourif toldVariety. "And then very quickly it became rage at the situation and the injustice of it. Still the inner thread of it is that it was my fault. Mostly, it’s just utter humiliation that it is happening in front of everybody."
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The Pitt season 1 will have 15 episodes total, and they're each named after the hour they cover. Here's the full list of The Pitt episodes:
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The Pitt cast is a true standout on TV this year, and the list includes:
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The Pitt was mainly filmed on a soundstage in Burbank, California, but some of the exterior shots were taken in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! The show filmed in 2024, and the cast was spotted in Pittsburgh in September 2024.
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Yes, The Pitt season 2 is coming to Max! “We’re excited and delighted with the audience response for our first season of THE PITT and can’t be more appreciative of our partners at Max and Warner Bros. Television for all of their extraordinary support throughout our first season," John Wells, R. Scott Gemmill, and Noah Wyle said in a statement.
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The Pitt isn't officially an ER sequel (despite the fact lead actor Noah Wyle was on the 90s drama). However, members of the estate of late author Michael Crichton (who wrote the OG screenplay for ER) alleged The Pitt was created as a sequel, without their permission. And the estate sued the creators of The Pitt in August 2024, according to TODAY.
“The Pitt is ER. It’s not like ER, it’s not kind of ER, it’s not sort of ER. It is ER complete with the same executive producer, writer, star, production companies, studio, and network as the planned ER reboot," says the lawsuit. "No one has been fooled."
Tune into The Pitt season finale on April 10 and read up on The 1923 Season Finale, premiering on Paramount+ April 6.
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I like my skincare like I love my coffee alternatives — full of mushrooms!
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