- Switzerland has some of the highest Starbucks prices in the world.
- I was underwhelmed when I stopped at a Zurich Starbucks to try drinks.
Starbucks has something special going on in Switzerland: its prices.
The coffee chain may not be the first place you think of when you're scouting for espresso in Europe, but Switzerland is home to some of the highest Starbucks prices in the world.
So, is there something different about these super-priced coffee drinks? I stopped at a Starbucks in the center of Zurich to find out.
It wasn't much on the outside, but the inside had a quaint view and Instagram-worthy walls
I found the Zurich Starbucks on a strip next to a McDonald's and a small spa.
It was similar to locations I've frequented in the US, but I noticed the space was especially aesthetic.
The walls and the stairway to the second floor, where all the seating was, were painted bright pink.
Upstairs, the walls were decorated with brightly colored prints of flower patterns in a corporate illustrated style.
The second-floor booths and tables lined a wall of wide windows with a quaint view of the nearby train station.
I ordered a basic, very expensive drink first
The menu seemed limited compared to Starbucks locations I've visited in the US.
That said, this café apparently sold the highest-priced Starbucks menu item globally in 2022.
You might ask yourself: What luxurious, decadent, brightly colored, hyper-flavorful, blended monstrosity could be the most expensive Starbucks menu item in the world?
In the most recent analysis of that question — published by CashNetUSA in February 2022 — the answer was an iced caramel macchiato in Switzerland.
Notably, the analysis didn't seem to include the many alterations and additions that can drive up the cost of one drink, nor did it include the "secret menu" items or some of the chain's latest seasonal drinks.
The study found the world's second-most expensive Starbucks menu item was Denmark's chocolate-cream Frappuccino, which sounds unique and interesting.
An iced caramel macchiato is a super basic Starbucks classic that's available around the globe.
Still, I ordered one made with soy milk. It came out to 8.20 Swiss francs, about $9.50.
The coffee drink is made with steamed milk, vanilla-flavored syrup, espresso, and caramel.
It wasn't impressive and it was more milky than sweet. I didn't taste caramel at all.
The caramel seemed to be stuck to the bottom, where I could see how little of it there was.
I mixed it up more, only to take a sip and find it tasted even milkier. Still no hint of caramel. It hardly tasted like coffee.
I felt like I paid $9.50 for a cup of lightly sweetened soy milk.
This drink was one big shrug.
I also splurged on cold brew and found it to be inconsistent
I returned for a regular coffee because the macchiato didn't have enough caffeine for me.
This location didn't have regular drip coffee on the menu, so I got a cold brew for 7.8 Swiss francs, about $9.
It tasted pretty good — not too bitter, just a bit acidic, almost chocolaty, and rich.
I went back to order the same drink the next day because I needed an emergency boost of caffeine before catching my train.
This time, the cold brew tasted much weaker and more watery. It didn't have the pleasantly acidic, chocolaty flavor.
Maybe I'd just been lucky the day before.
My verdict: It's not worth it to visit Starbucks in Switzerland
Overall, I was disappointed. The high prices in this Starbucks location didn't seem to be a sign of higher quality.
If you're in Switzerland, I suggest you get coffee somewhere else.