Ode to Starbuck's New Hot Chocolate 'Chantico'

I used to love to hate Starbucks.  I fancy myself a Peet’s gal.  From my first cup of real coffee in college at Berkeley, Peet’s has been my only coffee of choice.  Then one day I was stuck at an airport in the Midwest with five hours between planes.  I really wanted an espresso but I thought the chances of even getting a decent cup of black coffee were small.  That was the first time that Starbucks saved the day.  The second time was in Hawaii.  I was staying at a luxury hotel on Waikiki beach.  I discovered that the breakfast served on the lanai of the hotel was a prix fixe $35.00 buffet.  Who could eat enough food at 7:00 a.m. to make it worth it? A Starbucks two blocks away provided a great alternative with its island themed coconut lattes and bagels.  Then just last spring I made my annual pilgrimage to Los Angeles via Highway 5. The pale brown swill that I purchased at the pink stucco oasis ‘Harris Ranch’ got tossed out of the window after my first sip.  Now what?  Three more hours on the road and no caffeine?  I drove on and within an hour found a Starbucks at the foot of the Grapevine.  Drive thru, no less.  What is all this chatter about Starbucks leading up to?  On Saturday I went to a charity event that included ‘goodie bags’ at each seat.  One of the ‘goodies’ was a coupon for a free cup of Starbuck’s new hot chocolate called ‘Chantico’.   I tried it this afternoon.  Forget the dumb name.  All you need to know is that it is a six-ounce serving of deep, rich, thick hot chocolate.  Delicious.  A perfect afternoon ‘pick me up’. Try it…

March 16, 2005 update: I was told by a nutritionist yesterday that one serving of Chantico (6 ounces) is 600 calories!  Wow!  In other words, staying home with my feet up on the couch eating a donut is better than walking the five miles a day I usually walk while drinking a Chantico.  I have to give this some thought......

March 18, 2005 update: Daniel was kind enough to send me the actual nutritional info: 390 calories, 21 grams of fat and 51 carbs per six ounce serving.  Thanks, Daniel.

Comments

[Brunito]

I've can't stop drinking this stuff. The Starbucks I usually get Chatico at now gives me a "double" serving of this stuff for the price of a 6oz cup. It's aweful!!!!!!!!!!! I tell them not to do it but they insist. Yikes!!!!!!!!!!

[Jen W]

You are so much better off doing the following:

Grate your favorite chocolate (mine is Scharfenberger 72%). Heat WHOLE MILK in a pan. Add the grated chocolate. Wisk until blended, decide whether you want to add sugar(even using Half & Half is far fewer calories than the Chatico).

http://tarandviolets.typepad.com/the_wine_offensive/2005/01/starbucks_choco.html
P.S. Above is a link to a very funny blog, with a very scathing view on the Starbuck's beverage.

[karletta]

Pascal, Thanks for the recipe. I will have to give it a try this week especially since it will be raining until Easter!

[Pascal]

I tried one tonight... Not bad. A little sweet for my tastes. I thought I'd try to make it at home. The resulting chantico recipe was born: (all measurements are approx)

Homemade Chantico
3/4 cup warm water
3 heaping tbsp Frys Coco Powder
8 heaping tbsp sugar
2 tsp cornstarch + (1 tbsp water)
1 pinch salt
2 tsp butter (optional)

Heat the water to near boiling. Reduce heat to medium. Add the coco and the sugar. Stir with a wisk for about 5 minutes to really disolve the coco powder. In a seperat bowl, add water to cornstarch and mix until completly dissolved. (If you don't, you'll get some nasty clumps.) Add the cornstarch mix to the coco/sugar mix and wisk briskly. After a minute or so you *should* have a smooth velvety yummy drink! For more flavour, add the salt and butter.

It will thicken a bit as it cools, so add just a wee bit of hot water to thin it out again.

The result is a very rich dark sweet coco, very similar to $tarbuck$.

[daniel]

hi karletta, fyi this usa today article http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2004-10-13-starbucks-chocolate_x.htm
says "It's no diet drink: A 6-ounce cup has 390 calories, 21 grams of fat and 51 carbs."