- Starbucks employees are freaking out about the Tie-Dye Frappuccino, which hits menus on Wednesday.
- Employees are bracing for a rush of customers ordering the drink, which is more time-consuming to make than many other options on the menu.
- The Instagrammable Tie-Dye Frappuccino will only be available for five days.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Starbucks employees are preemptively freaking out about a new Frappuccino hitting menus on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Starbucks will launch the Tie-Dye Frappuccino, a multi-colored beverage that will be available for just five days, or as supplies last. According to Starbucks employees, the drink tastes like banana candy.
With its super-limited availability, the Tie-Dye Frappuccino follows in the footsteps of other Instagrammable Starbucks drinks such as the Unicorn Frappuccino and the Witch’s Brew Frappuccino. And, like the aesthetically pleasing beverages that came before, the Tie-Dye Frappuccino is sparking concerns among baristas.
"It looks like it's going to be the Unicorn Frappuccino all over again, which the company said they wouldn't do again because of partner feedback," one Starbucks employee told Business Insider. Starbucks refers to its employees as "partners."
They continued: "They don't give a damn about us and it's obvious."
The Unicorn Frappuccino was another complicated Frappuccino that sparked barista backlash. The drink was available for just a few days in 2017 and quickly became the most viral beverage Starbucks has ever launched.
Employees took to social media to express concerns about how the Tie-Dye Frappuccino would impact their work routines.
on 7/10 Starbucks is bringing out this “Tie Dye Frappuccino” and that thing takes like ten steps to make.. i already know ima be hating life 🥴
— callate y vete (@_Katybear) July 6, 2019
Also... whoever came up with our new “ tie-dye frappuccino” I have a strong dislike for you 🙃
— ArielR.🧜🏾♀️✨ (@melanin_drip_) July 3, 2019
Me as soon as a customer asks for a tie-dye frappuccino.... or really any frappuccino for that matter pic.twitter.com/lN0U3bOrhb
— Sam 🖤 (@sdw2_) July 2, 2019
Starbucks' Tie-Dye Frappuccino takes several steps to make, as employees must add different powders to achieve the tie-dye effect. Frappuccinos, in general, can be time-consuming and annoying for baristas to create, especially when a flood of customers is demanding dozens of the frozen beverages.
"I'm not ready for this s--- to launch," one apparent Starbucks employee tweeted, along with a photo of them giving a Tie-Dye Frappuccino the middle finger.
If you order the tie dye Frappuccino when it launches, just know every barista working hates you.
— sara (@besse_sara) July 8, 2019
This new tie dye frappuccino will be the death of me
— maha 🍌 (@mahatesu) July 9, 2019
When you get your schedule and find out you’re working on the tie dye launch day. pic.twitter.com/T54Tfu5r76
— Barista Problems (@baristaproblem0) June 29, 2019
On the bright side, Starbucks employees will have a chance to switch up their dress code and wear tie-dye to work.
I’m bracing myself for the hell that is going to come through our doors the day the tie dye Frappuccino is released. I get to wear tie dye though so that’s cute. 😊
— Mary Mackey (@simplymar99) July 9, 2019
Starbucks is releasing a limited time Tie-Dye Frappuccino and I just got word that we are allowed to wear tie-dye for that entire week and wow my work clothing options have just QUADRUPLED 😍😍😍
— Ashley Springsteen (@shakeitupbabyy) July 8, 2019
Starbucks did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
Some stores and employees have already posted photos of the colorful beverage on social media.
The Tie-Dye Frappuccino launches Wednesday, so don't try to order the drink before then. And, if you do order the drink, tip your barista!