Starbucks uses 'secret menu' to attract kids in US

Starbucks has gone well beyond allowing people to build custom orders around its traditional coffee drinks.

Last weekend, before my daughter and I left home, she had already searched for “Starbucks secret menu” on the computer and narrowed her choices to a handful of drinks (all of which involved various ingredients from Starbucks' menu for adult drinks).

By the time we reached the store, my daughter had decided on a “Rolo Frap," but neither the Starbucks’ employee taking her order nor the barista had heard of the drink. Rather than disappoint my daughter, they asked for the recipe to make it and we grabbed it online (using the free and easy-to-access Starbucks Wi-Fi, of course).

Starbucks prepared and priced a drink that they had never heard of before and my daughter was delighted -- so much so that she took a picture of the drink and posted it on her Instagram before she even tasted it.