Can a Starbucks Frappuccino Drink Beat a Hug? Starbucks Puts Comfort to the Test

In a one-of-a-kind seriously fun social experiment dubbed “The Comfort Index*,” Starbucks^® Frappuccino^® drink was measured against tried-and-true comforting activities. The results may surprise you.

Who doesn’t want a little more comfort these days? In fact, nearly a quarter of U.S. adults say their stress is overwhelming ¹. An ever-evolving world has shaped the way people live, work, and sip, causing them to seek comfort and self-care with simple things or little treats to boost their moods.

One of these treats that customers point to? Starbucks^® Frappuccino^® drink. To prove just how comforting a sip of this bottled goodness can be, Starbucks created The Comfort Index – a lighthearted social experiment that measured emotional reactions to a few universally loved activities. As if you needed another reason to enjoy this delicious drink.

Starbucks invited three people to participate in The Comfort Index by trying four comforting activities: petting a pony, popping bubble wrap, hugging a loved one and, of course, drinking a Starbucks^® Frappuccino^® drink.

Each participant was given a headset that measured their brain activity linked to excitement, relaxation and focus. Then our technologists turned those brainwaves into individual Comfort Index profiles to finally reveal which activities hit the comfort jackpot.   

How did Starbucks^® Frappuccino^® drink fare against the competition? It ranked second, right behind hugging a loved one (no one can compete with hugs, folks!).

“The Comfort Index was created to distinctly show just how comforting Starbucks^® Frappuccino^® drink really is, and while we know that nothing can surpass the comfort of a hug from a loved one, we’ll happily own second place as the most comforting experiment we tested. These results may be surprising to some, but hey – those who know, know,” said Brian Smith, director, marketing at Starbucks.

Watch The Comfort Index experiments.   

Luckily, comfort is easy and readily available to find. Starbucks^® Frappuccino^® drink is available at grocery stores, national retailers, convenience stores and gas stations, as well as online where groceries are sold.

*Disclaimer: Not an actual clinical study. Results may vary. Participants compensated for their time.  

¹ American Psychological Association. (2023). Stress in America 2023: A nation recovering from collective trauma. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2023/collective-trauma-recovery