At 10:24 am, the lunch bell rings. The halls begin to flood as students start to run to the senior lot. They make their way to Starbucks. 11:12 am the lunch bell rings and lunch comes to an end. Students pile their way back into the school but this time with a half full cup of Strawberry Acai Refresher.

The bright pink drink, filled to the brim with strawberries, ice, and lemonade, is a fan favorite at Wayne Hills.  No matter what time of the year it is, whether the school grounds are covered with snow or the sun beams high over the building, a refresher can always be found in the hands of at least some of the students. But what makes this drink so popular? 

Starbucks describes the drink as a mix of “sweet strawberry flavors accented by passion fruit and açaí notes, shaken with ice and real strawberry pieces—a welcoming sweet spot of refreshment.” This fruity drink, that is a year round staple for many students, definitely sounds delicious, but what stands out about this drink that makes it so popular? Why are the other fruity drinks so underrated? 

Stephanie Tulpan, a student at Hills, said, “Every time I go into Starbucks there are like 30 refreshers lined up. It’s pink, everyone loves strawberries, it’s a nice alternative to coffee, and I get it because I’ve been getting it since I was 8 years old. It still has caffeine without being coffee and you can also customize it with berries and lemonade. It’s just really good.” 

As someone who has been drinking the refresher for over 8 years now, Stephanie gives insight into why she thinks the drink is popular. It’s a fun and fruity alternative to coffee and the fact that the drink is a bright pink color definitely helps make it a staple for her! 

Senior Ava Bergman also shares the same love for this drink and takes advantage of the opportunity to customize the drink, another important reason the drink is so popular. She prefers no strawberries and very little ice, a more simplified version of the drink. 

Senior Geena Kim said, “I love the Strawberry Acai Refresher! I always get extra berries because I love a good crunch and I think the color is super fun as well. On a hot day, coffee dehydrates me but I still love a nice caffeine boost, so this drink is such  a good alternative for me. Highly recommend it.”

Geena loves both the flavor and the aesthetic of the drink. Who says a drink can’t taste good and look good at the same time! Sipping on the fun pink drink is something she looks forward to, and appreciates the fact that it is a light alternative to coffee. 

However not everyone agrees with the hype surrounding the drink. Senior Noah Sandler said, “The last time I had the drink it was pretty mid. Nothing special. I prefer my iced tea lemonade with a splash of apple juice and a nice warm slice of coffee cake to warm my stomach!” 

Noah is not a big fan of the drink and definitely doesn’t see himself getting it anytime soon. He felt it was basic and that there were other things on the menu that looked and tasted better. The pink color, strawberry pieces, and splash of lemonade are not things that interest Noah, unlike most of his students class. 

Similar to Noah, Senior Jordan Praissman prefers his caffeine in a more traditional sense. Jordan said “I love drinking the vanilla sweet cream cold brew! It’s definitely important to have an open mind when it comes to Starbucks- there’s so much to try!”

Jordan feels that it is important to try new things! While having a staple drink is always nice, why not switch it up from time to time!

Starbucks is definitely an essential for many people in the Wayne Hills community. Not only is it accessible for everyone since it is right down the block, but some of the food and drinks are just too good to pass up, especially the strawberry acai refresher… the true fan favorite here in our halls.