Starbucks is bringing back its condiment bars in 2025, allowing customers to once again add sugar, milk, and other fixings freely to their coffee. While this decision is undoubtedly aimed at improving customer satisfaction and speeding up service, it’s a troubling step backward for American health, Starbucks is essentially offering customers an easier path to add sugar, additives, and other potentially harmful ingredients to their drinks.
After all, the average American consumes a staggering 80 pounds of sugar per year—a leading factor in the nation’s chronic disease crisis. For a company of Starbucks’ size and influence to reintroduce a “self-service” approach to these additives, it sends a clear message to Americans who have given up their willpower: convenience and consumer desire trump health considerations. This disappoints those of us advocating for better public health and encouraging a shift away from excessive sugar and unnecessary additives.
The return of the condiment bar is more than just a customer convenience—it’s a subtle encouragement to overindulge. With milk, creamers, and a variety of sugar packets readily available, Starbucks is enabling a DIY sugar overload for consumers who are already battling the temptation of sugary options everywhere. And the truth is, many consumers aren’t aware of just how much sugar they’re adding to their coffee, turning a potentially healthy beverage into a dessert loaded with empty calories.
Excessive sugar consumption is tied to numerous chronic health issues, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. At Goodnight Red River, we believe in taking control of what goes into our bodies by making mindful, intentional choices. Starbucks’ decision to bring back condiment bars feels like a move in the opposite direction—one that encourages mindless overconsumption of additives and sugar rather than promoting a balanced, health-conscious approach.
Rather than taking a step backward with the condiment bar, Starbucks could choose to lead by example in the coffee industry. They have an opportunity to educate customers about the health risks associated with excess sugar and offer them alternative ways to enjoy their coffee. Instead, by reinstating self-service condiment bars, Starbucks is feeding into the culture of sugar dependency, letting customers pour in sugar and cream without a second thought.
At Goodnight Red River, we believe in promoting whole, real foods without unnecessary additives or sugars. Our focus is empowering individuals to take ownership of their health, which becomes even more difficult when convenience is placed above well-being. In a world already struggling with the health impacts of sugar-laden diets, it’s disappointing to see Starbucks choose convenience over customer health.
The truth is, we need companies that care about more than just the bottom lineand care about helping their customers live longer and be their customers longer. The return of the Starbucks condiment bar is not a health-conscious move—it’s a business choice designed to bring back foot traffic, even if it means inviting customers to indulge in habits that could harm their health over time, and put them in an early grave instead of back in Starbucks. Instead of embracing quick fixes reinforcing unhealthy habits, Starbucks should find ways to support its customers’ well-being.
The nation is in the grip of a chronic health crisis, and businesses need to be part of the solution. We hope Starbucks will look beyond short-term customer satisfaction and consider long-term health impacts. At Goodnight Red River, we’re committed to helping people make healthier choices every day, from promoting real, nutrient-dense foods to creating awareness around the dangers of excess sugar. We encourage everyone to think twice before reaching for that sugar packet and to find simpler, healthier ways to enjoy their coffee.