Customers outraged as Starbucks switches to 'nugget ice' - will it affect YOUR order?

Starbucks has announced that it is making a major change to the ice in its drinks - and it is causing a stir with customers. 

The coffee chain revealed that it would be switching from its classic, bigger ice cubes to 'nugget' or pellet ice, which is softer, more compressed and chewable. 

The company said it would be replacing the ice - which is the same type often found in hospitals or at fast food chain Sonic - over the next few years and would be starting with stores with a high volume of cold drinks orders. 

But coffee lovers have taken to social media to express their outrage at the change - with many fearing that the smaller cubes will melt more quickly and water down their favorite beverage. Others are accusing the company of attempting to save money by taking up more space with ice - meaning they do not have to fill up the cup with as much drink. 

Starbucks told DailyMail.com that the volume of ice per beverage will not change, and it has conducted testing to confirm nugget ice does not melt faster than its current ice.

One TikTok user said backlash all started when an alleged Starbucks employee posted a photo of the nugget ice to Reddit

The change comes just months after the coffee powerhouse faced controversy over rumors that it would charge customers extra for refusing ice in their drinks.  

According to She Finds, Starbucks has made the change as part of its pledge to cut its water footprint in half by 2030. 

Pebble ice machines use less water to make the ice, as the unique shape and texture of the nuggets (officially called 'Chewblets') is achieved using the Follet Nugget Ice Machine, the outlet reported.

Ice drinks make up almost three quarters of all drinks sales at Starbucks, which has propelled the chain to record revenue in recent years, according to the Washington Post. 

'Customers who have tried the nugget ice in our handcrafted iced beverages during testing had a resoundingly positive response,' the company said in a statement. 

However many Starbucks fans are not so sure - and have expressed their concern that the new nugget ice, which is also known as pebble ice, will change the texture of their favorite drink or dilute its flavor. 

TikTok user The Messenger said the backlash all started when an alleged Starbucks employee posted a photo of the nugget ice to Reddit - claiming to be from one of three stores testing the new ice. 

One user accused the company of scrimping on costs, writing: 'Sounds like they are wanting to take up more space In the cups with ice and lower the amount of actual drink to save money.'

'God no not the hospital ice for coffee,' said another. 

'I love that ice but it’s terrible for coffee...melts fast and waters down the drink,' bemoaned another user. 

Another said: 'The recipes aren’t built for this type of ice, which will melt a lot faster and dilute the coffee and sweetness. The texture of the Frappuccinos will also probably be a lot different.'

Fans fear that the smaller cubes will melt more quickly and water down their iced beverage

Starbucks insisted the pebble cubes had a 'resoundingly positive response' in testing

Starbucks confirmed that it would impose a $1 charge on all orders requesting no water in Refresher brand drinks (pictured)

It comes after the internet was sent into a frenzy last month over widespread speculation that Starbucks was set to charge customers extra for requesting drinks with 'no water, no ice, or light ice.'

The rumors caused a furor on social media - with customers outraged at the thought of unnecessary increased costs.

A viral video showed an alleged Starbucks employee explaining that there was a new surcharge for customers who requested light ice or no ice, because it meant workers had to fill up the cup to the top. 

However the employee in the clip, which is not an official company video, appears to be explaining the added cost for requesting no water in the chain’s Refresher beverages, rather new fees on ice. 

A company spokesperson confirmed to AP News that from May 9, Starbucks would impose a $1 charge on all orders requesting no water in Refresher brand drinks as this requires adding extra ingredients to the mix. 

A Starbucks representative told DailyMail.com: 'Starbucks is not making changes to the ice policy.'