Well, the thing is you pay for the quality of the coffee, not the quantity. I do love their mocha iced coffees, but I realize they are slightly higher quality than the coffee you can find at a gas station. And Starbucks intentionally charges more for their stuff because they try to pass themselves off as "green" and they need to pay their staff extra to make that "Starbucks experience" possible.

I do wish they offered items for lower prices - I would most definitely patronize their establishments if I could get that iced coffee for $2 instead of $4.

If you really want to make the most of your Starbucks purchase, order the following: Three shots of espresso, over ice, in a venti cup, extra ice. Then add a bunch of free condiments from the little bar area near the register. It's stealing, but it's cheaper than a latte. If you don't mind putting aside your ethics for one outing, you can save a little money doing this.