Sadly, hilarious!
I have never been inside of a Starbucks; unless, you consider those in the grocery store.
Before I ever knew of their dark side, I just couldn't square paying (every day) for a single cup of coffee, the same thing a 16-oz bag of coffee would net me.
I bought a frother, the little battery-operated gadget; and, honestly, can tell the 'faithful' it's a bunch of hype to pay $5 ? for something that costs .10 to make.
Just as the ridiculous monthly cost of an iPhone, pure waste.
I'm not addressing this to the elite; but, to the minimum-wagers trying to ball with their fancy cup and phone. FOLLY ;+)
Btw, you beat me to the punch with the free coffee. Of course, you know they get FREE bags of coffee of all flavors to bring home as rewards. So, if you're considering being a barista, this is one more perk.
One last thing, I do own a really cool Starbucks coffee cup that I found at a favorite thrift store for 99 cents.
Peace.
Haha. I drink the second cheapest drink they have which is ice coffee. I hate cold brew and I've tried to make my own ice coffee at home and it comes out too bitter. When I master the art, I'll never go there again.
I enjoy iced coffee occasionally. It's best to start with a freshly cleaned brewing reservoir to remove the bitter-tannin build-up from daily brewing.
When I make it, I start with a good flavored brand. I make a pot and pour into a glass jar with lid and let it cool on the counter a bit before placing in the fridge.
When completely cooled, and ready to serve, pour over ice with your favorite flavorings as needed.
You mentioned that your attempts made it too bitter. Perhaps you could tweak the amount of coffee you use, or add more water to dilute.
Peace.