Starbucks

Caffeine hounds can now get their fix in Starbucks stores while discovering new music on Google Play Music All Access, the just-launched streaming music service from the search giant turned social network turned, well, agent of everything on the Internet.

When logging into the WiFi of a Starbucks store, customers will see the option (pictured above) to "enjoy unlimited songs while sipping away," then sign up for a trial of Google Play Music All Access.

Announced at Google I/O in May, Play Music All Access is the company's take on monthly subscription music services like Spotify and Rdio. Google Play Music All Access already has a free 30-day limited trial for new users, so really this Starbucks promotion gives people who aren't yet familiar with the service the opportunity to give it a spin. Users who subscribe before June 30 will get a markdown on the monthly rate from $10 to $8.

Are you more likely to try Google's streaming music service if you're able to easily access it while getting work done at your local Starbucks?

If you're craving a cool, refreshing sweet treat and thinking of heading to your local Starbucks for a creamy drink, then consider your choices first. These stats will help shave calories off your order.

Caramel

Mocha

Keep reading for more lower-calorie options at Starbucks.

Last week, Starbucks announced it was launching two new Bavarian-style pretzels ($2) in its snack lineup, for people who tend to sway toward salty provisions over sweet options. Curious about the new additions to the bakery section, we took a trip to our nearest Starbucks. The pretzels, which come in asiago and cheddar and stoneground Dijon, looked a little dehydrated and sad as they were pulled out of Starbucks's pastry refrigerator. The Starbucks employee said the pretzels tasted better when toasted, so they took a short trip to the oven before we brought them back to the office to try. Keep reading for our thoughts and the review.

"What is that stuff?" I asked the barista, eyeing the dark tan mixture he poured into my Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino.

"I don't really know," he responded. As if to explain, he added, "I just got back from a two-week vacation, so I'm kind of out of it. And this is our first day making this drink."

I watched with both curiosity and suspicion as he followed the tan liquid with a more-than-generous drizzle of caramel and a shower of toffee-colored bits. I'd stopped into my neighborhood Starbucks to check out the new offering, released today — the first new Frappuccino flavor in a year — but after watching two being made, I still wasn't sure what was going into the drink.

Keep reading to learn more about the Starbucks Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino.

Today, Starbucks announced the release of a new drink, the Hazelnut Macchiato. It was quickly met with protests from some of the chain's customers, many of whom claimed the drink isn't really new, since both the Starbucks-style macchiato (vanilla syrup, steamed milk, and espresso) and hazelnut syrup have been on the menu for years, so technically, it's been possible to place an order for the drink all along. We decided this called for a side-by-side taste comparison between three drinks: the newly dubbed Hazelnut Macchiato, the coffeemaker's original Caramel Macchiato, and the similar and ever-popular Hazelnut Latte. See how the new beverage stacks up.

Are you a Starbucks regular who's vowed to start saving money and making your own coffee at home instead? If so, there are still a number of ways you can ensure you've made the perfect cup of coffee, even by Starbucks standards.

I enlisted the help of Certified Starbucks Coffee Master Zach Mercer, who outlined the company's fundamentals for home brewing.

According to Zach, all you've got to do is keep in mind that there are four important factors that affect the quality of your home brew. Find out what they are, and keep reading to see his recommendations for making coffee at home.

Starbucks Cards and Starbucks Card eGif make the perfect present or stocking stuffer for anyone on your shopping list. A Starbucks Card is the gift of a moment of blissful relaxation spent with family and friends over a favored cup of coffee or treat. Whether you slip it into their stocking or send one online, a Starbucks Card is an easy way to spread holiday cheer.

A Starbucks Cards or Starbucks Card eGif is truly the gift that keeps on giving all year long. Once you register your Card and sign up for My Starbucks Rewards™, you can earn great rewards and offers throughout the year like free drinks and food, free refills on brewed or iced coffee and tea, and even a free birthday drink.

A few months back, we taste-tested the Starbucks Pumpkin Latte against the Via Ready Brew counterpart and were surprised to discover tasters preferred the Via instant coffee over the store-made latte. When Starbucks sent us its latest instant offering, Via Peppermint Mocha ($8 for six cups), we knew what we had to do: a taste-off! Between the Starbucks Peppermint Mocha, which combines espresso, milk, bittersweet chocolate, and peppermint flavor, and the Via package, find out which one our taste-testers preferred.

Who knew a Starbucks opening would be indicative of a hot real estate investment? Business Insider shares more on this phenomenon.

"Wake up and smell the coffee," writes Michael Corbett, real estate expert and host of NBC's "Extra's Mansions & Millionaires!" in his book Before you Buy! The Homebuyer's Handbook for Today's Market.

RELATED: The Most Iconic American Houses On The Market

He's talking about big chains such as Starbucks and Whole Foods. If you see them opening in a new neighborhood, it's a sign that the neighborhood is up-and-coming, and therefore a smart real estate bet.

In his book he writes:

"One of the best ways to stretch your buying dollar is to find a neighborhood that is in transition. Called fringe or transitional neighborhoods, they are typically close to major metropolitan areas and were once neglected and less desirable. Is there a trendy restaurant where a tattoo parlor used to be? These neighborhoods are now beginning to enjoy a new life and your goal is the find them.

Has a Starbucks just opened on the corner or maybe a Whole Foods Market? These are all good signs that a neighborhood is on the upswing. You can bet that big chains like Starbucks spend a lot of money and time analyzing neighborhood potential before they open up a new store. So go ahead, tap into their market research and be their neighbor."

Check out these smart stories from Business Insider:

The Most Anti-Starbucks Menu Ever Created

Here's How You'll Use Square To Buy Coffee At Starbucks

Why Starbucks Baristas Have Higher 'Emotional Intelligence' Than Doctors

Starbucks Baristas Reveal Customers' Most Impossible Orders