Did a video authentically show someone proving Starbucks is running a "Coffee Scam" by showing all cup sizes contain an equal amount of coffee? No, that's not true: The video was published by an account that says it publishes "magic, pranks and games". In a later video the account claims to "explain" the trick by repeating it with coffee being poured from transparent cups.
The video originally appeared in an Instagram post (archived here) published by the account "Don't Trust Tom" on April 9, 2025 with a comment that read:
Coffee shops be cheating on you! 😱
This is the video in question:
The account later published a second video (archived here) that claims to explain the trick:
The Instagram account "Don't Trust Tom" has a bio (archived here) that reads:
⚠️Professional liar who does magic, pranks and games with my mates!⚠️ .. ...It's all love...kind of.
🚀 powered by @the.magicgroup
The account of "The Magic Group" contained another video (archived here) talking about how the video went viral:
Via the website of The Magic Group (archived here) we found the name of the creator in question, Tom Elderfield, who has a LinkedIn bio that reads:
Tom Elderfield is a magician and magic consultant from Buckinghamshire UK. He specialises in creating original magic for TV, online shows, stage and marketing campaigns. Tom performs at Corporate Events, Weddings and Parties doing close-up, table and walk around magic with stage shows upon request.
In 2022, Snopes looked at a similar video and concluded it was an "old internet prank".
