Let’s be honest; it’s hard to truly appreciate the scope of the menu at Starbucks. When you go to the coffee chain, you’ve got a specific order in mind – and it’s not going to change.
But with a huge selection of coffee drinks, teas, and refreshing flavored beverages, there’s so much to try! This article is all about breaking out of your routine and discovering new drinks that will delight and surprise you!
So what are the best drinks at Starbucks? While that answer will be different for everyone, depending on their taste preferences, there are certainly a few that stand out as the most beloved Starbucks drinks. Consider this your official “To-Do List” of Starbucks drinks!
Best Seasonal Starbucks Drinks
To start off this extremely delicious list, there are a couple of times throughout the year that you simply must try something new from the Starbucks menu. When it comes to the fall and winter seasons, the big-name coffee shop is known for most of its seasonal drinks, and for good reason!
The Pumpkin Spice Latte
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It almost feels wrong to begin this list with any other drink. Let’s face it, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is nearly synonymous with Starbucks at this point, with millions of fans flocking to stores all over the country every August 1st.
And it’s honestly not a surprise that so many people love this popular drink. This Starbucks hot drink is the perfect blend of sweet and spice, and it tastes like a warm hug on a crisp autumn day!
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
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We get it – you love the warm and spicy flavors of fall, but you could use a little bit of a change from all the pumpkin spice lattes.
If you want to actually taste your coffee but still enjoy all the indulgent creaminess of a pumpkin spice drink, consider switching up your favorite fall beverage for a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew.
Unlike its more popular sibling, the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is a cold drink option comprised mainly of coffee topped with a delicious pumpkin-flavored sweet cream foam.
The result is a creamy and velvety take that coffee lovers everywhere can enjoy, and with just a hint of fall-flavored sweetness!
Caramel Brulee Latte
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Every winter, Starbucks brings out more seasonal favorites that just seem to make the holidays even more complete.
While we love a good holiday drink like peppermint mocha or an Irish cream cold brew, it’s hard to compete with the incredible depth of flavor and unique sweet and salty taste that you get with the Caramel Brulee Latte.
This seasonal drink doesn’t scream “holidays,” but that’s kind of why it works. This warm and comforting caffeinated drink works best clutched between gloved hands on a cold winter day!
Best Starbucks Coffee Drinks
Aside from the yummy seasonal drinks that Starbucks offers, they do have a plethora of delicious coffee drinks for you to choose from. While you may be tied to your usual favorite, it doesn’t hurt to branch out every now and then!
Nitro Cold Brew with Sweet Cream
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If you love the taste of a cold coffee drink and prefer just a hint of sweetness, this may be the iced drink for you! Try this nitrogen-infused cold brew beverage served over ice and topped with a healthy serving of housemade sweet cream cold foam.
The texture is to die for – velvety and smooth, with just the right amount of sweetness without overpowering the coffee.
What makes the Nitro Cold Brew so special is that the nitrogen infusion gives the coffee a smooth and almost frothy texture, which tastes unlike anything else!
Caramel Macchiato
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Don’t mess with a classic! While the caramel macchiato may seem a little underwhelming compared to other, more impressive drinks on this list, there’s a reason this coffee-based drink is consistently a crowd favorite.
Keep in mind that Starbucks makes its macchiato very differently from other more traditional coffee shops, so don’t go in expecting an old-school macchiato, or you’ll be in for a surprise!
The caramel macchiato from Starbucks is essentially made as an upside-down latte with vanilla syrup and caramel drizzle. A perfect blend of sweet, milky, and strong.
If you do prefer the more traditional style with less milk, be clear with your barista so they can make exactly what you want.
Starbucks Cappuccino
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The cappuccino is another coffee beverage that Starbucks makes slightly different than your traditional coffee shop. While you might usually expect a cappuccino to be a combination of 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 milk foam in about a 6-ounce cup, the Original Starbucks Drink comes in many different sizes and has much more milk foam.
Regardless, this classic drink is a fantastic base for endless customizations to make it a drink that’s truly your own! While I’d always recommend trying the cappuccino in its purest form, there are tons of ways to kick it up a notch. Try it hot, try it cold, and try mixing it up with a variety of sauces and syrups!
Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
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I feel it’s only fair to warn you; this one might quickly become your go-to! The Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Espresso is a coffee lover’s dream, especially when the call for an iced coffee is too strong to resist.
The coffee flavor is strong and bold, and the sweetness of the brown sugar balances out the taste. But, my favorite part is the overall texture of the drink – it’s smooth, creamy, and oh-so-sweet!
Made with Starbucks’s signature blonde espresso shots, pumps of brown sugar syrup, and topped with oat milk and a dash of cinnamon, it’s fair to say that there’s a lot going on with this drink, but that might be what makes it work. The depth of flavor is hard to resist!
Cafe Mocha
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Chocolate lovers everywhere can agree that the Starbucks Cafe Mocha is a tried-and-true favorite chocolate-flavored drink. Whether it’s a traditional mocha or made with white chocolate, it’s a great choice when you just want that bit of extra sweetness that doesn’t overpower the drink.
It’s more of a “bittersweet” taste and certainly not as sugary sweet as you might expect from other Starbucks drinks.
Steamed milk and mocha syrup top Starbucks’s signature hot espresso, but it’s best served with a healthy dollop of whipped cream and a chocolate-flavored drizzle!
White Chocolate Mocha
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A traditional mocha is delicious, but it can sometimes feel like a heavy drink. But white chocolate mochas are like the cooler younger siblings to the classic mocha! It has a lighter, less pronounced flavor, and the flavor of espresso marries beautifully with white chocolate!
With a shot of espresso topped with steamed milk, white chocolate sauce, and sweet whipped cream, this drink is nothing short of indulgent!
The white chocolate mocha is a fantastic base for other flavors since the white chocolate sauce is mellow and sweet! Consider adding a scoop of fruit, raspberry syrup, or a peach tea bag for an amazing fruity and creamy concoction!
Best Alternative Starbucks Drinks
If you’re looking for something sans coffee or just a different type of caffeine-filled pick-me-up, Starbucks also has many options for you in that category.
Chai Latte
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Keeping to the form of lattes, there’s nothing better than the sweet and spicy aromas and flavors of a good cup of Chai, but when it’s combined with a bit of milk? It’s like heaven in a cup!
Caffeine fiends should know that this drink is an excellent base for coffee! Consider ordering a Dirty Chai latte next time you’re at Starbucks – it’s a standard Chai latte with an additional espresso shot!
The bitterness of the espresso meshes perfectly with the sweetness and spiciness of the Chai, and it even works well with some additional fall flavors or a few other standard syrups.
Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte
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If you’re unfamiliar with the world of matcha, it’s a powdered green tea drink that has origins in Japan going back hundreds of years. It has a very earthy and, well, leafy flavor, which makes sense because it’s made from powdered tea leaves.
But the best part about matcha is how well it blends with milk and sweeteners. It’s the perfect base for a latte, and Starbucks knows that better than anyone!
It’s a punch of refreshing and upbeat flavor, and it’s a nice break from your daily coffee (though it still has just as much –if not more– caffeine)!
Caramel Frappuccino
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Straying away from all the latte drinks, let’s take a look at one of Starbucks’ most signature drinks, the Frappuccino. It just wouldn’t feel right not to include this one alongside the other legendary drinks from this coffee chain.
If you didn’t already know, the Starbucks Frappuccino is essentially a “coffee milkshake” –it’s a coffee drink flavored with syrup, over ice, blended, and topped with whipped heavy cream and a flavored sauce.
The best part about Frappuccinos is the incredible amount of possibilities for customization. You can add any flavor you like from any item on the Starbucks menu!
Want a strawberry and raspberry frappuccino? You got it! Want a white chocolate caramel mocha frappuccino? Sounds delicious! The possibilities are only limited by your taste buds!
Regardless, the caramel Frappuccino has to be the most popular of the flavors as it’s delicious on its own, but a great base for many other combinations. You can also get most of the Frappuccinos caffeine-free by getting a creme version of your favorite flavor!
Iced Green Tea Lemonade
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While many people love Starbucks for their coffee beverages, they also have some pretty good tea options. Not only that, but they’ve also upped their lemonade game, and the Iced Green Tea Lemonade is proof of that.
The great thing is that while this drink is big on flavor, it’s not big on sweeteners and sugar, which makes it refreshingly low-calorie! My favorite part about it is that since the flavors are light and mellow, you can add whatever fruit juices or flavored syrups you like to it to really kick the flavors up a notch (I recommend raspberry, strawberry, or even peach!).
Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
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While the Strawberry Acai Refresher is a favorite, I’d argue the Mango Dragonfruit refresher is actually the better of the two. The drink is hand-shaken with ice and topped with real diced dragon fruit.
Like the other refreshers on the Starbucks menu, this drink has just about the same amount of caffeine as a standard cup of coffee, but it’s a nice alternative to espresso drinks, especially on a summer day!
It’s got a hint of sweetness that doesn’t go too far, and the fruity flavors will really brighten up your day!
Pink Drink
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The Pink Drink was originally a Starbucks secret menu item that creative fans started ordering a few years ago. It became such a popular order that Starbucks put the fan-favorite Starbucks drink on their regular menu!
And it’s easy to see why this drink went viral – it’s a classic combination of fruity, creamy, and cold, perfect for warm summer days!
It’s made by starting with the ever-popular Strawberry Acai Refresher, but with added coconut milk and a scoop of dried strawberries for a fruity kick! You can also ask for it blended if you want something closer to a milkshake consistency!
Starbucks has even started doing this milky and fruity combination with their other Refresher flavors, such as the Mango Dragonfruit one we mentioned!
Frequently Asked Questions About Starbucks Drinks
This list might have convinced you that you’re missing out on some great drinks, both caffeinated and not, from Starbucks. However, you might still have some questions about the rather confusing menu.
What Drinks Does Starbucks Offer on Their Menu?
While Starbucks is mainly known for its coffee drinks, they also offer a delicious selection of hot chocolates, teas, iced fruit refreshers, and more (not to mention some scrumptious snacks and pastries)!
In terms of coffee, you can get just about any kind of coffee beverage you can imagine, from espresso-based drinks and shots to dark, medium, and blonde roast drip coffee, to Frappuccinos, iced lattes, cappuccinos, and so many more.
How To Order At Starbucks?
I get it. It can be incredibly intimidating to order a drink at Starbucks, especially if it’s your first time doing it.
In fact, the chain is famous (or infamous) for how complicated their orders can become when customized – what the heck does a “venti iced upside-down caramel macchiato, extra caramel drizzle, blonde, add shot, no whip” even mean?
But it’s really not as complex as it sounds once you get the hang of it. To order your drink and all its customizations, decide what size you’d like and if you want your beverage hot or iced.
Then choose the beverage you’d like to order as a base and let the barista know if you’d like any substitutions (milk, sweetener, etc.).
Lastly, if you want extra customizations, like a few pumps of syrup or flavored sauce, whipped cream, or extra shots of espresso, feel free to experiment. You can’t go wrong with a mocha drizzle.
Here’s a tip: I recommend trying a new drink on its own with no customizations first to see if you like it, and then you’ll know next time what you’d change!
What Are the Best Starbucks Drinks For Kids?
When it comes to the Starbucks menu, there isn’t necessarily a space for kids. But that’s okay because they have many drinks that kids will love or ones that can be customized for them.
Just a few include their lemonade which you can flavor, hot chocolate, milk steamers, creme frappuccinos (meaning no coffee), or even a delicious blended strawberry lemonade.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Starbucks Experience
- Don’t be afraid to try out new popular flavors! Starbucks offers a lot of seasonal beverages, so take advantage of the menu change and try something out of the box. It may become your new perennial favorite!
- Have a backup drink in mind when you go – many chains are currently experiencing supply shortages and may not always have all ingredients on hand, so it’s good to come prepared, just in case!
- Order ahead through their mobile app if you want to skip the line at the drive-thru or in-store. The app is also handy for customizations; you can change up whatever you want without worrying about flubbing the order at the counter!
Try Your Next Favorite Starbucks Drink
I hope this general list of some of the best and most popular drinks you can find at Starbucks helps you to get the courage to try something new on your next visit to the infamous coffee shop.
If none of these really piques your interest, just know that the customization options are nearly limitless when it comes to Starbucks, and you can almost always find somebody creating a new concoction.
So, don’t be afraid to branch out! I promise there’s sure to be something out there on the Starbucks menu that you had no idea you’d love.
Happy Caffeinating!
