Restaurants Coffee Shops Starbucks
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ByAllie MillerandDani Zoeller/
First-timers at Starbucks are understandably overwhelmed. After all, the menu is vast, and there are so many different offerings for so many different flavors; it's hard to know where to begin. We understand this potential issue and want to help, so we think it's worth the time to go over some of the more popular drinks. That way, you'll know a little more about each type before ordering and what to expect.
Before choosing your drink, we recommend deciding first whether you want an iced or hot drink. From there, the menu gets a little simpler. Consider whether you're looking for something closer to tea, coffee, or a milkshake. If you love tea, Starbucks has you covered with black, green, and even herbal tea drinks.
Coffee drinks range from slightly bitter to some that are closer to dessert. Then, there's Starbucks' iconic Frappuccinos. For those, you'll find either cream-based or coffee-based options. The coffee ones will still have caffeine, while the cream ones will not. (The exception is cream-based Frappuccinos with matcha or chai in them as an ingredient.) These cream-based options make awesome kid-friendly drinks for smaller Starbucks customers. To choose our rankings, we considered several things, including the flavor and inventiveness of the beverages in question, as well as consumer reviews and the popularity ascertained from the writer's personal experience as a Starbucks barista.
35. Pike Place Roast
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Hot black coffee is an integral part of the roots of Starbucks. The chain originally focused on selling high-quality beans — which remained one of its main products during the first decade of business. As Starbucks tells it, once investor Howard Schultz took over the business, he turned it into a café serving only brewed coffee.
Today, you can find several varieties of hot coffee on the Starbucksmenu: a blonde roast, dark roast, decaf, and Pike Place to name a few. This last roast is the chain's signature black coffee. It's named for the original Seattle location of its first store, inside of the Pike Place farmers market. Along with its release in 2008, Starbucks changed its rules regarding coffee-making to ensure freshness: It began to require employees to grind the beans immediately before brewing and make a new pot every 30 minutes. That's another reason to credit this roast.
Pike Place Roast has remained a popular option for the already popular choice of black coffee. It's a medium roast, which means it's middle of the road for coffee strength. It's the kind of thing most people want walking into your average coffee shop, but it's not exactly what you want from Starbucks considering all the other options. Also, the flavor of the chain's brewed coffees, such as Pike Place Roast, is often polarizing. For these reasons, it's ranked dead last.
34. Caffè Americano
Starbucks
The Americano is another classic coffee shop staple. It's a mild, milk-free option that is low in calories and high in caffeine. Historically, an Americano has always been simple: It's just espresso diluted with water. Starbucks' Caffè Americano is made pretty much the same way, with two shots of espresso and water.
Like the Pike Place Roast, the Starbucks Americano is a popular drink order, but it's a little more interesting and satisfying than a plain old coffee. For one, a Caffè Americano is made with espresso, which gives the drink authenticity. It also avoids the burnt flavor that some people taste in Starbucks' brewed coffees, such as Pike Place. What's more, the process of pouring water over espresso produces a delicious, thin layer of crema, a yellowish foam on top of the drink — when done correctly. For these added features, it ranks above the Pike Place Roast.
33. Cappuccino
The cappuccino is where things start to get a little more interesting. This classic barista item is yet another drink that Starbucks has borrowed from Italian coffee traditions — but this one is even older than the Americano. The first known record of the cappuccino was from the 1930s. At Starbucks, the cappuccino is also one of the chain's oldest drinks. It's been on the menu since 1986.
A Starbucks Cappuccino is made with one shot of espresso for its short and tall drink options and two for its grande and venti drink options. Then half steamed milk (2% by default) and half milk foam are added on top. The drink is naturally unsweetened. If you're someone who tends to prefer lattes, you can ask for a wet cappuccino, which means your drink will be made with less foam and more milk, perthe company.
This drink is slightly more exciting than the previous two. It's comforting and reminds you of a coffeehouse from the '90s, a time during which Starbucks began to thrive, according to the chain. It isn't usually made iced, which means it preserves some of its dignity. But the cappuccino is still more about Italy, or generic cafes, than about Starbucks. For that, this popular Starbucks drink stays near the bottom of the ranking.
32. Strawberry Açaí Refresher
The Strawberry Açaí Refresheris perhaps most notably the base of the Pink Drink, which should speak to its popularity, not to mention its attractive color. Though it is lacking in coconut milk, the mild, sweet, and nostalgic flavors of strawberry and açaí are reminiscent of drinking a smoothie in the vessel of a juice drink. (Keep in mind, like other Refreshers, the actual fruit juice is made from white grapes, though the drink does include freeze-dried strawberries.)
It's an ideal quencher for Starbucks fans who don't enjoy coffee but want a caffeine boost. A grande serving of the Strawberry Açaí Refresher contains 45 milligrams of caffeine thanks to the inclusion of green coffee extract, whichis derived from unroasted beans. Beyond offering a pick-me-up, the extract may be beneficial for certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Additional nutritional information for the Strawberry Açaí Refresher shows it's pretty healthy overall, at least when compared to other popular Starbucks drinks. Per the menu, there are only 90 calories in the grande.
31. Dragon Drink
Released in 2018, Dragon Drink is a combination of the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher plus coconut milk. Both the Dragon Drink and its Refresher base are prepared with actual pieces of dragonfruit (a.k.a pitaya). Upon its introduction, it was promoted by Starbucks as an afternoon pick-me-up, and generally, Refreshers work pretty well for this particular use, as they contain caffeine but fewer grams than some of the other drinks on the menu. It strikes the right balance;toomuch caffeine, as much as six hours before bedtime, has been shown to cause worse sleep.
Similar to how the Star Drink doesn't contain any starfruit, the Dragon Drink is mango-free, and the only dragonfruit presence comes by way of the freeze-dried pieces added to the beverage. Still, the flavor is heavy on mango, though notes of dragonfruit are barely detected. We don't exactly love this aspect of the drink. If it's going to be named Dragon Drink, shouldn't it taste like dragonfruit? While not as fun, the title of Mango Drink is a better fit for this one. That's not even where the failings end. Vogue argued that Dragon Drink is purely meant to be photographed and is much better suited for your Insta feed thanfor nourishment. We mostly agree.
30. Pink Drink
The famous Pink Drink is one of the more notorious Starbucks items. It started on the Starbucks secret menu, but it didn't stay there long. The gorgeous cotton candy hue of this drink made it popular on Instagram — long before its eventual TikTok fame. The Pink Drink was then added to the real menu in 2017, where it's remained a hit.
The Starbucks drink is simply the chain's Strawberry Açaí Refresher, made with coconut milk and one scoop of sliced strawberries. The result is light, refreshing, and fruity, likened to a pink Starburst.
This is a quality of many Starbucks secret menu items that should stay secret — it's unnatural for a coffee to taste like candy. What's more, coconut milk isn't an essential part of many other Starbucks drinks, and for a good reason: it tastes bad. You don't see anyone adding coconut milk into their coffee for the taste in 2021 (not even the lactose intolerant). Despite its shortcomings, the colorful beverage surpasses its Star andDragon counterparts, and it is definitely more popular and creative than the previous coffee drinks.
29. Flat White
The flat white was introduced in 2015 as a permanent Starbucks menu item, but the chain definitely didn't invent it;the drink is a coffee shop staple in Australia and New Zealand.
Flat whites are closer to a cappuccino in that it has steamed milk. However, there are significant differences with its predecessor. For one, the flat white is made with whole milk and ristretto, which are essentially espresso shots made with less water. The result? Ristretto shots taste more intense, have less caffeine, and appear darker in color than espresso shots. Whole milk and ristretto come together to make the flat white a more intense, creamy Starbucks drink than the cappuccino.
Also, like the cappuccino, there are significant barista skills involved. One must know how to make ristretto as well as steamed milk. Additionally, the flat white's signature centered white dot requires some finesse: Baristas must perfectly center their milk while pouring to produce the decoration on top. This is cool, and the drink is good. But you're unlikely to even see that dot inside of your Starbucks Flat White cup. For that reason, the fact that Starbucks didn't create this drink, and its more boring qualities, this drink shouldn't be higher in the ranking. Again, this isn't a classic enough menu item.
28. Hot chocolate
Starbucks' Hot Chocolatemay not be particularly healthy, but it's a comforting drink that's perfect during the holiday season. When the Peppermint Mocha seems like too much, but a regular mocha isn't going to cut it, the hot chocolate is a good choice. It has little caffeine (25 milligrams in the grande), so you can enjoy it late in the day.
Starbucks' version tastes like rich bittersweet chocolate and benefits from a topping of whipped cream. It's been voted as the best hot chocolate among fast-food chains that serve the beverage. Creaminess, richness, and the lack of artificial-tasting flavors were among the reasons why the outlet said it earned top honors.
While these are all great qualities, Starbucks Hot Chocolate belongs in the bottom half of the most popular Starbucks drink ranking. One reason is it's not universal enough. The holidays only come once a year, and that's the best time to have it. Additionally, it's a bit one-note. That's great for winter but a little too boring for the rest of the year. Plus, there isn't any coffee or tea in it.
27. Iced Matcha Tea Latte
The Iced Matcha Tea Latte at Starbucks isn't exactly authentic. It's made with instant, pre-sweetened matcha powder. To make its iced latte, the powder is mixed with 2% milk and ice. There's actually more sugar in the instant powder than matcha. That's probably the reason why the Starbucks Iced Matcha Tea Latte is much sweeter and milder in matcha flavor than other matcha lattes.
Due to the drink's high sugar content, it's not the healthy tea that other matcha drinks can claim to be. Sure, you may get a bit of an antioxidant boost from whatever small amount of real matcha is in Starbucks' powder — but it doesn't seem like much.
If you've had the drink (and you appreciate matcha), you know it's a little lacking. The taste is somewhat bland and milky. To make matters worse, the commonly chosen grande size usually ends up being mostly ice, with some unmixed matcha clumps at the bottom. Overall, the Iced Matcha Tea Latte still tastes good, but it's not the most complex, satisfying, or inventive Starbucks tea drink.
26. Iced Dirty Chai Tea Latte
Here's another secret menu item that's worth mentioning. Personally, we think this barely qualifies as a "secret" item since it's a small modification to the Starbucks Iced Chai Tea Latte. It's also not exclusive to Starbucks. You can get a dirty chai at most other cafes that serve chai lattes. The reason is: The drink simply includes the addition of one espresso shot
The espresso changes the drink's texture, making it akin to a latte. Also, on the plus side, this drink has a lot of caffeine. There are 95 milligrams in a grande Starbucks Iced Chai Latte, plus 75milligrams in the added espresso shot. That gives the drink as much caffeine as most of Starbucks' coffee-based lattes.
On the downside, the base of the Iced Dirty Chai Tea Latte is similar to the issue with ordering matcha at Starbucks: It's unsurprising and inauthentic. The drink is made from a chai tea concentrate that's already mixed with sweetener. This gives you an overall sweet flavor, but it would be better if it was made with real chai tea.
25. Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte
This wouldn't be a proper roundup if we didn't mention one of Starbucks' coffee lattes. Iced coffee lattes are particularly popular with Starbucks customers, and this version is one of the best. Some consider it theultimate Starbucks vanilla latte, with a complex flavor that is hard to beat.
The Iced Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte is an original drink created by the chain. It captures what's best about Starbucks: fresh-tasting coffee and pumps of syrup. In fact, this drink is made with four pumps of vanilla syrup. That, along with 2% milk, perfectly complements the blonde espresso, a more mild-tasting espresso, which is an invention of the company.
This drink has turned the chain's many Vanilla Latte fans into Blonde Vanilla Latte superfans. The Daily Mealwrites, "This goes out to all the people who like their coffee to not really taste like coffee: You will love this drink. It's silky and smooth, and it does not taste burnt like the traditional dark-roast espresso."
24. Nitro Cold Brew
Although lattes are great, they're a bit passé. Cold brew coffee has kind of been the thing for a while now. The multi-hour brewing process results in a drink that is less acidic than your standard iced coffee. In 2015, Starbucks cold brew was introduced. Its nitro version is first made like the' regular cold brew: coarsely ground coffee is added to cold water and then left to sit for 20 hours. The coffee is slowly extracted from the grounds and then combined with water. For StarbucksNitro Cold Brew, nitrogen is then infused into the coffee, creating tiny air bubbles and an added layer of foam.
This nitro coffee is a thing of beauty. Brewed to be served cold, your ice won't water it down. Per the chain's menu, a grande contains 80 milligrams more caffeine than a regular cold brew. The extended process of making Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew ensures a better quality — on average — than Starbucks' regular espresso drinks. However, this drink is better when upgraded with Starbucks flavors, which is why we've ranked some of its variations higher.
23. Java Chip Frappuccino
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The Java Chip Frappuccino is a fan-favorite Starbucks drink. The drink is made using ice, whole milk, Frappuccino chips (chocolate chips), Frappuccino roast (instant coffee), mocha-flavored sauce, mocha drizzle, whipped cream, and sweeteners. As a Frappuccino, it's higher in both sugar and calories than other Starbucks drinks. Even compared to other Frappuccinos, the Java Chip still has some of the highest calorie and sugar content — there are 440 calories and 60 grams of sugar in each grande size.
Nutritional facts aside, the Java Chip Frappuccino remains one of the most popular Frappuccino flavors. Along with the Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino, these cocoa-laced coffee drinks have enticed customers since the birth of the Starbucks Frappuccino in 1995. Mocha Frappuccinos, one of the initial flavors to be released by the coffee chain, launched Starbucks to new levels of popularity. There's some prevailing appeal based on the amount of Java Chip fans out there.
22. Caramel Apple Spice
If you're avoiding caffeine, or ordering for someone who is avoiding caffeine, but you still want a hot drink, you can do no better than a Caramel Apple Spice. This drink gets a layer of cinnamon dolce syrup, topped with steamed apple juice, and then a drizzle of caramel syrup over a whipped cream topper. It's like taking your favorite apple cider from a local orchard and then kicking it up a few notches. Caramel apple spice is a pretty easy drink to play with, and if you want something more of a mild apple-based drink but still want it to feel special, try adding vanilla syrup instead of cinnamon dolce.
This drink easily gets forgotten because it's not one people immediately think about — it isn't caffeinated, nor is it tea or a sweet dessert. Yet, it's a great drink to enjoy as a nightcap at the end of the evening. If you want something sweet but not something that promises to keep you awake, this is a unique choice.
21. Irish Cream Cold Brew
Starbucks
It's not hard to see how Starbucks came up with this one. The appearance of the Nitro Cold Brew is likened to that of Guinness, the famed Irish stout. So it seems only natural that another Starbucks drink would utilize Irish flavors. This one has the sweet taste of Irish cream, to remind you of drinking Baileys while you're getting coffee — minus the alcohol.
The Irish Cream Cold Brew was released in 2019 as part of Starbucks' holiday menu. This drink is a cold brew with two Irish cream syrup pumps, Irish cream foam, and a little cocoa powder. It's less sweet and more mild than some of the chain's other winter offerings.
According to Thrillist, uniqueness is this drink's strength: "The cold brew doesn't use nostalgia as a crutch to taste good. It is good for the sake of being good — creamy and subtly sweet on top, while bitter and balanced beneath the cloud of foam." This new and interesting drink provides a more neutral break from Starbucks' sugary seasonal menus. Plus, It's also a great upgrade to the basic cold brew. However, it's neither the best holiday drink nor the best cold brew, ultimately making it one of the worst of the best Starbucks drinks.
20. Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
Making its debut during the 2021 winter season,the Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte was inspired by Spritz cookies, Holiday-shaped goodies often topped with sprinkles. Surprisingly, it was the first dairy-free Holiday beverage Starbucks ever released. Explaining the recipe, a company representative said the intention was "to harness the buttery and vanilla notes of the cookie." The drink's sweet aroma comes from the inclusion of actual sprinkles (red and green) and sugar cookie-flavored syrup in the drink. Per the menu, the drink is also made with Starbucks blonde espresso.
While this one was released to a good amount of fanfare,we don't think the drink lives up to the hype. In reality, theIced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte is so subtle and lacking sweetness, that it tastes strangely bland. And yeah, the almond milk is as gross as ever. However, its saving grace is in the idea. We hope that the release of this beverage, along with drinks like the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, is a sign of better bespoke, seasonal, non-dairy drinks to come.
19. Strawberry Creme Frappuccino
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The Blended Crème line, which debuted in 2002, was the first type of Frappuccino that wasn't prepared with coffee or tea. While they lack caffeine,these drinks offer energy and fun in the form of sugar. They come in a variety of flavors, including the Strawberry Crème Frappuccino, which is prepared with ice, whole milk, strawberry puree sauce, and whipped cream.There are 370 calories and 51 grams of sugar in a grande.
Reviews of this drink highlight the fact the strawberry flavor is pretty easy to taste.It's a caffeine-free, frozen beverage that is a delicious treat for berry lovers, though it can be more like a dessert. Some compare it to a strawberry milkshake or ice cream, with the note that it's a bit more sippable. Overall, the Strawberry Crème Frappuccino is a great option for Frappuccino lovers who might want to avoid both caffeine and coffee while still getting something sweet.
18. Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew
Starbucks
When it comes to Starbucks flavored syrups, vanilla shines. The Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew takes the best of the prior two drinks and combines them. Like the standard Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew, it's a frothy and extra caffeinated. Like the Irish Cream, it's topped with something sweet. However, this drink is sweeter and more complex in flavor than the previous two.
It's simply a nitro cold brew topped with sweet cream. One fan onReddit writes, "I know it's going to be good when they hand me a cup of black liquid with cream on top that is slowly trickling down." Unfortunately, the drink often has problems with inconsistency, which are also noted in the thread. Considering the issues customers often experience with this drink, the Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew is still a middle-of-the-pack drink.
17. Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
Part of the Holiday drink menu, the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha features a twist on a classic ... that's a twist on a classic. We're all familiar with the Peppermint Mocha, and Starbucks heads are familiar with the White Chocolate Mocha. But the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha is an extra step up. The recipe is 2% milk (both foamed and steamed), two shots of espresso, and four pumps of toasted white chocolate mocha sauce, topped with whipped cream covered in festive sprinkles.
It may sound like the ultimate drinkfor a Starbucks hater to, well, hate. But hear us out: The drink is delicious and has all the sweets you could want in a sugary Christmas coffee drink. Some have compared it to the type of chocolatey, rich fudge that your grandmother might concoct during Christmastime.The downside: White chocolate is notoriously loathed by many. Plus, it has some stiff competition in the Holiday drink space.
16. Matcha Crème Frappuccino
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The Matcha Crème Frappuccino is a beautiful iced beverage with a striking green color. This drink's ingredients include ice, milk, creme Frappuccino syrup, classic syrup, and a matcha tea blend (similar to what's used in Starbucks green tea lattes). There are 420 calories, 61 grams of sugar, and 70 milligrams of caffeine in each grande drink. That makes this quite a potent drink, with an especially high caffeine content for a Frappuccino.
Though beloved for its photo-worthy look, fans of traditional Starbucks green tea drinks may find this Frappuccino to be lacking in flavor. Matcha typically has a strong minerality or grassy flavor that is drier than other types of green tea. In this Frappuccino, it's balanced out by the sweetness of sugar and a creamy riff of milk.Of course, this less potent drink may be the perfect solution to those newer to the matcha taste. If you want a mild yet sweet tea-based Frappuccino from Starbucks, this may be the one to get.
15. Iced Green Tea Lemonade
This satisfying drink is a fun riff on the classic Arnold Palmer iced tea and lemonade combo. Beyond the inclusion of green tea, a trendy beverage known for its many health benefits, lemongrass, mint, and lemon verbena are also blended into the drink. Additional positives for the Iced GreenTea Lemonadeinclude its low sugar and calorie content. A grande only contains 50 calories and 11 grams of sugar. It's night and day compared to another Starbucks green tea drink, the Matcha Crème Frappuccino, which includes 420 calories and 61 grams of sugar for the grande.
You can opt for a peach version of the drink, but we recommend leaving out the stone fruit. The standard version offers an even mix of sweet (from the lemonade) and not sweet (from the green tea). Mixing in the peach makes things too sweet. While the Iced Green Tea Lemonade isn't the best tea drink at Starbucks, we prefer it to artificial products like the Refreshers.
14. Honey Citrus Mint Tea
Similar to the Pink Drink, this is another secret-turned-revealed menu item that grew popular on social media. Before 2017, you'd have to get it by ordering off the secret menu. However, its popularity on Instagram convinced the company to make it official. A former Starbucks barista allegedly invented the recipe, according to Thrillist. Its secret menu name (Medicine Ball) comes from the drink's use as a cold ailment, but the real name given by Starbucks is Honey Citrus Mint Tea.
The official recipe consists of Jade Citrus Mint green tea, Peach Tranquility herbal tea, steamed lemonade (you read that right), and two pumps of honey blend syrup. Some people choose to add a pump of peppermint syrup.While not everyone goes for this, we enjoy the blast of coolness to the hot beverage. This drink is the best non-dairy tea you can get at Starbucks.
13. London Fog Tea Latte
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The London Fog Tea Latte is outstanding. Like most of the top-tier Starbucks drinks, it's best served hot. The recipe is Earl Grey tea, steamed 2% milk, and four pumps of vanilla syrup. It'smade misto-style, meaning that the liquid is mainly half black tea and half steamed milk. Many who've tried the London Fog say that it's full of warm, comforting spices like bergamot (a citrus flavor that's in Earl Grey tea).
You can even use this drink like the Medicine Ball. The London Fog has a soothing texture and soft flavor, that is sweet and a touch fruity feeling from the marriage of Earl Grey citrus and vanilla.Starbucks adds that the vanilla gives it a universal appeal due to the popularity of the Starbucks syrup.
Overall, the London Fog is a smashing success (as the Brits would say). The tea is a little more flavorful than the Medicine Ball and not too sweet like the Matcha Latte. It's for sure one of the best tea lattes (hot or iced) that Starbucks has to offer. It even has a soft, cloudy look that reminds you of fog rolling over Tower Bridge.
12. Pistachio Latte
The Pistachio Latte is a drink that was first released as part of the Starbucks Winter menu in 2021. The drink, whichmade its return the following year, features an extra layer of nuttiness thanks to the addition of a brown butter topping.The base of the hot beverage consistsof espresso and steamed milk.
The combination definitely works. The brown butter adds a salty aftertaste that comes onto the sweeter, nutty notes stronger than you would think.
This drink is great in a lot of ways. It pulls off what the latte is trying to achieve in terms of flavor with asophisticated and successful balance of savory and sweet. It's also not trying to be flashy by mimicking the green colors of the pistachio itself. Overall, we think it is worth buying when in need of a hot drink, but there are other seasonal lattes that just happen to be more exciting and delicious.
11. Chestnut Praline Latte
Back in 2014, when theChestnut Praline Lattemade its debut,It was the first new holiday beverage that Starbucks had released in five years. The inspiration? European holiday markets where similar flavors waft through the air. The seasonal sipper is finished with a topping of whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs. This adds a fun visual element to the drink, allowing you to see some of its nutty attributes. There's a strong amount of spice to it as well, complimented by a buttery mouthfeel that is hard to replicate.
Like with other Starbucks drinks, the Chestnut Praline Latte fails by not bringing forward all the elements advertised in its name. However, it's still more nuanced than the Pistachio Latte. It's sweet, spiced, and sentimental. The drink is sophisticated but not as boring as pistachio.
10. Apple Crisp Macchiato
Released in August 2021 as part of the fall Starbucks menu, theApple Crisp Macchiatois a coffee-based drink that doubles as a dessert. Starbucks has a few macchiatos — which the chain definesas espresso shots topped with a small amount of foam and steamed milk (in equal amounts). It sounds a lot like a latte, but it's not. There's far less steamed milk and foam on a macchiato.
The grande size is two shots of espresso, 2% milk, three pumps of apple brown sugar syrup, and a crosshatch pattern on top made of spiced apple drizzle, perthe menu. As far as fall drinks go, it pretty much hits the mark. It's sweet, flavorful, nostalgic, and a nice variation from the Caramel Macchiato. Let's get one thing straight: This is not the best fall drink. But it may be the best September or November drink.
9. Iced White Chocolate Mocha
Normal mocha drinks at Starbucks are good, but a White Chocolate Mocha is even better. One of the biggest complaints about regular mocha is that it can be a little bit on the bitter side. It isn't at all like the milk chocolate you might be expecting. However, the White Chocolate Mocha is much sweeter. This sweetness translates well to a coffee drink because it easily balances out the bitterness associated with the espresso.
An iced White Mocha has pumps ofwhite chocolate mocha sauce, espresso, milk, ice, of course, and gets topped off with whipped cream. The hot version is delicious as well, but something about white chocolate and ice stands out. This is also a wonderful drink to use as the base for ordering some more creative drinks. For example, if you add cinnamon dolce syrup to an iced White Mocha, the drink becomes something closer to Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk, an absolute go-to for baristas and customers alike.
8. Peppermint Mocha
Even the occasional Starbucks drinker has likely tasted the delicious Peppermint Mocha. According to a Mashed poll, the Peppermint Mocha is the most popular Starbucks holiday drink. Since it happens to contain what Bustle called "a perfect balance of refreshing mint and warm chocolate," it's not hard to see why.
This drink is so magical that you might not want to know what's in it, but in case you do, we'll tell you! The drink consists of two shots of espresso, four pumps of peppermint syrup, whipped cream, and dark chocolate curls. The last two are toppings that require the drink to be sipped quickly before they all melt.
Peppermint Mocha, whichhas been around since 2002, is the second drink made by Starbucks to mark the red cup season. This refers to the time of year when hot Starbucks cups are changed in color for the holidays. Even the company notes that it's the most beloved holiday item.
7. Iced Toasted Vanilla Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
Starbucks released the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso on March 1, 2022. Clearly, the chain is playing off of the huge success that is the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, another recent menu addition. It's too soon to say how this drink will go down inStarbucks history, but some people are already huge fans. The drink has a richness that's balanced by the loamy, toasty flavors, and the vanilla brings up the bready oat flavors with a touch of sweetness.
There are definitely some favorable elements to the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. Having a few outstanding strengths shows it's more complex than classic drinks like the Peppermint Mocha while still being people-pleasing. But it's not good enough to be in the top five beverages. The brown sugar element is, unfortunately, better in flavor and concept than the toasted vanilla. We also would have preferred that it deviated a bit more from itsIced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espressopredecessor — why is there a need to include two drinks on the menu that are so similar?
6. Caramel Frappuccino
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The popularity of Starbucks' caramel flavor does not go away with the addition of the Frappuccino element. According to a Mashed poll, 28% of voters selected caramel as the bestStarbucks Frappuccino flavor. Ingredients for the Caramel Frappuccino include ice, whole milk, Frappuccino roast, caramel syrup, caramel drizzle, and whipped cream. There are 380 calories, 54 grams of sugar, and 90 milligrams of caffeine in a grande.
Since joining the Starbucks lineup in 1999, the frozen beverageremains an extremely popular option. Even coffee lovers can agree that the sweet, dessert-like flavor is craveable. Despite it being on the sugary side, its chilled side makes it refreshing on a hot summer day. This one is clearly a Starbucks Hall of Fame drink.
5. Pumpkin Spice Latte
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is probably the most-memed drink on this entire list. "Basic" jokes are most often targeted at its drinkers, but critics of the Pumpkin Spice Latte surely have never tasted it before. If they had, they would think twice; this is both an infamous and delicious Starbucks drink.
We don't have to tell you this drink is popular. What other entries on this list have their own acronym? Also, the PSL is even more historic than some may know. It's almost as old as the Peppermint Mocha, as it was released the following year in 2003.
As a pop culture icon itself, the PSL has brought Starbucks continued success. The brand now calls itself the home of "the original Pumpkin Spice Latte."The success of this drink in no way detracts from its place in the ranking— if anything, it increases it. But the truth is, this drink can sometimes be a little mild. That's probably the reason for its vast appeal. But it's not always the punch of seasonal flavor that you want in a Starbucks drink. For that reason, it's below the following options.
4. Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
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While some cold brews with cold foam options are not available all year, this one is. Within the cold brew itself (it has vanilla syrup), the whole drink gets topped with salted caramel cream cold foam. Now, being a permanent drink on the menu, you can add that cold foam to other drinks. We enjoy how it tastes on an iced caramel macchiato, especially when it's made upside down.
Salted caramel cream cold brew offers flavors of smooth vanilla that mix seamlessly into the cold brew to make for a sweet and smooth coffee offering. The salted caramel cold foam on top is just the absolute cherry to top off this delicious drink. This cold foam is creamy and warm, and highly flavored with just that little bit of saltiness added to the sweetness of caramel. This is one of those drinks that translates to both summertime and winter, and the flavor can suit many different seasons.
3. Iced Caramel Macchiato
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The Iced Caramel Macchiato is one of the most popular Starbucks drinks made from one of the chain's most popular flavors: caramel. The drink has been around for 25 years. Starbucks notes it's one of the company's top six cold coffees and it's a go-to drink year-round.
High caffeine content, relatively low calories (compared to seasonal drinks), and vanilla syrup may be the reason for its enduring popularity. It's also topped with a crosshatch of caramel drizzle (like the Apple Crisp and other Starbucks Macchiatos). Though extremely solid, it's not the best beverage offering on the Starbucks menu. To put it in Olympic terms, it's a bronze medal drink. In other words, the Iced CaramelMacchiato will always be a top competitor — but it will never be number one. There's a lack of creativity and yet an urge for approval that makes us think Starbucks was playing it a little too safe. But overall, the drink has worked out very well for the chain.
2. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
No one should be surprised at this drink's placement. The Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brewbecame an instant hit when it launched with the 2019 fall menu. It was Starbucks' first new pumpkin drink since the PSL, and it's definitely an improvement over its predecessor. The drink, which contains cold brew, pumpkin cream, cold foam with pumpkin spice topping, vanilla syrup, and ice, is great.
There's so much that's both practical and tasty about this drink. Even if fall, where you live, means 90-degree heat, you can enjoy it. There's something about it that both PSL haters and lovers can enjoy because it's sweet but not too sweet. It's also nostalgic in its flavor and color but refined and modern in its use of cold brew.
Overall, it has all of Starbucks' best drink qualities in a cup: cold brew, vanilla syrup, and pumpkin flavor. It even has a beautiful orange hue in the cold foam (if you're lucky), which mixes in with the rest of the drink. The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is simply number two because the number one drink does most of these positive qualities a little better.
1. Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
Though it may go against your values,oat milk is kind of the best of the non-dairy milk. That's one of the many attributes that earn theIced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso the top spot on this list.The grande size is made with more espresso than usual: three shots. That means there are 255 milligrams of caffeine per cup. It's a strong drink that makes the trip to Starbucks — and the money spent on the drink — worth it. Despite the high caffeine content, it's also pretty low in calories for the chain's best creations, at only 120 calories per 16-ounce cup.
Baristas add ground cinnamon, Blonde espresso shots, and four pumps of brown sugar syrup together, then shake them. The result is a drink that's already been perfectly mixed. Do you know how people with those green straws are always twirling their iced coffee cups to mix it? This drink makes it so that you never have to do it ever again. Also, the brown sugar flavor is nostalgic and sensory (just like how Starbucks wants it to be). It's there to remind you of simple memories like baking cookies while sipping your morning coffee.
Methodology
When selecting the popular drinks for this list, I considered what I recall as a barista being the most commonly ordered drinks. I also spend a large amount of time in Starbucks, researching through the mobile app, and looking at new drinks customers create on social media. These insights informed what beverages made the list.
For the overall ranking, I organized them by flavor, the potential to use the drink as a base for another creation, review opinions from consumers, and perceived popularity from research. For example, the reasonthat brewed coffee is at the bottom of this list while the Oat Milk Shaken Espresso tops the list is thatbased on personal and professional experience, fewer and fewer people are ordering brewed coffee, while many more are looking for a flavored espresso beverage.
