food
Go beyond the caramel macchiato
By Taryn Pire
•
Published Jun 17, 2024
Starbucks
As a former Starbucks barista, I’ve tasted most of the drinks on the menu. Sure, everyone’s taste is different, but after making and trying countless drinks, I’m confident I know which are worth the spend, as do my coffee-loving colleagues. Here, you’ll find 30 of the best Starbucks drinks of all time, as selected by me and a handful of PureWow editors. Our top picks range from coffee-free Frappuccinos to caffeine-packed espresso drinks to lemonade-kissed teas, so there’s an option for every preference.
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- Available: year-round
When I actually want to taste the espresso but also want something sweet and milky, this drink is my happy medium. Undeniably smooth blonde espresso meets vanilla syrup and steamed milk for a light-roast, high-caffeine latte that I love. (FYI, blonde coffee is higher in caffeine than dark because the beans are roasted for less time, so less of it is “cooked” off.)
- Available: seasonal (winter)
It’s easy to neglect this flavor among so many seasonal heavyweights, but I’m here to make a case for this underrated bev. Steamed milk and espresso meet silky notes of caramelized chestnuts and warm spices for a cozy, sweet option that doesn’t knock me over the head with holly-jolly flourishes. It’s roasty, balanced and topped with spiced praline crumbs. Need I say more?
- Available: year-round
I love all things tart and sour, so this citrus-kissed hibiscus tea is right up my alley and always hits the spot. I order it without Classic syrup because the lemonade is already slightly sweetened. It’s the ultimate reviver on a hot day, or for anyone who’s craving something decaf.
4. Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
- Available: discontinued
Think the white mocha you sip on year-round, infused with toasted marshmallow and topped with festive candy pearls and sprinkles. The discontinued sauce had a caramelized white chocolate flavor that I straight-up adored. I used to add it to my cold brew in the dead of winter. Hot or iced, the latte had a super smooth, luxurious mouthfeel and just the right amount of sweetness.
5. Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha
- Available: seasonal (summer)
I’m not a lavender or matcha fan, but I actually enjoyed this new Starbucks summer drink. The lavender is subtler here than in the Lavender Crème Frappuccino, and its floral notes pair beautifully with the earthy matcha base.
6. White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew
- Available: seasonal (summer)
It’s no shock, but coffee is what Starbucks does best, and this smooth, nutty delight is proof. I like to stir in the foam for a more balanced sip. The lush foam and crunchy cookie bits on top just might be my favorite part.
7. Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino
- Available: year-round
This was the first Starbucks drink I ever had. I remember ordering it with caramel drizzle on top as a tween and sipping it with my friend, feeling *the* coolest. It gets its ice cream-like flavor from vanilla bean powder, not vanilla syrup. When I was a Starbucks barista, teens would always order them with a few pumps of raspberry syrup to transform it into a secret menu cotton candy Frappuccino. It’s super sweet (and pink) but pretty damn tasty.
- Available: year-round
“I don’t really love Starbucks coffee or sweet coffee across the board,” explains PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen, “but an iced dirty chai (iced chai and a shot of espresso) is pretty good. Since Starbucks’s chai is way sweeter than traditional chai, the espresso balances it out a bit.”
- Available: year-round
At Starbucks a “macchiato” is really an upside-down vanilla latte. (A real macchiato is a shot of espresso topped with steamed milk—sans caramel drizzle or flavor syrup.) But that knowledge doesn’t make this ever-popular drink, made with espresso, vanilla syrup, milk and caramel drizzle, any less delicious. Assistant commerce editor Natalie LaBarbera likes hers with oat milk, but this reliable option tastes divine no matter what type you choose.
10. Blonde Americano
- Available: year-round
An Americano—that’s espresso and water—is a great choice for people who enjoy black coffee, or don’t feel like kicking off the day with milk and sugar. The blonde roast will give you even more of a jolt without making the flavor more robust. “I like how simple it is and I never get sick of it,” says PureWow commerce editor Liv Dubyak. “I’m very plain Jane when it comes to my coffee because caffeine comes first, and I like the taste of the actual coffee not masked by tons of add-ons.”
- Available: year-round
“I love matcha, I love sugar and I avoid coffee like the plague,” says PureWow associate editor of SEO Marissa Wu. “Despite the fact that Starbucks kinda stole the drink (their knockoff bubble tea as well), I think the matcha flavor is pretty decent!”
12. Peppermint Mocha
- Available: seasonal (winter)
Decadent mocha sauce and cool peppermint syrup are dissolved in hot espresso before being topped with cold milk, ice and whipped cream. It’s on the sweet side because it’s made with two flavor syrups instead of one, but nothing puts us (or PureWow executive managing editor Catrina Yohay) in the holiday spirit like this jolly sipper.
- Available: seasonal (fall)
If liking the iconic PSL is wrong (read: basic), Wu doesn’t wanna be right. “If I’m at Starbucks in the fall, I need one. It tastes like the holidays.” She isn’t the only one: Coffee drinkers dream of the pumpkin syrup months in advance. With notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, the PSL is as autumnal as coffee can get—and even if you’re not a true stan, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something wrong with it.
14. Strawberry Açai Lemonade Refresher
- Available: year-round
The strawberry açai Refresher has notes of passion fruit contains green coffee extract, which gives it its caffeine. “The name speaks for itself,” explains PureWow associate editor Chelsea Candelario. “It’s so refreshing and light. It’s not too sweet, and I can drink all year. I also enjoy nibbling on the strawberry bits at the end.”
15. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Available: year-round
Blonde espresso is first shaken with brown sugar syrup and cinnamon. Then, it’s topped with oat milk and ice for good measure. “It’s the best when I’m craving something outside my usual black iced coffee,” asserts PureWow assistant editor of branded content Madeline Merinuk. “It has the perfect amount of sweetness without being overpowering, and you can still really taste the espresso, which I love!”
16. Iced Chai with Almond Milk
- Available: year-round
Have you ever had this warm-spiced staple without dairy? “I’m not the biggest fan of their coffee, but the iced chai is heaven,” raves PureWow associate fashion commerce editor Steph Meraz. “It’s simply sweet but overall, the smooth nuttiness of the almond milk makes the drink feel balanced.”
17. Pistachio Latte
- Available: seasonal (winter)
It was such a hit after launching in 2021 that it’s been revived ever since. Sweet pistachio syrup meets espresso and steamed milk for a nutty pick that won’t disappoint. Even better, it’s finished with a salted brown butter topping. “Because lactose is not my friend, I sometimes swap out regular milk for oat milk because it still gives it that creamy, frothy latte vibe,” says editorial assistant Delia Curtis.
18. Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte
- Available: seasonal (fall)
“The sugar content should be illegal, but it is downright delicious,” raves Yohay. “If a chai and a pumpkin spice latte had a baby, it would be this drink. It’s a total treat for the tastebuds, especially if you prefer a sweeter chai. I add a shot of espresso and cut one or two pumps of chai. It’s just as flavorful but won’t give you a total sugar high.”
19. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
- Available: year-round
“I tend to not want to ‘waste calories’ on coffee,” explains senior editor of branded content Kelsey Paine, “but when it’s time for a treat, this is my go-to. I get it with just a splash of cream and no added vanilla syrup to cut down on the sweetness. It’s creamy, indulgent and still packs quite the caffeinated punch.”
- Available: year-round
“I LOVE the caramel apple spice for when I need a pick-me-up sans caffeine,” says Curtis. As a former barista, I can attest that this mix of steamed apple juice, cinnamon dolce syrup, caramel sauce and whipped cream is pretty slept on. It’s basically a cheater’s mulled cider, and it’s a great alternative for non-dairy drinkers who aren’t feeling a hot chocolate.
- Available: year-round
What started out as a seasonal summer darling quickly became a menu mainstay. And it’s no surprise: Sweet peach juice is an epic pairing for earthy green tea, complete with hints of spearmint, lemon verbena and lemongrass. For a punch of tartness, ask for a splash of lemonade in the tea to boot.
- Available: year-round
“I have and always will hold a special place in my heart for this one,” says director of special projects Rachel Gulmi. “It’s like the perfect balance of caramel and coffee. Obviously, it’s essentially dessert, and the whipped cream with caramel drizzle was always my favorite part. I don’t ever have them these days, but the last time I did was when I was pregnant because cravings, and wowza, it was glorious.”
She’s not alone: “I was obsessed with these as a 16-year-old,” admits PureWow executive editor Alexia Dellner. “I didn’t have a Starbucks near me, so it was a special treat the few times a year I was able to get one. I haven’t had one in years, but I can still taste its sweet, creamy goodness.”
23. Caffè Misto
- Available: year-round
Ready for a hack? This Starbucks drink—which is a 50/50 split of drip coffee and steamed milk—is basically a less expensive cheater’s latte. It also has a lusher mouthfeel than your usual milk-topped joe, thanks to the froth.
24. Flat White
- Available: year-round
The flat white is nothing but milk and ristretto shots, aka short shots of espresso that have a more concentrated, sweeter flavor than full-length espresso shots. This flat white can be a great low-sugar Starbucks drink if you’re on a low-carb or keto diet, depending on the size and milk you request.
25. Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino
- Available: year-round
Oof, what a throwback. “This was my first foray into Starbucks back in the day,” adds Yohay. “I thought I was sOoOoOo cool drinking my first ‘coffee’. It’s essentially a mocha milkshake, and I weirdly love the little icy bits in there, so what’s not to like?”
26. Pink Drink
- Available: year-round
Although I generally prefer Starbucks’s espresso beverages (and when it comes to non-coffee drinks, I’m an unsweetened green or passion tea lemonade girl, I think this coconutty gem is thirst-quenching, tasty and photogenic. For the uninitiated, the cult-favorite Pink Drink is the strawberry açai Refresher base shaken over ice, coconut milk and freeze-dried strawberries.
- Available: year-round
Yes, it’s decadent. Yes, it’s sweet. But it’s also delightfully nostalgic, and on a cold winter night, I can so get down with one of these rich, creamy steamers. Might I suggest asking for a 50/50 split of mocha and white mocha sauces for a black-and-white cocoa?
- Available: year-round
My fellow baristas and I used to spike our vanilla lattes with just one pump of peppermint for a less intense yet still festive winter Starbucks drink. It was a great reward at the end of a BOGO holiday drink rush.
- Available: discontinued
Last winter, the gingerbread oatmilk chai and the Oleato gingerbread oatmilk latte joined the winter roster. But TBH, I miss the O.G. gingerbread latte, which launched in 2000 and was nixed from the holiday lineup years ago. It was warm-spiced and wintry without being overwhelming, and it always gave me the warm-and-fuzzies at first sip.
30. Valencia Orange Refresher with Black Tea
- Available: discontinued
TBT to when Starbucks Refreshers were limited to lime, berry and orange varieties. My coworkers and I used to love cutting the Valencia orange one with unsweetened black tea instead of water for an earthy, doubly caffeinated twist. One time, we mixed a big pitcher of it to dole out in the form of free samples and called it Orange Is the New Black. Those were the days.
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Taryn Pire
Food Editor
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...
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