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Best Coffee Drinks To Order At Starbucks
Check out this top 13 list of the best coffee drinks you should try at Starbucks.
Published October 31, 2021
Joachim Estal
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
For most of us, Starbucks is the perfect place to have your daily caffeine fuel. Aside from the fact that it's very convenient to drop by a store (because they're literally everywhere), the coffee beverages are heavenly and they offer something for everyone!
Whether it’s a pure black coffee or an ultra sweet Frappuccino, each one of us has their own favorite. Here are our picks for the top 13 Starbucks drinks.
Best Coffee Drinks At Starbucks
We have considered only the ones that are coffee-based which means other popular and best-selling Starbucks beverages such as refreshers and cream-based Frappuccinos do not make the cut.
1. Caramel Macchiato
The caramel macchiato is probably one of the most popular Starbucks coffee drinks. Whether it is hot or iced, this is the go-to option if you want something espresso-forward yet sweet. The beverage build is unique since we have the espresso on top of the beverage instead of the usual where it comes first. The drink begins with vanilla syrup, milk, espresso, and a drizzle of caramel sauce to finish the drink.
Fun fact: Macchiato actually means “to mark”. With the hot version of the beverage, the espresso comes on top instead of the usual build where it comes first before the milk. Because of this, we see a brown marking on the surface of the froth–the reason behind its namesake.
2. Caffe Mocha
If you're a fan of chocolate-flavored drinks, then the caffe mocha is definitely what you should order. This beverage is a combination of chocolate sauce and espresso, topped with whipped cream. The bitter-sweetness of this drink is proof that coffee and chocolate indeed make the best duo.
3. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
If you're a fan of cold brew beverages, you should probably know that Starbucks offers them in many flavors. And the best-selling on the list is the vanilla sweet cream. It's a classic cold brew sweetened with pumps of vanilla syrup, some ice cubes and finished with a splash of sweet cream.
Fun Fact: Starbucks sweet cream is a combination of milk and heavy cream. This is then sweetened with pumps of vanilla syrup. You can actually add a splash of sweet cream to any Starbucks drink–it’s a pretty popular add-on.
4. White Chocolate Mocha
If you're looking for the best hot drinks at Starbucks, the white chocolate mocha is probably one of the top selections. At the same time, it's also extremely popular in its iced variant. The sugary drink is pretty much like the caffe mocha, but instead of chocolate, it gets replaced with the same amount of white chocolate—a sweet tooth's perfect choice!
5. Caramel Frappuccino
If you're not into Starbucks hot coffee, then you can try their blended coffee formats–and the best on the Frappuccino list is the caramel one. The coffee and milk mixture is flavored with caramel syrup, topped with whipped cream, and drizzled with spirals of caramel sauce. This leans towards the sweeter drinks at Starbucks–tastes like having a creme bruleé or a caramel flan in a cup!
6. Salted Caramel Cold Brew
This is another one of the best Starbucks cold brew variants we have on the list. The rich and smooth cold brew is combined with caramel flavoring, offering a bitter-sweet treat. The beverage is then topped with silky cold foam and sea salt for crunch. This is a go-to option for people who love the bold and straightforward flavor of black coffee, balanced out with the milk foam and sweetener.
7. Starbucks Reserve Dark Chocolate Mocha
Suppose you ever plan to visit a Reserve store, which is an elevated expression of the Starbucks stores. In that case, you should definitely try one of the best Starbucks coffee specialties ever! This drink is made with Starbucks Reserve espresso shots instead of coffee syrup, which means they're more distinct in flavor. It is then combined with luscious dark cocoa and milk, topped with a dash of chocolate powder. If you like dark chocolate and coffee, then this beverage is definitely for you!
Fun Fact: When we talk about Starbucks Reserve beans, we refer to the rarest and most exquisite selection of beans. These exceptional coffees are sourced small farms or historic estates and roasted uniquely to unlock extraordinary qualities and flavors that people usually have not experienced before.
8. Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso
This beverage is composed of Starbucks Blonde espresso rather than the usual dark roast. The coffee is muted by the scoops of chocolate malt powder and a splash of almond milk. Despite being prepared using a cocktail shaker, this coffee tastes like melted ice cream bringing you back to your childhood days.
9. Nitro Cold Brew
If you're looking for the best-caffeinated drinks at Starbucks, then you should try the nitro cold brew. This cold brew is infused with nitrogen, which creates a thicker, creamier, and colder version of the standard beverage. This drink is not only a delicious low-calorie black coffee but also aesthetically pleasing due to the cascading effect of the foam bubbles. And just like beer, this coffee is served from a tapped keg–get ready to be drunk with caffeine!
Fun fact: Just like beer, nitro coffee is stored inside a keg which keeps it under pressure. This is important in the process of making a more velvety texture and smoother feel.
10. Dirty Chai Tea Latte
A chai tea latte is one of the classic tea-based drinks at Starbucks. And adding an espresso shot to this favorite makes it even more majestic. The combination of black tea and coffee offers a bolder take to the usual chai but still has the same sweetness and spiciness to it. This drink is actually a customized beverage so it’s not really on the menu–you have to dictate the exact order to your barista!
Fun Fact: Chai is actually the Hindi word for “tea”. While various cultures and countries have different recipes in making chai, it is traditionally made up of strong spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, black peppercorn, and anise. Recipes for chai vary across continents, cultures, towns and families. But the traditional ingredients of a spiced tea blend usually include black tea mixed with strong spices, like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and black peppercorns.
11. Dark Mocha Frappuccino
Pumps of coffee, extra-dark cocoa, chocolate chips, milk, and ice are blended together to create this decadent treat. Finally, the beverage is finished with a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkled with dark chocolate powder. It is truly one of the best Starbucks coffee Frappuccinos ever.
12. Peppermint Mocha
Starbucks is known for having seasonal favorites or holiday drinks and one of the most popular is the peppermint mocha. This delectable treat is made up with the chain’s signature espresso coffee mixed with luscious chocolate sauce and peppermint-flavored syrup. Steamed milk is added into the mix, topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and crunchy candy cane sprinkles. It’s sweet, chocolatey, and a little minty–what a great way to taste Christmas!
13. Pumpkin Spice Latte
You’ve heard it–the super popular pumpkin spice latte of Starbucks! So why are fans going crazy about it? This beverage is made of coffee, milk and the ingredients one usually use when baking a real pumpkin pie. We’re talking about cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and of course, pumpkin.
Conclusion
Whether you're looking for hot or cold coffee, Starbucks is definitely the go-to destination to get your quick caffeine fix. And if you've tried the ones we've listed above and want to try something new, you can ask the barista for some recommendations. After all, they have about 87,000 drink combinations available!
About the author
Joachim Estal
8-year barista for a world-class coffee chain from the Philippines. Passionate writer and coffee champion. "Coffee has always been one of my biggest love interests in life. And I am here to share it with all of you through this platform."
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