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Best Iced Coffee Starbucks Drinks
Some of the most popular iced Starbucks drinks and tips for making iced and cold coffee at home.
Published April 1, 2022
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Jennie Backteman
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Are you looking for your next favorite coffee drink but aren’t sure where to start? If you are already a fan of Starbucks and everything that they have on offer, then you will definitely enjoy their range of iced drinks. Iced coffee drinks offer the perfect, cooling and refreshing alternative to hot coffee beverages on a hot summer day or when you just need something that is going to cool you off after a long day shopping or an intense session in the gym. These are some of the best iced coffee Starbucks drinks on the menu and you’re definitely going to want to try them over and over again. When it comes to the best cold drinks at Starbucks, you can choose from a great range of iced coffees, blended coffee drinks, iced teas and more. Here are some options that are definitely worth trying, and some tips and tricks for making your own iced coffee drinks at home.
Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
If you want an iced coffee that is sweet and tastes like dessert, this one is sure to please. Made with Frappuccino roast coffee, chocolate chips and mocha sauce that are blended together with ice and milk, it’s topped with a generous helping of whipped cream and chocolate cookie crumble. With a layer of chocolate cookie crumble and whipped cream on the bottom too, this might not be the healthiest drink on the menu, but it certainly makes for an indulgent treat whenever you need a sweet pick-me-up.
Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
If you want a drink that’s not only sweet but also healthy and suitable for vegans, then you are in luck with the iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso. While the name might sound a bit strange, it’s definitely a great choice, with Starbucks blonde espresso, cinnamon and brown sugar syrup shaken together and covered with oat milk to make a drink that tastes like an oatmeal cookie, served over ice.
Nitro Cold Brew
If you’re looking for a sweet and refreshing drink to enjoy that is very low in calories, then the Nitro cold brew from Starbucks is an ideal option. This is one of the best cold coffee in Starbucks if you want something that is easy to drink without adding lots of sugar or fat to your daily diet. It really has a kick to it, made with slow-steeped cold brew that is brewed in small batches to get the most out of the flavor before nitrogen is added to make it frothy, velvety, and even sweeter. The nitrogen also adds a gorgeous crema to the drink without the need to add any actual sugar.
Iced Café Mocha
If you love both coffee and chocolate than the iced café mocha is one of the best iced coffee drinks at Starbucks for you to enjoy on a hot summer day. Made with full-bodied espresso that is combined with a sweet mocha sauce before being topped with ice, milk, and sweet whipped cream, this is an unbeatable classic that is hard to not enjoy. It is perfectly balanced thanks to the sweetness of the milk and cream combined with the sharpness of the espresso and mocha sauce.
Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
Made with the classic cold brew that you would expect to get from Starbucks, this is one of the best cold brew Starbucks options if you want something that has a little bit of extra sweetness. It is made with a rich, cold foam topping and plenty of caramel sauce which all blends together with the cold brew in the cup resulting in a drink that’s very smooth, has just the right amount of sweetness, and is filled with amazing flavors from the coffee and other ingredients.
Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
If you’re looking for one of the best coffee drinks at Starbucks to indulge yourself in as a treat, then this is an ideal option. It is definitely one to splurge on rather than something you have regularly, made with generous helpings of caramel syrup along with ice, milk, and just the right amount of topping. It’s very sweet thanks to the added whipped cream, dark caramel sauce, caramel drizzle, and a crunchy, sugary caramel topping. A great option if you want a coffee, but also want dessert.
Honey Almond Milk Cold Brew
If you are looking for the best iced drinks at Starbucks that are suitable for vegans, then this is a perfect choice. Starbucks cold brew is already a smooth and sweet beverage, but adding honey adds another level of sweetness to the brew that makes it even more delightful. Almond milk is then added to the cold brew to give it a creamier flavor and texture. It’s dairy-free and suitable for vegans, and despite being so sweet and tasty, it’s quite low in calories so can easily become an iced drink that you enjoy on a regular basis.
Iced Starbucks Blonde Café Americano
Starbucks Blonde is one of the coffee chain’s most popular coffee blends, and this drink starts with three shots of it. A little cold water is then added to get just the right amount of crema, before it is topped with ice to keep it cold. The water and ice tones down the espresso flavor a little bit, but it’s still a strong drink that packs plenty of punch to give you the energy you need to start your day.
Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso
If you are looking for the best iced coffee drinks at Starbucks that are sweet while being low in calories at the same time, then this iced chocolate almond milk shaken espresso is one of the best espresso drinks Starbucks to consider. Made with Starbucks Blonde espresso, the coffee is shaken with malt and cocoa, before topping with almond milk poured over plenty of ice to keep it cold and refreshing. It’s a balanced, interesting drink that creates a completely new and enjoyable flavor profile.
Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte
Sweet and spicy in just the right amounts, this drink is the perfect option for early fall where you want something that is refreshing but has a cozy feel to it at the same time. It is made with Starbucks signature espresso and cinnamon dolce syrup, topped with milk, and poured over ice. To finish, you can get it topped with sweetened whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon powder. For when the weather gets colder, the hot version of this drink is the perfect choice to keep you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
Iced White Chocolate Mocha
You really can’t go wrong with adding chocolate to coffee, and this classic is one of the best iced lattes Starbucks have to offer. It is made with Starbucks signature espresso blend and is bursting with sweet flavors thanks to the white chocolate sauce and milk that are added to the coffee. It is served over plenty of ice to keep it cold and a generous helping of sweetened whipped cream on the top.
Iced Caramel Cloud Macchiato
If you want to try a flavorful but unique drink from Starbucks then the iced caramel cloud macchiato might be just what you need. It has a very unique profile since it’s quite light and fluffy, but also has a lot of flavor to enjoy. It is made with espresso, caramel sauce, vanilla syrup, and fluffy foam served over plenty of ice. The fluffy foam balances out the sweetness of the vanilla and caramel very well, and it looks just as amazing as it tastes.
The Pink Drink
The popular Pink Drink from Starbucks is a strawberry acai refresher with passion fruit flavoring and a stunning pink color. It is made with coconut milk, resulting in a beverage that is creamy, smooth, and sweet. It is made with real strawberries and is quite low in calories, making it a healthy and nutritious option to go for if you are looking for a drink that feels quite indulgent but isn’t full of sugar.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Made with Starbucks classic cold brew blend, a double helping of vanilla syrup and topped with indulgent vanilla cream, this is a sweet, creamy, and refreshing cold brew drink that you can’t go wrong with it. The sweet cream is made in-house, and it’s light and fluffy, easily sinking all the way through the cup rather than simply sitting on top of the coffee, giving you the perfect blend throughout the whole drink.
Tips for Making Your Own Starbucks Iced Coffees at Home
Iced coffees might be some of the most popular options on the Starbucks menu, especially during the summer. But unfortunately, Starbucks is not the cheapest coffee shop in the world and while most Starbucks lovers say that it is worth the price, many people might not be able to afford their favorite iced coffees from this brand as much as they would like to. The good news is that making your own Starbucks iced coffees at home is actually much easier than you might expect it to be. Starbucks is quite transparent about their ingredients and recipes so you can easily make copycat drinks from the comfort of your own kitchen or put your own spin on things at a fraction of the price. Go to any Starbucks coffee shop or look online and you can also find the same whole beans and coffee grounds that they use in the store to take home and make your own coffee with, so you can get the same, perfect authentic taste. If you want to save money by being able to get your favorite Starbucks iced drinks without leaving your kitchen, then keep these tips in mind.
Choosing the Right Brewing Method
Choosing the right brewing method is one of the first things you will need to think about when it comes to making Starbucks iced coffee drinks or cold coffee drinks at home. Cold brew coffee is one of the easiest options to make since you do not need any coffee maker appliances. However, you will need to prepare well ahead of time since cold brew needs to be steeped for at least twelve hours. If you want that authentic taste, buy the signature cold brew blend from Starbucks and grind the beans coarsely. Then, put the coffee grounds in room temperature or cold water to steep for at least twelve hours before straining through a filter. You can then store the coffee in the fridge for up to a week.
Aside from cold brew, you can also make Starbucks-style iced coffee drinks at home using espresso. To do this, you can use either a traditional espresso machine or another brewing style that makes coffee similar to espresso. A Moka Pot or Aeropress are ideal budget options. You can also brew Starbucks espresso using Starbucks pods that are compatible with Keurig or Nespresso Original machines.
Drip coffee and French press are more suited to brewing hot coffee, although you can still allow the coffee to cool before adding ice and cold water or milk if you like.
Iced Coffee Additions
Many of the popular Starbucks cold and iced coffee drinks get their unique taste from the ingredients that are added to them. The good news is that Starbucks use a lot of ingredients in their coffees that you can get online or even from your local grocery store. Start with the basics and get some coffee syrups for yourself. Starbucks typically use Monin syrups; however, you can always choose another brand if you find flavors that you like or want something more affordable. You can also experiment with different types of milks such as almond milk or oat milk if you want to try and copy a beverage like the brown sugar shaken oat milk iced latte at home.
Getting the Temperature Right
Getting the right temperature will depend on how you want to brew your coffee. If you are making cold brew, just let it steep at room temperature or in the fridge and once it is ready, it’ll be cold for you to enjoy. On the other hand, if you are going to make espresso-based iced drinks at home such as iced lattes or iced mochas, then you are going to need to get some ice cubes to cool your espresso down. Brew the espresso straight over ice in your favorite cup or glass to cool it down immediately. If you are worried about the ice melting in the drink before you have finished it and watering it down, then you can make sure that your iced coffee stays strong by making ice cubes out of coffee. Either brew a cup of your favorite coffee or make instant black coffee before allowing it to cool and pouring it into an ice tray to pop in the freezer.
Storing Your Coffee Beans
If you want to make your own Starbucks iced coffee or cold brew at home, then you’ll need to buy coffee beans from Starbucks. You can also make iced coffee drinks at home using any other brand of coffee that you like, but if you want the authentic taste of your favorite coffee chain, then buy beans directly from them. To get the best taste, you will need to figure out how you are going to store your coffee beans to keep them fresher for longer. Starbucks uses airtight packaging for their coffee beans but once they are opened and exposed to the moisture, air, and light, they are going to start losing their aroma and flavor. An airtight canister is the best option for your coffee beans to make sure that they are as fresh as possible each time you go to make an iced drink.
Grinding Your Coffee
If you want to start making your own iced Starbucks coffee drinks at home, then one of the best things that you can invest in for your kitchen is your own coffee grinder. Coffee begins to oxidize from the moment that it is ground so while pre-ground coffee from Starbucks can be more convenient to use, it will also not last as long. Along with this, you will also be able to get better control over the grind size when you grind your own coffee at home. A burr grinder is the best choice in comparison to a blade grinder. This is because blade grinders chop randomly at the beans without any consistency, which can lead to under- and over-extraction in the cup, while burr grinders are much more consistent. The coffee grind size that you will need will depend on the type of iced coffee you want to make. For cold brew, a coarse grind works well. On the other hand, grind your coffee to a fine powder consistency if you want to use it in an espresso machine to make espresso-based iced drinks.
Are There Any Benefits of Drinking Cold Coffee?
With so many amazing cold and iced coffee options available on the Starbucks menu and plenty of options to make your own at home to save money and enjoy your favorite beverage whenever you like, you might be wondering, are there any benefits of drinking more cold coffee? Coffee is full of antioxidants and is actually quite a low-calorie drink if you do not add milk, cream, and sugar to it.
Cold brew coffee in particular is a popular choice at Starbucks and has gained more popularity in general in recent years. It is brewed in cold water rather than hot water for 12-24 hours, which makes it less bitter compared to hot brewed coffee. Along with being tasty, naturally sweet, and easy to drink, cold brew coffee also has a lot of health benefits, so you might want to add it to your diet more often whether that involves buying a tasty cold brew beverage from Starbucks or brewing your own at home with Starbucks coffee beans.
Boost Metabolism: Drinking iced black coffee or cold brew coffee may boost your metabolism, which is the body’s process of creating energy from the food you drink. The faster your metabolism, the more calories you will burn when resting. Both hot and cold coffee contain caffeine, which has been proven to increase your resting metabolic rate by up to eleven percent.
Mood Boosting: Whether you drink iced espresso drinks or cold brew, the caffeine content may help you feel happier overall. Caffeine has been shown to boost the mood, especially if you are sleep deprived. Studies have found that people who drink coffee regularly have lower rates of depression compared to those who don’t.
Heart Health: While the added cream and sugar in some iced and cold coffee drinks might not be the best for your heart, plain coffee can help improve your heart health by lowering your risk of heart disease. Cold brew in particular is very rich in compounds that may reduce your heart disease risk including caffeine, magnesium, lignans, trigonelline, phenolic compounds and quinides. These work together to stabilize your blood sugar, increase your insulin sensitivity, and lower your blood pressure.
Easier on the Stomach: Compared to hot brewed coffee, cold brew is an ideal choice for people who have sensitive stomachs as it is lower in acid. Some people have to avoid coffee as the acid levels in this drink can cause acid reflux issues, a condition where stomach acid flows back from your stomach to the esophagus, which leads to heartburn and irritation. Some studies have found cold brew to be less acidic, meaning it may be easier on your stomach.
When you want a refreshing and cold drink, Starbucks offer a wide range of options to choose from. Whether you like strong, black coffee or sweet and indulgent blended and frozen drinks to get a pick-me-up, you can find something for everybody on the Starbucks menu. And, with all ingredients and recipes listed online, you can easily start making your favorite Starbucks iced coffee drinks and cold brew beverages at home.
About the author
Jennie Backteman
I´m a ultramarathon runner, landscape designer and a coffee lover.
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