Best Starbucks Coffee: 14 Drinks To Try

Are you feeling lost in the queue in a Starbucks? This article contains everything you need to know about the best Starbucks coffee to order.

If there’s one thing Starbucks is known for, it’s having a wide variety of drink options. Some would argue there are far too many drink choices on the standard menu and the secret menu, so it’s completely understandable to feel lost and overwhelmed in the queue at Starbucks.

Plus as creatures of habit, we do like to stick with what we know. So, in this article we are going to encourage you to try something new. Here are some of the best Starbucks drinks that won’t disappoint.

Best Starbucks Coffee To Try

1. Caffe Mocha

Caffe Mocha is by far my favorite Starbucks drink, not only because it’s super easy to order, but it’s tastier than 90% of all those fancy drinks with tons of sugar. It’s a good old combination of milk, espresso, and rich chocolate.

A Caffe Mocha consists of a double shot of espresso, but if you don’t want too much caffeine, ask for one espresso shot, a scoop of hot chocolate, and whole milk. Also, if you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, tell them to hold the milk and cream and add non-dairy milk like almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk. But personally, nothing does it for me better than whole milk.

You can add sugar if you want, but why would you? This best Starbucks coffee option already tastes like pure heaven. They typically make it with darker espresso, but their blonde roast surprisingly goes well with a mocha so it’s worth trying.

2. Venti Coffee

Venti coffee is basically a fancy way of saying large black coffee.

If you have busy mornings, Venti coffee is perfect for you because it takes seconds for them to make and contains a ton of caffeine. Every Venti coffee contains 400 mg of caffeine. After drinking it, you’ll feel like you’ve drunk a cup of pure caffeine mixed with water. 

The rush it gives you is insane. It should go without saying, but if you have a weak caffeine tolerance, this drink is absolutely not for you.

3. Vanilla Latte

A Starbucks vanilla latte is made with steamed milk, a shot of espresso, and vanilla syrup. It’s super easy to order, simple, and it’s delicious.

It’s the perfect blend between just a regular coffee and something fancy with tons of syrup in it. The vanilla syrup mixed with your shot or shots of espresso is also something you must experience since it takes the edge off any potential bitterness.

4. Cinnamon Roll Frappuccino

A dessert-flavored coffee is a match made in heaven. After all, frappuccinos are more like liquid desserts than coffee drinks if we’re really being honest with ourselves. Starbucks sells lots of snacks, but you probably won’t need to pair one with this drink unless you’re looking for a sugar rush.

A cinnamon roll Frappuccino consists of:

• Vanilla bean frappuccino
• White mocha syrup
• Cinnamon dolce syrup
• Topped with cinnamon dolce powder

It doesn’t have much caffeine, so it’s great for coffee aficionados who are sensitive to caffeine. It also contains a ton of flavor for every sip you take. It’s great for those with a sweet tooth.

5. Chai Latte

Chai is a classic. A chai latte is a black tea that’s infused with clove, cinnamon, and other delicious spices sprinkled on top. Starbucks simply the process since they have their own Chai flavored syrup.

It’s also mixed with frothed milk and topped with foam, giving it an awesome balance between sweet and spicy. If you want a little extra sweetest, feel free to ask for some whipped cream on top.

Chai lattes generally come without coffee – so some customers might find the name misleading – but you can ask for an espresso shot or two to create what’s known as “dirty chai.” The strong spices pair beautifully with bold espresso.

6. Iced White Chocolate Mocha

Everyone knows how bland old white hot chocolate tastes, but have you tried an iced white chocolate mocha? It consists of;

• White chocolate sauce
• White chocolate syrup
• Frothed milk
• One shot of espresso
• Chilled ice

It just sounds delicious!

If you want an extra kick, ask for an extra shot of espresso, as it’ll make your iced white chocolate mocha taste more like coffee. You can also substitute this drink for a mocha frappuccino instead if they’re out of white syrup but still have the regular mocha sauce; it’s not the same, but it still hits the spot.

7. Strawberry Frappuccino With A Twist

If you’re obsessed with coffee and strawberries like me, a Strawberry Frappuccino is perfect.

A strawberry frappuccino consists of;

• Frozen strawberries
• Brown sugar
• Vanilla extract 
• Vanilla ice cream
• Ice cubes

However, I’m not a big fan of the usual strawberry frappuccino. I’ll ask to swap the vanilla ice cream for some coffee ice cream and have them add a shot of espresso. This creates the perfect blend between coffee and strawberries, which sounds like an odd flavor combination, but it works!

But this drink isn’t for you if you prefer something more coffee-ish. Stick to something where you’ll taste the coffee better, like a Caffe Mocha or venti coffee.

8. Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew

This drink is your best friend if you love the sweet and salty parts of life. This drink is a delightful combination of vanilla syrup, salted caramel cream cold foam, and cold brew coffee.

Once you put your lips on it and start sipping, a tidal wave of salt comes pouring into your mouth. And this shouldn’t be a shock since it contains over 330 mg of sodium. Since cold brew coffee is smoother than espresso, it’s really the salted caramel bringing the stronger flavors to the mix.

Jeez!

If you like caramel sauce – arguably more than coffee flavor – then you’ll also love their iced caramel macchiato or caramel frappuccino with caramel syrup if your local Starbucks is all out of cold brew.

9. Pumpkin Spice Latte

You know it’s autumn when the pumpkin spice latte is back in Starbucks, so of course, it is the best Starbucks coffee. The company spices things up for their customers every autumn by adding some seasonal items to the menu, but the most enduring and beloved is the pumpkin spice latte – which they launched in 2003.

Since this Starbucks best-seller is a once-a-year kind of thing, be sure to savor it the next time it’s PSL season. The pumpkin spice latte blends milk and espresso with cozy autumnal flavors like pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

10. Peppermint Mocha

The peppermint mocha is arguably the pumpkin spice latte of the Christmas season and is the best Starbucks drink on the seasonal menu, complete with a signature red cup. Like the PSL, this Starbucks best-seller is a once-a-year item.

The drink mixes espresso milk, mocha drizzle, and peppermint syrup. It’s an acquired taste. Some people think it tastes like a candy cane, but others feel it’s more like toothpaste – especially if they go overboard with the peppermint syrup.

Either way, what’s the harm in taking a risk and trying something new? It could end up being your favorite hot drink of the festive season. This is the best coffee to get from Starbucks if you’re feeling festive.

11. Blonde Flat White

A flat white seems a little bland compared to the other items on this list of the best coffee in Starbucks. After all, you can get a common java drink like a flat white, cappuccino, americano, or plain latte in pretty much any other coffee shop – probably for much less money. So, isn’t Starbucks about trying drinks you can’t get anywhere else?

But, as I mentioned earlier, Starbucks’ blonde roast is in a league of its own. A Starbucks flat white made with blonde espresso is smooth, rich, and creamy with little to no bitterness. You can order it without all the fuss of some other Starbucks drinks on this list.

12. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

If you’re bored of a regular cold brew, why not try something with a twist? As popular drinks at Starbucks go, the vanilla sweet cream cold brew infuses refreshing cold brewed coffee and vanilla syrup with vanilla sweet cream to create a smooth, cold drink.

13. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Shaken, not stirred, the iced brown sugar shaken espresso with oat milk is a must-try. But, first things first, what even is shaken espresso?

Shaken espresso is essentially a variation of shakerato, where some espresso, ice, and sugar are shaken in a cocktail shaker. Sounds refreshing, right? Add some brown sugar, cinnamon, and oat milk to the mix, and you have this cool drink.

14. Iced Hazelnut Bianco Latte

If you love iced coffeebut want to introduce some new flavors to your palate, then you must try the iced hazelnut bianco latte. It’s sweet and nutty without totally washing out the coffee’s flavor profile. This drink is made from Starbucks’ very own hazelnut-praline-infused milk with espresso and ice.

Best Coffee To Get From Starbucks For Cold Brew

When it comes to Starbucks cold brew coffee, I prefer light-medium roasts or dark roasts–medium seems more suited to hot brewing methods, for the most part. However, cold brewing gives the perfect opportunity to plumb the depths of what the bean has to offer, so complex coffee is definitely a go.

Here are a few of my picks for top cold brew material from Starbucks:

1. Veranda Blend (Blonde Roast)

This blend of Latin American coffees has a lot of character. The cold brewing method gives a great opportunity to sink into the flavor without worrying about any acidity.

The blonde roast of the beans highlights the regional aspects and all the things I love in Latin American coffees: hints of chocolate and a malty flavor are a departure from some of the more rich caramels and brown sugar that you usually get. It’s complicated yet easy to drink and suits the cold brew setting well.

2. Komodo Dragon Blend

Another blend is this one on the significantly darker side. When this Indonesian blend originally came out, I was not the biggest fan, I’ll admit; the earthy, herbal flavors in the brew just weren’t my speed at that point in my coffee fandom.

But it really does an excellent job as a cold brew staple: the earthy, low-acid qualities of Indonesian beans only get better when paired with a brewing method that de-emphasizes acid already, leaving a sweeter, richer result that will still give you a jolt. 

3. Guatemala Casi Cielo

This single-origin medium roast is the exception to my rule of preferring very light or very dark roasts for cold brewing because it’s been one of my favorites by Starbucks ever since its initial release.

These beans’ complex flavor and aroma work well in various settings, and cold brewing helps to mellow everything out–without muddying the flavors together. Instead, you’re left with a smooth, rich glass of cold brew that manages to taste refreshing and light.

Like making your coffee at home? Have a look at the best cold brew coffee brands.

Best Starbucks Drinks For Non-Coffee Drinkers

There was a short period of my life where I actually developed an intolerance for coffee–fortunately, not for caffeine–and I had to take a break from drinking even decaf coffee for several months.

During that time, I sampled everything non-coffee that Starbucks served, and I still enjoy trying out the options available to customers looking for something other than coffee whenever I can.

Here are my top Starbucks drinks for non-coffee drinkers:

1. Starbucks Passion Tango Tea Lemonade

This drink is a favorite for baristas working hot months, and there’s no mystery why. It’s refreshing, light, and crisp, with a good balance of sweetness and tartness and no caffeine in it at all.

The base is a herbal infusion of hibiscus, lemongrass, and apple, shaken up with lightly sweetened lemonade. If you want to freshen up, this is a classic choice.

2. Violet Drink

If you want to get technical, this beverage does have green coffee extract in it. Still, it has none of the flavors you’d associate with traditional coffee, so in my opinion, it’s a whole different animal.

With 45 mg of caffeine per Grande serving, it’s not as strong a caffeine buzz as a comparable cup of coffee but still packs a punch. I’m a big fan of the flavor combo of blackberries, hibiscus, and creamy coconut milk, and the color is undoubtedly eye-catching too. You’ll also see this referred to online as the purple drink.

3. Flavored (Hot) Crème

Although the Starbucks menu usually only features one or two flavors of hot crème beverages, a handy thing to know is that you can get a crème made with any of the flavored syrups in stock at the Starbucks location.

This option is a little heavy on sugar, typically made with syrup, steamed milk, and whipped cream–but it’s a decadent treat that you can tailor to your preferences to satisfy your sweet tooth all year round. In my opinion, this is the best Starbucks drink because it’s a soothing choice. 

4. The Pink Drink

Starbucks is probably best known for its fun, fruity drinks , which crop up all over TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest. Although it’s a coffee shop, they’re a jack of all trades. Although originally on the Starbucks secret menu, the pink drink is an official beverage now.

The pink drink is a refreshing blend of Strawberry Acai Refreshers, passion fruit, acai, coconut milk, and strawberries. You’ve probably already seen this light pink concoction on social media by now, so why not see what all the fuss is about?

5. Vanilla Bean Frappuccino

Despite the name, the vanilla bean frappuccino doesn’t actually contain any coffee beans. Its pure white appearance is definitely unique.

This cold drink is made from vanilla bean, milk, and ice and is topped with whipped cream.

6. The Moon Drink

The Moon Drink is a Starbucks secret menu item that rose to popularity thanks to TikTok. So, you won’t find this on the official menu, and not all baristas will be familiar with it.

To order the moon drink, ask your barista for a grande iced matcha latte with coconut milk and two pumps of chai syrup. This drink supposedly gets its name because it tastes like “the moon.”

7. Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Refreshers Beverage

If you’re tired of plain old lemonade, you’ll love this tropical drink. You enjoy the classic flavor of lemonade fused with mango and dragonfruit. It’s served with ice and some real dragonfruit toppings.

Appearances are not the be-all and end-all for coffee, but this vibrant pink drink sure looks appetizing.

8. Matcha Green Tea Latte

If you’re keen on living a healthier lifestyle, you’ll enjoy a green tea latte. This is free from coffee, and trust me when I say matcha and espresso are not the best flavor combination. This drink is simply pure matcha tea with steamed milk, and you should keep it that way.

However, if it’s a hot day out, you can switch your hot beverage to the iced matcha green tea latte instead – especially if you don’t like iced coffee.

9. Hot Chocolate

Starbucks is renowned for its coffee, but one thing they’re also surprisingly good at is hot chocolate drinks. You’ll see lots of fun variations on menus throughout the autumn and winter, but their standard hot chocolate is really the star of the show.

Starbucks hot chocolate is so rich because they use mocha sauce, whereas most other coffee shops use hot chocolate powder – which, if you ask me, can result in a very powdery, grainy drink if made poorly.

If you find a plain hot chocolate too boring, ask for a pump of vanilla syrup.

The Final Word On The Best Starbucks Drinks

While it is overpriced, Starbucks coffee tastes amazing, and if you’re considering trying one of their drinks, it’ll be a sin not to opt for one of these delicious coffees – especially given that we’ve narrowed it down for you. Even if you don’t like coffee drinks, they have tons of other options, too.

FAQs About The Best Starbucks coffee