Brian Nagele
Starbucks remains one of the most iconic coffee houses today, and with good reason. Their delicious drinks never make a trip for coffee a dull experience. But out of all the hundreds of beverages that have graced the Starbucks menu, what are the best Starbucks drinks?
From some menu favorites to seasonal sensations, Starbucks has had hundreds of wonderful cuppas for everyone who loves coffee and plenty of options for those who don’t. Starbucks has been delivering delightful drinks and coffee since 1971, giving them plenty of time to perfect their craft and develop some genuinely incredible beverages, coffee and otherwise.
This list has something for everyone with everything from sugar-filled cafe beverages to more robust and well-rounded sips. These are the best Starbucks drinks, from popular drinks to coffeehouse staples and even excellent icy beverages to beat the heat. If you’re interested in learning more about the top-tasting drinks at Starbucks, read on.
Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crème Frappuccino
The first entry on my list may come as a surprise to some people unless you’ve tried it. And if you haven’t, you should go to Starbucks and get one right now.
With a delicious blend of caramel, crunchy nuts, creme, and sweet, sweet coffee, this frappuccino has it all. It’s delicious any time of the year and is always on the menu, ready to give you pure chilly goodness. This deserves its top spot as it truly is the best Starbucks drink.
Java Chip Frappuccino
The second entry is also delicious, sweet, and chilled. The Java Chip Frappuccino is a delightful blend of chocolate, coffee, ice, and even cookie crumbs. It has mocha sauce, dark java chip that give it some extra punch, and it’s all topped off with whipped cream and a drizzle of mocha syrup.
It’s packed to the brim with icy chocolatey goodness that will have you ordering it no matter how cold it gets. Unfortunately, it’s not as available as the caramel ribbon frappuccino because it’s frequently sold out. If you do see it’s available, snatch one up and get one for me as well.
Strawberry Funnel Cake Créme Frappuccino
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Another frappuccino. But have you tried Starbucks frappuccinos? They are deliciously blended masterpieces that deserve to dominate the top of this list. And the Strawberry Funnel Cake Creme Frappuccino deserves this spot.
It’s part of Starbucks’ summer lineup, and I can’t wait until I can get some sweet strawberry goodness. This is easily my favorite summer drink as a blended mix of creme, strawberry puree, and authentic funnel cake pieces. It returns on May 11, and you can bet I’ll be in line with all the other fans to get this and some Unicorn Cake Pops.
White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino
Who doesn’t love chocolate? People allergic to chocolate. And I feel sorry for them because they never experience the joy of this mocha frappuccino. This deceptively simple drink offers some of the best Starbucks has to offer.
With a blend of white chocolate mocha, coffee, and vanilla, this drink is delicious any day of the week. It’s topped with whipped cream to give it that extra flair, and it’s always a good time. If you’re tired of extremely fancy frappuccinos, give this a try to sink into its simple, delicious flavor and return to a more uncomplicated taste that you don’t have to think about to enjoy.
London Fog
I hate to break my frappuccino streak, but this edges out the next just a little. And everyone who’s had it knows it deserves it. The London Fog Tea Latte is a fantastic hot tea to warm yourself up with.
Its tea is a mixture of black tea, bergamot essence, and lavender, steeped in an infusion of milk and water steamed to the right temperature for staring out the window at the cold snow while staying cuddly and warm. With a shot of vanilla for good measure, this drink is my go-to when I’m cold and want to get warmed up while chilling at Starbucks.
Mocha Frappuccino
Gasp. That’s right, what you’ve all been waiting for. Another frappuccino! And this one is a classic. This Starbucks original takes me back to the early days of Starbucks before the insane flavor combinations we see dominated the menu.
The mocha frappuccino is a blend of coffee, mocha, and vanilla. Its classic flavor is nostalgic for any longtime fan of Starbucks, and if you don’t remember the good old days, give this frappuccino a try to experience it. It’s always available, delicious, and ready to take you back.
Peppermint Mocha
Every Christmas season, I roll up to the Starbucks drive-thru, ready for the sweet, refreshing peppermint to wash across my tongue and announce it is the season for giving. To me, it’s not Christmas without the iconic Starbucks Peppermint Mocha.
It’s the flagship drink of the Starbucks winter lineup. It’s glorious peppermint and mocha combination spreading Christmas cheer to every Starbucks. The beautiful mixture of mocha, espresso, vanilla, and, of course, peppermint is topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls. Christmas can’t go on until I have a cup of this perfect Christmas cheer in my hand.
Almond Milk Honey Flat White
These drinks usually sell out fast, and it’s no wonder. This understated blend of almond milk, espresso, and honey is served nice and warm, making it the perfect winter drink. Simple, masterfully blended, and healthier than most other drinks on the menu, this drink never disappoints.
If you want a nice warm cup of coffee, this drink will satisfy your caffeine craving while giving you a nice warm-up. It also makes an excellent dairy-alternative drink, but let’s face facts. You don’t have to be allergic to dairy to enjoy this smooth, understated, sweet beverage. I would recommend this to everyone who wants warm, simple, and delicious.
Blonde Vanilla Latte
The Blonde Vanilla Latte is a Starbucks mainstay. With only three ingredients, it’s surprising the finished product is so deep and delicious. This drink is served toasty warm or iced with light-roasted espresso (that’s the blonde part), milk, and vanilla. However you like your latte, this drink is hands-down one of the best on the Starbucks menu.
Invented as a lighter twist on the classic vanilla latte, this coffee is perfect for those who prefer lighter roasts and fruitier tones. It’s ideal for taking on the road for a busy day or relaxing in Starbucks. Being so delicious and easy to make has led to a lot of copycat recipes, so you can try and make this in your kitchen if you want to give it a try.
Caramel Frappuccino
Yes, that’s right. The return of the frappuccino! And this is a good one. If you want the Caramel Crunch without all the crunchy bits, you want a Caramel Frappuccino. Delicious, classic, icy goodness, without the potential choking hazards (although I prefer it with choking hazards).
If you just want to suck down some cool caramel goodness, this is the way to go. I enjoy it every once in a while, usually when I don’t want the calories added from those sinfully delicious crunchy bits, and it’s a fantastic drink overall.
Guava Passion Fruit Iced Drink
If you’re a Starbucks devotee like I am, you know the drama surrounding this drink. If you’re not, let me give you the tea. Last summer, Starbucks discontinued the Guava Passion Fruit Iced Drink in favor of more popular drinks and limited stock from the pandemic.
It should be returning this summer, much to the delight of fans such as me, but having to go an entire year without the fruity tones of guava and passionfruit with hints of pineapple and ginger was not easy.
This stellar drink deserves to be a part of the permanent Starbucks iced drink menu, and you can see for yourself why when it returns.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
What list of the best Starbucks drinks would be complete without this seasonal staple. The Pumpkin Spice Latte has people lining up the moment August hits and keeps them coming until late November.
Starbucks’ spice is a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove, and it’s added on top of the whipped cream, with a blend of gorgeous pumpkin and coffee below. You don’t have to believe the hype; after all, that just leaves more latte for me. But do yourself a favor, and the next time fall rolls around, try this cultural coffee icon.
Iced Cold Foam
I’m sure some of you are crying right now. I’m, of course, talking about how Starbucks discontinued this drink, and its addition to this best Starbucks drinks list has given you flashbacks to when you could enjoy this delightful icy beverage before it was cruelly left to die with no suitable replacement on the menu.
The Iced Cold Foam Cappuccino was a beloved menu item, simple with only espresso and milk topped with colder, foamy milk. If you never tried this drink, mourn what you have lost from this perfect coffee that was somehow different at every Starbucks you went to.
Caramel Macchiato
In case you couldn’t tell by this point, I’m a big caramel fan. And the Caramel Macchiato feeds my addiction every time I take a sip. Milk, expresso, vanilla, and caramel all dance together in this warm caffeinated beverage. Topped with warm milk foam and caramel drizzle, when I wrap my hands around the warm mug, I’m in heaven. Smooth, creamy, caramel heaven.
If you have a problem with caramel too, this drink was made for you. Always available, always delicious. You haven’t lived until you’ve sipped the sweet caramel wonderland that is this drink.
Pink Drink
Everyone should be familiar with this drink, and if you’re not, are you Patrick Star? Because you must live under a rock. The Pink Drink has become an essential menu staple at Starbucks, and if you take one sip of the strawberry, acai, and coconut milk fusion mixed with dried strawberries, you’ll see why it moved from the secret menu to a huge hit.
Refreshing, sweet, and fruity are all words used to describe this popular keto drink. The low calories (for a Starbucks drink), the fruit content, and the coconut milk make this one of the healthiest drinks you can order, but no matter your diet, you should get some of the pretty pink beverage today.
Hot Chocolate
Before you say this is a kids drink, let me remind you we are all children on the inside. My Starbucks addiction started early when my mom would make me go to the grocery store with her. As a reward, I could pick whatever I wanted off the Starbucks menu to drink while we walked around. More often than not, I picked this sugary childhood memory.
It’s a mixture of Starbucks mocha sauce, milk, and vanilla, all topped with airy whipped cream. Sweet chocolatey goodness soothed my little child’s soul when I was young, and when I miss the precious summer days of my childhood, I take a sip of this drink. Order this drink if you also want to relive your youth or just want something warm and sweet without caffeine.
Matcha Frappuccino
I know, I know, but it wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t end this list on a frappucino. And I’m sure others are screaming that it’s about time I added something from Starbucks’ excellent matcha lineup.
Their matcha green tea is just about the best green tea you’ll find on this side of the pacific, and when blended with a dash of vanilla in a frappuccino, it turns into heaven. If you want to try one of Starbucks’ matcha drinks, this is a great one to start with.
Try out list of the best Starbucks drinks, and they’re all filled with memories of my Starbucks obsession. From my weekly hot chocolate to my current favorite, I have to try and not order; otherwise, I might freeze to death on my way to work. Check out our list of the best hot drinks at Starbucks to stay warm in the winter too!
There’s something for everybody, but if you don’t see anything you want to try, head to Starbucks anyway. They’re sure to have something that you like and can add to your own Best Starbucks Drinks list.
I would like a list of your syrups available
I usually get the cold drink chai.