Brian Nagele
Discover the world of delicious and dairy-free options at Starbucks by using our list of the top non-dairy beverages as a guide. This post takes us through the whole Starbucks menu, showcasing a variety of enticing non-dairy drinks and showing us how to order them just right. Starbucks, known for its inventive coffee options, has a wide range of non-dairy options that are sure to please any kind of palate. Each recipe promises a rich, dairy-free experience, from the velvety Oat Milk Honey Latte to the cool Iced Almond Milk Matcha. One of the favorites is the creamy Coconut Milk Latte. We explore the variety of flavors of these non-dairy Starbucks drinks and walk you through the process of personalizing your order. Come explore the world of creamy, dairy-free treats with us, and we’ll make sure you enjoy everything Starbucks has to offer while meeting your lactose intolerance needs.
Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
The Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is the ideal blend of smooth and sweet, especially on a warm day. You get a solid caffeine boost from the Starbucks Blonde espresso with a pop of sweetness from the brown sugar syrup. Top it off with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top for a flavor boost. The Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso doesn’t sit heavy in your stomach, and the subtle flavor rounds out the overall profile. I strongly recommend ordering light ice for this drink because you don’t want to water down the subtle undertones of the cinnamon and brown sugar.
Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso
The Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso is one of my favorite drinks. I love it so much that I have no problems ordering this iced drink in the middle of winter. There’s something about the blend of chocolate, almondmilk, and espresso that I love, any time of year. The baristas start things off with Starbucks Blonde espresso as the coffee base. After mixing in some chocolate malt powder for a pop of flavor, they top it all off with almondmilk for slightly nutty undertones. It’s like a glorified, caffeinated, non-dairy milkshake without the roaring stomach ache afterward. If you want a special treat, add a pump of mocha sauce to your order.
Pink Drink (Made with Coconut milk)
Boy, do I remember when the Pink Drink hit the Starbucks menu. I didn’t love the refreshers because they were so sweet. Mix in some coconut milk, however, and it’s an entirely different story. The Pink Drink is just a twist on the Strawberry Acai Refresher. You take the refresher base blend of passion fruit and acai, mix it with coconut milk, and pour it over ice. The effect is almost addictive because the coconut milk rounds out the sweet and tart notes perfectly. You also get some bits of strawberry tossed in. Definitely go through the trouble of fishing them out when you finish drinking because they taste like candy.
Honey Almondmilk Flat White (Hot or Iced)
If you are one of those people who doesn’t yet have a favorite dairy-free Starbucks drink, you might want to consider the Honey Almondmilk Flat White. It’s a delicious coffee, and since you can get it hot or iced, it’s perfect all year round. We’re back to the Starbucks Blonde espresso base smoothed out with almond milk, but the touch of honey makes the nuttiness pop while adding a subtle hint of sweetness. I prefer it hot, especially when it’s freezing outside. If you happen to order it iced, make sure you get light ice and try adding a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.
Dragon Drink (Made with Coconut milk)
The Dragon Drink is one of the most refreshing options for an afternoon when you need some flavor without the caffeine burst. It’s a little on the sweeter side, but the coconut milk works wonders if you’re not a fan of too much sugar. Dragon Drinks blend mango and dragonfruit with coconut milk and drop it over ice. You also get some dragonfruit bits in the cup for good measure. Again, fish out those fruit bits for an extra treat! If you like to upgrade and customize your drink, try adding some other fruit pieces, especially strawberries and blackberries. The flavors blend nicely and the fruit tastes great at the end.
Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew
Cold brew lovers will hopefully appreciate this twist on the classic cold brew as much as I do. The Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew is a low-calorie alternative to some of the above options. Adding honey and almond milk to Starbucks Cold Brew enhances the coffee’s flavor in the most subtle ways. It’s a refreshing break from regular coffee, especially on a warm day. I would recommend ordering this drink with light or no ice to capture as much flavor (and caffeine) as possible. Since the honey and almond milk add such subtle flavors, I felt an overabundance of ice had disastrous consequences.
Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink
It doesn’t get much more tropical than blending guava, passionfruit, and pineapple. That’s just what the Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink does, and it’s divine. Start with a guava juice blend, toss in a little passionfruit and pineapple, and dust it with some ginger. Then, smooth out the whole concoction with coconut milk and pour it over ice for a refreshing summer drink. If it’s available, you can add some pineapple bits for an extra pop of flavor. Admittedly, I reserve this drink for hot summer days when I need a midday boost. There’s no caffeine, but something about the blend always makes me feel more alert.
Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink
If you struggle with drinking matcha because it tastes too much grass, you might want to give it another shot with the Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink. Starbucks enhanced their regular matcha drink by adding a little pineapple and ginger for sweetness. The fruity blend tones down the earthy matcha flavors for those hoping to work their way into the world of green tea who haven’t quite gotten there. Best of all, the blend of matcha, pineapple, and ginger can give you a bit of an energy boost without loads of caffeine. If the taste is still a bit rough for you, try adding a pump or two of the honey blend.
Star Drink (Made with Coconut milk)
Do you like kiwi? If so, you must try the Star Drink, which blends starfruit with kiwi. It is so light and refreshing with the coconutmilk smoothing out the slight tartness. The Star Drink just screams summer with its lovely green color and bits of kiwi. While it sounds sweet, it’s not as overpowering as some of the other refresher-based drinks. Again, it’s best to order this drink with light ice. I also found that getting it with no ice and letting it sit in a refrigerator for a bit preserves more of the flavor. It also makes it easier to get those bits of kiwi at the end.
Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
While other people have their opinions about what the holidays in a cup would taste like, the Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte is it for me. This drink is hands-down my favorite holiday drink at Starbucks, and it just happens to be dairy-free. Starbucks Blonde espresso with almondmilk is good, but toss in a few pumps of sugar cookie syrup and you have nostalgia in a cup. Plus, Starbucks adds red and green sprinkles to the top to make it extra festive. I prefer this drink to eating an actual sugar cookie during the holiday season. It’s far more satisfying and lasts a lot longer. Who needs milk and cookies when you have the Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte?
Honey Almondmilk Nitro Cold Brew
Source: Instagram
Honey and almondmilk are a theme on this list, but that’s because Starbucks does it so well. The Honey Almondmilk Nitro Cold Brew is no exception to this rule, which is why it gets a spot on the list of the best dairy-free Starbucks drinks. The Nitro Cold Brew is one of the smoothest coffee drinks you can get. Pairing it with honey and a bit of almond milk takes the drink to a whole new level. The Honey Almond milk Nitro Cold Brew is just a little sweeter than the plain version, and the almond milk makes the coffee’s natural flavors pop. I should note that you can only order a tall or grande size for any Nitro Cold Brew. If you need more coffee, you might want to try a different drink.
Oatmilk Honey Latte with Blonde Espresso
The Honey Oat milk Latte features a Blonde espresso coffee base with a touch of honey and a bit of oatmilk to create something slightly sweet and a little salty. It’s a different experience from the honey almond milk drinks, mostly because of the oat milk, but partially due to the toasted honey topping. I find it challenging to describe this one because the flavors are surprisingly subtle but soothing at the same time. There is no hint of bitterness in this drink, but you don’t lose the coffee notes. I feel like it’s a solid choice for people learning to like coffee, and it’s dairy-free.
Steamed Apple Juice
Whether you’re trying to please a kid or tap into your inner child, it’s not easy to beat Steamed Apple Juice. Starbucks uses 100% juice instead of a concentrate, making this drink full of fruity flavor. Steamed juice is just one way to warm up with a delightful, flavorful drink. I am not a big juice drinker, but after a chilly day at the football field, I tried the Steamed Apple Juice. To be honest, I found it surprisingly soothing and satisfying. Of course, I have a few stellar upgrades you can use to punch it up a bit. I’ve tried several syrups and recommend adding caramel, vanilla, or toasted vanilla.
Violet Drink
Eventually, I got over my annoyance that the Violet Drink is pink instead of purple and tried it. This drink uses the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher as a base and blends it with coconutmilk to smooth out the tartness a bit. I’ve had it made in a few different ways, but usually, you get blackberries in it. Some baristas throw in strawberries as well. I find that more fruit is better for this drink. The Violet Drink seems to be more smoothie-like than other refresher-based options. I’m not sure what it is, but this pinkish-purple drink is a bit more substantive than the others, making it a good choice for a mid-morning snack.
