Brian Nagele
Experience a delectable voyage as we present the pinnacle of beverages steeped with vanilla at Starbucks. Our carefully selected collection offers a pleasure for every taste bud, from the classic Vanilla Latte, which combines rich espresso with silky steamed milk and a hint of vanilla syrup, to the heavenly Vanilla Bean Frappuccino, a frozen symphony of sweet vanilla indulgence. Discover the revitalizing charm of the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, which combines the smooth sophistication of vanilla sweet cream with cold brew coffee. Alternatively, go for the Vanilla Chai Tea Latte for its reassuring warmth. Come learn how to order the ideal vanilla-infused beverage and improve your Starbucks experience.
Blonde Vanilla Latte
Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte is classic, smooth, and energizing. A grande, or medium-sized drink, consists of two shots of blonde espresso, four pumps of vanilla syrup, and steamed two percent milk foam. Although simple, the Blonde Vanilla Latte is highly-customizable as an iced or hot drink. If you’re dairy-free, ask your barista for almond, coconut, oat, or soy milk instead. Alternatively, kick up the sweetness by topping it with vanilla-sweet cream instead of steamed milk. Caffeine tolerance varies, so if you need more of a boost, request one more shot of espresso. If you’d prefer to taste more vanilla than coffee, ask for decaf or one less shot of espresso!
Caffè Vanilla Frappuccino
Starbuck frappuccinos are notorious for good reason! The Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino is a sweet refresher with a slight caffeine kick. A grande-sized drink blends ice, whole milk, three scoops of vanilla bean powder, and three pumps of their frappuccino roast. Starbucks’ frappuccino roast is a type of coffee in a syrup form designed for frozen drinks. Once blended, a barista tops the frozen drink with whipped cream. You can sweeten it with mocha, dark caramel, or white chocolate drizzle. Baristas can also make this frappuccino decaf. However, this calls for decaf espresso shots instead of frappuccino roast syrup, resulting in a thinner consistency.
Caramel Macchiato
Despite its name, the Caramel Macchiato is one of Starbucks’ most popular vanilla drinks. Available, iced, or hot, the delicious concoction is a year-round favorite. It’s actually made with vanilla syrup, not caramel. Three pumps of vanilla syrup and two shots of signature espresso, topped with two percent steamed milk foam and caramel drizzle, is the perfect drink for caffeine-lovers with a sweet tooth. It can get much sweeter if you’d like! Pair the vanilla syrup with caramel, toasted vanilla, hazelnut, or toffee nut syrup, and top it off with whipped cream. If you’re like me and prefer a smoother finish, ask for blonde espresso shots instead of signature espresso.
Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino
Not into coffee but craving a sweet fix? Try one of the most popular Starbucks vanilla drinks, the Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino. The blended drink consists of whole milk with three scoops of vanilla bean powder. The sweet concoction is topped with whipped cream. Make it even sweeter by adding frappuccino chips. If you’re ordering the treat for a child, make it fun by asking the barista to line the cup with caramel or mocha sauce. You can also make it a unique caffeinated beverage by ordering it affogato style—espresso shots poured right over the top of the drink.
Vanilla Crème
The Vanilla Crème is essentially the Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino, hot. Therefore, I most enjoy it during the holidays. A grande size consists of steamed two percent milk, four pumps of vanilla syrup, and whipped cream. The drink is sugary as is, but you can swap the milk for half-and-half or vanilla sweet cream if you want it sweeter. Like the frappuccino version, you can also line the cup with caramel or mocha sauce. It’ll likely melt and compliment the vanilla syrup even more! Alternatively, you can tone down the sweetness by ordering it with oat or soy milk.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Since its release in 2015, Starbucks’ cold brew coffee has become a fan favorite. Cold brew coffee is notorious for being rich but smooth. It’s brewed by steeping coffee in cold water rather than simply pouring espresso shots or coffee over ice. All this to say, if you like vanilla and cold coffee—this is the drink for you! The Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew combines ice, cold brew coffee, and two pumps of vanilla syrup. Your barista will top it with vanilla sweet cream that floats through the entire beverage, making for the perfect balance of a refreshing coffee and sweet vanilla flavor. Sweeten it with a splash of cream, or order it blended with vanilla bean powder!
Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew
The Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew is one of the most popular Starbucks vanilla drinks. However, it’s not for the faint of heart. The beverage is so caffeine-packed that you can’t order anything larger than a grande. The nitro cold brew is just what it sounds like—cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen to provide a sweet, velvety taste. After its initial launch in Seattle, it became the second top-selling drink on the menu. It includes nitro cold brew coffee and a splash of vanilla sweet cream. The result is a creamy coffee, not too sugary but not too robust. Much like the vanilla sweet cream cold brew, you can sweeten it with additions, such as half and a half or flavored syrups.
London Fog Tea Latte
Starbucks is known for far more than its sweet treats and one-of-a-kind coffee, as they also serve tea. The London Fog Tea Latte is a creamy take on Earl Gray tea. A grande-sized drink includes two percent steamed milk, milk foam, four pumps of vanilla syrup, and two tea bags. The frothed beverage is served warm and carries light citrus and lavender notes, perfect for a cold day. I typically order a London Fog Tea Latte when I feel under the weather. If the two percent milk sounds too heavy on your stomach for tea, swap it for almond, oat, or soy milk and remove the milk foam top.
Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
The Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew is a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew with a salted caramel cream foam top instead. It still contains cold brew coffee and two pumps of vanilla syrup. Hence the reason it made my list of the best Starbucks vanilla drinks! I usually order it when I’m in the mood for something slightly different. The salted caramel compliments an otherwise sweet beverage with savory notes. I enjoy it iced with a lined caramel cup and just a splash of half-and-half. Sometimes, I add whipped cream on top. If your sweet tooth is less intense than mine, order it as is!
Vanilla Latte
Despite Starbucks’ niche for creative drinks, the Vanilla Latte is beautifully simple. A vanilla latte is ideal for anyone new to coffee or just not into fancy beverages. Vanilla lattes come iced or hot, and both ways include two percent milk, four pumps of vanilla syrup, and two shots of blonde espresso. The drink is smooth, so if you prefer a robust coffee flavor, request the signature roast instead. I order an iced vanilla latte with ristretto shots when I need a little extra boost. A ristretto-styled shot is prepared with less water, making for a more concentrated espresso and a stronger coffee taste.
Vanilla Matcha Latte
Matcha is a high-quality Japanese green tea powder that is good for your health and taste buds! The Vanilla Matcha Latte is a sweet and creamy drink sure to satisfy year-round. You can order it hot and comforting or iced and refreshing. A grande includes two percent milk (steamed if hot), three scoops of matcha powder, and two pumps of vanilla syrup. Many regulars swap the two percent milk with almond milk as it is much lighter and compliments the matcha powder nicely. I top mine with whipped cream to make it a funner-looking and tasting beverage!
Cookies and Cream Cold Brew
The Cookies and Cream Cold Brew is perfect for dessert-loving caffeine addicts. It’s a secret menu item, so I’ll teach you how to order it. But before I do, beware that I always order a venti because it’s just that delicious! If you prefer a smaller size, reduce the number of pumps you request. When ordering, ask for a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew with four pumps of white mocha chocolate sauce in the drink, two pumps of mocha sauce in the cold foam, and mocha cookie crumbles on top. Once you realize this beverage tastes like Oreos in a cup with a caffeine kick, there’s no going back.
Iced Vanilla Bean Coconutmilk Latte
The Iced Vanilla Bean Coconutmilk Latte is often called Starbucks’ upside-down latte. It consists of one scoop of vanilla bean powder shaken in coconut milk and topped with two espresso shots. The iced version comes with blonde shots, and the warm version comes with signature espresso. However, you can always swap them to meet your preference. The vanilla beverage is perfect for regular coffee drinkers as it has a robust taste. I typically add two pumps of vanilla syrup to the iced version to soften the bold flavor. When I order it hot, I request a vanilla sweet cream cold foam top.
