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Rosemary SiefertUpdated: Nov. 02, 2023
Since its opening, Starbucks has put out some seriously tasty coffee creations—but which make the list for the best Starbucks drinks?
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Iced Toasted Vanilla Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
It’s a mouthful to order, but, oh, is it worth it. Starbucks’ shaken espresso comes from the Italian shakerato, which is simply chilled espresso. The toasted vanilla syrup adds a caramelized flavor to this frothy, oat milk-infused espresso beverage, making it a far stretch from the classic Italian drink. But who are we to complain when it tastes this good? It’s a real treat at any time of day, in any season.
2/27
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Pumpkin Creme Cold Brew
This is a seasonal drink that Starbucks offers in the fall. If you haven’t had a chance to try a pumpkin creme cold brew, then run—don’t walk—to your nearest Starbs the minute they drop the fall menu again. Vanilla syrup sweetens the cold brew coffee below it, while rich pumpkin creme floats and swirls at the top of the cup. The delicate balance of flavors and warm feelings of fall that this drink imparts are unmatched.
3/27
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Peppermint Mocha
Sorry, not sorry, that another top ranker is a seasonal drink, but come on! What other drink makes you feel like ice skating, present wrapping and making snow angels all at once, while giving you the energy (thank you, caffeine) to feel like you actually can multitask like a Christmas elf?
4/27
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Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
Do you see a theme here? Between seasonal drinks and shaken espresso, Starbucks really knows what they’re doing. Do we want to buy a brown sugar shaken espresso every day? Yes. Does the bank account cry a little every time we do? Double yes. Luckily, when we don’t have time to roll through the drive-thru, or when we want to save money, we can make a brown sugar shaken espresso at home.
5/27
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Pumpkin Spice Latte
It would be preposterous not to include one of the most well-known and well-loved lattes on a list of best Starbucks drinks. Of course this seasonal pumpkin drink is at the top of our rankings—the coffee chain wouldn’t be the same without their PSL.
6/27
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Iced Caramel Macchiato
Coffee purists might roll their eyes at this one—after all, a Starbucks macchiato is definitely not a real macchiato—but whatever you call it, you can’t deny that it’s delicious. While a true macchiato is a shot of espresso with a dollop of foamed milk, the Starbucks iced caramel macchiato is an extravagant concoction of espresso, vanilla syrup, milk and caramel drizzle.
7/27
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Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
The salted caramel cream cold brew makes the perfect marriage of salty and sweet. The light caramel flavor infuses the bitter cold brew and mixes with the salted creamy foam on top to give you the ideal drink when you need to satisfy your sweet tooth. It’s a winner all year round (especially when we have to wait for pumpkin creme cold brew season).
8/27
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Caffe Mocha
Essentially hot cocoa amped up with caffeine, the caffe mocha is hard to resist. When you’re tired of light lattes and regular drip coffee, a mocha is a surefire choice. When you can’t make it to Starbucks, try making a simple mocha at home. It’s one of our favorite Starbucks copycat recipes.
9/27
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Pike Place Roast
It’s hard to believe, but Starbucks did start out as a humble, single storefront in Seattle. While everything from the Starbucks logo to fanciful drink creations has changed throughout the years, one thing remains, and it’s the classic Pike Place Roast. You can grab this medium roast coffee at any location, during any time of year, and it will always be there as a comforting drip coffee when you just need a simple cup of joe.
10/27
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Vanilla Latte
A vanilla latte is to coffee shops as chicken is to restaurants. In the culinary world, it’s often said that if a restaurant offers a modest chicken on an otherwise fancy menu, that’s the sign of a good chef. In much the same way, if a coffee shop can nail a vanilla latte, you know you’ve found a good coffee shop. Luckily, Starbucks does not disappoint with their perfectly steamed, never-too-sweet vanilla latte.
11/27
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Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Coffee drinks that don’t overpower your tastebuds are always a delight. The vanilla sweet cream cold brew drink may sound sophisticated, but in reality, it’s sweet and simple. Try this cold brew if the salted caramel version is too rich for your liking.
12/27
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Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade
With all its tasty coffee drinks, it’s easy to forget that the old ‘bucks sells tea and lemonade refreshments too. The iced peach green tea lemonade is a summery blend of both, and it’s a total game-changer on hot, humid days.
13/27
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Pink Drink Refresher
Speaking of refreshments, Starbucks Refreshers are a drink we didn’t know we needed until the moment we tasted one. The Pink Drink Refresher uses strawberry acai as a base and then adds passion fruit and coconut milk to sweeten the deal.
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Strawberry Acai Lemonade Refresher
If the Pink Drink is one of your favorite Starbucks Refreshers, then chances are you’re going to love the strawberry acai lemonade version too! You can, of course, enjoy this Refresher without lemonade, but it really does add that extra thirst-quenching boost you need on a hot day.
15/27
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Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino
The vanilla bean creme Frappuccino is the base for a lot of secret menu Starbucks items, and for good reason. The simple classic doesn’t need much to make it a favorite: Vanilla bean, milk and ice blended together is as effortless as can be. Order this drink affogato-style and you’ll get a shot of espresso poured over the top.
16/27
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Iced Caffe Latte
This one is for all the latte-lovers who don’t need a bunch of syrups overpowering the coffee they crave. The original drink just uses regular milk, but you can always order it with your favorite non-dairy option. The dark espresso balances the milk perfectly.
17/27
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Dragon Drink Refresher
Dragon fruit might be one of the weirdest fruits you’ll ever eat, but it sure does make one heck of a Refresher. Mixed with sweet mango and creamy coconut milk, this drink is great for when you’re craving something refreshing that isn’t lemonade or iced tea.
18/27
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Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
Starbucks rarely opts for simplicity, and we’re not upset about all the frills added to this drink. Every sip of this liquid confection is better than the last thanks to the layers of chocolate cookie crumble and whipped cream, mocha sauce and Frappuccino chips blended with coffee and milk and vanilla-flavored whipped cream. Oh and don’t forget the drizzle of mocha sauce over the top and crumbles of chocolate cookie. Talk about dessert in a cup.
19/27
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Caramel Frappuccino
Think iced caramel macchiato meets vanilla bean Frappuccino. If you don’t run to the car just to scrape up all the caramel-drizzled whipped cream before it melts, did you even consume this Frappuccino properly? It’s a classic for good reason!
20/27
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Classic Cold Brew
This drink is not for everyone because it’s bitter and straightforward. But if you love a good cold brew, then this is a must-try. You can always add syrup or flavored cold cream to the top if the bitterness is too much but you still want to enjoy the coffee essence.
21/27
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Chai Tea Latte
A good chai tea truly warms you from within. The gentle spices should never be too overpowering, but rather make you feel like you’re getting a hug with every sip. The chai tea latte takes the spicy tea to the next level with the infusion of steamed milk and topping of foam. An added bonus is that this is a healthy Starbucks drink to order.
22/27
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Caramel Brulee Latte
If you’ve ever made a caramel creme brulee and immediately wanted it in drink form, Starbucks has finally delivered. Though it’s a seasonal drink around Christmastime, the caramel brulee latte ranks in our list of best Starbucks drinks because of its rich, dessert-like warmth.
23/27
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Strawberry Creme Frappuccino
This is an oldie but a goodie. When these first came out, you were either a grade schooler walking around the mall flaunting this pink frozen drink, or you had a grade schooler who dragged you to the food court Starbucks to order this pink frozen drink. Order a strawberry creme Frappuccino when you want a sip down memory lane.
24/27
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Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso
Chocolate and coffee are one of the best pairings, and it’s no wonder why. The sugary sweetness cuts the bitterness of coffee, creating a fusion of flavors that tastes divine. Starbucks’ iced chocolate almond milk shaken espresso satisfies chocolate cravings, but not in an overly-sugary way. It’s not as flavor-packed as the rest of these drinks, but maybe that’s what makes it so delightful.
25/27
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Iced Black Tea Lemonade
Another non-coffee option, the iced black tea lemonade (aka an Arnold Palmer) really hits the mark on hot days when coffee feels too thick and plain iced tea just doesn’t sound like enough. Remember you can always adjust your drink to your preferences. Order light or extra lemonade depending on how sweet you want it to taste.
26/27
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Flat White
Think of a flat white as a stronger version of a latte. It uses the same layers: espresso, steamed milk and foam, but in a different variation. A flat white has a much shorter (flat) layer of milk and foam, thus paving the way for more of the espresso flavor to shine through. It’s a no-nonsense drink for when you need an unembellished espresso.
27/27
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Iced Coffee with Milk
Before the cold brew craze, there was iced coffee. Plain and simple drip coffee, chilled with ice cubes and served with cold milk. The chilled drink is rather plain, but, sometimes, that’s all you need. If you don’t have time to grab one at Starbucks, try making an iced latte at home.
Originally Published: June 01, 2023
Rosemary Siefert
Rosemary has been writing and editing for digital and print publications for six years. Starting out as a freelancer for Taste of Home, she joined the team full time in 2022. She writes and edits food content and helps manage Taste of Home’s freelance community. Rosie focuses her writing on cooking tips, baking and cleaning techniques (gotta have a sparkling kitchen!). Rosie’s degrees in journalism and English from the University of Missouri contribute to her skills as an editor, while her penchant for trying new recipes and kitchen hacks shines in her writing.If Rosie isn’t making a (fun) mess in the kitchen, she’s scoping out new restaurants, trying foods she’s never heard of, holed up at a coffee shop with a book or clanging away on one of the typewriters in her collection.
