25 Starbucks Drinks to Try (barista-approved!) (2024)

Are you stuck in a rut with your Starbucks order? Want to try something new and creative? This is the best list of barista-approved Starbucks drinks to try. Whether you want something hot, cold or even caffeine-free, there is an option for you.

(Related: Why Starbucks’ “Secret Menu” is a Myth.)

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Starbucks offers near limitless (over 170,000) drink combos. Some are better than others. With suggestions on TikTok, Instagram, and from your BFF, it’s hard to know what to try.

All the drinks below are approved by me, a former Starbucks barista, to be tasty and to not irritate the person making them. Many of the below modifications are even suggested by Starbucks itself!

(Related: See what Starbucks offers for their newest fall, holiday, winter, spring, and summer seasonal menus.)

Best drinks for fall

Arguably, fall is the best coffee season of the year. From pumpkin spice lattes to apple ciders, this season is amazing. Below find some creative ways to enjoy this delicious season. Many of these are even suggested by Starbucks!

• Hot Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
  A pumpkin spice chai latte should be on everyone’s fall list. Starbucks is now featuring an iced version of this drink with cold foam, but if you want a hot version, they will add pumpkin spice sauce to your chai rather than the cold foam. When ordering, if you don’t specify, you’ll receive a full amount of chai pumps and pumpkin spice pumps, so depending on your sugar tolerance, you may want to ask for half of each.
  (I even have a recipe for how to make a large batch of pumpkin spice chai at home.)

• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Coffee Frappuccino
  Pumpkin and chocolate might not be everyone’s favorite combo, but if it’s your vibe, you’ll love this. Order a Pumpkin Spice Coffee Frappuccino and add Frappuccino chips (chocolate chips). You can even add mocha drizzle if you want some extra chocolatey goodness!

(Related: Make a homemade Hazelnut Latte!)

Best drinks for the holidays

So many great coffee options abound during the holiday season, but here are a few that you probably haven’t tried. And, if you want even more ideas, find out what’s going on at Starbucks around the world.

• Hazelnut Caramel Latte
  Technically, you can order this drink all year round, but it sounds so delicious for the holiday season. Order a latte with 2 pumps of caramel syrup and 2 pumps of hazelnut syrup. And add caramel drizzle if you’re feeling fancy!

• Toffee Nut Cold Brew with Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam
  Looking for a drink that tastes like the holidays but is still cold? Order a cold brew with toffee nut syrup and topped with Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam.

• Peppermint Matcha Latte
  Add some holiday flavor to your matcha! This drink works well hot or iced, and is a delicious tea-based Starbucks option.

• White Chocolate Chai Latte
  This has been a recent holiday go-to for me. The sweetness of the white chocolate really enhances the chai spices. Another coffee chain, Dutch Bros, even calls this concoction a “Christmas Morning.” At Starbucks, order a chai and add in their white chocolate mocha sauce.

• Gingerbread Flat White
  Gingerbread syrup is a delicious addition to any coffee beverage. And since Starbucks is again using this syrup during the holidays, I highly suggest using it in a flat white, or even a latte.

(Related: Make a homemade Sugar Cookie Latte!)

Best drinks for winter

Winter is a great time for coffee drinks, whether you want something hot or cold. Try out one of these tasty drinks.

• Caramel French Vanilla Latte
  If you’re looking for something with a lot of flavor, but on the more mellow side, this is your perfect choice. If you mix hazelnut and vanilla together, you create a “French vanilla” flavor. I suggest asking for 2 pumps of vanilla syrup and 2 pumps of hazelnut and then top the drink with caramel drizzle.

• Iced White Chocolate Mocha with Pistachio Cream Cold Foam
  There’s something about iced drinks during the winter months, and this is a great choice. It’s even recommended by Starbucks itself. Ordering it is fairly simple, ask for an Iced White Mocha and add Pistachio Cold Foam.

• Iced Pistachio Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso
  Another great way to enjoy the seasonal pistachio sauce is to add it to the Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso. Chocolate with pistachio is a classic combination and will make a delicious drink. Just ask for pistachio sauce to be included with the shaken espresso.

• Pink Drink with Chocolate Cream Cold Foam
  Starbucks has promoted this as a Valentine’s Day drink, and it’s easy to see why. The strawberry and chocolate combo is traditional for the holiday and the colors together look amazing!

• White Chocolate Peach Tea
  Sometimes you just need a caffeine-free drink to warm you up during the winter, and this drink is a great go-to. Simply order an herbal Peach Tranquility hot tea and add in white chocolate mocha sauce.

Best drinks for spring

• Iced Matcha with Coconutmilk and Peach Juice
  Honestly, this drink just tastes like spring! Both the matcha and peach blend together for a flavorful cold treat.

• Honey Brown Sugar Latte
  If you are looking for something that is sweet and feels like a hug, this is your drink. Just order a latte with the honey blend sweeter and brown sugar syrup, and you’ll be set.

• Toasted Vanilla Chocolate Flat White
  Looking for a drink with a fun twist? Order a flat white and add 2 pumps of mocha sauce and 2 pumps of toasted vanilla syrup.

• Hazelnut Oatmilk White Chocolate Mocha Latte
  This drink gives baked goods vibes. Yes, you can order it with a different milk, but oat milk just enhances the flavor combo. Order a white chocolate mocha with oat milk and add hazelnut syrup.

• Caramel Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino
  This frappuccino is caffeine-free and great for an afternoon treat or something for the kids. Order a Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino and add caramel. Don’t forget to ask for a caramel drizzle too!

(Related: How to make a Matcha Frappuccino at home!)

Best drinks for summer

Summer is the best time to try out all of the iced and cold beverage options at Starbucks. There are plenty of ways to cool down and get your caffeine fix at the same time!

(Related: Make the Frozen Strawberry Açaí Lemonade Refresher at home!)

• Cold Brew with Lemonade
  This drink may not be for everyone, but it is even a recommended drink idea from Starbucks itself! It’s a definite refreshing pick-me-up. Order it as a cold brew and ask for lemonade to be added!

• Chocolate Chip Strawberry Crème Frappuccino
  This one is great for the kids or if you are looking for a milkshake-like drink sans caffeine. Order a Strawberry Crème Frappucino and ask for Frappuccino chips to be added. Don’t worry, “Frappuccino chips” are really just small chocolate chips with no coffee included.
  

• Iced Hazelnut Caramel Macchiato
  When I was a barista, this was my fave summer drink. I don’t know what it is about adding the hazelnut, but I love it so much! Order an Iced Caramel Macchiato but instead of vanilla syrup, request pumps of hazelnut syrup.

• Strawberry Matcha Lemonade
  If you want a refreshing tea-based summer drink, give this one a try! Order an Iced Matcha Lemonade with strawberry inclusions.

• Caramel Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
  Adding caramel is a great way to enhance this drink. Order a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew but sub out caramel syrup for the vanilla, and add additional caramel drizzle. If you’re feeling extra fancy, upgrade to an extra splash of vanilla sweet cream.
  

• S’mores Cold Brew
  This tasty drink will remind you of making s’mores while camping out. This is the most high-maintenance drink, but it’s worth it! To get this flavor, you need to combine four different syrups/sauces.

  When ordering, order a cold brew with 1 pump vanilla syrup, 1 pump cinnamon dolce syrup, 1 pump honey blend sweeter, and 2 pumps mocha sauce. Then ask to top the drink with vanilla sweet cream cold foam and mocha drizzle. If you are feeling adventurous (and have the extra money), top with the cinnamon dolce sprinkles. I suggest ordering it in a grande or larger so the flavors balance well. (Tip: You can also order these flavors in a coffee Frappucino!)

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