Starbucks drinks are an American staple when it comes to fast beverages. There’s always something for everyone here, no matter what kind of mood you’re in. I can tell you now that I’ve been obsessed with the convenience of a refreshing iced tea or the warmth of a hot coffee ever since I downloaded the app for ordering and picking up.
Here are 10 Starbucks drinks you didn’t know you needed. You’re welcome.
If you’re like me, sometimes you just enjoy plain coffee to start off your day. Perhaps you don’t need the extra sugar and dairy, and that’s totally okay. If you’re looking for a Starbucks drink with flavor and without additives, try their blonde roasted coffee.
There are usually notes of lemon in it and contrary to the name, it actually tastes a little darker than most other blonde roasted coffees, so you still get that extra kick you need to jumpstart your day. Even cooler, they sell the blonde roasts for you to prepare at home, including an espresso roast. My personal preference is the Sunrise Blend. Be sure to give this a try as an introduction to their beverages.
I swear, there is something addicting they are adding to their mocha sauce. Combined with steamed milk, Starbucks’ hot chocolate is a fantastic holiday treat, especially for kids. It’s a rich beverage that will take you back to your childhood and gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling of nostalgia.
But the magic doesn’t end here. Your hot chocolate comes with whipped cream at the top with a chocolate drizzle. Who gave this Starbucks drink permission to be so delicious? I’m dreaming of this hot beverage as we speak.
This is one of the Starbucks drinks that my sister-in-law goes crazy over. This beverage is served on tap, changing the flavor profile as it cools to a deliciously smooth and creamy concoction. From salted caramel to cinnamon almond milk, you can’t go wrong with any of these mixtures.
In addition, there’s a house-made sweet cream that I love to add to it. There’s a mesmerizing marbled appearance given when it’s mixed in with the brew. Be sure to add this treat to your morning order. Oh, and a few pumps of sugar-free vanilla with this won’t hurt either.
It’s always hot and humid where I live in Houston, Texas, so any Starbucks drinks that can quench my thirst are a godsend. The Strawberry Acai Refresher is heaven on earth. Packed with a scoop of real strawberries, this beverage lives up to its name as a refresher.
In addition to the strawberry flavors, this drink also contains passionfruit juice and acai notes. If I’m being honest, I barely know what an acai berry is, but I know it’s loaded with antioxidants and that’s enough to convince me that this is a drink that’s good for the soul. After a busy day outdoors, this is an essential pick-me-up and your taste buds will thank you.
Usually, this drink doesn’t appear until around the holiday season, but when it does, you need to be the first one in line for it. According to their website, the cold brews are always steeped in cold water for 20 hours. There’s no heat involved to maintain the flavor of the brew, which makes for a refreshing finish.
That’s just the cold brew portion, though. There’s more to this Starbucks drink. Once they mix in that holiday Irish cream into it, you’re instantly transported to that fun Christmas party you went to with all the dancing and singing and jolly company. Of course, Starbucks then has the audacity to overwhelm my taste buds with a topping of vanilla sweet cream and cocoa powder. I’m not complaining, though.
Okay, we are back to the hot Starbucks drinks. One of the first beverages I ever tried from here when I was younger is the cloud caramel macchiato. Not only is this drink delicious, but it also wakes you up when you’re feeling exhausted. The warmth and caffeine keep you alert and calm. It’s the perfect combination.
This coffee contains a couple of shots of espresso and steamed milk. The foam they mix it with gives that beautiful marble look that I mentioned earlier with the nitro cold brew. There’s a few pumps of vanilla and the entire thing is topped with a caramel drizzle. I look at it as a guilty pleasure when I’m in the mood to indulge myself, which is more often than I care to admit.
Speaking of indulgence, this next item on our list is another great one. I feel like the white chocolate mocha can be underrated at times. It’s rich and a great energy booster. Most people consider it a holiday drink, but I enjoy it year-round. I hope I’m not alone in this.
Like the macchiato, this is another Starbucks drink that contains a few shots of espresso. It’s mixed with steamed milk and foam and all stirred together with four pumps of the signature white chocolate mocha sauce. The entire thing is topped with whipped cream, which, if you notice, I tend to enjoy on most of my coffee choices anyways. If you love white chocolate, you will love this option.
I think some people are probably expecting me to put the world-famous Pumpkin Spice Latte on this list. Honestly, while I do appreciate a good PSL, I have come to find that this next beverage is an elevated version of one of the fall’s signature Starbucks drinks. The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is the PSL 2.0, in my opinion.
As stated before, I live in Houston, Texas. Our falls are warmer than most, so to get the taste of autumn in the form of something cool, I have to go with this tasty concoction. Like the Irish Cream Cold Brew, its foundation is steeped in the same manner. It’s combined with a couple of pumps of sweet vanilla syrup and topped with pumpkin cream foam and sprinkled with pumpkin spice above that. It…is…amazing.
Don’t sleep on this next drink. I had never even heard of matcha until Starbucks came into my life. If you haven’t heard of it until now, welcome. This is not something you want to pass up. Let’s just say it’s an elevated version of hot green tea. It’s a cozy necessity to have when you’re feeling a little blue. If you’re looking to relax, this is also a great option to aid in that as well.
The matcha is made from Japanese green tea that’s been grounded and sweetened. There are three scoops of this powder added to steamed milk. It’s a simple mixture, but the taste is exquisite and calming. It’s a small treat that’s bound to make you feel better after a long day at work or a busy schedule. Reward yourself with this latte and send me a thank you card after.
This is my number one recommendation out of all the drinks on this list and I saved it for the very end. The coffee concoctions are great, and they hold a special place in my heart. But this Starbucks drink can take all the money from my wallet. It’s sweet, sour, and refreshing. I don’t even know where to begin with this beautiful creation.
Is it the cooling sensation of green tea? Is it the juicy pleasantry of the peach blend? Is it the tasty tartness of the lemonade? Is it the fusion of all of the above along with four pumps of sugar and (because I’m insane) a scoop of strawberry puree at the bottom? This is my go-to order at Starbucks and I have no shame in this. Do yourself a favor and join me in my obsession over this. Also, be sure to order a size “Trenta” because you’ll be sad when you’ve slurped it all down.
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