There’s a lot to love about Starbucks. They’ve got everything from classic black coffee to a
wide assortment of sweet coffee mixes to satisfy any sweet tooth. Aside from their great-tasting
coffee, there’s also their constant innovation — leading to many of the best drinks available at
any coffee chain — and their ability to be quite literally everywhere.
However, the best part about Starbucks is the wide customization options they offer. Each
customer has the ability to fully customize their order, which can change your entire coffee shop
experience. While their regular and seasonal offers are amazing on their own, the option to add
or remove ingredients according to your liking definitely draws in more customers.
Let’s take a look at some of the best old and new drinks from Starbucks, including custom
orders from the famed secret menu and classic offerings straight off of the Starbucks menu.
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Best Viral Starbucks Drinks
Being able to add however many pumps of syrup and whatever fruit bits or types of milk you
want has given birth to countless viral Starbucks drinks, making it the best way to garner lots of
traction with your drink of choice on social media. Although the Starbucks secret menu doesn’t
officially exist, we can easily order viral custom drinks as seen on social media as long as we
know its inclusions.
If you’re ordering any of these viral secret menu items, remember to tip your nice barista for
their extra effort on your drink.
Here are some of the best Starbucks drinks that went viral on social media and how to order
them:
Pink Drink
Kicking off our list of best Starbucks drinks is the widely popular Pink Drink. This has actually
graduated from being one of the famed secret menu drinks to being on the regular beverage
menu in the U.S. since 2017, along with their other Starbucks refreshers. It went viral again after
the coffee chain launched it in other countries this year.
The Pink Drink is a refreshing mix of the Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refreshers base, coconut
milk, and strawberry slices. The drink tastes like a light and smooth strawberry milkshake that’s
perfect for summer — and for the ‘gram.
There have been several variations of the Pink Drink. The TikTok Matcha Pink Drink adds
vanilla sweet cold foam and matcha powder, blended right into the foam, to the base Pink Drink
recipe. However, be warned that the cold foam makes this already sweet drink even sweeter!
Purple Drink
For non-pink lovers, there’s another color-based drink that has been widely shared online — the
Purple Drink. Also called the Violet Drink in some circles, this beverage can go toe to toe with
the Pink Drink in both aesthetics and refreshing flavor.
Although it’s no longer on the official menu, it’s easy to request this from your favorite Starbucks
barista. Simply order a venti Passion Tea with soy milk or your choice of milk, three scoops of
vanilla bean powder or vanilla syrup, light ice, and a scoop of either blackberries or blueberries.
Moon Drink
Next on our list of best viral Starbucks drinks is another off-menu item: the Moon Drink. This
drink made rounds on Instagram and TikTok after people described it as tasting “like the moon”.
This drink certainly packs a lot of flavor for your taste buds. To order a Moon Drink, ask for an
Iced Matcha Latte with added oat milk, chai syrup, and brown sugar syrup. Though not a coffee-
based beverage, this concoction will give you the right amount of sugar and caffeine to get you
through the day.
Sunset Drink
For an ice-cold but dairy-free beverage, we urge you to try the TikTok-famous Sunset Drink next
time you’re at the cafe. Named for its gorgeous ombre of sunset colors, this red, orange, and
yellow drink has a tangy and refreshing tropical taste that’s perfect for summer.
There are a couple of ways to order this lemonade-based drink, as per different viral videos.
You can ask for a venti Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade with no fruit bits, added peach juice, and
added Iced Passion Tango Tea. Alternatively, it can also be made with a venti lemonade, peach
juice, pineapple syrup, and light Passion Tango Tea on top of the ice. Others yet make it with
Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade, raspberry syrup, and Passion Tango Tea.
The TikTok Drink
Simply called the “TikTok Drink,” this is yet another beverage that builds on the tasty Strawberry
Acai Refresher. To turn the refresher into this concoction, ask your Starbucks barista to add two
scoops of freeze-dried strawberries, three scoops of freeze-dried blackberries, and a grande
scoop of ice.
Then, ask them to blend the drink altogether. The result is a special smoothie that will perfectly
cool you off and replenish your energy.
Another great thing about all the Starbucks refresher drinks is that it isn’t pure fruit juice — it
contains caffeine, too. Although the drinks don’t taste like coffee, all refreshers are lightly
caffeinated. This is because they’re made with green coffee extract from unroasted arabica
beans.
Best Starbucks Drinks for Coffee Aficionados
Starbucks may have a wealth of non-caffeinated offerings, but at its core, it is still very much a
haven for coffee lovers. The coffee chain offers a diverse range of coffee drinks, from tried and
tested classics to delightful and limited-time seasonal offerings.
The next time you find yourself in Starbucks, try some of these coffee drinks instead of your
usual order:
Pumpkin Spice Latte
No list of the best Starbucks drinks is complete without the much-loved and much-awaited
Pumpkin Spice Latte, or just the PSL. This hot drink has become synonymous with the fall
season and is a popular choice for anyone who loves pumpkin spice or just wants to enjoy a
cozy, comforting drink.
The PSL is made with a double shot of espresso, four pumps of pumpkin sauce, and steamed
milk. It’s then topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice. This drink is also available as an
iced drink for the warmer days before the cool fall weather fully hits.
This crowd favorite also has a cold brew version; the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is perfect for
anyone who wants an iced drink, no matter the temperature outside. It combines regular brewed
black coffee with pumpkin cream cold foam, pumpkin spice topping, and vanilla syrup.
Blonde Vanilla Latte
Some people may consider the Blonde Vanilla Latte to be a plain jane, but this is the perfect
drink for anyone who prefers the flavor of light-roasted coffee. This latte uses blonde espresso
roast beans to deliver as much of the coffee’s natural flavors as possible. The addition of vanilla
instantly differentiates this latte from the Blonde Flat White while adding floral notes and a
caramel-like flavor.
This lighter-bodied and mellow coffee is silky smooth and inviting. It also has a natural
sweetness to it, which means you can cut down on the usual four pumps of vanilla syrup without
any bitterness.
Nitro Cold Brew with Sweet Cream
It may look like any regular cold brew black coffee with cream, but don’t be fooled by the Nitro
Cold Brew with Sweet Cream.
Cold brews are coffee slowly steeped for a long time, even up to 24 hours, in cool or room
temperature water, rather than hot water. To make them “nitro”, the cold coffee is stored in a
keg and infused with nitrogen as it’s poured into our cups. This infuses the coffee with a thick
froth of bubbles on top, akin to freshly poured Guinness from a tap.
The addition of the sweet cream foam makes the drink even smoother and creamier. The drink
tastes sweet despite having a low sugar content, and best of all, it packs 265 milligrams of
caffeine into only 70 calories.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
This drink is very similar to the Nitro Cold Brew with Sweet Cream. The only real difference is
the vanilla sweet cream. Like the Nitro Cold Brew version, this coffee drink packs a lot of
caffeine and minimal calories, making it one of the “healthier” coffee options on the Starbucks
Menu.
The tall size of this drink caps at only 100 calories and 12 grams of sugar while still giving
coffee lovers all of the caffeine they need for the day.
Iced Caramel Macchiato
The Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato is an oldie but a goodie. For many people, this is their
go-to drink — and perhaps even their first ever order at Starbucks way back when.
Made with a single espresso shot, milk, vanilla syrup, and caramel drizzle, this crowd-favorite is
creamy and sweet. Still, it’s not too sweet that you can no longer taste the coffee. This iced
coffee is great for anyone who wants a creamy, velvety drink and a caffeine and sugar-induced
energy boost.
Iced Toasted Vanilla Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
The Iced Toasted Vanilla Oat Milk Shaken Espresso can be quite a mouthful but succinctly
describes how to create this drink. Made with blonde espresso and caramelized vanilla, it’s
shaken together with oat milk and a lot of ice — perfect for the last days of summer.
This is one of Starbucks’ newest additions to its menu. We love it for its shaken, creamy
texture, lovely blonde roast, and just-right sweetness from the toasted vanilla syrup. Of course,
if you’re not a fan of oat milk, you can ask your barista to substitute it with your milk of choice,
like almond milk, soy milk, or even whole milk.
White Chocolate Mocha
This white mocha drink is a simple but well-loved drink, being one of the coffee chain’s most
popular orders — even with all the viral drinks going around social media. Made with two shots
of espresso, steamed milk foam, white chocolate sauce, and fluffy whipped cream, the drink
offers delightfully sweet and chocolatey goodness.
The White Chocolate Mocha is perfect for those times when you need caffeine but want the
comfort of hot chocolate. Although this is often ordered as a hot drink, its iced latte version is
just as delicious.
Peppermint Mocha
Get into the Christmas spirit anytime of the year with the Peppermint Mocha. This festive coffee
is made with four pumps each of mocha sauce and peppermint syrup, steamed milk, and two
espresso shots. It’s topped generously with whipped cream.
If you’re not much of a PSL drinker, you can get this festive drink instead. There’s a catch
though — the drink may be available all year round, but the chocolate curls sprinkled on top and
the red holiday cup only come out during the holiday season.
Best Starbucks Drinks for Frappuccino Lovers
Starbucks’ hot drinks are the best for those cold, late nights at the office and during the fall and
winter seasons. But if you’re living in the perpetually hot and sunny West Coast, then blended
frappes may be more of what you need.
Frappuccinos are the perfect blend of coffee and dessert — just remember to keep an eye on
the calorie content! If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll surely love one of the following frappe
Drinks.
Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
The Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino might sound like something from the secret Starbucks
menu, but it’s actually an official menu item. It’s a rich, chocolate cookie and cream drink,
making it a huge hit among the younger crowd and chocolate lovers.
This blended drink is made with mocha sauce, frappuccino chips, whole milk, and three pumps
of Frappuccino roast. It’s then topped with whipped cream, mocha drizzle, and a cookie
crumble. If you’re counting calories, you can substitute whole milk with nonfat milk.
Java Chip Frappuccino
Here’s another permanent menu item for chocolate lovers: the Java Chip Frappe. This
frappuccino is the ideal blend of coffee, chocolate java chips, and mocha sauce. Each sip still
gives you a taste of the roasted coffee beans amid the chocolate and mocha goodness.
The Java Chip Frappe is a great option for those afternoons when you can’t decide what snack
to get with your coffee or to cap off a quick lunch at Starbucks — it’s essentially a dessert in a
drink.
Cinnamon Roll Frappuccino
Going back to the secret menu, one of the best frappes you can get is the Cinnamon Roll
Frappuccino. This drink puts a spin on both the classic baked dessert and its sweet coffee
frappuccinos. It tastes just like a fresh cinnamon roll but colder and better for hot weather.
To order this frappe, ask for a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino. Then, request the following inclusions
for a venti-sized drink: three pumps of white mocha syrup, three pumps of cinnamon dolce
syrup, and cinnamon dolce powder on top of the whipped heavy cream.
Strawberry Creme Frappuccino
If neither coffee nor chocolate is your choice of drink, try the Strawberry Creme Frappuccino
instead. This creamy, fruity frappe not only has a cute, instagrammable pink color, but it’s also cool
and refreshing. The pink color contrasts nicely with the red of the strawberry puree.
The blended beverage is made with whole milk, strawberry puree, two pumps of classic syrup,
and a generous topping of whipped cream. It may not have caffeine, but it can still give you a
sugar rush if you need that boost of energy.
S’mores Frappuccino
Speaking of desserts in drink form, we can’t forget to include the S’mores Frappuccino in our list
of best Starbucks drinks. This blended beverage was widely popular a few years back, though it
isn’t part of the official drink lineup. If you still want to taste this drink’s chocolate and
marshmallow flavor, there are a few ways to get your fix.
First, order a Java Chip Frappe. Then, ask your Starbucks barista to add cinnamon dolce syrup
and toffee nut syrup, blend in the whipped cream, and top it off with more whipped cream and
cinnamon dolce sprinkles.
Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
Elevate the classic Caramel Frappe with this new version of the drink, featuring a generous
helping of dark caramel syrup for a stronger, slightly toasted but still buttery taste of caramel.
The Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino is another great dessert frappe that still has coffee
flavoring. This blended beverage contains frappuccino roast and five pumps of dark caramel
sauce. Its whipped cream is topped with caramel crunch and caramel drizzle, making this an
exceptionally sweet treat.
Best Starbucks Drinks for Non-Coffee Drinkers
Starbucks may be a coffee shop first and foremost, but it doesn’t lack in its tea and juice
offerings, either. These range from the kid-friendly classic hot chocolate to the caffeine-heavy
black tea. The coffee chain also has an assortment of hot herbal tea and iced tea refreshers on
its menu.
If you love Starbucks but aren’t the biggest fan of coffee, then check out the following hot and
cold drinks.
Chai Latte
First on our list of the best tea drinks in Starbucks is the classic Chai Latte. If you need a
caffeine kick, then consider this drink instead of the matcha latte, which has less caffeine. Fans
of chai tea love this drink.
The Chai Latte tastes amazing both as a hot drink and as an iced beverage. It offers a perfect
blend of spices, creaminess, and sweetness. If you need a little more sugar though, you can
add a couple of vanilla syrup shots.
One of the drink’s secret menu variations, the Dirty Chai Iced Latte, is an excellent choice for a
hot summer afternoon. Just order an iced chai latte with a shot of espresso to give you the
energy boost you need.
London Fog Tea Latte
The Teavana London Fog Tea Latte is perfect for chilly or rainy days, especially for curling up
with a book or watching a cozy movie. This creamy tea latte will surely help warm up your
insides — both physically and metaphorically.
The London Fog Tea Latte contains four pumps of vanilla syrup, steamed hot milk, and two tea
bags of classic Earl Gray tea. The Italian bergamot blend of the tea gives the drink subtle notes
of citrus and lavender that pair perfectly with the added vanilla flavor.
Iced Matcha Tea Latte
Matcha lovers can’t get enough of Starbucks’ Iced Matcha Tea Latte. The smooth and creamy
sweetened matcha goes well with the steamed milk. Plus, since matcha is naturally foamy and
thick, it acts as a perfect latte base while giving earthy notes you can’t find in regular coffee
Lattes.
If you haven’t tried this drink yet and need a good reason to do so, matcha or green tea is a
great alternative to coffee. Not only does it still have caffeine, but it’s also packed with antioxidants.
RELATED: If you are looking to save money at Starbucks, check out the Cheapest Drinks at Starbucks!
Starbucks Drinks for Every Occasion
Starbucks has managed to ingrain itself in our everyday lives thanks to its custom drinks,
presence on every corner, and convenience. Thanks to this, Starbucks is more than just a
coffee chain — it’s a lifestyle and a huge part of people’s work culture.
Whether you order through the Starbucks app or drop by one of the many Starbucks locations,
try out these five-star drinks to earn more Stars and redeem more free drinks and food.
