16 Best Things To Order From Starbucks: Food And Beverages

There’s a reason why Starbucks is the most popular coffeehouse brand in the world.

Not only can you find a Starbucks branch quite literally anywhere, but their vast range of drinks available makes it an incredibly diverse brand.

Whether you want a good cup of coffee or a caffeine-free iced beverage, Starbucks has a lot to offer. 

So, what are the best things to order from Starbucks? If you’ve never been to Starbucks before, the menu can look excessive and daunting.

Alternatively, if you’ve only ever had mediocre experiences from Starbucks, it might be because you’re not ordering the best items on the menu. 

Here are the 16 best things to order from Starbucks, including both food and beverages. 

Best Hot Drinks To Order From Starbucks

There’s a myriad of hot drink options available at Starbucks.

For the most part, Starbucks offers customizable drinks that can be altered in size, flavor, type of milk, and how much coffee you want. 

Here are the main things you can customize with hot beverages:

• Size: There are 5 cup sizes available for hot drinks at Starbucks – Demi, Short, Tall, Grande, and Venti (hot). 
• Flavor: You can add flavored syrups, such as vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, and more. 
• Type of milk: Ask for a different type of milk, such as plant-based options. 
• Extras: Add an extra shot of espresso or whipped cream. 

White Chocolate Mocha 

It’s time for coffee snobs to get a taste of this white chocolate mocha. Anyone who says they don’t like mocha will change their minds immediately with this Starbucks classic.

It’s a popular option among Starbucks’s young customers for a reason!

This is like a regular mocha, consisting of two shots of smooth espresso (depending on the cup size), steamed milk of your choice, and chocolate.

Except, the chocolate sauce is white chocolate, making for a creamy alternative to the classic milk chocolate. 

Also, swapping the milk chocolate for white chocolate lowers the caffeine content of the mocha. This is because white chocolate contains no caffeine. 

Espresso Macchiato

If you’re more of a classic coffee drinker, check out the espresso macchiato. This coffee consists of one or two shots of smooth espresso with steamed milk sitting on top.

It’s strong and delicious, and certain to wake you up in the morning. 

Interestingly, macchiato means “stained” in Italian, which refers to the milk that sits on top of the espresso.

This coffee will teleport you to the streets of a European city – perfect to drink outside in the sunshine. 

Cappuccino 

You can’t go wrong with a classic cappuccino. Starbucks is renowned for its Italian-inspired menu, and they certainly nail it with their classic Italian cappuccinos. 

The Starbucks cappuccino consists of a single shot of smooth espresso and foamy milk of your choice. You can choose to add a sprinkle of cocoa powder on top for additional sweetness. 

This coffee goes particularly well with a croissant for breakfast!

Pumpkin Spiced Latte

We couldn’t write this list without mentioning the humble pumpkin-spiced latte, could we?

Starbucks is known for a lot of things, but it’s particularly renowned for its seasonal drinks menu – specifically its pumpkin-spiced latte. 

This hot drink consists of a shot of espresso, warm milk, and pumpkin spiced syrup. Contrary to the name, the syrup tastes more like cinnamon and cloves than pumpkin.

It’s comforting and tastes like fall in a mug, and is a must-order from the menu. 

Caffé Americano 

Nothing is more classic Starbucks than a caffé Americano.

Americanos are the epitome of Italian-meets-American cuisine, as the drink originated from American soldiers stationed in Italy in the Second World War.

They found the Italian espresso too strong to drink alone, so they added hot water, creating the humble Americano we know and love today. 

This drink consists of two shots of espresso poured over hot water. While you can add milk and/or sugar, this drink is designed to be consumed black and unsweetened. 

Caramel Macchiato

As the name suggests, a caramel macchiato is like a regular macchiato, but with a sweet twist.

Not only does it include vanilla-flavored syrup, but this drink is larger than a classic macchiato, and makes for a beautiful warm cup of java. 

Of course, this macchiato is smothered with caramel drizzle on top. While it might sound similar to a flavored latte, the caramel macchiato is distinctly stronger, as it contains less milk.

You can also add an extra shot of espresso. 

Blonde Vanilla Latte 

As well as its range of drinks, Starbucks offers several coffee blends depending on the branch and time of year.

The blonde coffee is best for those who enjoy coffee, but don’t like the strength of some of the more potent coffee blends, such as Pike Place. 

Blonde vanilla lattes consist of blonde espresso, warm steamed milk, and vanilla syrup.

This coffee is most popular among those who are new to the world of coffee, or maybe just want a sweet kick. It’s also a surprisingly calming drink, despite the caffeine, thanks to the steamed milk. 

Signature Hot Chocolate 

If there’s one thing that Starbucks does right, it’s comforting warm drinks. The signature hot chocolate is no exception. Perfect for a winter’s evening or morning, this hot chocolate is full-bodied, rich, creamy, and oh-so-decadent. 

While this drink is sweet enough as it is, you can also add flavored syrups. Otherwise, sit back and enjoy the signature hot chocolate with biscotti. 

Matcha Tea Latte 

Matcha tea lattes are becoming increasingly more popular and for good reason.

This drink consists of ground green tea leaves, whisked into hot water, and poured over hot steamed milk of your choice.

It’s a low caffeine drink compared to a regular latte, and is packed with a range of health benefits. 

Matcha is certainly an acquired taste, and is fairly earthy and grassy at first. However, you can add flavored syrups to make the matcha taste less like grass, such as vanilla or hazelnut. 

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

A true winter classic is the peppermint hot chocolate. Starbucks is known for its sweet hot chocolates, and adding peppermint to the mix makes for a delicious festive treat.

This cup of cocoa is sweet, decadent, and satisfyingly minty. No combination of flavors works better than chocolate and peppermint, after all. 

Best Cold Drinks To Order From Starbucks

Just like the hot drinks, there are lots of customization options available for cold drinks at Starbucks.

The difference is that you can’t get cold drinks in a Demi, but you can get cold drinks in a Trenta, which is the largest option available!

Coffee Frappuccino

Coffee frappuccinos are basically the first sign that the warm months are coming in.

This drink is like a cold coffee smoothie, consisting of coffee, ice, milk, and sugar. It’s sweet, cold, and certain to give you a satisfying brain freeze. 

This frappuccino typically comes with whipped cream and no added syrup, though you can customize it to your taste. 

Caramel Frappuccino 

If you add caramel syrup to your coffee frappuccino, it turns into a caramel frappuccino! This is certainly not one of those who don’t have a sweet tooth, but if you do, you’re in for a treat. 

The caramel frappuccino consists of coffee, ice, milk, and caramel syrup. It’s sweet with a hint of saltiness, like salted caramel.

This drink is best consumed on a hot summer’s day.

S’mores Frappuccino 

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you have to check out the s’mores frappuccino at Starbucks.

They have transformed the old campfire classic into a tasty beverage, consisting of blended coffee, ice, marshmallow whipped cream, chocolate sauce, vanilla syrup, and more whipped cream on top.

Of course, it’s sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs. 

This frappuccino is a true summer classic and will satisfy any milkshake-like cravings. It’s almost definitely going to bring back memories of singing around the campfire. 

The Pink Drink (Strawberry Acai Refresher)

Just as the pumpkin spiced latte is the hallmark of fall, the Pink Drink is the hallmark of summer when it comes to Starbucks drinks.

Popularized by influencers, this iconic pink drink is refreshing, hydrating, and just the right mix between sweet and bitter. 

The Pink Drink is made of coconut milk, a strawberry acai base, and real strawberries. When you have one of these drinks, you have to take an Instagram-worthy photo of it. It’s basically the law at this point. 

Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew 

If you’re a fan of bold flavors, check out the vanilla sweet cream cold brew at Starbucks. This isn’t like a regular cold brew, which is strong enough as it is.

Instead, the inclusion of vanilla sweet cream makes for a deliciously sweet and refreshing drink that tastes like an ice cream float. 

The ice is a must-have with this drink, as it helps to dilute the powerful flavors of the coffee and sweet cream. Still, it’s addictive, and likely to be your new favorite drink at Starbucks. 

Iced Green Tea Lemonade

You don’t have to have coffee at Starbucks! The iced green tea lemonade is a particular hit in summer – it’s zingy, satisfyingly bitter, and just with the right amount of sweetness to keep your taste buds happy. 

This drink consists of brewed green tea and ice, topped with lemonade. It’s a good option for those who want a low-caffeine drink, with just enough caffeine to give you a little buzz.

There are other flavors available, such as the peach iced tea lemonade. 

Also, you can add fruits, such as dragonfruit, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, and kiwi!

Best Food To Order From Starbucks

Starbucks isn’t just renowned for its range of drinks. The popular coffeehouse also has a myriad of food items available, ranging from sweet snacks to lunch items! 

Here are some of our favorite foods to order from Starbucks.

• Greek yogurt parfaits
• Cake pops
• Butter croissant
• Roasted tomato & mozzarella panini
• Chili cheese toast
• New York cheesecake
• Lemon loaf cake
• Red velvet loaf cake
• Cinnamon morning bun

Summary 

So, there you have it! Starbucks has a myriad of options available on their menu. If you’re lucky enough to spot one of these items on your nearest Starbucks menu, make sure to try them out. 

Ready for more? Take a look at our favorite foods from Buc-ee’s here.

Frequently Asked Questions