10 Best Starbucks Drink

Since opening its first coffee shop over 4 decades ago, Starbucks has gone on to become one of the most reputable brands in the coffee retail sector and food industry in general.

Despite the huge competition from many other coffee chains over the years, Starbucks continues to be the most popular option for coffee lovers in the USA and many European countries.

And what gives them an edge over their many competitors is their ability to deliver high-quality drinks consistently. Also, many of their customers love them because of their wide variety of beverage options as they always seem to have something for everyone regardless of age and tastes.

Whether you are one of their many loyal customers or a new one, their wider variety of options can be very confusing. But, here we help you narrow down your choices by looking at 10 of the best Starbucks drinks based on their popularity.

1. Vanilla Latte

Main Ingredients: Brewed espresso, milk, and vanilla syrup

Nutritional Info (for 16 fl oz serving size): 240 calories, 31 grams sugar, 7 grams total fat, 12 grams protein and 170mg caffeine

If you love lattes, the Vanilla Latte is what you need to order the next time you are in your favorite Starbucks outlet because besides being delicious, it is surprisingly healthier than many other coffee types.

Also, like with most of their other coffee types, you will get an opportunity to customize it further to suit your specific needs. You can get the iced version or even go with their smooth and delightful Blonde Vanilla Latte.

And if you want to make this drink even healthier and less sweet, you can swap out the vanilla syrup for the sugar-free type. Also, you can opt for a Skinny Vanilla Latte that will only have around 100 calories because, besides the sugar-free vanilla syrup, it also uses nonfat milk.

All in all, regardless of which variation of the Vanilla Latte you opt for you can be sure that you will be in a for a treat as it is one of the best Starbucks hot drinks options.

2. Pumpkin Spice Latte

Main Ingredients: Brewed espresso, milk, pumpkin spice sauce, whipped cream, and pumpkin spice topping

Nutritional Info (for 16 fl oz serving size): 380 calories, 50 grams sugar, 14 grams total fat, 14 grams protein and 150mg caffeine

It is common to hear people order the PSL at Starbucks, and if you are new to these coffee shops, you will probably be wondering what is that and look forward to seeing what they get. But, PSL simply stands for the Pumpkin Spice Latte which is one of the most popular Starbucks drinks.

This espresso-based beverage brings you a delightful combination of flavors which will include pumpkin, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. And these are not just extracts but the real thing, and if you combine this with the creaminess and smooth texture of the milk plus the boldness of the espresso, you have an unforgettable beverage.

And while this drink packs a lot of calories, it is still possible to make it healthier by cutting down on the pumpkin spice sauce as it contains most of the sugar. Despite this being more of a holiday drink, you can still enjoy it anytime you want as it is often available all year round in many Starbucks outlets.

3. White Chocolate Mocha

Main Ingredients: Brewed espresso, white chocolate mocha sauce, milk, and whipped cream

Nutritional Info (for 16 fl oz serving size): 420 calories, 49 grams sugar, 20 grams total fat, 11 grams protein and 150mg caffeine

Anyone that loves mochas, will fall in love with the White Chocolate Mocha by Starbucks, and the fact that many coffee lovers will admit that it is one of the most delicious coffee they have ever tasted is enough indication of this.

This calorie-rich drink has all those comforting things that many people look for in a sweet coffee drink from frothed milk to whipped cream, but the never-disappointing white chocolate mocha sauce is still the star of the show.

And despite this being a sweet and creamy beverage, somehow you are still able to feel the richness and boldness of the espresso which gives you an even more rewarding experience.

You can get White Chocolate Mocha in both hot and cold versions. The hot variation is perfect for the cold and gloomy days while the cold or iced version is just what you need on a hot summer day to cool down the body.

4. Strawberry Açai Refresher

Main Ingredients: Strawberry Acai base, ice, and freeze-dried strawberries

Nutritional Info (for 16 fl oz serving size): 90 calories, 20 grams sugar, 0 grams total fat, 0 grams protein and 45mg caffeine

If your idea of a delicious Starbucks drink is something sweet and cold, the Strawberry Acai Refresher is one of the best options that you will get on most of their outlets.

What makes this such as special drink is that it has everything in moderation, and so it will be perfect for almost anyone including kids and those that are checking their weight. But of course, if you are allergic to strawberries, it is a wise idea to keep away from this one.

The drink has only 90 calories which are fewer than most other beverages you can get at Starbucks with the plain espressos and drip coffee variations not considered. However, what many of its drinkers will love most is the fact that it contains no fats at all.

And while it is might not have some espresso or black coffee, this is still a caffeinated beverage with up to 45mg caffeine thanks to the green coffee extract.

5. Salted Caramel Mocha 

Main Ingredients: Brewed espresso, mocha sauce, milk, toffee nut syrup, whipped cream, caramel sauce, and sea salt topping

Nutritional Info (for 16 fl oz serving size): 470 calories, 59 grams sugar, 16 grams fat, 13 grams protein and 175mg caffeine

Salt is often added to coffee to make it less bitter but Starbucks seems to have other ideas as they use sea salt to create their sumptuous Salted Caramel Mocha which is quite a popular drink with a loyal following.

This espresso-based beverage brings out several amazing flavors because, besides the sea salt topping, it also has various other components such as toffee nut syrup and caramel sauce that give it a unique profile and very addictive flavor.

Salted Caramel Mocha is a fall beverage that has been Starbucks mainstay for many years now, and the fact that they are still serving it in most of their outlets shows that there is something special about it, and so you need to try it the soonest possible.

6. Unicorn Frappuccino

Main Ingredients: Crème Frappuccino syrup, milk, pink powder, ice, mango syrup, sour blue powder, and blue drizzle

Nutritional Info (for 24 fl oz serving size):  500 calories, 76 grams sugar, 18 grams fat

Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino caused a buzz when it came into the market sometime in 2017, and there was a lot of talk about everything from its flavors to the overall appearance. This drink had an almost equal share of fanatics and critics.

But, one thing that is for sure is that a couple of years ago, it was quite popular and among Starbucks' best-selling beverages. And this is more so for people with a sweet tooth as a typical 24-ounce serving size contained up to 76 grams of sugar making it one of the best sweet Starbucks drinks.

While it might not be as popular as it was when it first came out, you can still get this drink in a huge chunk of Starbucks outlets. However, before you make that order, it is important to remember that it packs up to 500 calories, and so if you are watching your weight, you should probably skip this menu item.

7. Chai Latte

Main Ingredients: Chai tea concentrate, milk, and water

Nutritional Info (for 16 fl oz serving size): 240 calories, 42 grams sugar, 4.5 grams total fat, 8 grams protein and 95mg caffeine

For the tea lovers looking for a top-rated Starbucks drink, a good old Chai Latte should do the trick as it is the kind of beverage that will appeal to almost any taste and preference because it seems to get everything right from the flavors to the texture.

This drink brings out some amazing flavors despite it only having three ingredients. These flavors stem from the chai tea concentrate which is black tea infused with different flavors such as cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and various other natural flavors.

The presence of several herbs in the tea concentrate also means that despite this being a sweet and high calories drink, it will still pack many healthy components.

Better yet, these spices are always heartwarming, and if you add in the creaminess of the milk, you get an unbeatable sweet and spicy balance. This makes this one of the best warm Starbucks drinks for you when you just want to sit back and calm your nerves on a gloomy day.

8. Green Tea Latte

Main Ingredients: Green tea blend, water, and milk

Nutritional Info (for 16 fl oz serving size): 240 calories, 32 grams sugar, 7 grams total fat, 12 grams protein, 80mg caffeine

Green Tea latte is another great Starbucks beverage option for tea lovers. But, what makes it even more special is that it is a healthier drink option given the many health benefits that are associated with green tea.

What's more, this tea drink still packs enough caffeine to give you the kick you need to face the day ahead because the 80mg caffeine is good enough for a non-coffee beverage. And the 240 calories are just enough to give you some energy but not too much to cause significant weight concerns.

Overall, this tea will be smooth and creamy thanks to the addition of the milk, and it will also be lightly sweetened which means it will appeal to those with a sweet tooth. To crown it all, the green color of the tea topped with foamy milk gives it a unique overall appearance.

9. London Fog

Main Ingredients: Black tea infusion, milk, and vanilla syrup

Nutritional Info (for 16 fl oz serving size): 180 calories, 29 grams sugar, 4 grams total fat, 7 grams protein and 40mg caffeine

London fog is a classic Canadian tea drink that is the perfect coffee alternative, and over the years, its popularity has been on steady growth in the USA among tea lovers.

Because it is made with an infusion of black tea which contains different ingredients such as bergamot essence and lavender flowers, it will have both nice flavors and a unique aroma that will make you want to take more.

And because in most instances Earl Grey tea is what is used, you will still get that nice foaminess associated with lattes but without the high caffeine dosses that come with espresso. This drink will contain only around 40mg caffeine which means you can take it any time of the day that you wish without worrying about insomnia, and the tea is also very soothing and comforting.

For the hot summer days, there is also the Iced London Fog Tea Latte which is a cold drink with lots of ice to cool you down.

10. Iced Caramel Macchiato

Main Ingredients: Brewed espresso, caramel sauce, vanilla syrup, milk, and ice

Nutritional Info (for 16 fl oz serving size): 250 calories, 34 grams sugar, 7 grams total fat, 10 grams protein and 150mg caffeine

There is no doubt that the Iced Caramel Macchiato is one of the best Starbucks iced coffee, and it is the kind of drink that many people get hooked on for life. Despite being one of the more classic Starbucks drinks, it is still widely popular in almost every country where Starbucks has a presence

What makes this espresso-based drink amazing is the fact that it has a wide array of flavors that will appeal to any taste buds. From the richness and boldness of the espresso to the sweetness of caramel and the creaminess and smoothness of milk, this drink has it all.

With up to 150mg caffeine, this beverage is the perfect way to start your day as it will give you the energy boost you need. And if the afternoons get too hot for your liking, it will also come in handy thanks to not only the caffeine kick but also the cooling effect of the ice.

Conclusion

You can trust Starbucks to have a drink that will leave your taste buds happier whether you prefer something cold or hot. But ordering your drinks in any of their outlets is never easy even for those that already have some preferences as there is way too much to choose from.

However, whether you are a coffee or tea lover, you can be confident that there is at least one option from the 10 above that will work for you as these are some of the best Starbucks drinks available and also the most popular options.

But, to truly get an amazing Starbucks experience, a good idea will be to try out different drinks now and then as they also often have some seasonal menu options. This way, you will get a chance to experience more flavors.

Sources

1. The Best Starbucks Drink - The Spruce Eats
2. The 19 Greatest Drinks You Can Get at Starbucks - Delish