Now that we’ve established some helpful tips when going through Starbucks’ drive-throughs, I think it’s time to get to the fun part: drinks! Even as a barista, I know how hard it can be to figure out what drink you’d like to get; when you’re trying something new, it’s best to have some insight on the drink beforehand so you don’t waste nearly five dollars on a drink you don’t even like. Since there are six categories of drinks at Starbucks (refreshers/teas, frappuccinos, cold brews, cold coffees, hot coffees, and hot drinks), I intend to share my favorite from each. So, without further ado, these are the six best drinks to order (in my personal opinion).

1. Dragon Drink – Refreshers & Teas

In my personal opinion, the Dragon Drink is by far one of the best drinks at Starbucks. This drink is a combination of our Mango Dragonfruit refresher base and coconut milk, so for those of you that are dairy-free like me, or even vegan, it’s the perfect cold drink for any day. Don’t worry though, even if you don’t like the taste of coconut (as I’m not much of a fan) the flavors of the drink are so well crafted that you don’t even really taste it. If the coconut milk is too much of a turn-off, no problem! Any kind of milk (almond, soy, whole, etc.) can be substituted for the coconut milk – although I think the coconut milk pairs best with it. Also, this drink has no coffee, but it does have caffeine! It’s an extremely smooth and refreshing drink that I highly recommend trying if you haven’t before!

2. Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino – Frappuccinos 

In terms of frappuccinos, this one is by far the best. You can get it with or without coffee, so don’t be alarmed by the word “mocha” since that typically implies coffee. As an insider tip: our mocha sauce is actually just chocolate sauce, and it doesn’t contain any dairy or coffee. The blend of peppermint and chocolate (and coffee if you choose) is just delicious. You can also get it dairy free, as I prefer to order mine with soy milk -to add elements of vanilla- and no whipped cream. Also, it may be a seasonal drink that is only “on the menu” from around November to January, but you can get it year round! Starbucks always has the syrups needed to make these on-hand, so never be afraid to ask for it when it isn’t in season.

3. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew – Cold Brews

To put things simply, this cold brew is lovely. By far, our cold brew is the best cold coffee that we have on the menu, but when paired with the seasonal flavor of pumpkin it’s phenomenal. The composition of this drink is vanilla syrup and cold brew, with the foam being sweet cream (heavy whipping cream, vanilla syrup, 2% milk) and pumpkin syrup. This drink is a customer favorite during fall, but it is a seasonal drink, so grab one now while you can!

For those who are dairy-free or vegan, this is not the drink for you; every element of this drink contains dairy except for the cold brew itself. If you are dairy-free or vegan, I suggest the Cinnamon Almond Milk Cold Foam Cold Brew. The composition is cold brew with the foam being vanilla syrup, almond milk, and cinnamon. It is delicious, with the sweetness of the foam offsetting the bitter cold brew. Personally, I prefer this cold brew over any other and typically order it with our nitro cold brew.

4. Doubleshot On Ice – Cold Coffees

If you know you have a long day ahead of you and need an extra boost of energy, the Doubleshot On Ice is perfect for that. The drink is a shaken blend of espresso, classic sweetener (which can be substituted for any syrup or syrups can be added) and 2% milk (which can also be changed to any milk preference). The amount of espresso can seem a little much at first, as there are two shots in a tall, three in a grande, and five in a venti, but I can assure you that it is not overpowering if you enjoy the taste of espresso. It’s my favorite of our cold espresso drinks, and surprisingly, not many people know about it. So, I invite you to give it a shot – ha, get it, because espresso shots?

5. Cappuccino – Hot Coffees

For those who prefer hot coffee, or hot espresso drinks, a cappuccino is one of my favorite hot drinks to order. The blend of espresso and foam, as well as any syrup you’d like, is perfect for any occasion. I prefer to order mine with soy milk and dry, as ordering it dry means there will be extra foam -which is the best part! For the coming fall and winter months this will be a great drink to order for your morning coffee to give you that boost of energy while still being enjoyable.

6. Matcha Green Tea Latte – Hot Drinks

Lastly, we have our hot drinks, which do not contain coffee. The Matcha Green Tea Latte only has two ingredients, our matcha powder, and milk. In my personal opinion this latte is wonderful, but matcha is certainly an acquired taste, so I don’t recommend trying this if you have never tried matcha before (as it can taste a little ~grassy~). The flavor, as described before, is very earthy, but with soy milk or vanilla syrup that can easily be toned down to fit any palette. Once you get used to it though, it’s a great caffeine alternative.

I hope this gave some good insight on our best drinks! While these are all on the menu, stay tuned for next week when I share the best drinks that aren’t on the menu -they’re all ones we created ourselves!