How to Order Vegan Drinks at Starbucks
Vegan Starbucks, anyone? The coffee chain’s holiday favorites have returned in the U.S. and with the end of the upcharge for vegan milks, we’re excited to try the new tasty options! The Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte—which is vegan as-is—is back this year, with its fun red and green sugar sprinkles.
There’s also a new selection of flavored holiday cold foams that can be made nondairy with customization: Nondairy Gingerbread Cream Cold Foam, Nondairy Peppermint Chocolate Cream Cold Foam, Nondairy Sugar Cookie Cream Cold Foam, and Nondairy Chestnut Praline Cream Cold Foam.
Finally, those who prefer the chain’s non-coffee options will be happy to hear that three new holiday varieties have also been launched: the Cran-Merry Orange Refresher, the Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher, and the creamy coconut milk-based Cran-Merry Drink.
In addition to the holiday offerings, Starbucks has two limited-time drinks for the new Wicked movie, which comes out November 22. Elphaba’s Cold Brew and Glinda’s Pink Potion are both vegan without modifications!
Here’s our handy guide to ordering vegan drinks at your local Starbucks.
Getting Started
The basic drinks are vegan: Get yourself a hot coffee or an iced version with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and any flavored sweetener syrup (such as vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut), and you’re all set. Hot or iced tea is always vegan as well. For drinks that are a bit more “involved,” simply apply these three rules:
Replace
Remember to order oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk. All stores carry them, and they can be used to replace cow’s milk in any drink. You can also choose a Nondairy Cold Foam flavor in place of any dairy-based one:
- Nondairy Apple Crisp Cream Cold Foam
- Nondairy Chestnut Praline Cold Foam
- Nondairy Chocolate Cream Cold Foam
- Nondairy Gingerbread Cream Cold Foam
- Nondairy Matcha Cream Cold Foam
- Nondairy Peppermint Chocolate Cream Cold Foam
- Nondairy Salted Caramel Cream Cold Foam
- Nondairy Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Foam
- Nondairy Strawberry Cream Cold Foam
- Nondairy Sugar Cookie Cream Cold Foam
Hold
Ask your barista to hold the following nonvegan ingredients:
- Whipped cream
- Pumpkin spice sauce
- Java chips (used in the Java Chip Frappuccino and Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino)
- Caramel drizzle (used on the Caramel Macchiato and Caramel Frappuccino)
- Cinnamon dolce topping (which contains butter)
Avoid
Unfortunately, a few drinks can’t be made vegan because there’s cow’s milk or honey in the syrup. Completely avoid these drinks:
- Anything with white mocha
- Anything with caramel brûlée
- Chai lattes (but the Teavana brewed chai tea is fine)
Note: Clear syrups are usually vegan, but the sauces aren’t—except the mocha one.
Staples
Check out some of our favorite drinks that are vegan as-is or can be made vegan with minor adjustments:
- Freshly brewed coffees
- Caffè Americanos
- Caffè lattes (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
- Caffè mochas (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
- Caramel Macchiatos (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the caramel drizzle)
- Ombré iced coffees (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk)
- Flat whites (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk)
- Java Chip Frappuccinos (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the java chips and whipped cream—and try adding the Cookie Crumble Topping)
- Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
- Cinnamon Dolce Latte (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the Cinnamon Dolce Sprinkles and whipped cream)
- Matcha Tea Latte (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk)
- Matcha Crème Frappuccino Blended Beverage (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
- Iced Matcha Lemonade
- Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso
- Hazelnut Mocha Coconutmilk Macchiato
- Pink Drinks and Violet Drinks
- Nondairy Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
- Nondairy Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
- Nondairy Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
- Dragon Drink Starbucks Refresher
- London Fog Latte (Order it with vegan milk.)
- Mango Dragonfruit Starbucks Refresher (also available with lemonade and as a frozen drink)
- Paradise Drink Starbucks Refresher
- Pineapple Passionfruit Starbucks Refresher (also available with lemonade and as a frozen drink)
- Strawberry Açaí Starbucks Refresher (also available with lemonade and as a frozen drink)
Fall-Winter Seasonal Drinks
Order these seasonal favorites with nondairy milk, and be sure to hold the whipped cream:
- Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Apple Crisp Oatmilk Frappuccino (Order it without whipped cream.)
- Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
- Cran-Merry Drink
- Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher
- Cran-Merry Orange Refresher
- Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
- Peppermint Mochas
- Gingerbread Lattes
- Chestnut Praline Lattes
- Toffee Almondmilk Hot Cocoa
Spring-Summer Seasonal Drinks
Note: Seasonal offerings vary, so check with your local Starbucks store to find out what’s available.
- Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte
- Summer-Berry Starbucks Refresher (also available with lemonade)
- Summer Skies Drink Starbucks Refresher
Secret
These secret (or not-so-secret) menu items can be ordered vegan but may need some explanation:
- The Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
- The Vegan Nutella Frap
- The Captain Crunch Frap
And when the barista asks for your name, don’t forget to use your cup to speak out for animals!
Food
Starbucks also offers vegan food options. To see a complete list, check out our Starbucks Vegan Food Guide now.
It’s no secret that cows suffer in the dairy industry, but by going vegan, you can save nearly 200 animals per year! Our free vegan starter kit has tips and information about how to go vegan. For animals, the environment, and your health, order one today.
