Cinnamon Dolce
Cinnamon Dolce is cinnamon sweetened with sugars.
Classic Syrup
A sweetener that Starbucks includes in some drinks by default...
- Iced Coffee (no longer as of May 2024)
- Iced Shaken Espresso
- Strawberry Creme Frappuccino
- Matcha Creme Frappuccino
- Iced Matcha Latte
Coffee Base / Creme Base
Syrups added to blended drinks (mostly Frappuccinos) to give them a smooth texture and to keep the liquid and ice from separating after blending.
Coffee-based Frappuccinos are made with coffee base. Other Frappuccinos and blended drinks are made with creme base.
Frappuccino Roast
Frap Roast is the coffee used to make some Frappuccinos. It comes to Starbucks as a powder (think instant coffee) and is mixed with water at the store to be used as an ingredient in coffee-based Frappuccinos.
Hot and Cold Bars
Where most drinks are made.
Hot Bar drinks are those made with the espresso machine (even if just to steam milk). Cold Bar drinks are those that are those that are shaken or blended. (There are a few exceptions)
Impossible Breakfast Sandwich
A plant-based sandwich with no meat. The good part is that it tastes just like sausage. The bad part is that it tastes just like sausage (The Barrysta doesn't like sausage).
Medicine Ball
A popular tea drink that originated on a secret menu.
It's called Honey Citrus Mint Tea on the Starbucks menu, but if you ask any barista who's been working for Starbucks longer than a few weeks they'll know what it is.
It's a brewed tea made Chamomile Mint Blossom tea bags. It includes Honey Blend syrup and is brewed with half hot water and half steamed lemonade.
Oleato
Olive oil. More specific to Starbucks... olive oil mixed into drinks.
Starbucks began making Oleato drinks widely available in 2024. They discontinued them in 2024.
Pour Over
An individual cup of coffee dripped through a paper filter. Be prepared for it to take a bit longer - especially if the store is busy and the baristas have multiple things going on.
POS (Point Of Sale System)
This is what Starbucks calls its cash register. Many who use it think POS should stand for something else.
Pup Cup
A small cup of whipped cream for your dog. It's free, and your dog will begin to know when they're at Starbucks (trust me... they know). If i see a dog in your car i'll always have their six and ask if you want one.
Secret Menu
Unofficial lists of drinks that are not on the Starbucks menu. Some are named after celebrities or fictional characters. Some have recipes to make them taste like other things (Girl Scouts Thin Mint cookies for example). Some are concoctions that were posted on social media sites.
Many of the recipes list ingredients that are seasonal or that Starbucks no longer carries. And most baristas won't know the drinks by name, so if you want one you'll need to bring the recipe. The biggest exception to this is the drink known as the Medicine Ball.
Skinny
Skinny can mean different things to different people, but in general it means nonfat milk and sugar-free versions of syrups.
Upside-Down
Upside-Down can mean different things to different people. To some it could mean adding all the ingredients of a drink in reverse order. It also could mean reversing the order of adding just the espresso and the milk
It's commonly used with Caramel Macchiatos to mean the espresso should be added before the milk.
More often than not it means the customer just thinks they're being cool and that it will make their drink somehow taste different.
Vanilla Sweet Cream
A mixture of milk, cream, and vanilla syrup. It is used as the "milk" in drinks such as the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew and the base for Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam.
Vanilla Sweet Cream (Non-Dairy)
Starbucks introduced a non-dairy version of its Vanilla Sweet Cream in Summer 2024. It is oat-based.
It can be used as a substitute for Vanilla Sweet Cream in drinks such as cold brews and for a non-dairy versoin of Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam.
Espresso shots are the heart of Starbucks coffee drinks. The recipe for each drink specifies the type and number of shots, based on the drink size. You can modify that virtually any way you want.
Types of Espresso Beans
Signature: Starbucks' regular espresso beans.
Blonde: A milder roast. Because the beans are roasted less, they contain more caffeine.
Decaf: Decaffeinated beans
You can specify half-decaf for a mixture of Signature and Decaf beans.
Shots variations
These are variations, not on the type of beans, but how the machine will turn them into espresso.
Ristretto Shots: A more concentrated shot using less water.
Long Shots: More water is used to create a less concentrated shot. No drinks are made by default with long shots.
Affogato Shots: A regular espresso shot, drawn in the regular way, simply poured on top of an otherwise completed drink. Most commonly done on top of the whipped cream for Frappuccinos.
Amount of espresso (number of shots)
You can have your drink made with fewer or more shots than the recipe calls for. For any drink you order, feel free to ask the barista what the standard number of shots is. The most common variation is to add a shot to make their drink stronger (the POS even includes an Add Shot button). Some people add more than one extra shot and some request fewer shots.
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| Nonfat | Almond |
| 2-Percent | Coconut |
| Whole | Soy |
| Half-n-Half | Oat |
| Heavy Whipping Cream | |
| Vanilla Sweet Cream |
All of the non-dairy milks (except for Oat) are sweetened with sugar
FLAVOR YOUR DRINK WITH SYRUPS AND SAUCES
| ALWAYS AVAILABLE | FRUITY | SEASONAL EXAMPLES |
| Vanilla | Peach Juice | Pumpkin |
| Mocha | Strawberry Puree | Pistachio |
| White Mocha | . | Caramel Brulee |
| Peppermint | Peppermint White Mocha | |
| Hazelnut | Sugar Cookie | |
| Honey Blend | ||
| Classic Sweetener | ||
| Sugar-Free Vanilla |
Cut it out
Raspberry syrup was discontinued in early 2023 but you people keep asking for it.
Most recent Raspberry request: October 2024
Whipped Cream
The big Starbucks topping, of course, is whipped cream. They make it with vanilla syrup and whipping cream. It comes by default on some drinks
If it's a drink that includes whipped cream, you'll still get it by default even if you have the drink made with a non-dairy milk. A good barista will ask if you still want it, but if you're allergic to dairy you should consider just specifying no whipped cream.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam
Vanilla Sweet Cream blended into a foamy consistency used as a topping for drinks (often instead of whipped cream, though whipped cream would be free while Starbucks charges more than a dollar for Cold Foam).
As of Summer 2024 you can order a non-dairy version of Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam - made with Non-Dairy Vanilla Sweet Cream.
Only a few iced drinks come standard with sweet cream cold foam, and no hot drinks do.
You can have any drink topped with cold foam, but it really only works well on cold drinks. If you ask for it on a hot drink, the barista should warn you that it will immediately melt into the drink anyway. But they'll let you order it if you really want.
There are standard flavors of cold foam, but you can ask for it with any flavor of syrup (or other drink ingredient) blended in.
Standard Cold Foam Flavors
- Vanilla Sweet Cream: (Nothing added)
- Chocolate: Malt powder
- Salted Caramel: Caramel syrup and salt
- Cinnamon Sweet Cream: Cinnamon Caramel syrup
No drinks come standard with both cold foam and whipped cream. If you ask for cold foam on a drink that comes standard with whipped cream, the cold foam will replace the whipped cream.
Other things to top your drink with
Caramel or Mocha drizzle
Cinnamon or cinnamon dolce
Chocolate cookie crumble
Caramel Sugar
Any of the seasonal toppings
Latte
The standard Starbucks espresso drink - made with espresso and milk
Latte (and Latte variations)
Espresso: Signature
Milk: 2 percent
View the Latte on the Starbucks Website: Hot | Iced
LATTE VARIATIONS...
Americano Hot | Iced
A latte made with water instead of milk.
Espresso: Signature
Cappuccino Hot
Same as a latte except the milk is more foamy. Because the extra foam is what defines a cappuccino, it comes hot only.
Cinnamon Dolce Latte Hot | Iced
Syrup: Cinnamon Dolce
Topping: Whipped Cream, Cinnamon Dolce powder
Mocha Hot | Iced
White Chocolate Mocha Hot | Iced
Syrup: Mocha / White Mocha
Topping: Whipped Cream
Pumpkin Spice Latte (seasonal) Hot | Iced
Syrup: Pumpkin
Topping: Whipped Cream, Pumpkin Spice
FLAT WHITES
Essentially an extra-strong latte. It is made with ristretto shots, and with more shots than a regular latte. The standard Flat White also is made with whole milk - rather than 2-Percent.
Flat White Hot | Iced
Espresso: Signature
Milk: Whole
Honey Almondmilk Flat White Hot | Iced
Espresso: Blonde
Milk: Almond
Syrup: Honey Blend
ICED SHAKEN ESPRESSOS
Essentially the same ingredients as a Latte, but made differently. The espresso shots and syrup are put into a shaker cup - along with ice - and shaken. That's poured into the cup, and then milk is added.
Iced Shaken Espresso
Espresso: Signature>
Milk: 2 Percent
Syrup: Classic
Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso Iced
Espresso: Blonde
Milk; Oat
Syrup: Brown Sugar, Cinnamon powder
Topping: Cinnamon
MACCHIATOS
Macchiatos are interesting drinks. The word comes from Italian, essentially meaning marked or stained. In Starbucks' recipes, a Caramel Macchiato would be caramel stained with espresso, while an Espresso Macchiato would be espresso stained with milk foam. You be the judge.
Caramel Macchiato Hot | Iced
The main difference between a Caramel Macchiato and a latte in that the espresso is poured over the milk, rather than being at the bottom. If you ask for a Caramel Macchiato to be made upside-down, then it's just a latte with vanilla syrup and caramel drizzled on the top.
Espresso: Signature
Milk: 2 percent
Syrup: Vanilla
Topping: Caramel Drizzle
Espresso Macchiato Hot | Iced
Espresso Shots: Espresso Macchiatos are ordered by the number of shots, rather than cup size.
Milk: Foamed 2 percent
TEA LATTES
Lattes made with tea instead of espresso
Chai Tea Latte Hot | Iced
A latte made with Chai tea syrup rather than espresso.
Milk: 2 percent (The hot version is made with half 2 percent milk and half hot water)
Matcha Latte Hot | Iced
A latte made with Matcha tea powder rather than espresso.
Milk: 2 percent
London Fog Latte Hot | Iced
A latte made with Earl Grey tea bags. The iced version takes about 5 minutes to make, because the tea needs to be brewed before pouring it over ice.
Milk: 2 percent
Syrup: Vanilla
COLD BREW
Cold Brew with Milk
Milk: 2-Percent
Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
Syrup: Vanilla
Topping: Chocolate Cream Cold Foam
Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
Syrup: Vanilla
Topping: Salted Caramel Cream Cold Foam
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Syrup: Vanilla
Milk: Vanilla Sweet Cream
NITRO COLD BREWS
Nitro Cold Brews are served without ice.
The largest size that can be ordered is Grande.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew
Milk: Vanilla Sweet Cream
SEASONAL COLD BREWS
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Syrup: Vanilla
Topping: Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam, Pumpkin Spice Topping
COFFEE vs CREME
Coffee based Frappuccinos are made with Frappuccino Roast and Coffee Base.
Creme (non-coffee) based Frappuccinos are made with Creme Base.
Pro Tip: Coffee-based Frappuccinos can be ordered "decaf". Decaf espresso shots will be substituted for the Frappuccino Roast.
CHOCOLATY FRAPPUCCINOS
Mocha
Syrup: Mocha sauce
Topping: Whipped cream
Mocha Cookie Crumble
Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme
Made with whipped cream, mocha sauce, java chips, and cookie crumbles
Topping: Whipped cream, mocha sauce, cookie crumbles
Java Chip
Double Chocolaty Chip Creme
Made with whipped cream, mocha sauce, and java chips
Topping: Whipped cream, mocha sauce
White Chocolate Mocha
White Chocolate Creme
Syrup: White Mocha
Topping: Whipped cream
CARAMELY FRAPPUCCINOS
Caramel
Syrup: Caramel
Topping: Whipped cream, Caramel drizzle
Caramel Ribbon Crunch
Caramel Ribbon Crunch Creme
Made with whipped cream and dark caramel sauce at the bottom of the cup.
Syrup: Dark caramel sauce
Topping: Whipped cream, Caramel drizzle, Caramel sugar crunch
VANILLY and STRAWBERRY FRAPPUCCINOS
Caffe Vanilla
Vanilla Bean Creme
Flavor: Vanilla Bean powder
Topping: Whipped cream
Strawberry Creme
Syrup: Strawberry Puree, Classic Syrup
Topping: Whipped cream
COFFEE FRAPPUCCINOS
Coffee Frappuccinos are made with Frappuccino Roast, whole milk, and Coffee Base. They are the only Frappuccinos that do not come by default with whipped cream (though it's free to add it).
Coffee
Simply Frappuccino Roast, milk, and Coffee Base
Espresso
A Coffee Frappuccino with a single shot of espresso.
A FEW OTHER FRAPPUCCINOS
Chai Creme
Syrup: Chai
Topping: Whipped cream, Cinnamon powder
Matcha Creme
Syrup: Matcha powder, Classic Syrup
Topping: Whipped cream
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