Your Ultimate Guide to Delicious Vegan Starbucks Summer Drinks

Embarking on a vegan journey doesn’t mean sacrificing your favorite refreshing beverages, especially when summer rolls around. If you’re a fan of Starbucks and committed to a plant-based lifestyle, you’re in for a treat! The global coffee giant, with its over 35,000 locations, has significantly expanded its vegan-friendly options, making it easier than ever to enjoy a cool, delicious drink without compromising your dietary choices.

This comprehensive guide will show you how to navigate the Starbucks menu, identify truly vegan options, customize your drinks, and discover the perfect plant-based sips to keep you refreshed all summer long. Get ready to explore a world of delightful dairy-free possibilities!

A delightful guest post by Reena Devi.

What Are the Milk Options Available at Starbucks?

One of the easiest ways to make almost any Starbucks drink vegan is by swapping dairy milk for a plant-based alternative. Starbucks understands the growing demand for dairy-free options and offers a robust selection. While there might be a small upcharge for non-dairy milk in some custom beverages, many naturally vegan drinks maintain their standard pricing. The plant-based milk options typically available are:

• Soy Milk: A classic and creamy choice, soy milk provides a rich texture and mild flavor that complements many coffee and tea drinks. It’s often a go-to for lattes and cappuccinos.
• Coconut Milk: Offering a slightly sweet and tropical note, coconut milk is excellent for those who enjoy a hint of exotic flavor in their beverages. It pairs particularly well with fruity refreshers and certain iced coffees.
• Almond Milk: Light and subtly nutty, almond milk is a popular lower-calorie option. Its delicate flavor won’t overpower your drink, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of beverages.
• Oatmilk: A relatively recent and incredibly popular addition, oatmilk is known for its smooth, creamy texture that foams beautifully for espresso-based drinks. Its slightly sweet and neutral taste makes it a favorite for lattes and shaken espressos.

With such a fantastic variety of non-dairy milk options, you’re empowered to customize many of your favorite Starbucks drinks to fit your vegan lifestyle. But before you place your order, let’s ensure you know the various sizes available.

What Are the Drink Sizes Available at Starbucks?

Navigating Starbucks’ unique drink sizes can sometimes be confusing, especially if you’re new to the brand or ordering a customized drink. Don’t make the same mistake I once did by ordering a Venti when you meant a Tall! Understanding these options will help you get exactly what you want:

• Tall (12 ounces): The smallest of the standard sizes, perfect for a quick pick-me-up.
• Grande (16 ounces): A medium-sized option, often considered the “regular” for many patrons.
• Venti (24 ounces for cold drinks, 20 ounces for hot drinks): A larger size, ideal for those who need a substantial refreshment. Be mindful of the difference in ounces between hot and cold Venti beverages.
• Trenta (31 ounces): The largest size available, exclusively for iced beverages like refreshers and iced coffee.

Knowing your preferred size is key to a seamless ordering experience. Now, let’s move on to the practical tips for confidently ordering vegan at Starbucks.

How to Order Vegan at Starbucks?

With Starbucks’ extensive menu, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, ordering a delicious vegan drink is quite simple once you know the key customization strategies. Here’s a brief guide to confidently placing your plant-based order:

1. Ask for Plant Milk: This is the most crucial step for many drinks. Always specify your preferred non-dairy milk – soy, coconut, almond, or oatmilk – when ordering lattes, cappuccinos, or any milk-based beverage. Remember, some drinks might already contain a non-dairy milk as part of their standard recipe.

2. Opt for “No Whip”: Whipped cream is a standard topping on many Starbucks drinks, and it is dairy-based. To ensure your drink is vegan, always ask for “no whip” or “without whipped cream.”

3. Carefully Check Ingredients and Ask Questions: While many ingredients are clearly plant-based, some sauces, drizzles, and toppings can contain hidden dairy. For example, caramel drizzle, white mocha sauce, and pumpkin spice sauce typically contain dairy. Always ask your barista about the ingredients if you’re unsure, especially for seasonal or new menu items. You can also check Starbucks’ official website for detailed ingredient lists.

4. Explore Vegan-Friendly Syrups: Many of Starbucks’ flavored syrups are naturally vegan, adding a delightful touch to your customized drinks. Don’t hesitate to ask your barista which syrups are dairy-free. Popular vegan syrups include vanilla, hazelnut, caramel (the syrup, not the drizzle), cinnamon dolce, toffee nut, and classic syrup. These can elevate simple coffee or tea bases into exciting new vegan creations.

By following these simple guidelines, you can confidently explore a wide array of vegan beverages at Starbucks. Now, let’s dive into some of the best vegan-friendly drinks you can try, perfect for summer!

Which Are the Best Vegan Starbucks Drinks That One Can Try?

Starbucks truly offers a treasure trove of options for plant-based drinkers. From refreshing iced teas to creamy lattes and innovative refreshers, there’s something for every palate. Here are some of the best vegan Starbucks drinks you absolutely must try, especially during the warmer months:

Iced Coffee

A perennial favorite, Iced Coffee is a straightforward and highly customizable option. It’s made by brewing hot coffee and then chilling it, distinguishing it from cold brew (which is steeped for hours). To make it vegan, simply specify your preferred non-dairy milk (soy, almond, coconut, or oatmilk). You can also add any of the vegan-friendly syrups like vanilla or hazelnut for an extra layer of flavor. It’s a simple, classic way to enjoy caffeine on a hot day.

Americano

For the purist coffee lover following a vegan diet, the Americano is an excellent choice. This robust beverage is incredibly simple, consisting only of espresso and hot water. It delivers a strong coffee flavor without any milk, making it naturally vegan. You can enjoy it black or add a splash of your favorite non-dairy milk and a pump of vegan syrup for a touch of creaminess and sweetness.

Blended Strawberry Lemonade

When you’re craving something fruity, tangy, and utterly refreshing, the Blended Strawberry Lemonade is a perfect pick. This vibrant drink is made with a delightful combination of sweet strawberry puree and zesty lemonade, blended with ice to a slushy consistency. It’s naturally vegan, dairy-free, and an ideal Starbucks summer drink to cool down and uplift your spirits.

Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte

While the standard Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte isn’t vegan due to dairy milk and whipped cream, it’s easily modifiable. The Cinnamon Dolce Syrup itself is vegan-friendly. To transform this into a delightful plant-based treat, order it with your choice of non-dairy milk (oatmilk is particularly creamy here) and ask for “no whip.” You can also skip the standard cinnamon dolce topping, which contains dairy, and instead request a sprinkle of plain cinnamon or nutmeg for a similar spiced aroma.

Caramel Macchiato

The Caramel Macchiato is a beloved Starbucks classic, and with a few modifications, it can become a delicious vegan option. The key is to replace the dairy milk with soy, coconut, almond, or oatmilk. Crucially, you must also ask to skip the caramel drizzle, as this sauce contains dairy. The vanilla syrup and espresso are vegan, so with these simple changes, you can enjoy the distinctive layers of this iconic drink.

Coconut Milk Latte

The introduction of coconut milk to Starbucks’ permanent menu was a game-changer for plant-based enthusiasts. The Coconut Milk Latte starts with Starbucks’ smooth Blonde Espresso, perfectly complemented by the creamy, slightly sweet notes of coconut milk. It’s a beautifully balanced drink, often with a delicate foam on top, offering a pleasant tropical twist to a classic latte.

Golden Ginger Drink

A truly unique and invigorating choice for summer, the Golden Ginger Drink is a fantastic vegan option. This bright and flavorful beverage is crafted with a refreshing blend of:

• Ginger for a zesty kick
• Creamy coconut milk for smoothness
• Sweet pineapple for a tropical essence
• Subtle turmeric flavors for a warm, earthy undertone

It’s a wonderfully complex and naturally plant-based drink that offers a cooling and revitalizing experience, perfect for hot weather.

Iced Flat White

The Iced Flat White is distinguished from lattes and cappuccinos by its strong espresso flavor and velvety microfoam. To make it vegan, simply request it with a non-dairy milk substitute. Oatmilk is an excellent choice for an Iced Flat White due to its ability to create a smooth, dense microfoam that blends seamlessly with the espresso, resulting in a robust coffee experience with a lighter, creamy texture.

Iced Pineapple Matcha

For those seeking a tropical and energizing pick-me-up, the Iced Pineapple Matcha is a must-try. This innovative drink beautifully combines vibrant flavors and is naturally vegan. It features:

• Earthy green tea matcha
• A hint of spicy ginger
• Sweet and tangy pineapple notes
• Creamy coconut milk

The fusion of these ingredients creates an incredibly refreshing, exotic, and energizing beverage that tastes like summer in a cup.

Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte

A beloved classic, the Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte is a fantastic vegan option for matcha lovers. To ensure it’s plant-based, simply order it with your preferred non-dairy milk – almond or coconut milk are popular choices – and remember to ask for “no whipped cream.” This drink offers a perfect balance of earthy matcha flavor with a creamy, refreshing finish, making it an ideal summer companion.

Mango Dragonfruit Refresher

Initially a seasonal sensation, the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher quickly earned its permanent spot on the Starbucks menu due to its immense popularity. This delightful beverage is a vibrant fruit juice blend mixed with real dried dragon fruit pieces and water. For an even creamier and more indulgent plant-based version, you can swap the water for coconut milk, transforming it into the popular “Dragon Drink.” It’s a sweet, tangy, and incredibly refreshing choice.

London Fog Tea Latte

For tea enthusiasts, the London Fog Tea Latte offers a sophisticated and comforting experience. This unique beverage is a harmonious blend of fragrant Earl Grey tea, sweet vanilla syrup, and steamed milk. To make it a vegan delight, simply ask for any of the non-dairy milk options like oatmilk or soy milk. The warm, aromatic notes of bergamot from the Earl Grey, combined with creamy plant milk and vanilla, create a soothing yet flavorful drink.

Nitro Cold Brew

The Nitro Cold Brew is a revolutionary offering for coffee lovers seeking a creamy, smooth texture without any dairy. This innovative drink infuses Starbucks’ signature cold brew with nitrogen, creating tiny bubbles that give it a cascaded appearance and a naturally sweet, velvety mouthfeel, much like a stout beer. It forms a thick, creamy foam on top that looks deceptively like dairy cream but is entirely plant-based. If you enjoy a dark, rich coffee but want a smooth finish, the Nitro Cold Brew is an excellent vegan choice that doesn’t require any modifications.

Mocha Frappuccino

The Mocha Frappuccino is a classic blended beverage that can easily be made vegan. While it traditionally comes with dairy milk and whipped cream, the good news is that Starbucks’ mocha syrup is inherently vegan! To enjoy a plant-based Mocha Frappuccino, simply ask for it with non-dairy milk (almond or oatmilk are great choices) and remember to request “no whip.” You’ll still get that satisfying chocolatey coffee flavor blended to frosty perfection.

Pink Drink

The iconic Pink Drink is a highly popular and naturally vegan refresher that tastes as good as it looks. Its vibrant hue comes from a base of Strawberry Acai Refresher, which is then combined with sweet dried strawberries and creamy coconut milk. This tropical concoction is wonderfully sweet, fruity, and incredibly refreshing, making it a perfect guilt-free indulgence for any vegan.

Dragon Drink

Much like its “Pink” counterpart, the Dragon Drink is a fan-favorite, visually striking, and completely vegan. It features a Mango Dragonfruit Refresher base, mixed with freeze-dried dragon fruit pieces and coconut milk. The Mango Dragonfruit Refresher base is a delightful blend of mango and dragon fruit flavors, infused with green coffee extract for a gentle caffeine boost. This drink is a delicious, colorful, and refreshing plant-based option for any time of day.

Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher

For a unique and zesty flavor profile, the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher offers an exciting combination. This bright and tangy beverage blends the bold flavors of blackberry with the aromatic notes of hibiscus, complemented by hints of ginger and lemongrass. It’s a wonderfully complex and inherently vegan drink that provides a burst of fruity freshness, making it an excellent choice for summer.

Violet Drink

If you love the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher but prefer a creamy texture, the Violet Drink is your answer. This lovely purple beverage takes the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher base and blends it with smooth coconut milk and ice. The result is a vibrant, fruity, and creamy drink that’s entirely vegan and exceptionally refreshing, offering a different dimension to the berry hibiscus flavors.

Paradise Drink

True to its name, the Paradise Drink transports you to a tropical oasis with every sip. This delightful vegan beverage is made with a creamy coconut milk base, beautifully combined with the sweet and tangy flavors of pineapple and passion fruit juices. The experience is further enhanced by the inclusion of real diced pineapple chunks, adding a lovely texture and an extra burst of tropical goodness. It’s a vacation in a cup!

Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso

For those who enjoy a rich blend of coffee and chocolate without excessive sweetness, the Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso is an excellent vegan option. This invigorating drink combines espresso shots with a vegan malt powder, shaken with ice, and topped with almond milk. It offers a subtle chocolate flavor that perfectly complements the coffee, providing a refreshing boost without being overly sugary. You can adjust the number of espresso shots to match your desired strength.

Iced Shaken Espresso

The Iced Shaken Espresso is a beautifully crafted drink where Starbucks’ Blonde Espresso is vigorously shaken with ice in a cocktail shaker, creating a frothy, chilled, and potent coffee base. It’s naturally vegan as is, but if you find its strong flavor too intense, you can customize it by adding a splash of your favorite non-dairy milk. It’s a crisp and direct way to enjoy your espresso over ice.

Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

This delightful beverage has quickly become a fan favorite for its comforting yet refreshing profile. The Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is a harmonious blend of iced Blonde Espresso, sweet brown sugar syrup, creamy oatmilk, and a hint of warming cinnamon. It strikes a perfect balance between sweet, spicy, and smooth, making it an irresistible vegan treat. If oatmilk isn’t available, you can often substitute it with almond milk for a similar, though slightly less creamy, experience.

Oleato Iced Shaken Espresso With Oatmilk and Toffeenut

Starbucks’ innovative Oleato line, featuring olive oil-infused beverages, offers a truly unique vegan experience. The Oleato Iced Shaken Espresso With Oatmilk and Toffeenut combines the smooth richness of cold-pressed olive oil with espresso and oatmilk. The olive oil imparts a luxurious, velvety, and almost buttery texture, cutting through any bitterness of the coffee and creating an incredibly smooth latte-like drink. This specific Oleato beverage is specially formulated with oatmilk, making it a must-try for plant-based customers seeking a novel coffee experience.

Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato

Previously made with dairy, the Apple Crisp Macchiato has been reimagined as the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato, making it one of Starbucks’ first official fall vegan drinks. This cozy beverage combines Blonde Espresso with a delightful brown sugar apple syrup, creamy oatmilk, and is finished with spiced apple drizzles. It perfectly captures the essence of autumn flavors in a delicious, plant-based format, proving that seasonal delights can also be vegan.

Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Imagine the comforting taste of toasted marshmallows transformed into a refreshing drink – that’s what the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso delivers. The star ingredient here is the toasted vanilla syrup, which blends beautifully with Blonde Espresso, oatmilk, and ice. This drink is ideal for those who love the idea of coffee but prefer a sweeter, more dessert-like profile, or for anyone who enjoys the unique flavor of toasted vanilla. You can customize the syrup quantity to match your sweetness preference.

Beyond these custom-ordered delights, Starbucks also offers convenient ready-to-drink vegan options for those times you’re on the go.

Ready-to-Grab Vegan Drinks at Starbucks

In addition to their extensive customizable menu, Starbucks often features a selection of pre-packaged, ready-to-drink vegan beverages, perfect for grabbing from the cooler for instant refreshment:

Packed Frappuccinos

Look for bottled Frappuccinos that are explicitly labeled vegan or made with oatmilk. Starbucks has previously offered oatmilk frappuccinos in delightful flavors such as Caramel Waffle Cookie and Dark Chocolate Brownie, providing a convenient and indulgent plant-based treat.

Cold Brews

Starbucks also offers a range of bottled cold brews that are naturally vegan. These include classic Black Cold Brew, Madagascar Vanilla Cold Brew, and Caramel Dolce Cold Brew. These options are perfect for enjoying at home or on the go, offering a smooth, less acidic coffee experience.

Vegan Creamers or Non-dairy Creamers

For those who prefer to craft their iced coffee at home, Starbucks produces a line of non-dairy creamers made with almond or oatmilk. These are available in popular flavors like caramel and hazelnut, allowing you to bring that Starbucks-style customization into your own kitchen.

While enjoying delicious vegan options is great, you might also want to ensure your choices are on the healthier side. Here are some tips for making your Starbucks vegan drink even more health-conscious:

How Can You Make Your Vegan Drink Healthier?

The calorie and sugar content of Starbucks drinks can vary significantly, even among vegan options, largely depending on your milk choice and added customizations. For example, a tall oatmilk-based drink might range from 250-290 calories, while an almond milk-based drink could be closer to 80-140 calories. Here are some suggestions to make your vegan Starbucks experience healthier:

• Choose Almond Milk: Generally, almond milk is one of the lowest-calorie and lowest-sugar non-dairy milk options available at Starbucks. While oatmilk is delicious, it tends to be higher in calories and carbohydrates.
• Opt for Straight Espresso or Cold Brew: These options are naturally low in calories and sugar. You can add a splash of non-dairy milk or a sugar-free vegan syrup if desired.
• Customize Flavorings and Toppings: Syrups and drizzles are often the biggest sources of added sugar. Ask for fewer pumps of syrup (e.g., “half sweet”) or opt for sugar-free vegan syrups like sugar-free vanilla. Avoid dairy-based toppings and drizzles entirely.
• Limit Mocha or Chocolate Flavorings: While mocha syrup is vegan, it still contains sugar. If you’re looking to reduce sugar, opt for less or choose a different flavor profile.
• Ask for Light Ice or No Ice: More ice means less drink, which can subtly reduce calorie and sugar intake by reducing the amount of liquid ingredients.
• Request Heavy Foam: If you’re getting a latte, more foam means less liquid milk, which can reduce total calories and sugar, especially with creamier non-dairy milks.
• Choose Smaller Sizes: Simply opting for a Tall instead of a Grande or Venti can significantly reduce the overall calorie and sugar content of your drink.

Wrapping Up

Starbucks has truly embraced the plant-based movement, ensuring that vegan dieters don’t have to miss out on their beloved coffee chain experience. With an ever-expanding array of non-dairy milk options, vegan-friendly syrups, and naturally plant-based refreshers, you have a wealth of choices, whether you’re craving something with caffeine or a refreshing, fruity treat.

This essential vegan guide to Starbucks summer beverages has hopefully empowered you to explore the menu with confidence. Remember, customization is key! Don’t hesitate to ask your barista about ingredients, especially for specific toppings or sauces that might contain hidden dairy (like Cinnamon Dulce Topping, which often contains butter). A quick question can save you from an unintended dairy encounter.

So go ahead, pick your favorite plant-based concoction from this extensive list, or get creative with your own customizations. Starbucks is ready to serve up your next delicious vegan summer drink!

If you’ve discovered other fantastic vegan drink options at Starbucks that we might have overlooked, please share them with us!

⛑️ Food Safety

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