Like the rest of their drinks, Starbucks’ iced drink menu is full of unique and tasty options, cutting across traditional favorites and innovative new additions.
After trying these delicious beverages, you may find yourself visiting Starbucks more often to the extent that it becomes your go-to coffee shop, regardless of the season or time of the year.
Considering there’s a seemingly never-ending list of iced drinks from Starbucks, navigating the extensive menu and picking the best options may be synonymous with searching for a needle in a haystack.
These concerns fueled our resolve to scout the market for a compilation of only the best options to try.
These drinks, ranging from fruity and tangy to bold and creamy, will not only quench your thirst on a hot summer day but also satisfy your palate. What’s the point in holding off, then?
Join us as we navigate the world of Starbucks iced drinks to help you select the one that’s just right for you.
Top 15 Starbucks Iced Drinks
We’ve compiled a list of the 15 best Starbucks iced drinks. It doesn’t matter if you’re a purist who prefers the tried-and-true or an adventurer who wants to try something new because this list has got you covered.
1. Iced Caramel Macchiato
- Content: Espresso, steamed milk, vanilla syrup, and caramel sauce.
- Flavor/Taste: Vanilla and caramel flavor with a sweet and creamy taste.
Those with a penchant for coffee and caramel will appreciate the iced caramel macchiato, a tasty and refreshing Starbucks iced beverage drink. The coffee has the ideal combination of sweetness, richness, and bitterness. It combines espresso, steamed milk, vanilla syrup, and caramel sauce.
This fantastic drink is often served with ice, garnished with a drizzle of caramel, and packed with a flavor that can restore energy levels. The syrup’s vanilla flavor and the caramel drizzle on top make for a sweet and smooth combination.
2. Nitro Cold Brew
- Content: Cold brew coffee, nitrogen gas, water, sweeteners, flavor syrups, and milk or cream.
- Taste/Flavor: Vanilla/caramel flavor with a smooth and creamy taste.
Starbucks’ Nitro Cold Brew is created by brewing coffee in cold water for an extended period, often overnight. Then, nitrogen gas is introduced into the brewed coffee for a creamy and smooth texture.
Nitrogen also removes the bitterness typically found in iced coffee, replacing it with a more pleasant sweetness.
Nitro Cold Brew is served directly on tap from a keg or a unique dispenser. The nitrogen gas keeps the coffee fresh for longer while contributing to its velvety mouthfeel and foamy top.
As a result of its distinctive taste, smooth texture, and attractive appearance, some individuals prefer the Nitro Cold Brew to the traditional Iced Coffee.
Depending on the recipe or the individual’s taste, nitro cold brew could also include milk, cream, or sweets. In addition, you can make flavored nitro cold brews by adding flavor syrups like vanilla or caramel.
3. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
- Content: Cold brew coffee, vanilla-flavored sweet cream, milk, sugar, vanilla syrup, and ice cubes.
- Taste/Flavor: Vanilla/chocolaty flavor with a creamy and mildly sweet taste.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew is a flavored iced beverage typically produced by mixing cold brew coffee with vanilla-flavored sweet cream.
Coffee grounds are slow-steeped in cold water for a long time (anywhere from 12 to 24 hours) to make cold brew coffee, which has a milder, more mellow flavor. The sweet cream is prepared by combining cream, sugar, and pure vanilla extract or vanilla syrup purchased from a store.
To prepare this drink, the cold brew coffee is poured over ice and topped with sweet cream, giving the drink a creamy texture and a mildly sweet taste. You may also add milk or vanilla syrup for added flavor.
Coffee lovers who prefer cold beverages to hot coffee often opt for the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew because of its sweet and refreshing flavor.
4. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Content: Cold brew coffee, vanilla-flavored sweet cream, milk, vanilla syrup, and ice cubes.
- Taste/Flavor: Coffee flavor with a sweet and creamy taste.
This drink is basically a coffee specialty made by shaking espresso, brown sugar syrup, and oat milk over ice. The beverage is an iced latte with espresso’s bold flavor, brown sugar’s sweetness, and oat milk’s creamy texture.
The espresso is made with an espresso machine, and the brown sugar syrup is made by dissolving brown sugar in water and heating it until thickened. Oat milk is a plant-based substitute for dairy milk made from oats and water.
As a result, this beverage is an excellent choice for people with lactose intolerance and vegans.
The ingredients are shaken with ice in a cocktail shaker, then strained into a glass and served over ice. The result is a refreshing and slightly sweet iced coffee drink with a caffeine boost.
Other ingredients, such as vanilla extract or cinnamon, may be added to the drink to improve its flavor. The exact ingredients and preparation may differ depending on the coffee shop or café where it’s prepared.
5. Iced White Chocolate Mocha
- Content: Espresso, white chocolate sauce, and milk.
- Taste/Flavor: Nutty and coffee flavor with a sweet-creamy chocolate taste.
Espresso or strong coffee, white chocolate sauce, and milk are often combined to prepare this iced coffee drink known as the Iced White Chocolate Mocha. Extra taste and texture can be added with whipped cream, cocoa powder, or chocolate shavings.
Sweet and creamy, with a rich white chocolate taste, nutty and slightly coffee-like, is how most people describe the flavor of this superb drink.
It’s important to note that this drink’s calorie and sugar content will vary widely based on its quantity and specific ingredients.
6. Iced Chai Tea Latte
- Content: Black tea, spices, brewed sweeteners, milk, and ice.
- Taste/Flavor: Bold tea flavor with a sweet and creamy taste.
Summertime is the perfect time to enjoy an Iced Chai Tea Latte, a delicious beverage that mixes the warming aromas of chai tea with the smooth and creamy texture of a latte.
To prepare chai tea, black tea is brewed with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and black pepper and then sweetened with sugar or honey.
Finally, cold milk is added to the brewed tea, yielding a creamy and tasty drink. This mixture makes for a delicious and refreshing drink when poured over ice in a cup.
Spicy, sweet, and with a hint of creaminess, Iced Chai Tea Lattes are a favorite among fans of flavored and fiery tea drinks. It’s commonly served at coffee shops and cafés, but you can make it at home with chai tea concentrate and cold milk.
7. Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew
- Content: Cold-brewed coffee, almond milk, and honey,
- Taste/Flavor: Coffee flavor with a creamy and sweet taste.
Cold-brewed coffee, almond milk, and honey make for a delicious and novel take on this classic cold-brew recipe.
Taste-wise, this iced drink strikes an excellent harmony between the creamy richness of the coffee and the nutty sweetness of the almond milk and honey.
For individuals who find conventional iced coffee too bitter, the cold brew procedure creates a more mellow and less acidic beverage.
Moreover, the almond milk creates a creamy texture, and the honey adds sweetness to the drink, making it a fantastic refreshing drink for summer.
8. Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
- Content: Cold brew coffee, milk, caramel flavoring, and salt
- Taste/Flavor: Chocolate and vanilla flavor with cream and sweet taste.
Cold brew coffee, milk, caramel flavoring, and salt are the standard ingredients in a Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew. In some preparations, the beverage may feature flavorings like vanilla or chocolate.
The flavor of this drink is a harmony between the sweet caramel and the salty aftertaste, with a touch of bitterness from the cold brew coffee.
Although delicious, Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brews are often highly caloric due to their excessive sugar content.
However, caffeine—found in higher concentrations in cold brew coffee than in hot coffee—is known to provide that energy boost to keep you going all day.
9. Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte
- Content: Blonde espresso, vanilla syrup, milk, and ice.
- Taste/Flavor: Vanilla flavor with a silky and sweet taste.
Coffee lovers can enjoy a refreshing cold beverage by mixing blonde espresso, vanilla syrup, and milk with ice. Sweet and silky with a taste of vanilla, this drink is a Starbucks fan favorite, offering a refreshing spin on the traditional latte.
Blonde roast espresso, employing a gentler roasting process, has a softer, smoother flavor than regular espresso. Creaminess and sweetness are introduced to the coffee by the milk, while the vanilla syrup adds a vanilla flavor.
If you like your coffee on the light side with just a trace of sweetness and vanilla taste, an Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte is the drink for you. It’s also refreshingly cool, making it ideal for sipping on a hot summer day.
10. Java Chip Frappuccino Blended Beverage
- Content: Coffee, milk, ice, chocolate chips, and mocha sauce.
- Taste/Flavor: Chocolate flavor with a creamy taste.
The Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino Blended Beverage is a frozen coffee beverage with chocolate chips. It packs coffee, milk, and ice and is flavored with chocolate chips and mocha sauce.
This drink’s finish includes a dollop of whipped cream and some chocolate shavings for extra flavor and crunch.
You should understand that chocolate chips and whipped cream might increase this beverage’s calorie count and reduce its overall nutritional value.
However, you can always make special requests, such as opting for variants with zero or less sugar and whipped topping.
11. Irish Cream Cold Brew
- Content: Cold brew coffee, Irish cream syrup, milk, chocolate syrup, and ice cubes.
- Taste/Flavor: Vanilla flavor with a smooth and creamy taste.
This Starbucks coffee beverage combines cold brew coffee with Irish cream syrup. Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee in cold water for an extended period, yielding a smoother, less acidic flavor.
On the other hand, Irish cream is a sweet, creamy liqueur made with Irish whiskey and flavors like chocolate and vanilla.
To make the drink, pour the cold brew coffee over ice and add the Irish cream liqueur to taste. Some other options are a splash of milk or cream or a drizzle of chocolate syrup.
The smooth, creamy, and slightly sweet flavor of Irish Cream Cold Brew makes it a popular iced coffee drink. It’s typically served over ice in a glass and is a popular choice for coffee drinkers looking for a sweet and indulgent coffee drink.
12. Iced Shaken Espresso
- Content: Espresso shots, ice, syrup or sweetener, and milk.
- Taste/Flavor: Vanilla/caramel flavor with an intense coffee taste.
This Starbucks cold coffee beverage is made by shaking espresso shots with ice and your favorite syrup or sweetener to give a refreshing and invigorating coffee drink. It’s typically served over ice, making it a popular choice for hot weather or as an afternoon pick-me-up.
Starbucks’ Iced Shaken Espresso comes in various flavors, including classic syrup flavors like vanilla and caramel and seasonal options like pumpkin spice.
The drink’s flavor can be tailored to individual tastes by varying the number of espresso shots used, the type of syrup or sweetener used, and the espresso-to-ice ratio.
Compared to other iced coffee beverages, such as iced lattes or iced mochas, the Iced Shaken Espresso is a popular choice for those who prefer a less sweet and more energizing coffee drink.
13. Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
- Content: Brewed coffee, chocolate cream, milk, and spices.
- Taste/Flavor: Chocolate flavor with a creamy and sweet taste.
Starbucks’ Chocolate Cream Cold Brew is a coffee drink made with chocolate cream, milk, and cold brew coffee.
The final product has a velvety texture and a deep, decadent taste with a chocolate undertone. The drink’s refreshing flavor and the fact that it may be served over ice make it a popular choice for warm weather.
The chocolate cream, made from a blend of chocolate syrup and cream, gives the beverage a sweet and decadent chocolate taste.
Depending on the customer’s preferences, the milk used in the drink can be nonfat or soy milk. This ingredient contributes to the flavor balance and creates a creamy and smooth texture.
14. Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
- Content: Brewed espresso, almond milk, flavored syrup, and ice.
- Taste/Flavor: Coffee flavor with a sweet and nutty taste.
This drink comprises espresso, almond milk, flavored syrup, and ice. The espresso and almond milk are poured over ice and sweetened with sugar cookie syrup to give it a sweet and creamy taste.
The espresso provides the coffee with a robust base, while the almond milk adds creaminess and a nutty flavor. On the other hand, the flavored syrup provides sweetness and a bit of sugar cookie flavor.
The end product is a delightful coffee beverage ideal for individuals who prefer sweet and creamy iced coffee beverages.
This drink is famous among coffee enthusiasts and is frequently consumed as a sweet treat or dessert beverage.
15. Iced Green Tea Lemonade
- Content: Ice, water, lemon juice, and a sweetener (such as sugar or honey).
- Taste/Flavor: Tangy flavor with a taste of mint and ginger.
Green tea lemonade, a popular summertime beverage, combines ice, water, lemon juice, and a sweetener (such as sugar or honey) into a pitcher. Flavorings like mint and ginger may be added to some preparations for variety.
Green tea lemonade is a refreshing alternative to regular lemonade made by replacing water with brewed or steeped green tea.
It has a delicate tea flavor that blends well with sweet and tangy lemonade. The refreshing coolness of this drink’s ice content particularly makes it ideal for hot summer days.
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Conclusion
Starbucks’ extensive menu of iced coffee drinks caters to the growing demand for a cool and enjoyable alternative to the traditional hot brew.
Whether you want a traditional iced coffee or something a little more out-of-the-ordinary, Starbucks has you covered — almost everyone can find their ideal taste and presentation among the many options available.
If you’re unsure what to have at Starbucks, ask the barista what they recommend or use this handy guide. TikTok is another helpful resource if you’re out for some fantastic Starbucks iced drink combo to quench your thirst on a sunny day.