Starbucks Coffee has plenty of amazing drinks on their menu. So many that it can sometimes be confusing to figure out what to order. As a barista for the international coffee chain, I have seen, and made, plenty of 'secret menu' drinks. I have also had ample time to perfect my own favorite drinks and snacks, some of which are right here. Considering Starbucks drinks can be a little pricey, it's nice knowing that at least these drinks have been vetted by an actual Starbucks barista.
1. Iced chai latte with smoked butterscotch sauce
Iced chai lattes are one of my all time favorite drinks at Starbucks. The spice of the chai is perfectly contrasted by the sweetness of the smoked butterscotch to give the drink a sweet and satisfying finish. The smoked butterscotch sauce is a limited time offering, so make sure to try it before it's gone!
How to order: Iced Chai add Butterscotch (1.5 pumps tall, 2 pumps grande, 3 pumps venti).
2. Stirred iced caramel macchiato with hazelnut
Starbucks' hazelnut syrup is my Achilles' heel honestly. I will put this syrup in pretty much anything and everything. The syrup adds just enough nuttiness to compliment the sweetness of the caramel drizzle. Having this drink stirred while it's being made means two things: the shots of espresso are put in the bottom of the cup along with the caramel drizzle, which means it gets melted by the shots. It also means you don't have to worry about stirring it yourself which allows you to enjoy it even more.
How to order: Iced Caramel Macchiato stirred with hazelnut and vanilla, full pumps of both.
3. Starbucks doubleshot with white mocha and sweet cream
If you are looking for a caffeine boost, Starbucks doubleshots are the way to go. A venti of this drink contains five shots of espresso, which is 375 milligrams of caffeine. That'll give you enough energy to get through the mid-afternoon crash! Substituting white mocha for the classic sweetener gives this drink a little bit of creaminess, and then adding the sweet cream gives each sip a smooth finish.
How to order: Starbucks Doubleshot with white mocha instead of classic and sweet cream instead of 2% milk.
4. Cool lime refresher with lemonade and raspberry syrup
I'll admit, the cool lime refresher is another favorite of mine, even though it's not the most popular. And even though it doesn't look as cool without red raspberry syrup, it's still one of my favorite summer-time drinks.
How to order: Cool lime refresher with raspberry syrup and lemonade instead of water.
5. Mango black tea with peach syrup
I love both the mango black tea and the peach green tea, but combining both mango and peach with the black tea makes for a stellar drink. Whenever I have this drink, it reminds me of summer nights sitting underneath the stars with friends, so I find myself ordering it a lot during the winter time, oddly enough.
How to order: Iced mango black tea with half pumps mango and half pumps peach syrup.
6. Vanilla bean frappuccino with frappuccino chips
Oreos meet frappuccino. It's the best of both worlds. I'm not usually a huge fan of frappuccinos, but whenever I get one, this is what I get. This is the drink to get to cool off after a hot summer day or rewarding yourself for a long week at the office.
How to order: Vanilla bean frappuccino with frappuccino chips.
7. Cheese danish with caramel drizzle
This is something I would suggest you only order if you plan on staying in-store for a little while so that you can have it on a plate. If you get it in a to-go bag, it just gets super messy and it's not a fun time. That said, this is the perfect sweet-tooth snack. The creaminess of the cheese pairs flawlessly with the sweetness of the caramel drizzle. You won't understand what I mean until you try it, I promise.
How to order: Cheese danish warmed up on a plate with caramel drizzle on top.
8. Everything bagel with cheese toasted with cream cheese and sriracha
I am a huge fan of all of the bagels Starbucks carries, but the everything with cheese is by far my favorite. I always get it toasted, obviously, along with plain cream cheese and sriracha. I know, hot sauce on a bagel seems a little weird, but trust me, it works. The hotness of the sriracha balances wonderfully with the smoothness of the cream cheese.
How to order: Everything bagel toasted with cream cheese and sriracha.
