Christmas is right around the corner, the weather will soon turn cold and blistery, and you need to stay up cramming for your finals before you can go home for the holidays. What universal coffee shop is on every corner, beckoning you with festive red cups and steaming chocolatey drinks to get you in the holiday spirit? Providing you with those few extra jolts of caffeine to get through your last Psych chapter?
Starbucks, of course.
But wait, you’re vegan, and you’ve decided to no longer include animal products in your diet. Doesn’t Starbucks include a heavy hand of cow-derived products in basically every drink? Unfortunately for the cows, yes, but with a few modifications, most delicious drinks on the Starbucks menu can be enjoyed by vegans and omnivores alike!
There are so many drinks that are easily “veganized,” as well as most of the syrups that can be added to practically any drink! Starbucks kindly provides all of the ingredients to each of their drinks, syrups, and toppings on their website. Based on the current information provided online, including this season’s holiday drinks here is a complete list of all drinks vegans can, and should, enjoy this winter!
No Modifications:
All “Refreshers,” Iced Teas, Hot Teas without milk, and black, hot, or iced coffees
Substitute Soy Milk, Coconut Milk, or Almondmilk:
Iced Coffee with Milk, Cold Brews with Milk, Hot teas with milk, Latte, Cappuccino, Flat White, Holiday Spice Flat White
Hot Drinks- Substitute Milk, ask for No Whipped Cream:
Hot Chocolate, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Mocha, Chestnut Praline Latte, Cinnamon Dolce Latte (with no topping as well), Gingerbread Latte, Peppermint Mocha
Frappuccinos- Substitute Milk, ask for No Whipped Cream:
Cafe Vanilla, Caramel, Chestnut Praline, Cinnamon Dolce, Coffee, Espresso, Fruitcake (order without Caramel Sauce), Gingerbread, Green Tea Creme, Oprah Cinnamon Chai Creme, Mocha, Peppermint Mocha, Vanilla Bean Creme, Strawberries & Creme
Syrups:
Mocha, Peppermint, Vanilla, Caramel, Toffee Nut, Chestnut Praline, Cinnamon Dolce, Gingerbread
Looking for a delicious new drink to try this winter while catching up with some old high school friends? Below are three delicious options to help you survive the early-morning frozen winds.
Peppermint Mocha
This seasonal favorite offers a warm chocolatey fix, with a kick of sweet peppermint reminiscent of Christmas morning candy canes. Order with soy milk and without whipped cream, giving you a drink that is just as rich as its hormone-laden counterpart. Fun Fact! While this is a seasonal drink, most locations offer the peppermint syrup off-menu through most of the spring months!
Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
Who doesn’t enjoy a steaming cup of Starbuck’s hot chocolate on blustery afternoons? Take it up a notch by adding in a pump of Hazelnut syrup. Order with soy milk, hazelnut syrup, and no whipped cream, and enjoy your time with a sweet, nutty holiday classic.
Caramel Latte
Unfortunately, several Caramel Macchiato and Salted Caramel drinks are made with milk additives in their caramel sauces. Ordering a soy caramel latte provides a sweet, smooth caramel fix to those who would rather not have animal cruelty in their drink.
For more information on each drink, check out Starbuck’s online menu here.
So, endless options to vegans placing an order, right? Unfortunately, there are a few menu items that just won’t make the cruelty-free cut. Due to the high fructose corn syrup content in a few of these ingredients, it seems the general population would do fine to steer clear of these options anyway.
Cannot Be Vegan:
Sweet Cream Drinks: these drinks are made using Heavy Cream.
Any Chile Mocha Drink: the Chile spice blend uses a milk derivative.
Any White Chocolate Drink: the White Chocolate Mocha Sauce uses condensed skim milk.
Any Salted Caramel or Caramel Macchiato Drink: the Caramel Sauce contains butter, heavy cream, and nonfat dry milk.
Caramelized Honey Latte: honey is not considered a vegan ingredient.
Eggnog Drinks: these drinks contain eggnog, which is made from eggs, which come from Chickens.
Pumpkin Spice Drinks: the pumpkin spice sauce, while it does contain real pumpkin puree, also contains condensed skim milk. So sad.
There you have it! Vegans, rejoice with your festive red cups and your delicious holiday drinks, and know that the cows approve of your Starbucks order.
