In this post, you will get a full guide on which drinks at Starbucks are already vegan or drinks which you can customise to order them if you are vegan.
As an ex-barista of 2 years, I’m super passionate about all things coffee. AND Big shout out to Starbuck barista of 3 years Emily for helping me out with a huge amount of the information in this post!
Please note, all of this information is complete to the best of my knowledge when writing this post but please check with your local branch when you order to confirm the allergens with them in-store.
If you can it is best to support to small, independent coffee branches and your local cafes.
However, I hope this guide is useful because it’s not always possible to ‘shop around’ especially if you are in an airport or abroad. Then this guide will help you when you are struggling to find vegan options.
Here’s what DRINKS you can order off the menu:
Soy = Free
New Nut Blend!
Oat +50p (Free with a gold card)
Almond +50p (Free with a gold card)
Coconut +50p (Free with a gold card)
+ Any syrups. Most popular syrups are vanilla, hazelnut and caramel. You can also get some syrups in a sugar-free version.
Sign up to the Starbucks loyalty scheme and collect stamps each time you get a drink. When you get 50 stamps you’ll become a Gold member and get all your extras for free (inc syrups and dairy-free milk). You’ll also get a free drink every 15 orders!
AND remember to bring your REUSABLE CUP to help with plastic waste and as a bonus, you’ll also get a 25p discount on your drink!
WHAT TO AVOID:
- Pumpkin spice
- White hot chocolate/mocha
- Caramel brûlée
- Chai latte (Chai tea is suitable for vegans but not the latte)
- Cookies & cream frappuccino
- Caramel drizzle
- Protein powder
HOT DRINKS:
1. Classic Hot Chocolate –
Order without cream and ask for dairy-free milk. You can add any of the syrups to your hot chocolate for an extra twist of flavour.
2. Mocha –
A combo of hot chocolate and coffee. Perfect when you can decide what to order. Order without cream and ask for dairy-free milk.
Please note that the white hot chocolate is not suitable as that contains milk.
3. Coffee –
Most coffee orders are vegan with dairy-free milk.
Which coffee to order?
Espresso – Just shots of coffee. Perfect for enjoying the coffee’s flavour or as an after-dinner sip.
Espresso Macchiato – Espresso coffee with a small amount of milk foam.
Cortado – Espresso shots topped with a small amount of warm, silky milk.
Flat White – Strongest of the milky coffees. High ratio of coffee to silky milk.
Americano – Espresso and hot water (black) or with a dash of hot or cold milk.
Cappuccino – Espresso with some silky milk and a thick layer of micro-foam. High ratio of coffee to milk.
Latte – Espresso with steamed milk, topped with a thin layer of micro-foam. High milk to coffee ratio.
4. Tea –
All teas are vegan. Flavours include: English Breakfast, Earl Grey (a classic tea with a floral twist. I recommend serving this black but you can also add dairy-free milk if you wish) Fruit tea, Chamomile (perfect for relaxing), mint (refreshing and good for an uneasy stomach), chia tea (not chai tea latte as this contains honey)
COLD DRINKS:
1. Iced Coffee –
Perfect for the summer. All coffee orders are vegan with dairy-free milk.
However, it may not be possible to order an iced cappuccino with vegan milk as they don’t froth up in the blender.
2. Frappuccino aka Iced Blended Beverages –
Order these with a cream base (i.e. just milk-based) or coffee-based (with coffee). Order without cream and ask for dairy-free milk to veganise this option on the menu.
You can basically order a frap with any of the syrup flavours, as these are all vegan.
Flavours include: Strawberry & Cream, Chocolate, Caramel, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Almond, Hazelnut, Peppermint, Double Chocolate Chip etc. You can even mix 2 syrups together to get a new flavour combo!
AND new to the menu is a Peanut Butter Cup frappuccino!
Please note that not all of the flavours and extras are vegan-friendly, e.g you cannot have the white mocha or cookies & cream frappuccinos, and you cannot have the caramel drizzle.
- Check out Emily’s YouTube video here for more info on ordering a Frappuccino.
3. Iced Tea –
In flavours, Green Tea, Black Tea, Hibiscus Tea, Blackberry Mojito Green Tea, Peach Citrus Green Tea*.
You can get these teas with either cold water or lemonade as a base (*Peach Citrus is always made with lemonade).
4. Frozen Iced Tea –
A thick blended drink with ice for an ‘icy-smooth’ texture with fruit flavours. Comes in 3 flavours: Apple & Kiwi, Mango, Strawberry & Lime.
Iced matcha green tea latte???
+ Here’s what FOOD can you get with your order:
The food does change fairly often but as of September 2020 you can get:
- Vegan Chocolate and Raspberry Mini Loaf Cake
2. Deliciously Ella Double Chocolate and Caramel Cups.
3. Kettle Chips – Sea Salt and Balsamic Vinegar. Accidentally vegan.
4. Five Grain Oatmeal. Currently the only breakfast option.
5. Vegan Beetroot Wrap: Currently the only lunch option.
And that completes your FULL GUIDE on how to order a VEGAN STARBUCKS drink + food orders.
If you liked this post, you will love this post on how to make the Viral Dalgona Coffee.
- How to make Dalgona Coffee – Read HERE!