How to Order Vegan Drinks at Starbucks

Vegan Starbucks, anyone? The coffee chain’s fall favorites have returned in the U.S., and while the Pumpkin Spice Latte is still not vegan, the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is a cow-friendly option. This tasty beverage is vegan as is, because it comes with oat milk by default instead of cow’s milk. The Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato is also back on the menu, and is sure to get you in the autumnal spirit, with apple, cinnamon, oat, and brown sugar flavors, all topped with a spiced apple drizzle. Try it hot or iced!

If you’re still looking to fulfill your pumpkin spice craving at Starbucks, don’t worry! Try the Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte on our “secret menu” below, or ask your barista to veganize the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew by ordering it with a Nondairy Cold Foam and adding pumpkin spice topping to it. Be sure to ask for it without any pumpkin spice sauce, and enjoy.

Starbucks offers several vegan as-is drinks. Others include the Iced Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and the popular Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.

While it’s great that Starbucks has expanded its vegan milk options, customers shouldn’t have to pay extra when they make a choice that’s better for animals, the environment, and their health. Ask Starbucks to follow the example of many other coffee chains by offering dairy-free milk at no extra charge.

Until the chain ends the upcharge, you can use the rewards program to make it easier—and cheaper—to order vegan drinks. Using the loyalty program, customers will earn two stars for every dollar that they spend at the chain. Once you earn 25 stars (from spending about $13) on drinks or food, you can cash them in to waive the fee and order your favorite drink with almond, soy, oat (at select stores), or coconut milk for no additional charge.

Here’s our handy guide to ordering vegan drinks at your local Starbucks.

Getting Started

The basic drinks are vegan: Get yourself a hot coffee or an iced version with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and any flavored sweetener syrup (such as vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut), and you’re all set. Hot or iced tea is always vegan as well. For drinks that are a bit more “involved,” simply apply these three rules:

Replace

Remember to order oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk. All stores carry them, and they can be used to replace cow’s milk in any drink for an additional cost. You can also choose a Nondairy Cold Foam flavor in place of any dairy-based one:

• Nondairy Apple Crisp Cream Cold Foam
• Nondairy Chocolate Cream Cold Foam
• Nondairy Matcha Cream Cold Foam
• Nondairy Oleato Golden Foam
• Nondairy Salted Caramel Cream Cold Foam
• Nondairy Strawberry Cream Cold Foam

Hold

Ask your barista to hold the following nonvegan ingredients:

• Whipped cream
• Pumpkin spice sauce
• Java chips (used in the Java Chip Frappuccino and Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino)
• Caramel drizzle (used on the Caramel Macchiato and Caramel Frappuccino)
• Cinnamon dolce topping (which contains butter)

Avoid

Unfortunately, a few drinks can’t be made vegan because there’s cow’s milk or honey in the syrup. Completely avoid these drinks:

• Anything with white mocha
• Anything with caramel brûlée
• Chai lattes (but the Teavana brewed chai tea is fine)

Note: Clear syrups are usually vegan, but the sauces aren’t—except the mocha one.

Staples

Check out some of our favorite drinks that are vegan as-is or can be made vegan with minor adjustments:

• Freshly brewed coffees
• Caffè Americanos
• Caffè lattes (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
• Caffè mochas (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
• Caramel Macchiatos (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the caramel drizzle)
• Ombré iced coffees (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk)

• Flat whites (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk)
• Java Chip Frappuccinos (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the java chips and whipped cream—and try adding the Cookie Crumble Topping)
• Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
• Cinnamon Dolce Latte (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the Cinnamon Dolce Sprinkles and whipped cream)

• Matcha Tea Latte (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk)
• Matcha Crème Frappuccino Blended Beverage (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
• Iced Matcha Lemonade

• Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso
• Hazelnut Mocha Coconutmilk Macchiato

• Pink Drinks and Violet Drinks

• Nondairy Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
• Nondairy Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
• Nondairy Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

• Dragon Drink Starbucks Refresher (also available with Nondairy Oleato Golden Foam)
• London Fog Latte (Order it with vegan milk.)
• Mango Dragonfruit Starbucks Refresher (also available with lemonade and as a frozen drink)
• Paradise Drink Starbucks Refresher (also available with Nondairy Oleato Golden Foam)
• Pineapple Passionfruit Starbucks Refresher (also available with lemonade and as a frozen drink)
• Strawberry Açaí Starbucks Refresher (also available with lemonade and as a frozen drink)

Fall-Winter Seasonal Drinks

Order these seasonal favorites with nondairy milk, and be sure to hold the whipped cream:

• Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

• Apple Crisp Oatmilk Frappuccino (Order it without whipped cream.)
• Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
• Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
• Peppermint Mochas
• Gingerbread Lattes
• Chestnut Praline Lattes
• Toffee Almondmilk Hot Cocoa

Spring-Summer Seasonal Drinks

Note: Seasonal offerings vary, so check with your local Starbucks store to find out what’s available.

• Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte
• Summer-Berry Starbucks Refresher (also available with lemonade)
• Summer Skies Drink Starbucks Refresher

Secret

These secret (or not-so-secret) menu items can be ordered vegan but may need some explanation:

• The Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte

• The Vegan Nutella Frap

• The Captain Crunch Frap

And when the barista asks for your name, don’t forget to use your cup to speak out for animals!

Food

Starbucks also offers vegan food options. To see a complete list, check out our Starbucks Vegan Food Guide now.

It’s no secret that cows suffer in the dairy industry, but by going vegan, you can save nearly 200 animals per year! Our free vegan starter kit has tips and information about how to go vegan. For animals, the environment, and your health, order one today.