starbucks store front with text that reads, "10 vegan drinks to try at starbucks"

10 Vegan Drinks to Try at Starbucks

This list is a quick look at 10 vegan drinks at Starbucks that you need to try! If you want a special drink but never know how to ask for it, this is the list for you. The dairy free drinks in this list are all from real people’s suggestions. So if you need a new tried-and-true vegan drink, keep reading to find your new favorite.


Starbucks continues to expand its vegan drink options. Last year they added Oatly oatmilk (which is quickly becoming everyone’s favorite) to the already existing dairy free milk options. But even with all these dairy free or vegan options, knowing what to order at Starbucks can sometimes be challenging. Let’s just call it decision overload. Or maybe you just get stuck in a rut and order the same safe drink every time. That’s why I designed this list to give you some fresh ideas when it comes to your vegan or dairy free Starbucks order!

starbucks store front with text that reads, "10 vegan drinks to try at starbucks"

I reached out to real people in multiple Facebook groups to ask what their favorite vegan drinks at Starbucks are. This list includes those suggestions as well as a few of my own personal favorites.

Disclaimer for Starbucks Vegan and Dairy Free Drinks:

ANY RESTAURANT THAT IS NOT EXCLUSIVELY VEGAN OR DAIRY-FREE POSES THE RISK FOR CROSS-CONTAMINATION (ALSO REFERRED TO AS CROSS-CONTACT).

This guide is not meant to be considered as medical advice. Eat or Drink does not guarantee or take on any liable responsibility for the accuracy of the information below. Articles like this should always be your starting point. This article provides information but in no way is meant to tell you what to do. I always urge you, especially if you have allergies, to verify any information before consuming new food.

While I try to do my due diligence – menu items change, human error occurs, and different locations may simply do things differently. That is why even with my best efforts, I can not guarantee all information is accurate.

If you are unsure if eating out is safe for you, please consult your doctor to get the best advice for your specific needs.

Please do not hesitate to let us know if you see information that is not up to date – this blog post was last updated in February 2022.

This list only covers US-based restaurants. Please note that even if you have one of these restaurants in your country, the ingredients may differ.

Lastly, we have not verified sugar sources (for bone char-free sugar) and do include items that have palm sugar.  If this is a concern for you, we recommend reaching out to the company directly. 

Best Practices for Eating Out While Dairy Free or Vegan

The best advice I can give for eating out while Dairy Free or Vegan is to call ahead, speak to management, and ask questions throughout the process. For example, if they say they can clean surfaces on the phone when you get there ensure that they follow through.

If you have an allergy, being your own advocate is key if you want to eat out. Don’t assume just because a menu item is dairy free that the servers automatically know how to handle that.

And I’ll say it again if you’re not sure eating out while dairy free is safe for you, ask your doctor.

10 Vegan Drinks to Try on your Next Starbucks Visit

As mentioned above, this list of 10 vegan and dairy free drinks is compiled from real people’s suggestions. I reached out to some Facebook groups I’m a part of to find out everyone’s favorite drinks.

starbucks store front

If you join the groups you can see my post and the full list of answers here:

Vegan Maine
Dairy Free Recipes

The first 7 drinks on this list are all coffee or espresso drinks. If you’re not a coffee fan, scroll down and check out the last 3 drinks on the list.

1. Blonde Hot Latte with Oatmilk and Cinnamon Dolce Syrup

A latte is an espresso topped with steamed milk. It has a very small layer of foam just at the top, but not nearly as much as a cappuccino.

Starbuck’s blonde espresso is a smooth lighter-roasted coffee. The perfect espresso if you don’t like your coffee too dark.

If you want a latte that’s not too bitter, this is the way to go. The blonde latte is Starbuck’s lighter roast. Add some sweetness with the cinnamon dolce syrup for a delicious vegan latte.

To place this order just request a “Grande blonde hot latte, with oatmilk, and 2 pumps cinnamon dolce syrup”.

2. Hazelnut Soy Latte

Try a classic latte with soy milk and hazelnut flavor syrup. The nutty hazelnut flavor combines nicely with soy milk for a delicious sweet and rich latte.

To place this order just request a “hot latte, with soymilk, and hazelnut syrup” in your preferred size.

3. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

This is a signature drink on the Starbucks menu that’s already vegan.

This drink combines Starbucks blonde espresso, brown sugar, and cinnamon. These ingredients get shaken together and then they top it with oatmilk and ice.

To place this order just request an “iced brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso” in your preferred size.

4. Vanilla Ristretto Latte with Almondmilk and Cocoa powder

This suggestion takes the classic vanilla latte and goes ristretto style.

Ristretto espresso refers to a short shot of espresso, meaning the barista pulls only the first portion of an espresso shot. This results in an espresso shot that has a sweeter, richer flavor.

To add even more flavor to this drink order, ask them to steam some cocoa powder with the milk.

To place this order just request a “hot vanilla latte, ristretto, with almondmilk and cocoa powder steamed in” in your preferred size. *If you’re ordering online you’ll find the cocoa powder under the toppings category.

5. Grande Cold Brew Coffee with extra Oatmilk and Vanilla

If you don’t know what cold brew coffee is by now, I might not be able to help you. Starbucks handcrafts its cold brew daily. It is slow-steeped in cool water for 20 hours for a smoother low acidic iced coffee.

vegan oatmilk coldbrew coffee at starbucks

I like to ask for extra oatmilk for a very creamy, delicious, smooth cold brew. I also like mine on the sweet side with 3 shots of vanilla syrup.

To place this order just request a “Grande cold brew coffee with an extra splash of oatmilk and 3 pumps vanilla”.

6. Grande Peppermint Hot Chocolate with Oatmilk and a Shot of Espresso

Take your vegan hot chocolate to the next level with peppermint flavor syrup and, yes you read it right, espresso.

The combination of rich espresso and sweet hot chocolate makes the perfect drink. Then brighten it all up with peppermint for the perfect marriage of flavors.

To place this order just request a “Grande peppermint hot chocolate with oatmilk and 1 shot of espresso”.

7. Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso

This is another menu item that’s already set to vegan at Starbucks. The iced chocolate almondmilk shaken espresso is a signature drink that combines cocoa, malt flavor, and their blonde espresso. They do a shake, shake, shake, and then top it with almondmilk.

*Please note for my gluten-free friends, malt is NOT gluten free. But you could order a similar drink without malt!

To place this order just request a “Chocolate almondmilk shaken espresso” in your preferred size.

8. Passion Tea Lemonade with Raspberry

If you want a refreshing drink from Starbucks that does not contain any coffee, this is it. The passion tea lemonade is a combination of lemonade, sweet mango, and refreshing dragonfruit flavors.

passion tea lemonade held in front of a floral red dress
Photo and Drink suggestion submitted from a “Vegan Maine” FB group member.

Add in 3 shots of raspberry syrup for an even sweeter and more unique drink experience.

To place this order just request “Grande Passion Tea Lemonade with 3 Raspberry Pumps and 1 scoop dragonfruit”.

9. Hot chocolate with Coconutmilk

You truly can’t go wrong with ordering a vegan hot chocolate from Starbucks. Any of their vegan milk is delicious in the hot chocolate.

overhead shot of coconutmilk hot chocolate

I suggest trying it with coconutmilk for a unique twist on a classic hot chocolate. Starbucks coconutmilk is not shy about the coconut flavor. While this can be a downfall for some drinks, it can also be a great way to enhance the flavor.

When it comes to a vegan hot chocolate, the coconut flavor of the coconutmilk adds just the right hint of flavor.

To place this order just request “Hot chocolate with coconutmilk” in your preferred size.

10. Tall Vanilla Oatmilk Steamer with Cinnamon

If you want a coffee-free and caffeine-free vegan drink at Starbucks, you need to try a steamer. It’s simply milk steamed until warm and silky with whatever flavor syrup you choose.

This is a great drink for kids, but it is definitely not just for kids.

If you wish you could enjoy white hot chocolate, a vanilla steamer is the way to go. A warm smooth sweet drink that won’t make you miss milk in the least bit.

To place this order just request a “Tall oatmilk steamer with 2 pumps vanilla syrup, topped with cinnamon”.

If you like this list, make sure to check out my Ultimate 2022 Dunkin’ Donuts Vegan guide!

Sources: The information about the drinks in this blog post was obtained from the Starbucks website and was last verified in February 2022.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going in the Comments

Do you have a favorite vegan food or drink order that’s not listed below? Share your suggestion in the comments to help people find some new tried-and-true menu items to try!

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