Odds are you’ve been to Starbucks recently…but when’s the last time you ordered something besides your usual? In an effort to spice up your order, we polled our staff to find out their favorite cold bevs on the menu, from coffees to teas to blended delights. (After all, summer is just around the corner—what better time to try a new bev?) No matter your preferences, one of these tried-and-true picks will surely satisfy. Here, in no particular order, the 15 best iced drinks at Starbucks, according to our java-loving editors.
The 15 Best Iced Drinks at Starbucks, as Chosen by Our Coffee-Loving Editors
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Published Apr 16, 2023
1. Cinnamon Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew
Best Cold Brew
- Available: year-round
New to menus this spring, this cold coffee is inspired by cinnamon rolls. In each sip, you’ll find notes of sticky, spiced cinnamon filling, caramelized sugar and sweet icing, along with the robust taste of Starbucks cold brew. Since it’s nitro, it’ll also be velvety smooth in texture and balanced in flavor, making it a great choice for coffee drinkers who prefer minimal bitterness.
Best Iced Americano
- Available: year-round
ICYMI, blonde coffee refers to beans that have been roasted for less time than usual, resulting in a gentler flavor and higher caffeine content. For this drink, two shots are topped with water and ice, allowing the espresso’s natural flavor and light crema to shine. Commerce editor Olivia Dubyak takes hers with an extra shot for a jolt of energy; you can also ask for room in your cup if you’d like to top it with milk for a creamier texture and less bitterness.
Best Iced Latte
- Available: winter
It launched alongside the Pistachio Cream Cold Brew in winter 2021 and was so well received that it’s been revived every year since. Sweet pistachio syrup meets toasty espresso and milk over ice to create a smooth, comforting drink that’s easy to love. Best of all, it’s topped with a salted brown butter topping that offers delicious nuance to your first few sips. This nutty favorite will only be around for a little while longer this year, so order one while you still can.
Best Iced Macchiato
- Available: year-round
Leave it to Starbucks to commandeer the term “macchiato” for an upside-down vanilla latte. (FYI, a real macchiato is simply a shot of espresso topped with foamed milk—no caramel drizzle or flavor syrup required.) But that knowledge doesn’t make this ever-popular drink, made with espresso, vanilla syrup, milk and caramel drizzle, any less delicious. Assistant commerce editor Natalie LaBarbera prefers hers with oat milk, but this reliable option tastes divine no matter what type you choose. Trust.
Best Coffee Frappuccino
- Available: year-round
If you prefer your light-and-sweet coffee blended to frosty perfection, look no further than the Caramel Frappuccino. A mix of caramel syrup, coffee, milk, ice and all the caramel sauce your taste buds can handle, this bev is more a treat than a standard cup of joe. But hey, we’ll go for whipped cream any time of day. Might we suggest asking for one affogato-style, served with a hot espresso shot poured over the top?
6. Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino
Best Coffee-Free Frappuccino
- Available: year-round
When it comes to choosing a Frap minus the java, this chocolate-kissed pick is an easy win. Rich mocha sauce, chocolaty chips, milk and ice go for a whirl in the blender before being poured into a cup and crowned with mocha-topped whipped cream. (Bonus points for asking the barista to drizzle the inside of the cup with mocha too.)
Best Iced Tea
- Available: year-round
What started out as a seasonal summer darling quickly became a menu mainstay. And it’s no surprise why: Sweet peach juice is an epic pairing for earthy green tea, complete with hints of spearmint, lemon verbena and lemongrass. For a punch of tartness, ask for a splash of lemonade in your tea as well.
Best Iced Tea Lemonade
- Available: year-round
Of all the iced teas Starbucks offers, the black tea is the highest in caffeine. Matched with refreshing lemonade, ice and sweetener (if you’d like), it’s the ultimate afternoon pick-me-up. If you’re cutting back on sugar or going keto, ask for only a splash of lemonade and no classic syrup. The acidity of the lemonade will curb the earthiness of the tea, and since it’s already slightly sweetened, it won’t be too bitter without the extra syrup.
Best Iced Tea Latte
Best Iced Tea Latte
- Available: year-round
Chai—a black tea infused with warming spices like cinnamon and clove—can be intense when served hot and plain. But cut with milk, it’s smooth and cozy with just enough spice (and even more so when served cold). If you prefer dairy-free milk, follow assistant editor Stephanie Meraz’s lead and opt for almond milk. If it’s a boost you’re looking for, make like senior food editor Katherine Gillen and ask for a dirty chai (that’s a chai latte with a shot of espresso).
Best Iced Matcha Drink
- Available: year-round
Treat yourself to a modest dose of caffeine sans-coffee with this green tea-based blended treat. Made with premium matcha powder, milk and ice, it’s among the most vibrant, photo-worthy choices on the menu. Whipped cream is technically optional…but we don’t know why you’d skip it.
11. Dragon Drink
Best Refresher
Best Refresher
- Available: year-round
Have you had the pleasure of drinking a Starbucks Refresher before? They’re lightly caffeinated drinks made with green coffee extract, fruit juice, water and dried fruit. Available in flavors like Strawberry Açai and Pineapple Passionfruit, the Dragon variety is no doubt the most striking. The mango-dragonfruit base is spiked with creamy coconut milk and diced dragonfruit to craft a tropical sipper for the books.
12. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Best Iced Drink for Caffeine Lovers
- Available: year-round
First, blonde espresso is shaken with brown sugar syrup and cinnamon to infuse it with both sweet and spicy flavor. Then, it’s topped with oatmilk and ice to make it sippable and refreshing. Want to make this powerhouse even stronger? Commerce director Nicole Briese swears by her order, which calls for only one pump of brown sugar syrup and two extra ristretto shots (meaning a shot that’s extracted with minimal pressure and water for maximum intensity).
13. Iced White Chocolate Mocha
Most Underrated Iced Drink
- Available: year-round
Sure, you’ve had plenty of hot white mochas in your day—they’re sweet, buttery and oh so comforting. But have you tried one iced? You may think the uber thick white chocolate sauce wouldn’t dissolve without steamed milk, but the hot espresso is pulled right on top of it, so as long as the barista gives the cup a swirl or stir before adding the cold milk and ice, they should be evenly mixed.
Best Seasonal Iced Drink
Best Seasonal Iced Drink
- Available: winter
Sorry, PSL. It’s tough to top liquid chocolate bark. Decadent mocha sauce and cool peppermint syrup are first dissolved in hot espresso before being topped with cold milk, ice and an optional-but-necessary whipped cream crown. It’s definitely on the sweeter side because it’s made with two flavor syrups instead of one, but nothing puts us in the holiday spirit like this jolly sipper.
(P.S.: Managing editor Catrina Yohay is also a big fan of the Brown Sugar Cookie Cold Brew, a secret menu item that can be made as long as your store has sugar cookie syrup in stock. It’s our winter rec for those craving something slightly sweet that’s still festive.)
15. Pink Drink
Most Insta-Worthy Iced Drink
Most Insta-Worthy Iced Drink
- Available: year-round
This undeniably photogenic bev started out as a customer-created concoction. But once the mix of Strawberry Açaí Refresher and creamy coconut milk became a fan favorite, the powers that be added it to the menu for good. Fans will be thrilled to learn that Starbucks just released bottled versions of both Pink Drink and Paradise Drink, so you can stock up at the supermarket instead of ordering one from your usual barista. (Also new to the brand’s grocery collection are Frappuccino Mini coffee drinks and bottled Espresso Americano.)
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
