The Starbucks menu offers dozens of options for food and drink, catering to a wide range of preferences, whether you prefer something hot, cold, sweet, or savory.
Many people stick with one or two drinks whenever they visit. However, Starbucks offers much more than just coffee, with dozens of options.
Quick Answer: What are the best hot drinks at Starbucks?
The best Starbucks hot drinks in 2026 include the Pumpkin Spice Latte, Caramel Brulée Latte, and White Chocolate Mocha. You might try the hot caramel apple spice drink if you want something without caffeine.
I will offer my selection of the 30 best hot drinks on the Starbucks 2026 menu and why you should try them.
You may find your new favorite drink!
Coffee
Starbucks is most well-known for its coffee. It stands out as one of the most popular and successful coffeehouses using its trademarked blends and brews.
Many coffee-based drinks are available over ice or as a blended Frappuccino.
If you want a hot cup of coffee to start your morning or warm you up on a cold day, there are plenty of options.
Below, you will find the best hot coffee drinks on the Starbucks 2026 menu.
Starbucks coffees come in the following sizes:
- Short (8 fl. oz. or 236 ml)
- Tall (12 fl. oz. or 355 ml)
- Grande (16 fl. oz. or 473 ml)
- Venti (20 fl. oz. or 591 ml)
Caffè Americano
A caffè americano is an espresso with hot water added.
It's the only hot Americano option and is great if you want a simple drink that's not as strong as regular coffee.
Although it can be customized like any other drink, this item is a great introduction to basic black coffee, rather than the sugar- and dairy-rich order you usually get.
Veranda blend
The Veranda blend of Starbucks' light-roasted coffee is an excellent option for crafting a customized drink from scratch.
You can add sugar or milk for a simple order, or go all out and add different flavored syrups.
A delicious option might be caramel syrup with chocolate milk and whipped cream.
Decaf Pike Place roast
Despite the “decaf” in its name, this drink has a small amount of caffeine.
However, this tiny amount will likely not affect you significantly, making a decaf roast ideal for later in the day when you want to unwind and not worry about caffeine making you feel energetic or jittery.
Cappuccino
A cappuccino is an espresso drink with a generous amount of steamed milk and foam. It's the only hot cappuccino option.
Like the Veranda blend, it's a great option if you want a “blank slate” to build upon and add your own favorite flavors and additives.
Espresso shots
Instead of the short, tall, grande, and venti sizes, espresso shots come in the following sizes:
- Solo (0.75 fl. oz.)
- Doppio (1.5 fl. oz.)
- Triple (2.25 fl. oz.)
- Quad (3 fl. oz.).
Despite their smaller sizes, espresso makes up for it with more caffeine and a much stronger, darker flavor.
Tip: You can also order a red-eye coffee if you're looking for a caffeine boost!
Espresso con Panna
A regular espresso shot is brewed with a small amount of water and comes with a scoop of whipped cream.
It's a great pick-me-up for your morning because it has a higher caffeine content than regular coffee and a subtle sweetness from the added whipped cream.
Tip: You can also make this drink at home. To try it out, you can follow this 5-minute recipe!
Honey almond milk flat white
This drink contains a small amount of honey and uses almond milk instead of whole milk.
It's also very lightly sweetened with the addition of honey!
Starbucks Reserve hazelnut bianco latte
This latte features “hazelnut-praline-infused milk” made in-house at Starbucks, a unique drink option that you're unlikely to find in a similar version at other coffee shops.
The nuttiness is a great accompaniment to the strong espresso that makes up the rest of the drink.
Pumpkin spice latte
This latte is a unique autumn favorite for many people because it combines the flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
It's a drink that even the most casual Starbucks patrons look forward to every fall.
While there's the downside of it only being available later in the year, its exclusivity makes it all the more special.
Tip: If you want to enjoy this drink year-round, you can always make it at home!
Caramel brulée latte
This latte comes with a caramel brulée sauce and additional bits of caramel brulée sprinkled on top. It's sweet, rich, and great if you want a more basic flavor profile.
You also get the added treat of crunchy brulée pieces. The drink might be a lovely treat in the afternoon when you have time to relax.
This latte combines Starbucks' blonde espresso with steamed almond milk, sugar cookie-flavored syrup, and a sprinkles topping.
It's a fun, sweet drink with the added benefit of being dairy-free.
When you're trying to decide between a sugar cookie and a latte but don't want the additional calories of both, you can choose this drink as a happy compromise.
Cinnamon dolce latte
This latte is made with cinnamon dolce-flavored syrup and has a sprinkle of cinnamon dulce topping.
It's a great option if you typically go for something caramel-flavored but want to spice up your order with an added layer of spice.
Adding whipped cream can turn this into an indulgent treat.
Caramel macchiato
This macchiato is made with vanilla syrup and topped with caramel sauce.
It is a popular favorite because of how well the sweet, rich flavors of caramel and vanilla pair with one another.
Depending on your cravings, you might ask for a small amount of chocolate syrup to turn this into a caramel mocha macchiato.
Apple crisp oat milk macchiato
This macchiato is made with oat milk and apple brown sugar syrup, topped with a spiced apple drizzle.
Another dairy-free option, this drink is light, sweet, and reminiscent of apple cider in a way that captures the essence of fall's coziness.
It pairs well with a small slice of apple pie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Caffè mocha
This chocolatey drink has espresso, steamed milk, and mocha syrup.
It's a simple yet delightful choice that perfectly captures the classic pairing of coffee and chocolate, making it the ideal compromise for those torn between coffee and hot chocolate.
White chocolate mocha
This drink swaps out regular mocha syrup with white chocolate-flavored syrup.
It's a little creamier than the regular one, and the chocolate flavor is slightly more subtle if you prefer a more pronounced coffee flavor.
Topping it with whipped cream and white chocolate pieces can turn this into a decadent dessert drink.
Tip: If you want to learn how to make Starbucks whipped cream at home, check out this article here!
Peppermint mocha
This favorite holiday drink is flavored with equal parts peppermint and mocha syrup.
A great choice during the winter season, you can enjoy this minty, chocolatey drink any time of the year.
You can adjust it with more peppermint or chocolate if you prefer one flavor.
Starbucks Reserve dark chocolate mocha
This drink is made with Starbucks Reserve espresso, ground chocolate, and cocoa.
Unlike Starbucks' other mochas, this drink contains real chocolate, not just flavored syrup, making it richer than the others.
Whipped cream and cacao nibs can make this even better.
Tea
Tea is a great alternative if you're looking for a hot, caffeinated drink but aren't in the mood for coffee.
While there are fewer tea options than coffee on Starbucks' menu, there's likely to be something you'll enjoy.
Like coffee, there's plenty of room to customize tea and make it as simple or complex as you like.
Many people dismiss tea as “not being for them,” but there are plenty of varieties and combinations that are sure to satisfy even the biggest coffee lover.
Teas are also available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.
Below, you will find the best hot tea drinks on the Starbucks 2026 menu!
Chai tea latte
Chai tea is steamed with 2% milk and milk foam, making it a great choice for those who want a light and creamy tea while still enjoying subtle chai spice.
It's also a little less “leafy” tasting than other teas, which can be a big deterrent for some customers who aren't used to tea.
While it doesn't contain a significant amount of caffeine, it does have some.
Earl Grey tea
This classic tea features flavor notes of bergamot, lemon, and lavender, making it a great introduction to black tea for those who haven't tried tea before and want to expand their drink options.
Royal English breakfast tea
The black tea blend is an ideal way to start your morning.
Adding milk and sugar can make this tea taste similar to coffee if you want to try something new but still desire a strong, robust flavor.
And whether it's like the tea our British cousins across the sea have or not, you still might enjoy the rich flavor.
Matcha tea latte
Matcha green tea is steamed with milk and milk foam. It's rich and creamy without sacrificing the earthy, herbal flavor of green tea.
However, if you're not a fan of matcha green tea's grassy flavor and texture, you probably won't like this latte either. It's a good thing there are other tea options on the menu.
Honey citrus mint tea
This drink blends jade citrus mint green tea, peach tranquility herbal tea, lemonade, and honey.
The combination of sweet and herby flavors makes this drink a unique experience, perfect for those who want to go beyond a simple tea.
If you've already had enough coffee for the day but want a soothing, hot drink, this might be your answer.
Jade citrus mint brewed tea
This drink blends “green tea, lemon verbena, lemongrass, and a hint of spearmint.”
Combining earthy, minty, and lemony flavors produces a bright and refreshing tea.
Like the honey citrus mint tea, this lovely hot drink can be a soothing retreat at the end of the day.
Mint majesty
This tea is a blend of spearmint, peppermint, and lemon verbena.
It's a great drink choice if you prefer a more pronounced minty taste with the addition of a bright, lemony flavor.
Peach tranquility
This tea blends “peach, candied pineapple, chamomile blossoms, lemon verbena, and rose hips.”
A sweet and floral drink, this is a great choice to enjoy in the spring or summer, as it evokes visions of walking through peach orchards, breathing in the sweet scent of peach blossoms and ripening fruit.
Other drinks
Perhaps you aren't looking for coffee or tea but still want a hot beverage.
Thankfully, Starbucks has several often-overlooked options, but some hidden gems on the menu have plenty to offer.
Most of these drinks are caffeine-free. In addition to the four sizes, these drinks are also available in a kids' size (8 fl. oz.).
Below, you will find the best hot, non-coffee, and non-tea drinks on the Starbucks 2026 menu.
Hot chocolate
This milk-based drink is made with a combination of vanilla and mocha-flavored syrups.
Although usually associated with the winter and holiday seasons, a sweet chocolate drink is wonderful for any time of year.
It's also a great way to get a pick-me-up in the morning with a small amount of caffeine if you aren't a huge fan of coffee or tea.
You can also make hot chocolate with coffee for an extra caffeine boost!
White hot chocolate
This drink uses white chocolate mocha syrup instead of mocha and vanilla.
It's rich, sweet, and creamy, with a slightly less intense chocolate taste than regular hot chocolate.
If you're in the mood for something extra special, ask for whipped cream with a sprinkle of white chocolate pieces.
Peppermint hot chocolate
This drink is made with equal parts peppermint and mocha syrup, which can enhance the wintery feel of regular hot chocolate.
Technically, it's only available during the holiday season, but you can request the addition of peppermint syrup to your hot chocolate during the rest of the year.
Caramel apple spice
This drink is made with steamed apple juice, cinnamon dolce syrup, and a caramel drizzle.
A fairly simple drink, the layers of sweet and spicy flavors make this item an indulgent experience that many Starbucks customers may not realize is on the menu.
Vanilla crème steamer
This drink is made with steamed milk, vanilla syrup, and whipped cream.
There's something nostalgic and comforting about a warm cup of milk, elevated by the sweetness of vanilla.
Although this item is heavy on dairy, you can request that the default 2% milk be replaced with one of Starbucks' non-dairy milks, such as almond, oat, soy, or coconut.
More great Starbucks drinks
Ready to learn more about what kind of drinks Starbucks has?
Great!
Below, you will find all the lists I've created so far:
- Best Starbucks Caramel Drinks
- Best Starbucks Cold Brew Drinks
- Best Starbucks Decaf Drinks
- Best Starbucks Drinks for Kids
- Best Starbucks Espresso Drinks
- Best Starbucks Frappuccino Drinks
- Best Starbucks Holiday Drinks
- Best Starbucks Iced Coffee Drinks
- Best Starbucks Latte Flavors
- Best Starbucks Oat Milk Drinks
- Best Starbucks Protein Drinks
- Best Starbucks Secret Menu Drinks
- Best Starbucks Vanilla Drinks
And for even more information about Starbucks, check out the Starbucks hub here!
Final thoughts
Starbucks' 2026 menu has dozens of hot beverage options, including coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juice, and steamers.
They all come in multiple sizes, which will affect the calorie and caffeine amounts.
Add-ins like syrups, sweeteners, and milk will increase the calorie count.
If you're lactose intolerant or vegan, dairy-free alternatives like almond, oat, soy, and coconut milk can replace the 2% milk that many drinks are typically made with.
