The Starbucks menu is expansive and can be confusing for those who have never visited before.
Ordering something at Starbucks might seem like a big deal, but once you know the basics, you can handle it like a pro.
Quick Answer: How do you order Starbucks?
To order at Starbucks like a pro, it's best to review the menu before you go. This allows you to determine what drink you want, what to add to your order or change in the recipe, and what cup size you'd like.
In this article, I'll discuss what Starbucks offers, as mentioned on its website, and the available drinks and customization options you can add to your order.
I'll also review the different cup sizes!
1. Decide what type of drink you want
Starbucks offers a variety of drinks in different categories, making it easier to select the perfect one.
While these categories are mainly divided between hot and cold drinks, there are various other options within each category:
Hot coffees
There's a very extensive list of hot coffees, some of which are more sugary, milky, or foamy than others.
If there's a beverage on the list that you like but isn't 100% what you want, don't worry! There are many customization options for you that I'll discuss later in this article.
The hot coffees available at Starbucks include:
- Americanos. Espresso diluted with hot water.
- Brewed coffees
- Cappuccinos. Espresso with milk and milk foam. Cappuccinos are foamier than lattes.
- Espresso shots
- Flat whites. Espresso with milk and a very thin layer of foam. For more information on the differences between a flat white and a cappuccino, you can find an explanation here.
- Lattes. Espresso with milk and foam. Lattes are milkier than cappuccinos.
- Macchiatos. Espresso with a small amount of milk.
- Mochas. Espresso with chocolate (sauce or powder) and milk or cream.
Different drinks are available in each category, which can be found on the Starbucks website.
Hot teas
The hot tea category has fewer options available, but you'll likely find the one you want on the list.
As with the other types, you can add to and modify the recipe.
These are the types of hot teas available at Starbucks:
- Chai teas
- Black teas
- Green teas
- Herbal teas
As mentioned above, there are significant variations in the teas available on this website.
Chai, black, and green tea are available as lattes, and you can choose from different tea flavors.
Hot drinks
There are more hot drinks besides coffee and tea, which might be better for young children or people who can't consume too much caffeine.
Hot chocolate, juice, and steamers are great options; different variations are available within these categories, which you can find here.
Again, you have the option to customize your drink.
Iced coffees
The list of cold coffee categories is pretty long, so you're guaranteed to find the one you've been craving.
These are based on the hot coffee types mentioned above, with an additional nitro cold brew option made with nitrogen gas:
These are the types of cold coffees available at Starbucks:
- Cold brews
- Nitro cold brew. Made with nitrogen gas. Nitro cold brew is smoother and less bitter than regular coffee.
- Iced Americano
- Iced coffees
- Iced shaken espresso. Drinks are shaken in a cocktail shaker.
- Iced flat whites
- Iced lattes
- Iced macchiatos
- Iced mochas
Iced teas
There are iced versions of the hot teas I mentioned before (green teas, black teas, chai teas, and herbal teas), with some additional flavors.
You can find these on the Starbucks website. Furthermore, you can buy bottled Teavana teas.
Cold drinks
These Starbucks drinks are original, so you probably won't find them elsewhere. The vibrant colors and interesting flavors make these drinks very popular.
These drinks are an excellent choice when it's warm outside, and you need some refreshment.
The cold drinks available at Starbucks include:
- Dragon drink. With dragonfruit inclusion, ice, and coconut milk.
- Mango dragon fruit. With dragon fruit inclusion and ice.
- Mango dragon fruit lemonade. With the inclusion of dragon fruit, ice, and lemonade.
- Paradise drink. With freeze-dried pineapple, ice, and coconut milk.
- Strawberry Açaí. With strawberry and ice.
- Strawberry Açaí lemonade. With strawberry, ice, and lemonade.
- Pineapple passion fruit. With freeze-dried pineapple and ice.
- Pineapple passion fruit lemonade. With freeze-dried pineapple, ice, and lemonade.
- Pink drink. With strawberry, ice, and coconut milk. (More info about the Pink drink here)
Frappuccino drinks are also available as cold drinks at Starbucks (and most other coffee places).
Frappuccinos are a combination of milkshake/coffee, ideal for those with a sweet tooth who aren't afraid of a little sugar rush.
Starbucks offers both coffee and Creme Frappuccinos, along with a wide range of drink options.
Also, before going to the next section, don't forget that you can use my Starbucks nutrition tool below, so you can see the full breakdown for your drink:
2. Decide if you want to change or add anything to your drink
You can make several changes to your drink order, which is excellent if you have allergies, food intolerances, or specific taste buds.
Please note that not all customizations are available for every drink.
If you want to know for sure, you can ask the barista or check the Starbucks website, which will show you all the options for the drink you like.
Milk or cream preferences
You can make some changes to every drink that contains milk or cream.
Sometimes, you can even add them to a drink that doesn't have a recipe with milk or cream.
These are the available milk/cream options:
- Heavy cream
- Vanilla, sweet cream
- Nonfat milk
- 2% milk
- Whole milk
- Breve (half & half)
- Almond milk
- Coconut milk
- Oat milk
- Soy milk
You can choose if you want extra milk foam, light milk foam, no milk foam, or regular milk foam.
Additionally, you can adjust the temperature of your milk to your preference, ranging from warm to steaming hot and extra hot.
Add different flavors to your drink
You can customize your drink by changing or adding different syrups and sauces.
It's better to choose before stepping in line at Starbucks, as deciding what flavors you'd like might take a while.
When you decide, ask the barista if they can add a particular flavor and say how many pumps you'd like to add. (This depends on the sweetness level you prefer.)
Available syrup flavors at Starbucks include:
- Apple brown sugar
- Brown sugar
- Caramel
- Cinnamon dolce
- Hazelnut
- Peppermint
- Raspberry
- Toasted vanilla
- Toffee nut
- Vanilla
- Sugar-free vanilla
Available sauces at Starbucks include:
- Mocha
- New dark caramel
- Pumpkin
- White chocolate mocha
Consider adding some toppings to your drink
You can add toppings to your drink or exchange the toppings that come with the drink you want.
Your options are extensive, featuring a range of toppings, drizzles, and cold foam in various flavors.
Additionally, you can add cinnamon powder and whipped cream to enhance the flavor of your drink.
These are the available toppings at Starbucks:
- Pumpkin spice
- Cinnamon dolce sprinkles
The available drizzles at Starbucks include:
- Caramel
- Mocha
- Spiced apple
The available cold foam flavors at Starbucks are:
Add any additional add-ins to your drink
You can add some things inside your drink, so it's essential to immediately tell the barista about the add-ins you want when ordering.
It may not be possible to add these items midway through the order process.
Some things you can add include:
- Chocolate malt
- Vanilla bean powder
- Line the cup with caramel or mocha sauce
- Creamers (mentioned in the “milk” section)
- Liquid sweeteners (such as honey)
- Sweetener packets (including Splenda and Stevia)
- Extra espresso shots
3. Decide what size drink you want
Starbucks drink sizing can be confusing, even for those who've already visited a Starbucks store.
The names of the different-sized cups don't seem to make much sense, so it's challenging to figure out what to order.
Remember that some drinks don't come in all of these cup sizes, so your barista might ask you to choose a different size.
Here are the Starbucks cup sizes available from smallest to biggest:
- Short: 8 fl oz or 237ml
- Tall: 12 fl oz or 354ml
- Grande: 16 fl oz or 470ml
- Venti: 24 fl oz or 709ml
- Trenta: 30 fl oz or 887ml
4. Ask a barista for advice
There's no shame in asking a barista for help when ordering if you're unsure how to do it or what to choose.
They are there to help and will probably do so with a smile. Even if it's pretty busy, don't hesitate to ask for advice from the people who know best.
Final thoughts
It might seem confusing initially, but ordering at Starbucks is only complicated because they offer a wide range of options.
If you plan on going to a Starbucks and ordering a drink, it's best to look at a menu beforehand to see what you want to order, no matter how many times you've been in a Starbucks store.
Unless someone always orders the same thing, it's impossible to learn the menu by heart.
If you're unsure about what to order, you can always ask a barista for a suggestion.
