Baristas reveals best & the worst drinks to order at Starbucks

Sophia Mitrokostas Jun 4, 2021, 8:02 PM

A barista recommended hot drinks over iced ones. Kerrys World/Shutterstock; Lauren Edmonds

Starbucks is one of the most popular coffee chains in the world, but that doesn’t mean every drink on the menu is worth it. We asked baristas to share their favourite drink from the chain, as well as the ones they tend to avoid. Read on for the best and worst drinks at Starbucks.

The blonde Double shot on ice is a refreshing, caffeine-packed drink

Junama Garcia, a barista certified by the Speciality Coffee Association and the owner of Buenos Beans, told that the blond Doubleshot on ice is ideal for summer.

It consist of two shots of espresso mixed with syrup and a splash of milk. “This drink is a light summer drink” Garcia stated. I also think the blonde espresso is more enjoyable as it’s not as bitter as the darker regular roast.”

Starbucks’ caramel macchiato is a classic and tasty treat

The caramel macchiato is best served hot, said Alexa Blay, a former Starbucks barista. KerrysWorld/Shutterstock

Alexa Blay, a former Starbucks barista, stated that the caramel macchiato is one of the best drinks on the menu. “I would highly recommend the caramel macchiato,” Blay said. “The bitter notes of the espresso pair perfectly with the sweet notes of the vanilla syrup and the caramel sauce.”

She also said this drink is best served hot so the caramel drizzles can melt into the drink – the caramel in the iced version often turns into cold, hard strings.

The Frappuccino is better than a plain iced coffee, Blay said. Abigail Abesamis

Starbucks Frappuccinos are likely upgraded versions of iced coffee. Blay stated that the original coffee Frappuccion struck a good balance between sweetness and coffee flavour. “The coffee Frappuccino at Starbucks tastes similar to a standard coffee with cream and sugar but is perfect for summer because of the ice,” she said. You can control the sweetness of the drink by adding a flavoured syrup to make it sweeter or a shot of espresso to make it more bitter.

Caffe mocha for a chocolaty pick-me-up

Starbucks Caffe mocha is made with espresso, bittersweet mocha sauce, and steamed milk. The concoction is topped with sweetened whipped cream.

“This drink is like a grown-up hot chocolate because of the addition of espresso” Blay mentioned “The espresso has just enough bitterness to tone down the sweetness of the chocolate syrup.”

You can tone down the caffeine content in this drink by asking for only one shot of espresso, or opt for an extra shot for a bigger buzz.

The chai latte is a spicy and sweet drink that can be made vegan

Starbucks makes a nice chai latte, Blay said. Soleil S./Yelp

The Starbucks chai latte is made by combining steamed milk and black tea infused with cinnamon, cloves and other spices.

“This is my go-to drink order at Starbucks. It’s flavourful, delicious, has just the right amount of spice and it’s not overly sweet, ” Blay said “If you like a sweeter drink, vanilla syrup is a great addition.”

The chai latte can be made vegan by swapping dairy milk for a plant based option like almond or soy.

Most iced drinks are a worse value than the hot varieties

Blay stated that ordering an iced drink rather than a hot beverage usually means you get less drink for your money.

“The iced drinks aren’t as good of a value as the hot drinks because the ice takes up so much space,” she said. But you can also ask your barista for “light ice” to increase the amount of actual beverage in your iced drink.

The hot chocolate is made with syrup and not worth the money

Starbucks’ hot chocolate has just syrup and milk. Shutterstock

The hot chocolate at Starbucks isn’t made with real melted chocolate or even cocoa powder.

“For what it is, the hot chocolate at Starbucks is overpriced, “Blay mentioned “It’s just milk and chocolate syrup.”

If you’re looking for a chocolaty treat with more of a kick, try ordering a mocha: It’s the same combination of milk and syrup, plus a shot of espresso.