How To Order Vegan At Starbucks
Today I’m going over some tips on how to order vegan drinks at Starbucks. Whether you’ve been following a vegan diet for a long time or you’re just starting out, ordering out at restaurants and cafes can at times be tricky. There can be animal products in the food that you wouldn’t have expected and so didn’t look out for.
Starbucks recently made life a whole lot easier. Both for people with dietary restrictions and those wanting to keep to their vegan lifestyle. They now offer plant-based milk alternatives in all their locations, which include oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk. Although some drinks they make are already vegan it’s nice to also have the option to make some more of your favorite menu items vegan-friendly. You can read the in-depth guidelines from Peta here. But below I’m sharing some simple tips on how to order vegan at Starbucks by easily making some minor adjustments when needed.
How to order vegan at Starbucks
Here is a list of Starbucks drinks that are vegan as-is.
Americano
With only two ingredients, espresso and hot water, an Americano is always vegan.
Nitro Cold Brew
Tiny nitrogen bubbles give this coffee a soft, creamy texture without the need of dairy products.
Matcha Lemonade
Finely ground matcha green tea is combined with crisp lemonade, then served on ice. This vibrant green tea creates a refreshing sweet beverage that’s perfect for hot summer days.
Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
This started off as a limited-time seasonal drink but was such a hit it became a permanent item on the menu. Made with real dragonfruit pieces and a blend of fruit juice it’s super light and refreshing. Contains caffeine.
Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher
Fruit juice and whole blackberries are shaken and served on ice. The green coffee extract gives a boost of natural energy while also being sweet and refreshing.
Iced Pineapple Matcha
Matcha green tea, with flavors of pineapple and ginger along with coconut milk and ice makes a delicious beverage that will uplift your day.
Pink Drink
The Strawberry Açaí Refresher is combined with creamy coconut milk to make this drink both fruity and refreshing.
Violet Drink
Sweet blackberries, tart hibiscus, and coconut milk swirl together to make this pretty violet-hued drink.
Tea
All the basic black, green, and herbal teas are vegan whether you order them hot or iced.
These Drinks can easily be made vegan by using nondairy milk.
Mocha Frappuccino
Swap the dairy for coconut or soymilk and you’re good to go!
Green Tea Latte
Substitute the dairy milk for your favorite plant-based option and skip the whipped cream.
Hot Chocolate
The vegan mocha syrup is used to make Starbucks hot chocolate. Just swap the dairy milk for soy, oat, or coconut and leave off the whipped cream!
Iced Carmel Macchiato
If you switch out the dairy for your favorite vegan alternative this drink is still an option. Unfortunately, you will have to leave out the Carmel drizzle.
Cappuccino
Replace the dairy with soymilk which foams and froths like real milk.
Really most of the lattes and Frapachino’s can be made vegan by swapping out the dairy for almond, coconut, or soy milk. If you can remember the items listed below to either leave out of your drinks or to avoid entirely you’ll be good!
Remember to always hold these items from your drink order.
- Whipped cream
- Carmel drizzle
- Java Chips
- Cinnamon dolce
- Protein powder
- Toffee nut sprinkles
Avoid these items altogether.
Because of either dairy milk products or honey in the syrups or sauces, these drinks can not be made vegan. Therefore you need to completely avoid any of these drinks.
- Chai Latte (the exception is the Teavana brewed tea)
- Anything containing pumpkin spice
- Carmel sauce
- Anything with white mocha
Little side note here. Most of the syrups are vegan but the sauces are not. Except for the mocha sauce which is vegan. Confusing I know.
I first made the switch to a fully plant based diet around 6 years ago now. The first year or so I was constantly reading the ingredients on everything I ordered and bought. It got a lot easier eventually and now I pretty much just know what I can have at all my frequent restaurants and cafes without really having to think about it.
Now you know how to order vegan at Starbucks. I hope this post makes it easier for you when ordering your favorite drinks. We all need our little caffeine fix and Starbucks has a way of really making a drink into a treat!
As always if you have any thoughts or questions, let me know in the comments below!
Xx Monti
