The Starbucks’ menu has dozens of options for food and drink, and whether you want something hot, cold, sweet, or savory, there’s most likely an option that will satisfy you.
Many people stick with one or two drinks whenever they visit. However, Starbucks has much more than just coffee to offer, with dozens of options.
The best Starbucks hot drinks in 2023 include the Pumpkin Spice Latte, Caramel Brulee Latte, and the White Chocolate Mocha. You might try the hot Caramel Apple Spice drink if you want something without caffeine. The complete menu includes these and more.
I will offer my selection of the 30 best hot drinks on the Starbucks 2023 menu and why you should try them. You may find your new favorite drink!
Coffee
Starbucks is most well-known for its coffee. Using its own trademarked blends and brews, they stand out as one of the most popular and successful coffeehouses.
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.
Here, I have picked the best hot coffee drinks available on Starbucks 2023 menu.
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 added hot water. 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 instead of the sugar- and dairy-rich order you usually order.
Veranda Blend
The Veranda Blend Starbucks’ light-roasted coffee is an excellent option for building a customized drink from the ground up.
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 very much, making a decaf roast ideal for later in the day when you want to unwind and not worry about caffeine making you energetic or jittery.
Cappuccino
A cappuccino is an espresso with plenty 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 sizes solo (0.75 fl. oz.), doppio (1.5 fl. oz.), triple (2.25 fl. oz.), and quad (3 fl. oz.).
Despite their smaller sizes, espresso makes up for it with more caffeine and a much stronger, darker flavor.
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 high caffeine content than regular coffee and a subtle sweetness from the whipped cream.
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 has a small amount of honey and uses almond milk instead of whole milk, which is a great option if you’re vegan or trying to cut back on dairy.
It’s also very lightly sweet from the addition of honey, a sweetener option for other drinks if you want a more natural option.
Starbucks Reserve Hazelnut Bianco Latte
This latte uses “hazelnut-praline-infused milk” made in-house at Starbucks, a unique drink option you’ll unlikely find 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 “pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove” flavors.
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.
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.
Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte
This latte combines Starbucks’ blonde espresso with steamed almond milk, sugar cookie-flavored syrup, and a topping of sprinkles.
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, and 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 with a topping of spiced apple drizzle.
Another dairy-free option, this drink is light, sweet, and reminiscent of apple cider in a way that captures the coziness of fall.
It can pair well with a small slice of apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Caffè Mocha
This chocolatey drink has espresso, steamed milk, and mocha syrup.
It’s a simple but delightful choice that perfectly captures the classic pairing of coffee and chocolate, so if you’re torn between coffee or hot chocolate, this drink is the best of both worlds.
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.
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 has real chocolate and not just flavored syrup, making it richer than the other mochas.
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 brush off tea as “not being for them,” but plenty of varieties and combinations are sure to satisfy the biggest coffee-lover.
Here, I have picked the best hot tea drinks available on Starbucks 2023 menu. Teas are also available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.
Chai Tea Latte
Chai tea is steamed with 2% milk and milk foam and is a great choice if you want a light and creamy tea but still desire 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 have a significant amount of caffeine, it does have some, so you might want to avoid this if you’re sensitive to caffeine.
Earl Grey Tea
This classic tea has flavor notes of bergamot, lemon, and lavender and is a great introduction to black tea if you haven’t tried tea before and want to expand your drink options.
If you’re a Star Trek fan, you can channel your inner Captain Picard and say, “Earl Grey, hot” at the order counter.
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 losing out on green tea’s earthy, herbal flavor.
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 if you want to go beyond a simple tea.
This might be your answer if you’ve already had enough coffee for the day but want a soothing, hot drink.
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.
And, if you experience frequent digestive problems, a little mint and lemon can help you feel better.
Peach Tranquility
This tea blends “peach, candied pineapple, chamomile blossoms, lemon verbena, and rose hips.”
A sweet and floral drink, this is a great pick to enjoy in the spring or summer, as it brings visions of walking through peach orchards, breathing in the sweet smell of peach blossom 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.
Here, I have picked the best hot, non-coffee, and non-tea drinks available on Starbucks 2023 menu.
Most of these drinks are caffeine free. In addition to the four sizes, these drinks come in a kids’ size (8 fl. oz.).
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 could also make hot chocolate with coffee if you do want a 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 amp up the wintery feeling of regular hot chocolate.
Technically, it’s only available during the holiday season, but you can simply request the addition of peppermint syrup to your hot chocolate during the rest of the year.
Caramel Apple Spice
This drink is steamed apple juice with cinnamon dolce syrup and 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 steamed milk with 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 simply request that the default 2% milk be replaced with one of Starbucks’ non-dairy milk, such as almond, oat, soy, or coconut.
Final thoughts
Starbucks’ 2023 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 made with by default.
