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21 Best Hot Drinks at Starbucks, Ranked

Starbucks brought cozy coffee shop culture to the masses in America. Sure, anyone can make coffee at home, but there’s something comforting about sipping a Starbucks hot drink on a cold day.

The embrace of the warm glow of a coffee shop makes cold and rainy weather almost worth it when you pop in for a hot drink.

Starbucks has dozens of hot drinks on its menu, ranging from sweet, frothed, milky concoctions to healing freshly brewed tea and roasty coffee.

There’s something for everyone, and they’re all deliciously cozy and comforting.

Below are our picks for the best Starbucks hot drinks, including their ingredients, available sizes, and nutritional information.

21. Pike Place Roast

There are a ton of incredible Starbucks hot drinks made with frothy steamed milk and sweet caramel drizzle, but sometimes all you want is a good cup of coffee, and that’s what Starbucks’ Pike Place Roast is — a really good cup of coffee.

Pike Place Roast is one of the store’s most popular coffee roasts, created in homage to their first location in Seattle’s Pike Place market.

It’s a smooth, rich blend of Latin American coffee beans and contains subtle notes of chocolate and toasted nuts.

Pike Place Roast is available in short, tall, grande, or venti Starbucks sizes.

A grande Pike Place Roast contains 5 calories, 0g of sugar, 0g of fat, and 310mg of caffeine.

20. Vanilla Crème

A Vanilla Crème is the perfect Starbucks hot drink for when you want something supremely cozy and comforting but don’t want caffeine.

It’s also one of the best Starbucks hot drinks for children.

Starbucks’ Vanilla Crème is made from steamed 2% milk sweetened with vanilla syrup and topped with whipped cream.

As with most Starbucks hot drinks, you can modify the milk to any dairy or non-dairy option you’d prefer.

Pro tip: If you’re ordering a Vanilla Crème for a child, ask your barista to steam it to “kids temp” or select “warm” on the Starbucks app so that they don’t burn their tongues!

Vanilla Crème is available in kids, short, tall grande, or venti sizes.

A grande Vanilla Crème contains 350 calories, 43g of sugar, 14g of fat, and 0mg of caffeine.

19. Matcha Tea Latte

If you love the earthy, grassy flavors of matcha tea, the Matcha Tea Latte is the Starbucks hot drink for you.

It’s creamy, subtly sweet, and contains all of matcha tea’s health benefits and non-coffee caffeine.

The Matcha Tea Latte is made with steamed milk combined with sweetened matcha powder.

It’s smooth, creamy, and a gorgeous shade of green!

The Matcha Tea Latte is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Matcha Tea Latte contains 240 calories, 32g of sugar, 7g of fat, and 80mg of caffeine.

18. Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte

Starbucks’ Blonde espresso roast was designed to be paired with milk, which makes it the perfect espresso for a latte.

It’s slightly sweeter than their signature roast espresso, with subtle grassy notes and an extra kick of caffeine.

The Blonde Vanilla Latte is made from steamed milk combined with Starbucks’ Blonde espresso. It’s sweetened with a touch of vanilla syrup.

The Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Blonde Vanilla Latte contains 250 calories, 35g of sugar, 6g of fat, and 170mg of caffeine.

17. White Hot Chocolate

Starbucks’ White Hot Chocolate is a dreamy treat, especially on a cool or rainy evening.

It’s not as chocolatey tasting as regular hot chocolate and instead has a sweet, subtle, slightly caramelized chocolate flavor.

This is another Starbucks hot drink that’s great for adults and children alike.

The White Hot Chocolate is made from steamed milk and white chocolate mocha sauce.

It’s topped with milk foam and whipped cream. Definitely don’t skip the whipped cream!

The White Hot Chocolate is available in kids, short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande White Hot Chocolate contains 440 calories, 55g of sugar, 19g of fat, and 0mg of caffeine.

16. Honey Citrus Mint Tea

The Honey Citrus Mint Tea was a Starbucks Secret Menu item that graduated and joined the official menu.

It’s warm, comforting, and a touch citrusy — the perfect tea blend for any occasion, especially when you’re feeling a little under the weather.

Honey Citrus Mint Tea is a combination of Jade Citrus Mint green tea, Peach Tranquility herbal tea, and a touch of honey.

It’s mixed with a splash of steamed lemonade for that citrusy kick and an extra boost of vitamin C.

The Honey Citrus Mint Tea is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande contains 130 calories, 30g of sugar, 0g of fat, and 16mg of caffeine.

15. Cinnamon Dolce Latte

The Cinnamon Dolce Latte is one of the sweetest Starbucks hot drinks.

It’s a decadent treat that’s perfect for an afternoon break or an evening sipping coffee with friends.

The Cinnamon Dolce Latte is made from steamed milk combined with cinnamon dolce syrup and freshly brewed espresso.

It’s topped with whipped cream and cinnamon dolce topping — a buttery, crunchy, cinnamon-sugar blend.

The Cinnamon Dolce Latte is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Cinnamon Dolce Latte contains 340 calories, 40g of sugar, 14g of fat, and 150mg of caffeine.

14. Flat White

A Flat White is made from steamed milk and espresso, but unlike a Caffè Latte, the milk is steamed without foam. The result is a denser, velvety textured drink that’s a pleasure to sip.

Starbucks’ Flat White is made from steamed whole milk with no foam and ristretto shots of espresso.

Ristretto shots are made from the same signature espresso as a regular espresso shot.

However, the barista pulls less hot water through the espresso, resulting in a shot that is slightly shorter, sweeter, and richer in flavor.

The Flat White is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Flat White at Starbucks contains 220 calories, 17g of sugar, 11g of fat, and 195mg of caffeine.

13. Starbucks Reserve Hazelnut Bianco Latte

The Starbucks Reserve Hazelnut Bianco Latte is decadent but not too sweet. It’s one of the best Starbucks hot drinks, but unfortunately, it’s not available everywhere.

If you’re searching for this creamy, nutty latte, contact your local Starbucks for information or visit a Starbucks Reserve location.

The Starbucks Reserve Hazelnut Bianco Latte is made with steamed house-infused hazelnut-praline milk and small-lot Starbucks reserve espresso.

Note that since the milk is infused with the flavor, you can’t substitute a different type of milk for this drink.

The Starbucks Reserve Hazelnut Bianco Latte comes in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande contains 380 calories, 36g of sugar, 18g of fat, and 135mg of caffeine.

12. Hot Chocolate

Who doesn’t love hot chocolate? It’s the ultimate cold-weather comfort drink.

Starbucks’ Hot Chocolate is often overlooked since there are so many other options on the menu, but this classic is definitely one of the best Starbucks hot drinks.

It’s creamy, chocolatey, and just the right amount of sweet.

The Hot Chocolate is made from steamed milk mixed with mocha sauce. It’s topped with slightly sweetened vanilla whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.

Starbucks’ Hot Chocolate is available in kids, short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Hot Chocolate contains 370 calories, 37g of sugar, 16g of fat, and 25mg of caffeine.

11. Espresso Con Panna

Want to know what’s better than a shot of espresso? A shot of espresso with a dollop of slightly sweetened whipped cream in it. Yes, you can order that at Starbucks!

It’s called Espresso Con Panna, and it’s even more delicious than it sounds.

Espresso Con Panna can be made with Starbucks’ signature blonde or decaf espresso topped with whipped cream.

If you’re ordering any size larger than a single, you can ask to have your espresso split between regular and decaf.

Espresso Con Panna is available in solo, doppio, triple, or quad shots. That’s one, two, three, or four shots of espresso.

A doppio Espresso Con Panna contains 35 calories, 0g of sugar, 2.5g of fat, and 150mg of caffeine.

10. Honey Almond Flat White

Many people can’t or prefer not to consume dairy, and it’s nice that Starbucks has drinks on their menu that don’t just work with dairy alternatives; they’re designed with them in mind.

The Honey Almond Flat White is a perfectly balanced Starbucks hot drink that’s creamy, nutty, and a little bit sweet.

The Honey Almond Flat White is made with Starbucks’ slightly sweet blonde espresso roast combined with steamed almond milk and a touch of honey.

The Honey Almond Flat White is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Honey Almond Flat White contains 170 calories, 24g of sugar, 5g of fat, and 225mg of caffeine.

9. Chai Tea Latte

The Chai Tea Latte is the ultimate Starbucks hot drink for fans of bold, spicy flavors.

This sweet and warming blend can be enjoyed year-round, but it’s particularly comforting in cold weather.

The gingery, baking-spice flavors of chai make it a fantastic holiday-season beverage.

The Chai Tea Latte is made with steamed milk, chai tea concentrate, and water.

The chai tea concentrate contains black tea, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, ginger, honey, vanilla, and sugar.

Starbucks’ Chai Tea Latte is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande contains 240 calories, 42g of sugar, 4.5g of fat, and 95mg of caffeine.

8. Teavana London Fog Tea Latte

The London Fog Tea Latte is one of the most romantic Starbucks hot drinks.

It’s floral, citrusy, and creamy, which makes it the perfect drink for a gloomy day.

Starbucks’ Teavana London Fog Tea Latte is made with Starbucks’ interpretation of earl grey tea.

It starts with black tea infused with lavender flowers and bergamot essence. The tea is then combined with steamed milk and sweetened with vanilla syrup.

The Teavana London Fog Tea Latte is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande contains 180 calories, 29g of sugar, 2.5g of fat, and 40mg of caffeine.

7. Caffè Latte

Caffé Lattes may not be the most tempting, but they’re well-balanced, comforting, and reliable, which makes them one of the best Starbucks hot drinks.

A classic latte is one of the quintessential coffee drinks because it’s perfect as-is but is endlessly customizable and will conform to any of your caffeine and sugar-fueled whims.

Starbucks’ Caffé Latte is made with fresh-brewed signature espresso and steamed milk. It’s topped with a luscious layer of milk foam.

The Caffé Latte is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Caffé Latte contains 190 calories, 18g of sugar, 7g of fat, and 150mg of caffeine.

6. White Chocolate Mocha

The White Chocolate Mocha is sort of the darling of the Starbucks hot drink world, and for a good reason. It’s sweet, comforting, and oh so dreamy!

It doesn’t have as intense a chocolatey taste as the Caffè Mocha, but rather it’s got a subtle, sweet, caramelized sugar and chocolate flavor.

The White Chocolate Mocha is made from Starbucks’ signature espresso combined with steamed milk and white chocolate sauce. It’s topped with a cloud of whipped cream.

The White Chocolate Mocha is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande White Chocolate Mocha contains 430 calories, 53g of sugar, 18g of fat, and 150mg of caffeine.

5. Caffé Americano

The Caffè Americano is the most coffee-tasting coffee you’ll ever drink. You’ll just have to trust us on this one or try it for yourself.

It’s a rich cup of coffee with a ton of depth of flavor, and it’s got a creaminess to it even without added dairy.

The Caffè Americano is made from fresh espresso combined with hot water. It’s a super fresh, rich-tasting alternative to brewed coffee.

You can always choose to customize your Americano with sweetener, flavored syrup, or milk, but the crema from the espresso lends a creamy sweetness to the drink even without any modification.

The Caffè Americano is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Caffè Americano contains 15 calories, 0g of sugar, 0g of fat, and 225mg of caffeine.

4. Caramel Macchiato

The Caramel Macchiato is a gorgeously layered classic Starbucks caramel drink that we’ve all come to know and love.

It’s not too sweet, and the flavors mingle in each sip to create a deliciously complex experience.

Starbucks’ Caramel Macchiato starts with steamed milk sweetened with vanilla-flavored syrup.

It’s then topped with espresso, milk foam, and caramel drizzle. It’s very similar to a Vanilla Latte topped with a caramel drizzle, but unlike a latte, the Caramel Macchiato is layered.

The Caramel Macchiato is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Caramel Macchiato contains 250 calories, 33g of sugar, 7g of fat, and 150mg of caffeine.

3. Cappuccino

A Cappuccino is the ultimate coffee house drink and a testament to the fact that sometimes you should just stick with the classics.

The combination of frothy, luscious milk foam and roasty, bittersweet espresso makes the Cappuccino one of the best Starbucks hot drinks.

A Cappuccino is made from freshly pulled espresso topped with steamy, frothed 2% milk foam.

It can be customized, but it really doesn’t need to be. Its beauty lies in its simplicity.

The Starbucks Cappuccino is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Cappuccino contains 140 calories, 12g of sugar, 5g of fat, and 150mg of caffeine.

2. Caffè Mocha

A Caffè Mocha is an adult hot chocolate, only better because it has espresso in it.

This classic beverage has been around for so long that people tend to forget it exists.

Lured by the siren song of cinnamon dulce toppings and white chocolate sauce, they often overlook this simple formula: coffee = good, chocolate = good, coffee + chocolate = VERY GOOD.

Starbucks’ Caffè Mocha is made with fresh espresso combined with bittersweet chocolate mocha sauce and steamed milk. It’s topped with slightly sweetened vanilla whipped cream.

The Caffè Mocha is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Caffè Mocha contains 370 calories, 35g of sugar, 15g of fat, and 175mg of caffeine.

1. Caramel Apple Spice

The Caramel Apple Spice is one of those classic drinks you must have at least once a year, and it’s the best Starbucks hot drink.

It’s simultaneously warming, refreshing, and sweet and hits all the right marks. The best part is that it’s available year-round and it’s caffeine-free, which means little ones can enjoy this as well!

The Caramel Apple Spice is made from steamed apple juice sweetened with cinnamon syrup. It’s topped with whipped cream and a caramel sauce drizzle.

Caramel Apple Spice is available in kids, short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.

A grande Caramel Apple Spice contains 380 calories, 70g of sugar, 8g of fat, and 0mg of caffeine.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for your morning kick of caffeine or a sweet afternoon treat, Starbucks has a hot drink for you.

The best Starbucks hot drinks on our list are well-balanced and appeal to a variety of people. As with all of the Starbucks menu, most of these hot drinks can be customized to your liking.

For more information about Starbucks, check out the articles below.

About the Author

Lauren Vigdor is a creative writer and hospitality professional with over a decade of experience in the food and beverage industry. She specializes in food and beverage writing.

Her book, “Drink Like a Bartender,” was written as a guide to help novice drinkers navigate the beverage world and was rated one of Forbes Magazine’s Best Bar Books of 2017.

November 29, 2022