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There have been plenty of times I’ve pulled up to Starbucks already thirsty and ordered a coffee and a water.
That was before I realized how often I reached for Refreshers.
They run from fruity and tangy to creamy, and they make an easy cold drink on a hot day.
So I pulled together my 15 favorite Starbucks Refreshers, the ones I keep ordering when I want something sweet and cold.
15 Best Refreshers at Starbucks – Ranked by taste!
Here are my favorite refreshers, official and secret-menu style, ranked by taste.
1. Strawberry Acai Lemonade
Strawberry Acai Lemonade is the one I order when I want something sweet, sharp, and easy to finish.
It’s made with a blend of strawberry acai refresher base, lemonade, and real freeze-dried strawberries, which keeps the fruit flavor bright instead of syrupy.
The soft red color always makes me think of a warm evening, and the drink tastes as bright as it looks.
While the regular Strawberry Acai Refresher is great, the lemonade adds a boldness that I can’t get enough of.
Barista HQ Tip
- Ask the barista for either 1 pump of peach or pineapple syrup for a tropical boost!
2. Sunset Dragon Drink
The Sunset Drink is a secret-menu spin on the Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade.
I order it as the Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade, no frozen fruit, extra peach, shaken, then topped with Passion Tango Tea.
Not only is it one of the most delicious, berry/tangy drinks out there, it’s also one of the most beautiful.
The hibiscus and apple notes make it finish lighter and more tea-like than heavy.
Barista HQ Tip
- Ask the barista for sweet Cream Cold Foam on top for an extra luxe experience.
3. Dragon Drink
I’m a huge fan of Starbucks coconut drinks , and if any of the Refreshers showcase coconut milk, it’s the Dragon Drink.
This refresher starts with mango dragonfruit refresher mixed with creamy coconut milk, so the fruit stays bright but the texture turns softer.
Topped with freeze-dried dragonfruit pieces, it looks striking and adds a little chew near the end of the cup.
A Grande size has 130 calories, 23 grams of sugar, and 45 mg of caffeine from a green coffee extract.
4. Blue Drink
Starbucks has a ton of different pink-hued drinks, but blue (or purple, rather) drinks are hard to come by.
Starbucks' Blue Drink is Iced Passion Tango Tea with soy milk instead of water and vanilla syrup.
It’s simply fruity and creamy, and tastes almost like a milk tea (boba would be a great addition, Starbucks!).
5. Sour Patch Kids Refresher
This is one of the best Starbucks raspberry drinks secret menu refreshers!
The Sour Patch Kids Refresher tastes surprisingly close to the candy, just not quite as intense.
It’s essentially a Venti Strawberry Acai Lemonade with 3 pumps of raspberry syrup and 3 pumps of classic syrup.
Once that’s done, top it with Passion Tango Tea and the sweet-sour mix lands a little sharper than a regular refresher.
6. Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade
Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher from Starbucks is one of my summer go-tos.
Combining sweet Mango Dragonfruit Refresher base with tangy lemonade , I like both the punchy taste and the vibrant pink color.
The freeze-dried dragonfruit pieces give it a unique texture, too.
And with only 140 calories and 31 grams of sugar in a Grande , it feels lighter than some of Starbucks’ heavier sweet drinks.
7. Paradise Drink
I’ve always liked pineapple and coconut milk together, so a drink that combines both was enough to win me over.
The Paradise drink combines pineapple passionfruit refresher base and creamy coconut milk , which gives it a smooth, velvety mouthfeel.
It’s sweet and tangy, but the coconut milkiness rounds out the acidity and keeps it from being TOO sweet.
As for calories – there are 140 calories in a Grande cup, 45 mg of caffeine, 23 grams of sugar and 2.5 grams of fat.
Barista HQ Tip
- Get whipped cream on top for a pineapple upside-down cake in a cup!
8. Pineapple Passionfruit
Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher is super similar to the last drink but is topped off with real freeze-dried pineapple for extra pizzazz.
The freeze-dried fruit adds a chewier texture than I expected, and that little bite keeps it from feeling flat.
It’s also one of the lower-sugar refreshers, which is part of why it feels easier to order on an ordinary afternoon.
At 100 calories and 19 grams of sugar, it sits on the lighter side for a drink that still tastes sweet.
Barista HQ Tip
- Add 1 pump of raspberry syrup and 1 pump of strawberry syrup for a wild mix of fruity flavors.
9. Strawberry Açaí Refresher
Strawberry Açaí Refresher has a clean berry flavor without leaning too sugary.
What I like most is that the strawberry and açaí taste recognizable, not like a vague red-fruit flavor trying too hard.
It’s the refresher I’d point someone to first if they want something simple and not too bold.
As for how many calories are in a Strawberry Acai refresher – it’s 100! And only 21 grams of sugar and 45 mg of caffeine for that gentle kick.
10. Firecracker Ombre Drink
With a name like Firecracker Ombre , it sounds louder than most refresher orders.
The red-to-yellow gradient is half the appeal for me, and the mango and raspberry flavors stand up well against the sour lemonade.
I don’t really like anything too sweet nor too sour, and the Firecracker Ombre creates the perfect balance.
It’s a Mango Dragon Fruit Lemonade with 1 pump of raspberry syrup , shaken separately so the fruit flavors don’t blur together.
It’s then poured over ice and topped off with Passion Tango Tea.
11. Pink Drink
I first spotted the Pink Drink on TikTok, mostly because the soft pink-and-white look stood out immediately.
It’s simple enough, mixing coconut milk with a Strawberry Acai base and icy strawberries.
It almost tastes like a slightly tropical twist on strawberry milk!
On the nutritional side of things, the regular version (no additional pumps) of Pink Drink is 140 calories, with 25 grams of sugar and 2.5 grams of fat.
12. Mango Dragonfruit
The Mango Dragonfruit Refresher is one of the most popular drinks in this group, and I can see why.
It’s a blend of Mango Dragonfruit Refresher base and freeze-dried dragonfruit pieces .
It has a mild and sophisticated flavor perfect for enjoying on a garden stroll or while studying for finals.
And to top things off, this drink is only 90 calories with 19 grams of sugar, so it stays on the lighter side even though it still tastes sweet.
Barista HQ Tip
- For a slightly creamier taste, add a splash of soy milk or coconut milk.
13. Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade
I’ll be honest: I do think the Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade is a little uninspired.
However, it still tastes bright and thirst-quenching.
It consists of a Pineapple Passionfruit Base, lemonade, and freeze-dried pineapple chunks, all shaken with ice for a super chill sip.
14. WandaVision Refresher
After a few sips, I usually get that quick pick-me-up feeling that makes the rest of the drink go down even faster.
The Wandavision Refreshers are a Trenta Strawberry Acai Refresher, subbing the water for a guava juice blend.
Add 3 scoops of strawberries and top it off with vanilla sweet cream cold foam for a richer mix of fruit, sweetness, and texture.
15. Fuzzy Peach Refresher
I’ve liked peach drinks ever since the old Snapple peach flavor.
The Fuzzy Peach Refresher reminds me of that, combining a Mango Dragonfruit Refresher with no water, subbing peach juice, a splash of coconut milk, and 2 pumps of vanilla.
It’s a delightful balance of sweetness with a subtle tartness and softness from the coconut milk.
The peach and coconut combination gives it a softer finish than the sharper refreshers above it.
Discontinued Starbucks Refreshers we love and miss
If you open the Starbucks app, these refreshers are no longer listed:
They’re not forgotten, though!
If the Kiwi Starfruit Refresher base and Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher base ever come back, I’d order them again right away.
Especially the Star Drink, because that kiwi-starfruit combo tasted brighter than I expected.
What exactly is a Starbucks Refresher?
A Starbucks Refresher is a mixture of a fruity base, freeze-dried fruit, water, or coconut milk, all shaken with ice.
In other words, they were refreshing in a way that felt different from the current lineup.
Unlike traditional caffeinated drinks, Starbucks Refreshers use green coffee extract from unroasted arabica coffee beans, which is where their caffeine comes from.
Higher caffeine content than iced teas, but still moderate.
They’re also dairy-free and lactose-free since refresher bases are made with real fruit juice, water, sugar, white grape juice concentrate, and natural flavors.
The main thing that sets Starbucks Refreshers apart from other drinks is their use of freeze-dried fruit, which adds texture along with the fruit flavor.
Tips when ordering Refreshers from Starbucks
Most baristas will tell you that Starbucks' secret menu isn’t an official menu, and that is basically true.
Starbucks’ Secret Menu Refreshers don’t exist as official drinks.
What does exist is a set of custom combinations people pass around online.
So if you want one, it helps to know the ingredients and order it clearly.
Don’t expect your barista to know how many pumps of raspberry syrup go in your drink of choice. They don’t have to know that. You do.
For example:
And yes, there’s a good chance your name still gets misspelled.
FAQs
How much caffeine is in a Starbucks refresher?
A Starbucks Refresher drink contains 45 mg of caffeine in a Grande Refresher.
Can you get Starbucks refreshers without caffeine?
No, you can’t get Starbucks Refreshers without caffeine. The refresher base syrup contains caffeine.
Are Starbucks refreshers healthy?
Starbucks Refreshers are neither healthy nor unhealthy. They contain a lot of sugar, but they’re not nearly as caloric or high in sugar as some other sweet Starbucks drinks.
Are Starbucks refreshers full of sugar?
Starbucks Refreshers are still sugary drinks, though. Depending on the order, some customizations can change how sweet they taste.
Do Starbucks refreshers give you energy?
Yes, Starbucks Refresher drinks can give you a lift. The 45 mg of caffeine from the green coffee extract in there is enough to make that noticeable.
Get your Starbucks Refresher today!
I am absolutely a coffee fiend, but even I end up ordering these Starbucks Refreshers every week or so.
They’re fruity, creamy, and cold in a way that keeps me coming back.
When I want hydration and something sweet in the same cup, they usually do the job.
