Buying coffee and tea at coffee shops like Dutch Bros can be intimidating and challenging, especially if you're on a plant-based diet or lactose-intolerant.
You need to be extra careful when ordering, double- or triple checking the drink's recipe to ensure that it only contains vegan ingredients.
So, how can you be sure that your Dutch Bros coffee and tea are vegan?
Well, no need to worry! This article will list the top 10 vegan drinks at Dutch Bros and discuss how you can determine whether a drink is plant-based.
10 Best Dutch Bros Vegan Drinks (Dairy-Free Orders)
1. Nutty Irishman Cold Brew
A cold brew is an excellent choice if you need a caffeine boost. However, this drink can sometimes be plain, and only some enjoy a simple coffee.
Thankfully, vegan Dutch Bros drinks offer plant-based syrups that you can add to your favorite coffee, and Nutty Irishman cold brew is one recipe you should try.
This Dutch Bros coffee drink recipe is easy to follow.
Simply ask the Bro-rista (the chain’s fun name for baristas) to add hazelnut syrup and Irish cream syrup to your cold brew.
To make it creamy, you can ask for plant-based milk like oat milk or coconut milk.
The result? A drink that resembles an Irish cream, with a caffeine kick to get you energized throughout the day.
You can even ask for a nitro cold brew instead of the regular one if you want more caffeine.
2. Passion Water Rebel
If you're craving something other than coffee, the Passion Water Rebel is for you.
It is one of the Dutch Bros' signature energy drinks, so it's a perfect alternative if you need an energy boost without drinking coffee.
This vegan Dutch Bros drink is made with passion fruit syrup, watermelon syrup, and a Rebel energy drink. If you haven't tried Dutch Bros Rebel drinks before, think of it as a tasty Red Bull.
It gives you that energy you need but in a more delicious and enjoyable way. Our favorite part? You can ask for a sugar-free version of this drink if you're trying to cut down on sugar.
3. Double Rainbro Tea
Vegan tea lovers, this is for you! The name of this drink is derived from the word "rainbow."
Double Rainbro Tea isn't only colorful but is also made with a variety of vegan-friendly flavors that you'll surely love. It is made with strawberry syrup, peach syrup, and coconut syrup.
Isn't that an exciting mix of fruity goodness in one cup? Every sip will remind you of a summer dream—refreshing, light, and tangy.
A medium cup only contains 180 calories, which is pretty good for such a delicious cup. You can also customize it and choose what type of tea you want, whether green tea or Paris black tea.
Did we mention you can get this hot or cold? This makes it one of the best vegan Dutch Bros beverages you should try!
4. Sweet Sunrise Rebel
Another Dutch Bros vegan-friendly drink you'll love is the Sweet Sunrise Rebel. Like the Passion Water Rebel, this uses the Dutch Bros Rebel energy drink.
At the same time, it doesn't require substituting any ingredient with plant-based alternatives. You can directly order it from the menu at this coffee chain.
As the name implies, this drink looks like a sunrise with a sweetness you'll never forget.
It is packed with the fruity and natural flavors of peach, passion fruit, banana, and orange. The flavor combination may sound a bit overwhelming but trust us.
It's out of this world—a fizzy drink you'll enjoy any time of the day. You can also order this drink sugar-free.
5. Double Chocolate Mocha Freeze
Vegans know that chocolate in various coffee chains isn't always animal product free. So, it's only sometimes safe to order mocha drinks, especially if you're following a strict vegan diet.
Thankfully, Dutch Bros Chocolate Mocha Freeze can be made vegan. This is good news for all vegan chocolate lovers out there.
Dutch Bros Freeze is essentially like Starbucks's Frappuccino drinks. So, if you want a blended frozen drink, this is an excellent choice.
Unfortunately, the pre-made Freeze mix they use isn't plant-based, so you need to order vegan milk in place of the Freeze mix.
You also need to remove the whipped cream, as this coffee shop has yet to offer vegan whipped cream.
6. Annihilator – Chocolate macadamia nut breve
Dutch Bros is famous for the variety of flavored coffee drinks they offer. However, some of the ingredients don't have a plant-based alternative.
Still, there are drinks like the Annihilator that can be enjoyed by vegans, guilt-free!
The original Annihilator comes with a breve, but you make a vegan version of this drink with plant-based milk and chocolate macadamia nut syrup, which is a vegan-friendly syrup.
We love replacing this drink with oat milk. It may not have the same creaminess as the original drink, but the nutty, chocolatey goodness of the chocolate macadamia nut syrup is still there.
This drink is available hot, cold, or blended. In other words, you can enjoy it no matter what the weather is like outside, making it one of the best dairy-free Dutch Bros drinks!
7. Green Apple Smoothie
Apart from coffee, tea, and energy drinks, Dutch Bros also offers smoothies that can be enjoyed anytime. One of our favorites is the green apple smoothie.
It's the perfect balance of sweet and sour, and every sip will leave you wanting more.
Just remember to order it without the whipped cream as this café serves their smoothies with whipped cream.
A medium smoothie contains 590 calories, which sounds a bit too much for a simple drink.
However, this is a smoothie, which means you can essentially replace it with one of your meals, especially if you're on a diet.
Although green apple isn't a popular fruit of choice by many, this drink is a hit! Try one for yourself!
8. Cold Brew with Oat Milk
The cold brew with oat milk is an excellent choice if you want a no-frills drink. This classic drink doesn't have any fancy syrups or flavors.
It is made with plain cold brew and features creamy oat milk. It is ideal for those who want a refreshing caffeine boost with a bit of creaminess.
If you want a stronger kick, you can ask for a nitro-infused cold brew.
9. The Bob Frost
If you're a fan of smoothies but not so much of fruity flavors, the Bob Frost is for you. A Frost is basically a Dutch Bros version of a shake, which is essentially a smoothie, minus the frozen fruits.
Although it contains bananas and coconuts, dark chocolate makes it more appealing to those looking for a dessert type of blended drink.
Just remember to ask for vegan milk instead and remove the whipped cream since it includes dairy.
10. Private Reserve
One of the best vegan Dutch Bros drinks is the Private Reserve. This is their version of brewed coffee, which is something that you make at home.
Since you can brew this at home, you have the option to customize it however you want! Add a splash of your favorite vegan milk, syrup, or sweetener.
The best part? You don’t need to leave the comforts of your home if you want to enjoy a Dutch Bros coffee!
How Do You Know Which Dutch Bros Drinks Are Vegan?
We have some bad news; there is no perfect way to find out which drinks are vegan and which aren't.
Luckily, we have managed to get a rundown of what drinks are plant-based and can be made as one.
Cold brews, lattes, and Americanos are the best choices. They can easily be mixed with non-dairy options and syrups with vegan options.
For example, the Oat Milk Kicker latte, Cinnamon Swirl Oat latte, iced soy Annihilator, and Hazelnut latte can all be made vegan-friendly.
If you love teas and iced teas, you can try the Dirty Chai (espresso shots with chai latte) with non-dairy milk and Pink Grapefruit green tea.
Some Dutch Bros Rebels and Freezes include dairy, so if you want to order them, you can check our list for drinks that can be made plant-based.
The Freeze mix isn't vegan, so you need to ask them to replace it with vegan milk. If you're unsure whether a drink is vegan, it's best not to order it unless you want to risk breaking your diet.
Tips For Ordering Vegan Beverages At Dutch Bros
In general, when you order vegan drinks, you need to replace the dairy base with oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk. You can also add vegan-friendly flavors to plain coffee and tea.
Avoid drinks with caramel, white chocolate, eggnog, almond Roca, and pumpkin sauces, like English Toffee Mocha and Hazelnut Truffle Mocha.
However, some mocha drinks have vegan-friendly flavoring, like the Grasshopper, which is a combination of creme de menthe and dark chocolate, and Double Torture, which contains vanilla mocha with two extra shots of vanilla.
You also need to skip the whipped cream and soft top toppings as they use dairy. You can also order a blended frozen drink minus the milk or yogurt, but this may alter the flavor of the drink.
What Dutch Bro Menu Items Are NOT Dairy-Free?
Here are some of the ingredients that you should avoid at all costs if you’re on a plant-based diet:
Dutch Frosts
Dutch Bros Frosts are impossible to make vegan as their main ingredient is an ice cream mix.[1]
However, some drinks allow you to switch the frost with plant-based milk, like the Bob Frost. These drinks also come with whipped cream, but you can always skip that.
Some Sauces and Syrups
While there are sauces from Dutch Bros that are safe for vegans, caramel sauce, white chocolate sauce, sugar-free white chocolate sauce, and pumpkin pie sauce are not.
They contain some form of skim milk, condensed, or non-fat milk and don’t have plant-based substitutes.
The same goes for some syrups. Almond Roca syrup, caramel syrup, and English toffee syrup also have some animal products in them and have no alternatives.
One thing to note: both of these use cane sugar.
Any Milk-Based Toppings or Additions
Dairy toppings like whipped cream are a big no-no for vegans. However, Dutch Bros uses their own terms for these toppings, so you should familiarize yourself with them:
Cocoa
Many cocoa drinks from Dutch Bros aren't vegan-friendly, especially those made with Dutch Bros chocolate milk or Dutch Chocolate blend.
So, unfortunately, you can't swap it with a plant-based alternative. However, some chocolates on the menu can be substituted with plant-based milk and chocolate syrup.
Just ask your Bro-rista if it's possible.
Frequently Asked Dutch Bros Vegan Drink Questions
Are all Dutch Bros smoothies vegan?
No, some contain yogurt. It's best to tell your Bro-rista you want a vegan smoothie to avoid confusion.
Does Dutch Bros have an oat milk option?
Yes! All drinks at Dutch Bros have the option of choosing oat milk over dairy milk. In addition, the coffee chain has some non dairy milk specialties, such as the Oat Milk Kicker!
Are Dutch Bros teas vegan?
Yes, as long as you avoid adding any dairy.
Conclusion
There are plenty of vegan drinks at Dutch Bros for those looking to stay in line with their diet.
While this coffee chain doesn't have a dedicated vegan and dairy-free menu, you can still enjoy some of their popular drinks using plant-based alternatives like almond milk.
Just remember to mention that you're vegan to ensure you get your order free from animal products.
References:
1. https://www.dutchbros.com/menu/frost
*Images from Dutch Bros unless otherwise stated.
