11 Best Starbucks cold brew drinks I order when regular iced coffee won’t cut it

11 Best Starbucks cold brew drinks (Order it for an extra boost)

Maybe you only want iced coffee when the weather turns warm, or maybe you drink it year-round and never really stop.

Either way, Starbucks cold brew can feel like a lot if you do not know where to start, especially with all the seasonal spins.

Here are the Starbucks cold brew coffees I would point you toward first, based on what I actually order and enjoy:

1. Cold Brew Coffee 

This original cold brew has been on the menu since 2015, and it still does the simple job well.

I’m not usually a black coffee person, so the first time I tried Cold Brew in 2019, I expected it to taste sharper than it did. Instead, it came across smooth and chocolatey, with just a light citrus note at the end, and that was the moment I understood why people who do not usually like black coffee still order it.

Cold Brew is proof that sometimes the simplest option is best.

This is one of Starbucks’ lowest-calorie drinks, with only five calories, zero sugar, and 155 mg of caffeine.

2. Irish Cream Cold Brew 

I have a big sweet tooth, and the chocolate note in Irish Cream Cold Brew is exactly what keeps me interested instead of reaching for plain cold brew.

Once it gets chilly, this is the seasonal cold brew I start ordering without thinking about it, which is usually a sign I have found a winner.

I love how this creamy and almost chocolatey coffee comes with a major hit of caffeine – it’s a win-win!

It is also easy to take to work because it is an alcohol-free coffee drink, so it never feels awkward in a morning meeting.

A medium serving usually lands at around 200 calories, so I treat it as more of an occasional drink than an everyday one.

3. Honey Almond Milk Cold Brew 

Honey is my usual sweetener in tea and coffee, so the Honey Almond Milk Cold Brew makes immediate sense to me.

It honestly tastes like a breakfast of honey nut cereal and coffee, but in a drink!

I like it most on early mornings when I need something straightforward, especially after a long drive or a bad night’s sleep.

The roasted almond note and honey syrup sit nicely against the coffee here. It stays sweet, but not so sweet that the espresso disappears, which is what I keep paying attention to in flavored cold brew.

The honey adds a mild sweetness, and the drink sits at about 50 calories.

4. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew 

Controversial opinion: I think the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew tastes better than the PSL.

I am apparently not the only one, since it is one of Starbucks’ most popular seasonal cold brew drinks.

I love the light pumpkin flavor and fragrant pumpkin spice topping combined with the strong coffee so much. This Starbucks cold brew coffee really is fall feels in a cup for me!

It is only around from late August to early November, so I usually make a point of getting it while it is still on the menu.

5. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew 

Vanilla is the syrup I reach for most often with coffee, and it works especially well in cold brew.

If you want a little sweetness without turning the drink into dessert, the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew is an easy one to come back to.

Chock full of warm vanilla and strong coffee flavor, this cold brew Starbucks drink is sweet, light, and rounded.

What I like most is that it stays creamy without covering up the cold brew base, so the coffee still tastes like coffee.

It also comes in at 110 calories and 14 mg of sugar, which feels fairly reasonable for a flavored drink.

6. Nitro Cold Brew 

Nitro Cold Brew changes the texture of regular cold brew, and that is the part I notice first.

This Starbucks cold coffee is infused with nitrogen poured from a tap. Unlike the traditional Starbucks cold brew drink, the nitro cold brew is richer and sweeter.

Nitro Cold Brew creates this lush velvety texture and makes my morning Cold Brew even creamier – no dairy needed!

The base is good on its own, but I like playing with syrups and toppings here. Starbucks’ flavored cold foams work especially well with it when I want something a little more dessert-like.

7. Reserve Nitro Cold Brew 

Starbucks’ Reserve Nitro Cold Brew is creamy and smooth, with hazelnut, vanilla, and caramel notes.

I was skeptical before my first sip of Reserve Nitro Cold Brew because it sounded like expensive cold brew with better branding. The first sip changed my mind pretty quickly; the extra flavor notes really do show up in the cup.

It’s so rare for me to get Starbucks’ Reserve, so I make sure to really savor it. Trust me, it deserves to be savored.

A typical Grande serving of Reserve Nitro has about five calories, no fat, and 280 mg of caffeine.

8. Salted Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew 

Hear me shout it from the rooftops: the Salted Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew is one of the best Starbucks caramel-flavored drinks!

Salted caramel works so well here that the drink never feels cloying, even when the foam gets involved.

I do not even miss milk in this one. The nitrogen gives the drink a colder, creamier feel, and the cold foam keeps the whole thing leaning sweet instead of savory.

Strong, salty-sweet, creamy – what more could you want?

Despite the name, this cold brew foam drink at Starbucks stays fairly low at 100 calories, but it still carries 290 mg of caffeine.

9. Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew 

The Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew is another one I reach for when I want sweetness with my morning caffeine hit.

This Starbucks cold brew drink uses the OG Starbucks cold brew concentrate as the base and infuses it with nitrogen to provide a sweeter, more velvety texture.

The nitrogen keeps it feeling colder and smoother without ice, which makes it easier to drink on a hot afternoon.

Vanilla is often accused of being the overhyped coffee flavor, but I just can’t get enough! The classics are classic for a reason, after all.

A grande size of this Starbucks nitro cold brew coffee typically has 70 calories and around 265 mg of caffeine.

10. Salted Caramel White Mocha Cold Brew 

Dessert-drink fans like me know that the Salted Caramel White Mocha Cold Brew leans much closer to treat than routine coffee.

It has that typical sweet and salty taste associated with the salted caramel flavor combined with the sweet smoothness of white mocha – how could I resist?

And if you are a fan of coffee and salted caramel, this is an ideal Starbucks mocha drink option for you.

The coffee flavor is milder here because the syrups do most of the work, but it still scratches my sweet-tooth itch without feeling flat.

11. Honey Almond-Milk Nitro Cold Brew 

I already like the regular coffee version, so the Honey Almondmilk Nitro Cold Brew was an easy one to enjoy.

The honey brings a rich sweetness, while the almond milk adds a nutty creaminess that softens the cold brew base.

I love ordering this when I need a major caffeine boost but want a little something milky sweet.

It is rich and sweet, but it still comes in at barely any calories.

A typical grande serving of the Honey Almondmilk Nitro Cold Brew has around 290 mg of caffeine, so it still lands with a proper kick.

Ordering cold brew at Starbucks? (Here's how) 

When I order cold brew at Starbucks, I usually start with the base drink and add milk, cream, sweetener, or anything else from there. That is the part I like most, because it lets me keep the coffee flavor where I want it.

Keep in mind that a traditional iced coffee at Starbucks does not have added espresso, so if you want it to have an extra shot of caffeine, go ahead and ask to add a shot of espresso.

Most people ordering for the first time are confused with the various Starbucks cup sizes they offer.

And you might be surprised to find that Starbucks cup sizes are different from what you are used to.

The cold brew drink sizes Starbucks are:

Remember that Starbucks drink sizes differ depending on whether you are ordering a hot or cold drink.

There is a short size, but it is not available for all nitro cold brew or hot coffee options.

Trenta drink sizes are generally not an option for nitro cold brew or hot coffee options either.

The volume of extras, like vanilla syrup, also changes depending on the size of your hot or cold drink.

If you order a Tall then you’ll get 2-3 pumps of vanilla syrup (or other flavor), but if you order a Venti you’ll get 5-6 pumps of vanilla syrup.

Cold brew should taste the same regardless of size, but the amount of extras will affect the sugar and calorie content.

FAQs

Is Starbucks cold brew stronger than regular coffee?

Starbucks Cold Brew is stronger than regular coffee in both flavor and caffeine level, especially the nitrogen-infused cold brews. Typically, a regular Cold Brew has 205 mg of caffeine, while an Iced Coffee has 165 mg, and the higher caffeine count is part of why it feels more intense to me even before I add anything to it.

How much caffeine is in a grande Starbucks cold brew?

A Grande Starbucks unsweetened cold brew has 205 mg of caffeine.

How many calories are in cold brew coffee?

Typically, a cold brew coffee has a caloric content of 5 calories.

Does Starbucks use unsweetened cold brew?

Yes, Starbucks will use unsweetened cold brew if you ask for it. The drink comes without added sweetness, which lets the cold brew flavor come through more clearly, and I like that because the coffee tastes a little clearer and less dessert-like.

Conclusion

That is just a few of the Starbucks cold brew drinks worth trying. With so many to choose from, the hardest part is usually deciding where to start.

If you want a place to start, my two repeat orders are the Salted Caramel Nitro and Irish Cream Cold Brew.