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Starbucks is a go-to choice for coffee lovers all over the world, but they also have some of the tastiest smoothies around.
Whether I'm in the mood for a perfectly-swirled concoction of berries, or rich and bold coffee and chocolate, Starbucks has it covered.
As smoothies aren’t talked about as often, it can be hard to know which one to try first.
I’m here to help, with 12 carefully-curated smoothie selections that have impressed me every time.
12 Refreshing Starbucks Smoothies You'll Love
Let’s get down to business with the complete list of smoothies from Starbucks and the items that are worth trying this year:
1. Pineapple Coconut Green Smoothie
When I’m craving a tropical smoothie with green superfoods, the pineapple coconut green smoothie is my go-to choice.
It’s made with juicy pineapple, toasted coconut, earthy kale, and spinach blended with ice and coconut milk, and I love that I can sub out my favorite milk or non-dairy alternative.[1]
This pineapple smoothie is probably the healthiest of all the Starbucks smoothies - and tastes amazing too.
When I’m feeling under the weather and don’t want a tea, this is my pick-me-up!
2. Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Out of all the Starbucks fruit smoothies, the strawberry banana is probably the most ordered.
Strawberry and banana is one of my favorite fruit combos, with sweet and tangy flavors complementing each other perfectly.
This classic combination of fruits is made with banana, strawberries, and a whey, fiber, and protein powder blend.
It's a great refreshing smoothie alternative to the Starbucks strawberry blended lemonade, and while the strawberry smoothie is high in sugar (just like the strawberry blended lemonade), it comes from all-natural fruits.
How To Order Strawberry Banana Smoothie:
- Ask for a Dragon Fruit Refresher, no dragonfruit, add strawberry puree and banana, double blended.
- Add a scoop of almond butter. Not every Starbucks carries it, but many do, and it adds a nutty, salty contrast to the sweet fruitiness.
3. Orange Mango Smoothie
Another popular tropical-tasting smoothie is the Orange Mango, which is made by blending frozen mango, 2% milk, one banana, 2 scoops of protein powder, and ice.
When I feel like I want to be on a white sand beach somewhere, I order this smoothie.
Plus, it’s packed full of vitamin C and iron, which help boost the immune system.[2]
I love adding whipped cream on top, which creates a kind of orange creamsicle taste!
Tips for Vegans:
- Instead of 2% milk, I recommend asking for coconut milk, which fits perfectly with the other ‘tropical’ flavors.
4. Dragon Fruit Smoothie
Starbucks recently started offering a mango dragon fruit refresher, but to really elevate the experience, get it in smoothie form.
With pieces of real dragonfruit and mango blended with strawberry puree, lemonade, and ice, it’s exploding with flavor!
The bright pink and red coloring of this Starbucks beverage isn’t the only enticing thing about it; dragon fruit is super rich in antioxidants, which makes it a pretty nice choice in terms of ‘healthy’ options.
As it doesn’t include any dairy at all, it’s perfect for vegans, vegetarians, and those generally looking to avoid lactose.
Ask the Barista For:
- For a more dessert-like smoothie, I order it with ’no water, blended with vanilla bean, strawberry puree, and creme base’.
5. Chocolate Banana Smoothie
Chocolate and banana smoothies are luscious, smooth, and velvety - especially the ones from Starbucks.
This smoothie is on the secret menu, but it’s still not available at every location as not every one has the protein powder or bananas required for the recipe.
However, if they do have the ingredients, the Chocolate Banana Smoothie is made with banana, fiber powder, and whey protein.
A grande size of this chocolate smoothie contains 20 grams of protein along with 8 grams of fiber, making it a great option after working out.
How to Make the Chocolate Banana Smoothie:
- Fill with milk to the second line on the cup, 3 pumps of mocha, a banana, short scoop of ice, and protein powder, blended.
6. Avocado Coffee Smoothie
Ah, avocado and coffee - two of my favorite things.
I never thought I’d try them together, but the Avocado Coffee smoothie is simply too unique to pass up.
Blended with ice, sweetened condensed milk, espresso shots, and avocado, it’s a suprisingly delicious balance of sweet and savory.
Not to mention, the condensed milk and avocado make it ultra-creamy and decadent!
The milk chocolate ‘pit’ reminds me of a Kinder Egg and I absolutely love it!
Tips for Vegans:
- Instead of sweetened condensed milk, ask for soy or oat milk! I find the almond and coconut milks to be not sweet enough, creating a more “savory” smoothie that I am not a big fan of.
7. Cold Brew Smoothie
I absolutely love the coffee in just about every format, and that includes smoothies.
My favorite caffeine-boosting smoothie is the one made with the signature Starbucks cold brew.
Starbucks baristas craft this beverage by blending their house-made cold brew with almond milk, plant-based protein, almond butter, banana date fruit blend, and ice.
The nuts, fruits, and almond butter may seem like an odd combo with cold brew, but it actually brings out the different tasting notes - it’s incredible.
Ask the Barista For:
- Ask for the Cold Brew Smoothie with 2 pumps of mocha for an even richer, bolder flavor!
8. Pumpkin Smoothie
Starbucks pumpkin drink season is always reason to celebrate, but up until recently, Starbucks only had hot and iced options for the festive flavor.
The Pumpkin Smoothie is now available, featuring pumpkin spice sauce and flavoring, 1 banana, and energy-boosting protein powder.
Rather than my regular smoothie after working out, I’ll sometimes opt for this one.
It's a billion times tastier and I like to pretend the pumpkin spice sauce is good for muscle recovery.
Ask the Barista For:
- Ask for whipped cream or cold foam and cinnamon for a pumpkin pie-like finish.
9. Berry Vanilla Smoothie
Berries and cream is one of those ‘natural’ treats that just hits the spot, without the guilt.
The Berry Vanilla smoothie is something of a hybrid between a smoothie and a frappuccino.
It’s made with 2 scoops of berries, 3 scoops of vanilla bean powder, a banana, creme base, and coconut milk.
This is one of the best Starbucks vanilla drinks on the secret menu, and a personal favorite of mine to have for breakfast if I’m in a pinch.Ask the Barista For:
- While it tastes great as-is, I sometimes opt for 2% or soy milk instead of coconut milk for a thicker, smoother consistency.
10. Berry Forest Smoothie
One thing about most smoothies is that they’re not berry-heavy enough for me.
I really love getting that full, tangy sweetness without it being watered down by ice cream.
The Berry Forest Smoothie fits into that perfectly, with it consisting of strawberry puree, 1 banana, whey protein powder, Passion Tea, raspberry syrup, and 2 scoops of berries.
I actually think using the Passion Tea instead of milk is what really creates that vibrant explosion of flavor, that I can’t get enough of in the fall!
Ask the Barista For:
- Add Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam or a bit of milk to add a bit more sweetness to the tangier, tart smoothie.
11. Cinnamon Dolce Smoothie
Here’s the most decadent, luxurious smoothie I’ve had the pleasure of trying at Starbucks.
It’s like a cinnamon roll in smoothie form, with cinnamon dolce syrup, a banana, whey protein powder, and vanilla bean powder blended together.
I personally enjoy this one around the holidays when it’s not too cold out or I’ve become bored with hot drinks.
I also like that it’s sweet and indulgent without being overly-sweet or sugary.
How To Order Cinnamon Dolce Smoothie
- Ask for the chocolate smoothie, but request the mocha to be substituted out for cinnamon dolce syrup and add 3 scoops of vanilla bean powder.
- For a bit of caffeine, add a shot of espresso. It doesn’t affect the texture much and tastes magnificent with the other flavors.
- Add salted maple and caramel sauce drizzle around the cup for a truly luxe experience.
12. Very Berry-Licious Smoothie
The Very Berry-Licious Smoothie reminds me of the ones my mom would make me as a kid, in an effort to eat more fruit.
This one has actually been around for well over a decade, and is the perfect blend of sweet, citrusy, and creamy.[3]
Blended with milk, strawberry juice, berries, orange, banana, and topped with whipped cream it really is a great way to ’sneak in’ those vitamins.
I personally like it with cold cream and soy milk instead, but it’s one of those drinks that tastes great with any kind of milk.
How To Order Cinnamon Dolce Smoothie
- Add a drizzle of pistachio sauce on top. I know it sounds crazy, but it goes perfectly with the citrus and berry flavors!
Are Starbucks Smoothies Healthy Drinks?
Unlike the sugar-packed smoothies that you'll find at places like McDonald's and Baskin Robbins, the smoothies at Starbucks are more focused on using health-conscious ingredients.[4]
So while they're not nearly as sweet as smoothies with processed sugar and premade mixes, they're still extremely satisfying and, best of all, relatively healthy.
Aside from the use of natural sugars from fruits and fruit puree, another thing that sets Starbucks smoothie options apart from others is the addition of protein.
All Starbucks refreshing smoothies are made with 2 scoops of protein powder, which has a lot to do with the creamy thickness of each frozen beverage.
The protein powder that Starbucks uses contains 1 gram of fiber per scoop, so that’s 2 grams per beverage.[5]
That doesn’t even account for the fiber that you’ll get from the added fruit. Just keep in mind that they use whey based protein, so there is a small amount of dairy in each smoothie.
If you want a Starbucks dairy-free drink, you can order the smoothies without the protein powder, but this will lessen the beverage’s creaminess.
Common Questions About Starbucks Smoothies
What are the different sizes of Starbucks smoothies?
Starbucks smoothie drinks are only available in one size: grande. If you’re unfamiliar with what “grande” means, it equates to the medium size, which is 16 ounces.
How much does a Starbucks smoothie cost?
Unless you order a bunch of additives in your smoothie, the baseline price is $4.25 for the 16-ounce beverage. Just note that if you switch out the regular milk for almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk then it may cost more.
What's the best smoothie from Starbucks?
The orange mango smoothie is one of the most popular among Starbucks customers, but the “best” really comes down to your personal preferences. If you like coffee, then you’ll love the cold brew smoothie or the green tea smoothie for tea lovers.
Conclusion
Starbucks smoothies never fail to impress me. From the main to the secret menus, I’m never bored or wanting for more.
I know there are a ton of amazing smoothies to choose from, but my two personal favorites are the Cold Brew Smoothie and the Cinnamon Dolce Smoothie.
- The Cold Brew, because I’m an unashamed coffee addict and this recipe really brings out the fantastic flavor notes of this bold brew (with an incredibly smooth texture).
- The Cinnamon Dolce, because it makes me feel like I’m vacationing in St. Moritz somewhere and a server wearing a tailcoat and ice skates has just brought me this rich, cinnamon-bun-like treat.
References:
1. https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/2123276/iced
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-c/art-20363932
3. https://starbuckssecretmenu.net/category/secret-smoothies/
4. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/eat-these-foods-to-boost-your-immune-system/
5. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-scoop-on-protein-powder-2020030918986
