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Starbucks is where I end up when I want something cold, easy, and not as heavy as a Frappuccino.
The smoothie menu is smaller than the coffee side, but I keep finding drinks that cover bright berry, tropical, and chocolate moods.
It is easy to overlook them, which is why I pulled together the 12 I keep coming back to.
A few are straight comfort drinks and a few surprised me the first time I ordered them.
12 Refreshing Starbucks smoothies you'll love
Here are the Starbucks smoothies I keep coming back to this year:
1. Pineapple Coconut Green Smoothie
When I want a tropical smoothie that still tastes a little green, the pineapple coconut green smoothie is the one I reach for.
It blends pineapple, toasted coconut, kale, spinach, ice, and coconut milk, and that mix works better than it sounds. The pineapple keeps it bright, the coconut softens the greens, and I like that I can swap in my usual milk or a non-dairy option.
This pineapple smoothie is probably the healthiest of all the Starbucks smoothies – and tastes amazing too.
When I do not want tea but still want something light and comforting, this is the one I usually pick.
2. Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Out of the Starbucks fruit smoothies, the strawberry banana is probably the simplest one on the menu.
Strawberry and banana is one of my favorite fruit combos, with sweet and tangy flavors complementing each other perfectly.
It is a simple mix of banana, strawberries, and a whey, fiber, and protein powder blend, which gives it more body than a fruit-only smoothie.
It makes a good alternative to the Starbucks strawberry blended lemonade, and while it is still sweet, the banana and powder blend make it taste fuller and less sharp than the lemonade.
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
The Orange Mango is another tropical option, blended with 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.
It also brings in vitamin C and iron, which are often mentioned in nutrient roundups.
I like adding whipped cream on top because it nudges the drink toward an orange creamsicle flavour without making it heavy.
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 has been leaning into mango dragon fruit drinks for a while, but I prefer it in smoothie form because the texture feels less icy and more complete.
With pieces of real dragonfruit and mango blended with strawberry puree, lemonade, and ice, it’s exploding with flavor!
The bright pink colour is the first thing I notice, but red coloring of this Starbucks beverage is not the only reason I remember it; the dragon fruit keeps the flavour light while the smoothie still feels substantial.
Because it does not use dairy, it also fits vegans, vegetarians, and anyone trying to avoid lactose.
Barista HQ Tip:
- 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 usually feel indulgent to me, and the Starbucks version leans especially soft and velvety.
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.
If the ingredients are available, the Chocolate Banana Smoothie is made with banana, fiber powder, and whey protein.
A grande has 20 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber, so it feels more substantial than a dessert-style smoothie, especially if I want something after a workout.
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
Avocado and coffee are two flavours I did not expect to like together, but that is exactly why the Avocado Coffee smoothie caught my attention.
Blended with ice, sweetened condensed milk, espresso shots, and avocado, it’s a suprisingly delicious balance of sweet and savory.
The condensed milk and avocado make it thick and creamy, and the texture is what sticks with me more than the novelty.
The milk chocolate ‘pit’ reminds me of a Kinder Egg, and that playful detail keeps the drink from feeling too serious.
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.
I enjoy coffee in almost every format, and smoothies are one of the more interesting ways to get it.
My favourite caffeine-boosting smoothie is the one made with the signature Starbucks cold brew. blend, because the coffee still tastes like coffee even after the fruit and nut butter are mixed in.
Starbucks baristas make it by blending 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.
Barista HQ Tip:
- 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 worth looking out for, but for a long time Starbucks kept that flavour to hot and iced drinks.
The Pumpkin Smoothie is now available, featuring pumpkin spice sauce and flavoring, 1 banana, and energy-boosting protein powder.
That is why I will sometimes choose this one instead of my usual post-workout smoothie, especially when I want a sweeter fall flavour.
I mostly notice the pumpkin spice sauce and banana together, which makes it feel more like a dessert smoothie than a gym drink.
Barista HQ Tip:
- Ask for whipped cream or cold foam and cinnamon for a pumpkin pie-like finish.
9. Berry Vanilla Smoothie
Berries and cream is the kind of smoothie I order when I want something sweet but not heavy.
The Berry Vanilla smoothie is something of a hybrid between a smoothie and a frappuccino.
It is 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 it is one of my backup breakfast orders when I need something fast.
Barista HQ Tip:
- 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
Most berry smoothies are 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 fixes that with strawberry puree, 1 banana, whey protein powder, Passion Tea, raspberry syrup, and 2 scoops of berries.
Using Passion Tea instead of milk gives it a brighter, sharper finish, and that is what makes it feel so good in fall.
Barista HQ Tip:
- 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
This is probably the most decadent smoothie I have tried at Starbucks.
It tastes a bit 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.
It is sweet and indulgent, but it stops short of the cloying, sugary finish I usually avoid.
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 fruit smoothies my mom used to make when I was a kid.
This one has been around for a while, and it has a nice mix of sweet, citrusy, and creamy.
Blended with milk, strawberry juice, berries, orange, banana, and whipped cream, it tastes like a fruit smoothie with a little extra dessert in it.
I like it with cold cream and soy milk instead, but it still works with most milk choices.
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?
Compared with the more sugar-heavy smoothies you see at places like McDonald's and Baskin Robbins, Starbucks tends to lean a little more on fruit, puree, and protein.
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.
The protein is part of what makes these smoothies feel more substantial, not just sweeter.
Most of Starbucks' refreshing smoothies use 2 scoops of protein powder, which is a big part of the creamy thickness.
The protein powder that Starbucks uses contains 1 gram of fiber per scoop, so that’s 2 grams per beverage.
The added fruit also brings in fiber, and the whey-based protein means 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 the drink will feel lighter and less creamy.
FAQs
What are the different sizes of Starbucks smoothies?
Starbucks smoothie drinks are listed in a grande size, which is the medium and works out to 16 ounces.
How much does a Starbucks smoothie cost?
The base price is $4.25 for the 16-ounce drink, though swaps like almond, soy, oat, or coconut milk can add to that. 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 an easy fruit-forward pick. If you prefer coffee, the cold brew smoothie is the obvious choice, while tea drinkers may gravitate toward the green tea smoothie.
Conclusion
Starbucks smoothies never feel boring to me. Between the main menu and the secret menu, there is always at least one I want to try again.
My two personal favourites 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.
