20 Vegan Starbucks drinks I genuinely enjoy ordering

20 Best vegan Starbucks drinks (For plant-based diets)

1. Plain Brewed Coffee

If you order your (hot or iced) coffee black, you are guaranteed a vegan beverage.

Starbucks has a few straightforward coffee bases to work with: Veranda Blend®, Starbucks Dark Roast, Pike Place Roast, and Clover® Brewed Coffees.

If you need caffeine-free coffee, those same blends and preparations are generally available in decaf too.

Trying different coffee blends is one of the easiest ways to change a Starbucks order without leaning on extras.

That matters if you are vegan, because plain coffee can start to feel repetitive unless you pay attention to roast choice instead of dairy or syrups.

Just keep in mind that this drink is vegan as is, and adding regular milk would change that.

Soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, and coconut milk are the usual non dairy choices, and most Starbucks stores should stock them.

2. Iced Cold Brew 

You can easily get a great vegan iced coffee at Starbucks.

Avoid drinks built around sweet cream or malt powder, since those ingredients are not vegan.

You can ask to have them left out, but in some cases that removes the main reason to order that drink in the first place.

This drink is vegan as is, but I usually order a Cold Brew Coffee with non dairy milk, then add whichever vegan flavourings and add-ons I want.

3. Nitro Cold Brew 

Nitro brewing still feels like one of those coffee ideas that makes you notice texture before sweetness.

Nitro brewing has a number of benefits over normal brewing : The process naturally makes coffee sweeter and creamier.

Starbucks still gives you a few vegan-friendly ways to sweeten Nitro Cold Brew or Starbucks Reserve® Nitro Cold Brew, including Stevia, sugar, or Classic Syrup.

The nitro cold brew is good as is, or works well with non dairy milk options (soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk).

4. Iced Shaken Espresso 

You can just get iced espresso (10 calories for Grande size), but for a little more of a treat, the vegan has a choice of four shaken preparations at a minimum of 100 calories—plain Iced Shaken, Iced Toasted Vanilla Oat Milk, Brown Sugar Oat Milk, and Chocolate Almond Milk (the last three add 10-50 calories, depending on exactly which you choose).

The Chocolate Almond Milk sounds suspect at first, but the key ingredient, Starbucks Chocolate Malt Powder, is actually vegan.

You can also get an iced espresso. These are usually just Starbucks blonde espresso drink, ice and coconut milk, but you can add some vegan syrups to make them sweeter.

Espresso usually gets served without milk because adding it changes the drink, but if you want to keep it vegan, use a non dairy milk.

5. Latte (Iced Or Hot) 

It is 150 calories for the Grande size, and a version made with a non dairy milk may come in a little lighter depending on the swap.

Soy milk, almond milk, or coconut milk are all available, but for us, coconut milk is best.

Coconut milk gives a softer, creamier texture than soy, oat, or almond, and I like it most in drinks that are meant to feel smooth rather than sharp.

You can also choose different shot numbers, espresso roast options, and shot types in your regular or iced caffe latte, which makes it easier to fine-tune the drink.

Watch the toppings here, because they are often not vegan. Cinnamon Dolce topping is the obvious example on cinnamon dolce latte and iced cinnamon dolce latte drinks.

Instead, try the Starbucks Reserve® or the Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte, both at about 200 calories, and make the usual vegan adjustments.

6. Flat White (Iced Or Hot) 

The Starbucks menu lists espresso flat whites at 150 to 170 calories for a Tall size, and the total will change once you switch the milk.

You can subtly alter the caffeine strength and flavor by changing the number of shots, choosing Signature, Blonde, or Decaf espressos, or selecting Ristretto or long shot.

I order a flat white with a non dairy milk, usually soy, almond, oat, or coconut.

You can ask for Mocha Sauce and Cinnamon Powder as toppings, since those are vegan, but not the cinnamon dolce topping.

Another espresso-and-milk drink that tends to land a little lighter than a flat white or latte is the Caffè Misto, at 100 calories for a Grande size.

7. Macchiato (Iced Or Hot) 

The Macchiato is perfect for people who want just a bit of creaminess to dilute their espresso shots.

If you want to keep your drink as light as possible, the hot Espresso Macchiato is one of the simplest options, at 15 calories for a Doppio size, with the usual vegan adjustments.

A macchiato comes with a dollop of cream, so make sure the added milk is non dairy, such as oat, soy, almond, or coconut, if you want it to stay vegan.

The caramel macchiato is a common variation on the regular espresso macchiato.

A caramel macchiato is sweeter, with caramel sauce and a light foam. It’s one of the most popular caramel drinks at Starbucks.

If a macchiato feels a bit too strong, I usually move to the caramel version because the extra sweetness softens the espresso.

There are about 80 calories in an iced or hot caramel macchiato serving.

8. Mocha (Iced Or Hot) 

Mocha might not sound vegan at first because it usually suggests coffee, chocolate, and milk all together.

However, at Starbucks, it works out to be an indulgent (usually around 300 calories) drink, mostly because Starbucks Mocha Sauce is actually vegan.

Still, ask for non dairy milk, such as coconut, oat, soy, or almond, and skip whipped cream, foam, and any mocha or caramel drizzle.

9. Americano (Iced Or Hot) 

In its original form, this is about as plain as it gets: espresso and water, at about 15 calories.

If you want a different edge, add Chai tea concentrate, or keep it milder with vegan sweeteners and syrups.

If you mainly want caffeine fast, hot espresso shots do the job without much extra fuss.

Remember that you can’t add dairy milk to an americano if you want it to stay vegan, so use a non dairy milk instead. Oat, soy, almond, and coconut all work well.

10. Frappuccino Blended Beverages 

Frappuccino is Starbucks’ trademark hybrid beverage, a cappuccino made as a frappe.

If you are vegan, most of these are workable as long as you stick to the usual substitutions and flavourings.

Frappuccino orders that fit this better include Starbucks Espresso Blended and Coffee Blended, both around 200 calories, plus Caffè Vanilla, Caramel, and Mocha Frappuccino Blended, which are all around 400 calories and may come in a little lower once you remove dairy ingredients.

If you want something cold and creamy without as much caffeine, a Starbucks Crème Frappuccino is the obvious place to start, usually around 350 calories.

Good vegan-friendly choices include Strawberry, Chai, Matcha Green Tea, and Vanilla Bean Crèmes, depending on how sweet you want the drink to be.

The basic rule I keep in mind is that Starbucks syrups are vegan, and the creme Frappuccino syrup in most Frappuccinos usually is too.

The sauces are not, except for Mocha sauce in the mocha Frappuccino, and you still want to skip whip, foam, drizzles, and toppings.

Caramel syrup, caramel sauce, and vanilla syrup can all work, but the cinnamon dolce topping usually contains dairy.

Frappuccinos are very high in sugar, but you can cut some of that by switching to sugar free vanilla syrup or using caramel syrup or caramel sauce more sparingly.

The sugar free caramel syrup, caramel sauce, and vanilla syrup should be vegan, but it is still worth asking your barista.

Whipped cream adds dairy as well as sugar, and Starbucks does not offer a non dairy whipped cream option.

To keep it vegan, ask for your Frappuccino without whipped cream.

11. Hot Teas 

Most Starbucks teas can be ordered hot or iced, but Earl Grey is a little different because it is only listed as a hot item. It is black tea with bergamot orange rind oil.

Switching between black/Royal English Breakfast tea, Earl Grey, green, chai, and matcha green tea is a great way to switch up the flavors without adding calories or threatening the vegan diet.

You can order many of these teas as vegan tea lattes as long as you follow the same basic rules as with coffee drinks.

You can also add espresso shots if you want a more unusual flavour and more caffeine.

If you like mild, milky tea, I keep coming back to the Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte, at 150 calories, with a milk replacement. I have also seen it pushed toward a tea flavoured café latte by adding an espresso shot.

Remember, you can only add non dairy milk to hot teas, so that means oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk.

12. London Fog Tea Latte 

At 180 calories, this works well as a winter or summer drink if you like milky tea and vanilla. You can get it hot or iced at Starbucks.

As always, leave off the foam, whipped cream, and toppings, then add any vegan syrups or sweeteners you like.

Make sure you ask for it with a non dairy milk like oat, soy, almond, or coconut.

13. Iced Teas 

The majority of Starbucks iced teas are vegan by nature, but as always, watch what you add.

Iced Black Tea and Iced Black Tea Lemonade, at 50 calories, both leave room for added sweeteners, juices such as apple or peach, syrups, and matcha powder made from matcha green tea.

If you want something a little different, you can also order the iced pineapple matcha green tea drink.

For something easy to take on the go, Starbucks bottled Teavana Teas such as Sparkling Unsweetened Peach Nectarine Green Tea, at 0 calories, and Mango Black Tea, at 100 calories, are convenient options.

On a quick ingredient check, these seem vegan, but it is still hard to confirm absolutely.

14. Green Teas 

Matcha is a common add-on for many Starbucks tea orders, and that earthy note can change a plain tea order pretty quickly.

The Matcha Tea Latte (200 calories)—hot or iced—is a great option for tea-loving vegans who want a treat that will get them through the morning; you can even get chai or espresso shots added for more flavor and caffeine.

Emperor’s Clouds & Mist Tea, at 0 calories, is basically a cup of hot green tea with the option to add lemonade or other sweeteners.

Jade Citrus Mint Brewed Tea, also 0 calories, is a similar idea with citrus and mint mixed into the green tea.

Starbucks also has a solid selection of iced green teas for vegans, including Iced Peach Green Tea, at 60 calories, Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade, at 80 calories, and Iced Matcha Lemonade, at 120 calories.

The Starbucks Matcha Green Tea Latte, at 80 calories, is another popular order.

It tastes closer to a latte than plain green tea, and when it is made with coconut milk it is completely vegan.

15. Herbal Tea 

By nature, these beverages are low- or zero-calorie, caffeine-free, and naturally vegan.

The Peach Tranquility Tea is a peachy herbal tea, and Mint Majesty Tea is a hot mint tea. With either one, you can add a sweetener, non dairy milk, or a vegan syrup if you want more sweetness.

Starbucks also has a couple of iced herbal tea options, Iced Passion Tango Tea and Iced Passion Tango Tea Lemonade, at 50 calories. From there, you can add matcha powder, peach or apple juice, plus sweeteners and syrups if you want more flavour.

16. Chai Tea 

Chai is often offered as a flavour add-in for other Starbucks teas.

However, you can just get a cup of hot chai tea, which, if you wish, can be further flavored with lemonade, sweeteners, and your choice of non-dairy milk.

Starbucks Chai tea itself is vegan, but the Chai tea pump is not, so a chai tea latte, hot or iced, is not vegan even if you use non dairy milk.

17. Hot Drinks 

Steamed Apple Juice, at 220 calories, is a warm caffeine-free drink that a vegan can order as is.

As long as you go with milk substitutes and eliminate the whipped cream and toppings, Starbucks steamers (about 200 calories) are also great wintertime, caffeine-free option for vegans.

Starbucks hot chocolate can also work if you make the usual substitutions and leave out the non vegan extras.

The catch, according to multiple web sources, is that the chocolate mixture itself is not intended to be, nor labelled as, vegan.

That makes it worth checking the current ingredient list before you order.

18. Cold Drinks 

This section of the Starbucks menu really pampers vegans—there are so many vegan customizations (options to add in teas, fruit juices, and lemonade) to give endless flavor combinations for each beverage.

Starbucks Lemonade is a drink on its own, at 120 calories, and vegans can also get the Blended Strawberry Lemonade variation at 190 calories.

The following naturally vegan beverages come with coconut milk as the default and have about 130 calories:

The Pink Drink, with strawberry slices; the Dragon Drink, with coconut milk and dragon fruit; the Violet Drink, with Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher and coconut milk; and the Star Drink, with coconut milk and kiwi.

Lastly, Starbucks Refreshers are cold drinks that sit somewhere between juice and a light smoothie, usually around 90 calories. Good examples are Strawberry Acai and Mango Dragonfruit Refreshers.

They are also sometimes combined with coconut milk.

The Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher is a good pick if you want berry flavour, but it can be fairly sugary.

19. Juices 

Starbucks offers a variety of bottled juices, and most of them appear vegan based on the labelled ingredients.

For example, the Starbucks BAYA line of energy drinks, at 90 calories, gives about as much caffeine as coffee but in a cold drink with fresh-fruit flavour.

The Evolution Fresh line, at around 150 calories, supplies vitamin C and other metabolism and immune-support ingredients.

However, it is still difficult to confirm that they have no animal-derived components involved in processing or production, so strict vegans may want to double-check.

20. Water 

Starbucks also has a few obvious vegan water options. Along with Dasani, there is Ethos Bottled Water, a Starbucks subsidiary brand that supports access to clean water, and Hawai’i Volcanic Water, a sustainably sourced artesian alkaline water.

They also offer two brands of sparkling water, Galvanina and Spindrift.

Ordering vegan drinks (Tips from a Barista) 

Sweeteners:  

Vegan milk replacements:  

Starbucks add-ons/flavors that you can put in a vegan drink:  

No extra cost for adding flavor to vegan drinks

For the most part, Starbucks just charges for the drink preparation and size.

So aside from the non dairy milk charge, the price usually does not change much with other add-ons, omissions, or replacements.

Just keep in mind that some non dairy milk options do cost extra.

No extra cost for vegan caffeine or sugar-free drinks at Starbucks

There is no extra charge for decaf or calorie-free sweeteners, and some Starbucks beverages are caffeine-free or low or no sugar by nature.

FAQs

Are Starbucks vegan drinks low in calories?

It really depends on the drink order and what add-ons you select. In general, Starbucks vegan drinks tend to have fewer calories than other drinks . However, do not assume all vegan drinks are automatically lower in fat, sugar, or calories.

Can I get vegan Starbucks drinks in any size I want?

Yes. Starbucks offers the same size options for vegan drinks.

Is pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks vegan?

No, Starbucks pumpkin spice latte is not vegan. If a barista or the Starbucks website offers no clear answer, the Internet is quick to address this concern. 

Does Starbucks have vegan whip or vegan foam?

Starbucks does have vegan whipped cream and cold foam, although availability can vary by location. They were introduced to make non dairy orders easier to finish off.

Conclusion - Try these delicious drinks!

Here, we have seen the best vegan Starbucks orders, general rules of thumb for vegan ordering at Starbucks, and ways to replace dairy and other non vegan ingredients.

Still, it pays to stay alert because Starbucks changes its menu often, especially around the holidays.

The upside is that those changes can bring more vegan Starbucks options in the future.