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As someone who is lactose intolerant, I’ve spent enough time testing milk alternatives to know which ones leave me fine and which ones do not. Starbucks is one of the easier places to order when I want to avoid the usual stomach issues.
Alongside coconut milk, Starbucks also offers almond, soy, and oat milk, and I tend to rotate between them depending on the drink.
I wanted to keep this simple: what Starbucks coconut milk is, what’s in it, and how it tastes in a drink.
What brand of coconut milk does Starbucks use?
The dairy-free coconut milk that Starbucks use is Single Origin Sumatra coconut milk. It is used in locations across the United States and Canada.
Starbucks’ coconut milk is not the same as the richer coconut milk I make at home from coconut meat and water. It’s a dairy-free beverage base built for coffee drinks, so I treat it more like a menu ingredient than a straight coconut product.
It contains other additions that are meant to make it taste better with Starbucks handcrafted beverages.
You’ll find it in quite a few Starbucks drinks, and it is the option I reach for when I want something a little sweeter and softer than almond milk.
Is Starbucks coconut milk healthy?
I do not think of Starbucks coconut milk as a health drink, mainly because the added sugar and stabilizers move it away from plain coconut milk pretty quickly.
While all natural coconut milk is meant to be healthy, Starbucks coconut milk contains a range of other ingredients and food additives that don’t make it the healthiest option.
Some ingredients include coconut cream, coconut water concentrate, cane sugar, tricalcium phosphate, carrageenan, gellan gum, corn dextrin, xanthan gum, guar gum, vitamin A palmitate, and vitamin D2.
Here’s what those extra ingredients mean in practice:
Compared with plain coconut milk, the Starbucks version is a lot less minimal. I read it more like a coffee base than a simple pantry ingredient.
It still brings coconut flavor and some creaminess, but the added ingredients are doing most of the work behind the texture.
The vitamin-fortified angle is there too, though I would not buy it for that alone.
That is usually the part I notice first: it feels built to hold together in a coffee drink instead of behaving like a loose coconut beverage.
So, in my view, you get flavor and convenience more than the simplicity of a basic coconut milk.
The sugar content of coconut milk Starbucks uses is also relatively high as it comes with added sugar – not something you’d typically find in the natural version.
Is it organic?
No, the Starbucks coconut milk isn’t organic as it contains several emulsifiers and food additives.
Does Starbucks coconut milk have sugar?
Yes, Starbucks coconut milk is sweetened with cane sugar, giving it a sweet taste compared to regular coconut milk.
The sugar count is high enough that I do not treat it like a neutral milk swap.
Is it gluten-free?
Yes, the coconut milk at Starbucks is gluten-free.
If gluten is a concern, I still check the ingredient panel before assuming it is an automatic yes.
How many calories does Starbucks coconut milk have?
Just a serving of coconut milk comes with 180 calories and 17 grams of sugar.
That added sugar is also why it feels different from the plain unsweetened milk alternatives I use more often.
7 Best Starbucks coconut milk drinks to order
When I order Starbucks drinks with coconut milk, I usually think about the sweetness and the upcharge before I add it.
- 1Pink Drink
This refreshing drink uses the Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher as a base and comes with the addition of passionfruit and coconut milk. It’s creamy, delicious and even comes with chunks of dried strawberries. A grande has 140 calories. - 2Dragon Drink
Another delicious certified vegan drink, this particular one is made with mango and dragonfruit flavors along with coconut milk and freshly decided dragon fruit. - 3Star Drink
This is a great choice if you're someone who likes starfruit and kiwi flavor, as that's the predominant taste. It's also mixed with coconut milk and fresh kiwi fruit chunks. - 4Violet Drink
This particular drink uses the Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher drink as a base before being combined with coconut milk and blackberries. - 5Coconut Lime Refresher
This one is on the secret menu, and as far as beverages go, it has a sharp and creamy mix that's absolutely delicious. All you've got to do is ask the barista to replace the water in the classic cool lime refresher with coconut milk! - 6Orange Drink
Another secret menu option, you can easily also replace this with other non-dairy milk options if you'd like. Simply ask the barista to shake a drink with orange juice concentrate, coconut milk, iced tea, and vanilla bean powder, and you're good to go. - 7Vanilla Coconut Latte
For something warm, go for the vegan-certified vanilla coconut latte. While you can also do this with other non-dairy milk options such as almond milk and soy milk - especially if you're looking for something with less sugar, the sweetened coconut milk makes this one of the best drinks for winter.
Ask Barista For: If you'd like, you can even enhance the flavors of the vanilla coconut latte by adding some mocha sauce or raspberry syrup!
FAQs
Does Starbucks charge more for coconut milk?
I have usually seen an extra charge of about 70 cents for coconut, soy, and oat milk.
How much sugar is in Starbucks coconut milk?
A grande serving is estimated at 17 grams of sugar and about 180 calories, which is why I do not treat it like a plain milk swap.
Can I buy Starbucks Coconut Milk for home use?
Starbucks has offered coconut milk for home use, but I still think of it as more of a café ingredient than a grocery staple.
Can you order just coconut milk at Starbucks?
You can order coconut milk on its own, although I like it more inside a drink, where the coconut flavor folds into the espresso instead of sitting by itself.
Is Starbucks coconut milk Whole30 approved?
I would not assume Starbucks coconut milk is Whole30 approved because it includes added ingredients.
Final Words
The calories and sugar are worth keeping in mind, but I still think the drink works because the coconut milk softens the espresso and adds a slightly rounder texture than I get from almond milk.
It’s also the dairy-free option I reach for when I want something that feels a little fuller than almond milk but still lighter than a richer latte-style drink.
