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Starbucks syrups are one of the reasons so many of my favorite Starbucks drinks taste the way they do.
When I started trying to recreate those drinks at home, I realized the flavor mattered, but the brand behind it mattered too.
I wanted to pin down which syrup brand Starbucks actually uses, because that detail makes a copycat drink feel much closer.
What syrup does Starbucks use?
Starbucks has its own brand of syrups. Many people think that the coffee shop uses the brand Torani for its syrups. This rumor isn’t true.
Torani makes plenty of familiar coffee flavors, but it is not the syrup brand Starbucks uses.
At first glance, the bottles are easy to misread because the Starbucks logo is right there. Look a little closer, though, and you’ll see that the syrups are made by Fontana .
That matters if you are trying to match a drink at home, because the label and the manufacturer are not the same thing.
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Who makes Fontana syrups?
Fontana Flavors is a family-owned savory flavor company that was established in 2003 by father & son team Peter J. and Peter V. Krug with the guidance of Alan Nedved.
Starbucks itself does not manufacture the syrup.
Does Starbucks own Fontana syrups?
No, Starbucks does not own Fontana syrups.
So when people talk about Starbucks syrup, they are usually talking about a Fontana product made for Starbucks use.
Can you buy Fontana syrups in Starbucks?
Yes, you can buy Fontana syrups at Starbucks.
The purchasable flavors include vanilla, sugar-free vanilla, caramel, classic and liquid cane syrups.
Availability varies, and I would not assume every store has the same bottles on hand. If I’m buying one to take home, I still ask the barista first.
However, if you are looking to recreate your favorite Starbucks drinks at home without having to wait to buy it in store, Fontana syrups are available to purchase on Amazon or local stores like Home Goods, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart etc.
How to make Starbucks syrups copycat recipes at home
Once you know which syrup brand you’re actually looking for, it gets easier to shop for a close copycat at home.
I would not waste time hunting for a grocery-store bottle with the Starbucks logo on it.
In most cases, the bottles people are looking for are not sitting next to the usual hazelnut, caramel, and vanilla syrups anyway.
Instead, look for the syrup brand Fontana , as this is the syrup manufacturer of Starbucks.
Here are a few recipes you can try at home.
Iced Raspberry Latte
How To Make Iced Raspberry Latte
- Add two to three pumps of raspberry syrup into a glass, then fill it with ice. Next, add the espresso shots and fill them up with milk. This homemade Starbucks raspberry drink will satisfy your taste buds!
Vanilla Pumpkin Nut Latte
How To Make Vanilla Pumpkin Nut Latte
- Pour coffee into a mug and add the milk. It's best to froth the milk beforehand, but you can skip this step if you don't have a milk frother.
Then, add two to three pumps of vanilla, pumpkin spice, and toffee nut. You can add more toffee nut if you want a more nutty flavor.
What are coffee syrups normally used for?
In general, syrups are liquid sugar that acts as a sweetener for Starbucks espresso drinks, iced and hot teas, Frappuccinos, and more.
It is also used as an additional flavoring that makes any beverage even more delicious . For example, that Starbucks peppermint drink flavor from your Peppermint Mocha drink? It comes from peppermint syrup instead of the actual herb.
Also known as simple syrup, this sweetener is made by mixing one part sugar with one part water until it becomes liquid.
Coffee syrups come in a lot of flavors, and the exact lineup depends on the brand.
Some brands keep things to the classics, while others add seasonal or sugar-free options.
The flavors Starbucks uses range from straightforward classics like Starbucks classic syrup to seasonal syrups.
Coffee syrups usually contain sugar, water, corn syrup and added flavorings.
Unlike sauces, syrups don’t contain dairy, making them perfect for anyone cursed with lactose-intolerance (like me).
Straight from the bottle, syrup can taste much sweeter and more concentrated than it does in a drink.
Mixed into iced coffee or another drink, that intensity softens a little and the flavor reads as part of the whole cup instead of taking over.
Starbucks popular syrup flavors & nutritional information
That is usually what I notice first when a syrup works well in a drink: the flavor is clear, but it does not flatten the rest of the cup.
Here is the list of the most common Starbucks syrup flavors include:
If you’re looking for a Starbucks sugar-free option, you can get the following flavors: sugar-free vanilla syrup and cinnamon dolce sugar-free syrup.
You can also purchase certain flavors at your favorite grocery stores, including vanilla, hazelnut, and caramel.
Each flavor comes with different nutritional values like calories and sugar content. You can expect each pump of regular syrup to have about 10-50 calories.
In terms of ingredients, Starbucks’ syrups typically contain:
What are similar syrup brands that you can buy online?
I went looking for Starbucks syrups to make a few copycat drinks at home, but they were sold out. That was the point where I stopped waiting and started improvising.
When I can’t find the exact Starbucks option, I usually start with these similar syrup brands:
Each of these brands has all of the classic coffee syrup flavors along with a whole host of fun and tasty ones to try.
FAQs
Is Torani syrup the same as Starbucks?
No, Starbucks syrup is not the same as Torani syrup. Fontana is the brand most closely tied to Starbucks here.
Can you buy Starbucks-branded coffee syrups?
Yes, you can buy Starbucks syrup in some places, but availability is inconsistent, so I never count on a specific flavor being there on the first try.
How do Starbucks syrups differ from its sauces?
The difference between the Starbucks sauce and the syrup is that the Starbucks syrups can be added to all types of drinks because they have a liquid-like consistency. Sauce, on the other hand, has a thicker consistency, which makes them harder to mix with cold beverages.
How many pumps of syrup does Starbucks add to their drinks?
A common guide is three pumps in a tall cup, four in a grande, and five in a Venti. Iced drinks often get a little more than hot drinks because the ice thins the syrup as it melts.
What is simple syrup called at Starbucks?
The simple syrup at Starbucks is called Starbucks classic syrup, and I think of it as the baseline sweetener in a lot of drinks.
Conclusion
Starbucks has its own syrup lineup, with flavors ranging from chestnut praline and funnel cake to classics like classic syrup and honey blend.
That familiar flavor profile is part of why some substitutes get close even when they are not exact matches.
