After trying all of Starbucks’ iced drinks, there’s a clear set of winners as to which are the best iced coffees on offer at the popular chain.
We get it: You walk into Starbucks for a reprieve from the blazing heat outside, browse the menu for food or drink, and find yourself overwhelmed at what to pick because of the sheer amount of choice (and seasonal beverages) available.
That’s where we come in, as below, you’ll find a breakdown of our picks for the best iced coffee drinks currently available on Starbucks’ US menu — and how to best customize them.
10. Iced pumpkin spice latte
Pumpkin spice is a drink that has divided a nation. Some people go crazy for it the minute the first leaf turns brown in the Fall, and some people hate it. If you’re a hater, have you tried it iced? The cold milk makes the spicy flavors a lot milder, making the drink even more delicious.
How to customize: If you’re feeling really sweet, adding a couple of pumps of white mocha syrup makes for a pretty awesome addition — but don’t forget the whipped cream!
9. Iced chai tea latte
Iced chai tea lattes are made with spiced chai syrup and don’t actually have any tea in them. They are sweet, spicy, and kind of taste like cinnamon. They also happen to be fairly low in calories.
How to customize: Adding one or two shots of espresso to this spicy, cinnamony drink gives it a really nice hit. This is also known as a dirty chai and is technically off the secret menu at Starbucks, but pretty much any barista will know how to make it.
8. Iced latte
You can’t talk about iced coffees without mentioning the OG. Shots of espresso teamed with iced milk make for a simple yet refreshing drink that hits the spot every time.
How to customize: The classic iced latte is great on its own or can be fully customized by adding any milk, syrup, and toppings that you want. A popular favorite? An iced latte with blonde espresso, oat milk, and vanilla syrup.
7. Iced chocolate almond milk espresso
This one is like chocolate milk for grown-ups. With non-dairy milk becoming more popular, Starbucks has started to incorporate it into its main menu, and the slightly nutty taste of the almond milk makes this drink taste slightly like Nutella.
How to customize: Add hazelnut syrup to lean even more into that nutty flavor.
6. Double chocolate chip frappuccino
Starbucks’ double chocolate chip frappuccino is a great iced coffee if you really want a treat. Made with coffee, milk, chocolate syrup, and chocolate chips, this is like a dessert in a cup. Who doesn’t love that?
How to customize: If you want to make this drink dairy-free, you can opt for non-dairy milk and vegan whipped cream as the chocolate added in is already dairy-free.
5. Caramel coffee frappuccino
Next, we have another frappuccino, and it’s probably the most common one on Starbucks’ menu. This drink is made with coffee, milk, and caramel syrup, topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.
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How to customize: To customize this drink to make it a little healthier, you can opt for non-fat milk, sugar-free caramel syrup, and hold the whip/drizzle.
4. Iced brown sugar shaken espresso
The iced brown sugar shaken espresso may be a bit of a mouthful to say, but it is delicious. Shots of blond espresso are shaken in a cocktail shaker with brown sugar syrup to make them nice and foamy. They are then poured over oat milk and ice to make for a highly caffeinated yet smooth beverage.
How to customize: To customize this iced drink, swap out the brown sugar syrup for white mocha or any other syrup you’d like.
3. Iced caramel macchiato
Iced caramel macchiatos are a thing of beauty. You can order these hot too, but having them iced means that the caramel drizzle that gets put on the top of the drink sinks into the milk so you get mouthfuls of gooey caramel straight up your straw.
How to customize: The drink is made with vanilla syrup in the bottom too, but if you want it extra sweet, swap out that vanilla for caramel syrup.
2. Iced white mocha
Iced white mochas are another drink that traditionally comes hot, but the cold milk means that the white chocolate syrup doesn’t melt into your drink, instead sitting at the bottom of your drink and making the flavor stronger.
How to customize: If you want the drink to be smoother though, ask for it to be shaken before it’s served.
1. Cold brew – the best iced coffee
Starbucks’ cold brew is arguably the best iced coffee drink that they make because, well, it’s the strongest. And isn’t that what you want out of your coffee after all? This coffee is brewed for 18 hours in cold water, making it smooth and highly caffeinated.
How to customize: You can drink this stuff black, or you can add different kinds of milk and syrups to make your own custom drink. Get creative.
How to save money with iced coffee at Starbucks
One of the great things about Starbucks is its lengthy menu that can be customized and added to as you please. However, each shot of espresso, type of syrup, and topping costs at least 50 cents each. This can get pretty expensive if you start adding lots of flavors.
There is a way to get around this though. If you sign up for Starbucks Rewards and pay for your drinks through the app (or scan the barcode every time you make a purchase) you’ll collect stars. Every dollar spent equals two stars, and once you collect 300 stars, you’ll become a “Starbucks gold member” which means that you’ll get any and all additions to your drink completely for free.
On top of this, those who use Starbucks Rewards get a free drink of any size every time they collect 150 stars. If you want to create your own coffee concoctions, the Starbucks Rewards system is the way to go.
For more Starbucks content, check out the best Refresher and Iced Energy Drinks, details on what a handcrafted drink is, what’s been leaked to arrive in the Fall 2024 menu, or when the Pumpkin spice collection is returning this year.
