Published Mar. 6, 2023
By AVERY PALSHAW
For avid Starbucks drinkers, here is a well-composed list of the 10 best beverages to order at one’s local Starbucks.
10. Drinking tea definitely isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the Honey Citrus Mint Tea from Starbucks is flavorful with a burst of lemon and mint. It also lends itself useful during the cold and flu season.
(photos by AVERY PALSHAW)
9. With its magenta color and real dragonfruit pieces, a Mango Dragonfruit Refresher has a pleasant and subtle taste, and it is certainly refreshing.
8. There simply is no going wrong with a Chestnut Praline Latte. It’s simple and it doesn’t have an overbearingly sweet taste, like many other Starbucks drinks, and it has a bit of a savory hint to it.
7. The Peppermint Hot Chocolate truly tastes like Christmas in a cup. Though it’s considered a holiday drink, this hot chocolate deserves a spot on Starbucks’ year-round menu.
6. While the Strawberry Açaí Lemonade is a fairly simplistic and basic drink, it never fails to satisfy, especially on a warm Carmel day.
5. Although the Pumpkin Spice Latte is only available from August to November each year, it would be a crime not to feature it as one of the best Starbucks drinks. Its pumpkin flavor and warm spices are the equivalent of a comforting hug.
4. Despite some negative stigma around frappuccinos, the Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino is a delicious mixture of chocolate and coffee flavors and surprisingly, it isn’t as sweet as one would imagine.
3. Starbucks’ Iced Chai Tea Latte has become increasingly popular, and for good reason. This iced tea has a unique blend of spices and it is also offered as a hot drink.
2. For iced coffee lovers, the Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew is life changing, with a perfect balance of sweet and bitter flavors. This cold brew is a refreshing drink topped with a sweet caramel foam.
1. Possibly the best Starbucks drink, an Iced Caramel Macchiato has a strong caramel flavor all throughout the drink. It’s not recommended for those who don’t enjoy highly sweetened coffee, but it is an excellent option if one doesn’t like their coffee bitter.
Cassandra Gorman / March 7, 2023
i agree with many of these top 10, though I’m disappointed that a key few didn’t make the list; the brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso is notably the best drink to debut at starbucks since the PSL. It’s higher in caffeine than a standard latte, and the inclusion of brown sugar as well as the decision to include oatmilk rather than regular makes for a unique and very delicious drink. While the strawberry acai lemonade made this list, its glamour is eclipsed by that of the pink drink, a strawberry acai with coconut milk. The strawberry acai lemonade is no match for the pink drink, and while this can be chalked up to personal preference, I strongly believe the pink drink appeals to a wider variety of individuals and, again, displays a uniqueness that Starbucks impressively manages to retain despite the influx of copycats in recent years. The salted caramel cream cold brew is not incredibly notable to me, so its spot at #2 piqued my interest. I can’t say I agree wholeheartedly, but I am open to trying it again.
I was pleased to see the Chestnut Praline Latte on the list, a more recent holiday debut that is surprisingly appealing, as it manages the delicate balance of being sweet and holiday-inspired, but not so sweet as to be sickly. I was again pleased to see the iced chai tea latte make the list, though I would replace it with a dirty iced chai tea latte, “dirty” simply meaning adding an espresso shot. It’s a great way for those who dislike the taste of coffee or even lattes to get their caffeine in. The mocha cookie crumble frappuccino was the only frappuccino to make this list; a smart decision; any top ten with 2 or more frappuccinos listed is almost immediately discredited. Overall, this list is incredibly diverse, suited for a wide audience. Kudos.
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