You walk into Starbucks, stare up at the menu, and instantly feel overwhelmed by the countless drink options. “Ughhh… what drink do I even order?” You are not alone in this feeling. In fact, a lot of people don’t even order standard drinks off the menu anymore; a staggering 60% of Starbucks drinks sold in 2022 were customized—something I can attest to as a barista has only gotten higher. And if you’ve browsed Reddit threads and seen some of the most intense drink customizations out there, you know there are some impressive hacks out there already. But not all of these are true menu hacks.
Do you get anxious having so many options; or are you tired of not knowing exactly what you want? Well in this ultimate guide, I’ll provide you an in depth breakdown on Starbucks menu customization and have you create your own menu hacks. Whether you’re looking for something delicious, low-sugar options, or dairy-free alternatives, I’ll provide you with my knowledge and insights that will help you personalize your drinks to fit your taste preferences as well as any dietary needs. Ready to elevate your Starbucks experience? Let’s dive in!
The Starbucks Menu Explained
At Starbucks we offer a diverse menu of coffee drinks, refreshers, teas, frappuccinos, and now iced energy drinks. The drink menu features classic options such as freshly brewed hot coffee, freshly brewed iced coffee, espresso beverages, cold brews, nitros, along with other seasonal and specialty drinks. I know in the United States, the second menu board is where you will find frappuccinos, refreshers, and tea drinks. Frappuccinos are a blend of coffee or crème with ice (similar to the idea of a milkshake), Refreshers are juice concentrates extracts that offer a light and invigorating alternative (providing a burst of fruity flavor and energy) For hot tea enthusiasts, there are classic green or black tea options such as: Jade Citrus Mint, Peach, Early Grey, Emperor’s Clouds, Royal English Breakfast, and Chai. For cold tea enthusiasts, there is Iced Green Tea, Iced Black Tea, or Iced Passion Tea.
How Customization Works
Whether you prefer ordering through a barista at the register or through the Mobile app, Starbucks offers several customization options. By using the app you can manually select your base drink and then add or modify ingredients through the customization menu. You can choose from various milk types, syrups, toppings, and more. It becomes very easy to create your own menu hack when you are familiar with how different coffee drinks are built. Whether you are adjusting coffee strength, pumps of syrup/sauce, alternative milk options, etc, the possibilities are literally endless.
Star Barista tip: When ordering your drink, tell your barista the base drink first. Say it with me: “ Hi! I will have a latte today.”
Customizing your Drinks
Adjusting Sweetness and Flavor
At Starbucks they offer a variety of flavors, syrups, and sauces to help that range from chocolatey, to nutty, sugary, sweet, etc, all for you to tailor your drink. I bet you haven’t tried all of the flavors yet, so I’ll leave some of my favorite combinations.
Tips for Adjusting Syrup Pumps and Sweeteners:
- Change # of Syrup Pumps: Standard drinks come with a set number of syrup pumps, but you can request more or fewer pumps to adjust the sweetness. For a less sweet drink, ask for fewer pumps or use a sugar-free syrup. For extra sweetness, increase the pumps according to your taste.
- Add Sweeteners: Starbucks offers a range of sweeteners, including agave, honey, and artificial sweeteners like Stevia or Splenda. You can add these to your drink to modify the sweetness level without altering the overall flavor profile.
- Try adding Cinnamon or Pumpkin Spice instead of Syrup
Star Barista Tip: One great flavor combination I learned was you can make a french vanilla flavor by adding Vanilla and Hazelnut syrup.
Comment below what your favorite flavor combination is!
Try Milk and Dairy Alternatives
When it comes to milk and dairy alternatives, each option affects the flavor and texture of your drink differently. Some milks provide more creamy textures with richer flavors, while other milks convey the same quality while meeting other dietary needs or restrictions.
Whole Milk vs 2% vs Skim Milk:
- Whole Milk: Provides a creamy texture and rich flavor, enhancing the taste of espresso drinks.
- Fun Fact: Starbucks originally only made lattes with whole milk.
- 2% Milk: Slightly lighter than whole milk but still offers a creamy texture and balanced flavor.
- Skim Milk: Offers a lighter option with less fat, resulting in a more diluted texture.
- Fun Fact: CEO Schultz refused to offer nonfat milk until he was in a store and saw them lose a customer over a nonfat latte.
Non-Dairy Alternatives and Benefits:
- Almond Milk: Adds a subtle nutty flavor and is lower in calories compared to regular milk.
- Soy Milk: Offers a creamy texture and a slightly sweet flavor, suitable for those who prefer plant-based options.
- Oat Milk: Provides a creamy, smooth texture and a mild, slightly sweet taste, making it a popular choice for coffee drinks.
- Coconut Milk: Adds a tropical, coconut flavor and creamy consistency, ideal for those looking for a dairy-free alternative with a distinct taste.
Star Barista Tip: Try Oatmilk! As a non-dairy coffee drinker myself, my personal preference is oat milk. I find it to be the best substitute to get a texture similar to 2% or whole milk. Honestly, I envy those who can drink a Flat White made with Whole Milk because they are really getting a creamy delicious coffee drink.
Change the Temperature
Adjusting this factor can significantly impact your overall experience. If you prefer your hot drinks to be extra hot, you can request this when placing your order. Starbucks offers Extra Hot, Warm, or even Kids Temp, and if you have a specific temperature request, we can enter that in as well. However, keep in mind that there is a limit to how hot a drink can be made for safety reasons. For barista safety, milk must never be steamed above 195F (90C).
For iced drinks, asking for extra ice and asking for a larger cup can help keep your beverage cooler for a longer period.
Here are some tips for Adjusting Temperature:
- Hot Drinks: Request your drink to be made “extra hot” if you prefer a higher temperature. Note for barista safety, milk must never be steamed above 195F (90C).
- Iced Drinks: Ask for extra ice or ask for extra ice in a larger size cup.
Star Barista Tip: Say it with me: “Can I have my drink extra hot?” or “Can I have my drink a little less hot?” These are easy customizations so that you can enjoy your coffee right away or later in the day!
Adjust the Strength
“Strength” of your coffee can be confusing to explain. When customers request a stronger coffee, they might be referring to different aspects, such as flavor intensity or caffeine content. For example, some customers might ask for an extra shot of espresso to enhance the flavor and increase the caffeine level in their drink. However, others might rather just be looking for a coffee blend with a bolder taste. Do you see how this might be confusing to decipher?
For example, at Starbucks they offer Starbucks Espresso Roast and Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast. The Espresso Roast has a stronger flavor profile compared to Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast, even though the Blonde Roast contains more caffeine. When customers say they need their coffee stronger to help them wake up, I ask them: “Are you looking for a more intense flavor or more caffeine?”. If both, then just add an extra shot!
Here are some tips to make your coffee Stronger or Weaker based on Personal Preference:
- Stronger Coffee: Request an extra shot of espresso, or choose a coffee blend with a higher intensity. You can also ask for “extra bold” if available.
- Weaker Coffee: Reduce the number of espresso shots or request less coffee in your drink. You can also ask for a “lighter roast” if your store offers different coffee blends.
Star Barista Tip: How to tell if your coffee is stronger: Drip Coffee. Every barista goes through this, so if you regularly drink coffee you should too. Let’s experiment. I want you to grab a pen and paper or open the notes section on your phone. You are either going to order two coffees in the same visit or in two separate visits. Go to the register, say hello to your barista, and order one dark roast and one light roast coffee. Sample them black, then go back and ask for extra cream and sugars after our experiment. Taste each of the two coffees. Can you taste the difference? Does one drink taste more like coffee than the other? What words would you use to describe it?
Health-Conscious Modifications
Preventative healthcare does not have to be expensive. Sometimes we can make small choices in our day to day life that have big impacts on our overall health. Coffee has some incredible benefits alone, so there are ways to change the recipes made at our favorite coffee shops so that we can live a happy and healthy life. If you’re looking to cut down on sugar and calorie content without sacrificing flavor, there are several effective strategies you can use. Some of the following tips will help you get your coffee but also stick to your dietary needs and goals!
Here are some tips to Cutting Down Sugar and Calories Without Sacrificing Flavor:
- Request fewer syrup pumps or use sugar-free syrups.
- Opt for alternative sweeteners like Stevia or Splenda.
- Choose lighter milk options such as skim milk or non-dairy alternatives.
- Skip whipped cream and high-calorie toppings.
- Examples of Low-Calorie or No-Calorie Substitutions:
- “Can I have my drink half sweet?” or Sugar-free syrups instead of regular syrups.
- “Can I add Stevia (or Splenda) to my drink?”
- “Can I have my drink with non-dairy milk?” or “Can I make my drink skinny?”
- “Can I have no whip or toppings please?”
- Examples of Low-Calorie or No-Calorie Substitutions:
- Note: If you are gluten-free or vegan, ordering doesn’t have to be difficult! Just make sure to do your research ahead of time. I did a quick search and found this article that looks very helpful: GLUTEN FREE STARBUCKS MENU ITEMS
How to Create Your Own Menu Hacks
Now we are ready to hack! You know exactly how to make drinks your way. Follow my guide below in order to get started:
- First, Choose Your Base Drink: Start by selecting a drink you like from the Starbucks menu. This will be the foundation for your custom creation.
- Second, Decide on Modifications: Think about what changes you want to make. Consider adding or substituting syrups, changing the milk, or including new toppings.
- Third, Test Your Creation: Order your customized drink and taste it. Evaluate whether the flavors and texture meet your expectations. Make adjustments as needed, such as altering the number of syrup pumps or trying different milk alternatives.
- Fourth, Name Your Hack: Once you’re happy with your creation, come up with a unique and memorable name for it. This could be something descriptive of the flavors, a fun play on words, or a personal reference.
- Fifth, Share and Refine: Share your new hack with friends or on social media. Gather feedback and refine your recipe if necessary. You might also want to suggest your hack to Starbucks baristas to see if they can replicate it or offer it to other customers.
Try my own Menu Hacks:
Best Flavor
- Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso made with Nondairy Creamer and Blended.
- Vanilla bean frappuccino with Cookie Crumble Topping Blended in.
Most Caffeine
- Star Hack. Unlimited free shots. (Read below in Star Barista Tip)
- White Mocha Shaken Espresso, no classic, made with Oat Milk and Blonde Shots.
Health-Conscious
- Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte Blended. (avoid the sugary frappuccino base)
- Protein Coffee. Order Iced solo or doppio in a Venti Cup. Then purchase a Koia Vanilla Protein. Mix together Check out here how protein helps you get caffeinated.
- Grande Strawberry Refresher in a Venti Cup. Purchase lemon Spindrift, and add to make drink a Strawberry Fizz.
Star Barista Tip: The Stars. If you have not heard about this hack, sit down and buckle up. Whatever drink you just created here using this ultimate article, it’s about to get better. First, log into the starbucks app and bring a personal cup to starbucks, then you get 25 Stars. 1 star is $1, so that means you just got $25 in points instantly and you did not have to spend it at starbucks. You only need 100 stars to get a free drink (only if you drink hot coffee, iced coffee, cold brew, or tea, which you can still customize and add milk too). The real hack is this: your free drink can be customized to any size, any number of shots, and any number of modifications.
Conclusion
You’ve now unlocked the secrets to crafting your very own Starbucks menu hacks. From navigating the extensive menu to experimenting with flavors and ingredients, you’re equipped to transform your Starbucks experience into something extraordinary. Whether you’re aiming to make a cheap delicious beverage or a health-conscious drink, these tips are your gateway to making the best customizations and how to communicate them.
So, why wait? Start experimenting with your new drink creations. Get out there, get creative, and most importantly, enjoy every sip of your perfect cup of coffee.
Share your creations and experiences with us—let’s make coffee an adventure!
