Non Coffee Drinks At Starbucks: 10 Must-Try Alternatives

Whether you’re craving something fruity, creamy, or warm and cozy, Starbucks has a drink for you. In this guide to the Best Non Coffee Drinks At Starbucks, we’ll give you the best non-coffee options with nutrition info plus tips to make them a little healthier!

We’ve all been there—you walk into Starbucks, ready for a treat, but coffee just isn’t what you’re craving today. Maybe it’s a hot afternoon, or maybe you’re just in the mood for something a little different. Sometimes, it may be tea, other times, it may be an ice cold refresher!

Starbucks is always keeping things fresh in the non-coffee drinks section. In fact, most of their new drinks are actually non-coffee drinks such as their seasonal lavender teas or summer berry boba refreshers.

We've tried their dairy free drinks, and now we are diving into non-coffee drinks. Read on to find out the best non-coffee drinks, plus how to make them healthy!

Types of Non-Coffee Drinks Available
Popular Non-Coffee Refreshers
Classic Frappuccinos
Teas
Popular Holiday Non-Coffee Varieties
Other Drinks: Energy Drinks and Juices
Tips to Customize Your Non Coffee Drinks At Starbucks
More Related Content
Conclusion

Types of Non-Coffee Drinks Available

For non-coffee drinkers, there are primarily three categories of beverages:

Refreshers: Primarily iced drinks and have no caffeine in them.
Frappuccinos: Frozen iced cream based drinks, some are tea options for caffeine intake.
Teas: Hot and Iced Teas including lattes (e.g. Matcha latte or Chai latte).

Popular Non-Coffee Refreshers

Mango Dragonfruit Refresher

This tropical drink (dairy free) is sweet and tart flavor and has a bright magenta color that is as appealing to the eyes as it is to the taste buds. It is perfect for a hot day or when you need a fruity pick-me-up.
Nutrition: A Grande (16 oz) contains about 140 calories with 31g of sugar, 0g fat.
Healthier Tip: To make it healthier, ask for it with either the light lemonade or no lemonade option to reduce the sugar content.

Pink Drink (Strawberry Açaí Refresher with Coconut Milk)

The Pink Drink (dairy free) is a fan-favorite and is made with the Strawberry Açaí Refresher mixed with coconut milk. If you like strawberry yogurt, this is the drink for you! You barely notice the coconut milk flavor and has a strawberry yogurt like flavor.
Nutrition: A Grande (16 oz) contains about 140 calories with 32g sugar.
Healthier Tip: To make it healthier, ask for fewer pumps of the açaí base or opt for an unsweetened Iced Passion Tango Tea with coconut milk.

Classic Frappuccinos

None of the Frappuccinos are dairy free, but you can make these drinks dairy free with alternative milk options that Starbucks offers. Request any of these drinks with four dairy free options: soy, almond, coconut, or oat milk.

Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino

You can't go wrong with this classic Frappuccino - it has withstood years of being on the menu. It is a creamy, dessert-like drink which almost tastes like a milkshake! It’s made with a blend of vanilla bean, milk, and ice, topped with whipped cream.
Nutrition: A Grande (16 oz) contains about 380 calories, 16g fat, 52g sugar.
Healthier Tip: Request it with nonfat milk or almond milk and skip the whipped cream to lower the calorie and fat content.

Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino

Chocolate lovers will love this drink. This drink is rich, chocolaty, and smooth, with chocolate chips adding a bit of texture and extra chocolate flavor in every sip.
Nutrition: A Grande contains about 460 calories, 46g sugar, 25g fat.
Healthier Tip: Opt for nonfat milk or almond milk, and ask for fewer pumps of the mocha sauce to reduce the calorie and sugar content.

Teas

Craving caffeine, but don't want coffee as your choice? Starbucks has plenty of tea options ranging from iced teas to Frappuccinos to offer.

Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade (low calorie starbucks drink)

This drink combines the refreshing flavors of peach, white tea, and lemonade, making it a light and fruity option that’s perfect for warm weather. The flavor is mellow and has the perfect balance of sweet and fruit.
Nutrition: A Grande contains about 80 calories, 18g sugar, 0g fat.
Healthier Tip: Opt for light lemonade to lower the sugar content of this drink.

Matcha Crème Frappuccino (caffeinated starbucks drink)

The Matcha Crème Frappuccino is perfect for those who want a caffeine boost without the coffee. Their Matcha powder is pre-sweetened, so it doesn't taste as grassy.
If you prefer your drink a little less sweet, you may have to also reduce your matcha scoops (which will also lower caffeine, so keep that in mind).
Nutrition: A Grande contains about 420 calories, 61g sugar, 16g fat.
Healthier Tip: Request it with nonfat milk and fewer pumps of the sweetener, or opt for a Matcha Latte with almond milk for a lighter option.

Classic Teas (low calorie starbucks drink)

Starbucks has 8 teas to choose from: Chai, Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Chamomile, Emperors Clouds and Mist, and Honey Citrus Mint tea.
If you are feeling under the weather, choose the honey citrus mint tea which has all the ingredients to soothe your throat. Optional: add a pump of peppermint syrup for extra strength in flavor.
If you prefer your drink a little less sweet, you may have to also reduce your matcha scoops (which will also lower caffeine, so keep that in mind).
Nutrition: Classic tea has 0 calories, but added syrups tend to have 20-30 calories per pump with 5-10g of sugar in each pump.

Popular Holiday Non-Coffee Varieties

Seasonal Chai Lattes (caffeinated starbucks drink)

Starbucks tries to change things up with chai especially during the holiday season. In the fall, they offer pumpkin spice chai - which has warm spices such as nutmeg and cloves creamed with pumpkin spice cream.
Another popular holiday favorite is their gingerbread oatmilk chai which as hints of gingerbread and is also non-dairy!
Healthier Tip: Choose non-fat milk or reduce the number of chai pumps (a grande comes with 4 chai pumps) to lower the sugar content.

Peppermint White Hot Chocolate

Peppermint is always a go to during christmas holiday season! It's also a great option for kids. This minty drink mixes peppermint syrup and mocha sauce to make the perfect combination of hot chocolate. Go all out and top them with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls - a perfect treat when the weather gets cold!
Nutrition: A Grande will have about 480 calories, 67g sugar, 18g fat.
Healthier Tip: Choose non-fat milk or reduce the number of syrup pumps (a grande comes with 4 pumps) to reduce the sugar content.

Other Drinks: Energy Drinks and Juices

Starbucks has recently introduced iced energy drinks (without coffee) that pack more than 200mg of caffeine without any of their sugar.

These drinks are very low calorie Starbucks drinks (5-10 calories) for venti size. So if you need a caffeine boost without the sugar, these may be good options to consider. They have a similar feel to their refresher options (choose from tropical citrus or melon burst).

For kids, Starbucks also offers apple juice or cold milk on their menu. It is a great option for kids other than hot chocolate. They also have seasonal drinks here such as the caramel apple spice (similar to apple cider) that are great to check out.

Tips to Customize Your Non Coffee Drinks At Starbucks

Ordering is easy - you can order through the app for a pick up, drive through or in person. If you are customizing your drink, here are a few tips to make the process easier:

Choose your size: Cups typically come in 3 sizes - Tall (12oz), Grande (16 oz), Venti (20 oz). Some drinks also come in Short (8 oz) or Trenta (30 oz).
Decide you are getting an Iced Drink or Hot Drink: If you are going for a hot drink, you are pretty much limited to tea selections. Cold drinks are Frappuccinos, Refreshers or Iced Tea Lemonades.
Choose Syrup Choices: Common flavors include caramel, hazelnut, vanilla, sugar-free vanilla, cinnamon dolce, peppermint, toffeenut and brown sugar.
Choose Milk Choices: The default choice is 2% milk. But you can choose from whole, 2% or non-fat milk if you want to modify your drink. You also have several milk alternatives to choose from if you are going dairy free. Dairy free options include soy, oat milk, almond milk and coconut milk.
Beverage Temperature: For hot beverages, choose extra hot if you are ordering a pick up a mobile order (helps stay hot for when you pick up). For iced drinks you also have the option to choose less or more ice if you prefer.

Now, let’s design your drink!

In the mood to create your own Starbucks copycat recipes? Check out the below posts that will have you in the kitchen recreating some of their favorites!