How To Order Vegan At Starbucks And Other Coffee Shops

What with the weather being chilly (and seasonal flavors becoming available), a hot beverage seems like just about the perfect thing these days. But for a vegan, it’s not always easy to sort out their options. What flavors are vegan? What drinks can I order?

While I might not have all the answers, I’ve had my share of coffee shop experiences (largely at Starbucks, but you get it). I can show you what my favorite things to order are, tips and tricks to make things go a little more smoothly, and what to look for next time you’re staring blankly at a coffee shop menu board.

Let’s get on to the tips!

Non-Dairy Milks & Flavors

They’re getting all the more common these days, but it will depend on your area. I’ve noticed that the most common non-dairy milk available is almond milk. However, I’ve seen options such as oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and cashew milk.

Many places also offer dairy-free flavor options that are suitable for vegans, all you have to do is ask your barista. Dunkin, for instance, has several flavors that contain sweetened condensed milk, but the mocha and peppermint mocha swirls are indeed vegan.

Here’s a trick I’ve used many a time: if you know you’ll be going to a place that may not carry non-dairy milks, bring your own with you in a portable salad dressing container (I found mine at a dollar store, but this is comparable). Order your coffee black or with a dairy-free flavor, and add your non-dairy milk afterwards. Enjoy!

Seasonal Flavors At Starbucks

They just recently debuted a vegan as-is drink, the Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte. The Sugar Cookie syrup is pretty good, but just be mindful in asking them to omit the whipped cream. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to come with it or not to be honest, but I’ve had them add it to mine before without me asking for it, so just a quick mention should save you some trouble.

The Peppermint Mocha flavor is also vegan, and I love it. In fact, it may well be my favorite seasonal flavor from Starbucks. There’s something about mint and chocolate together that just warms my cold, dead heart (I kid, but it is pretty good tho).

The Apple Crisp Macchiato is also pretty good (sub non-dairy milk, request no whip). I personally think they could’ve amplified the flavors a bit more, but I still enjoy it when I order it.

Chestnut Praline flavor is my mom’s favorite, and for good reason. It is a nice, sweet flavor with a touch of cinnamon involved. I think it ties with Peppermint Mocha as a seasonal favorite of mine. I’ve ordered it in my drink the past couple times I’ve gone, and I’ve enjoyed it a lot.

Also: the Gingerbread flavor, if it ever comes back, was another one of my favorite seasonal flavors. I thought I’d add this footnote in case it ever does, but as of December 1st 2021 it has not.

Vegan’s Guide To Starbucks

Syrup flavors that are vegan include:

• Apple Brown Sugar & Brown Sugar
• Caramel syrup (the caramel sauce is not vegan)
• Chestnut Praline
• Cinnamon Dolce
• Hazelnut
• Irish Cream
• Peppermint
• Raspberry
• Sugar Cookie
• Vanilla (regular and sugar-free)
• Toffee Nut

Also, the mocha sauce is said to be vegan, though the same cannot be said for any other sauces (including the white chocolate mocha sauce, unfortunately)

What Drinks To Order

Starbucks is very vegan-friendly in its offerings. Your options for hot beverages include:

• Cappuccino (milk foam over espresso), sub non-dairy milk
• Americano (espresso + water)
• Macchiato (espresso over steamed milk), sub non-dairy milk
• Hot chocolate, since it just uses the mocha sauce; sub non-dairy milk, request no whipped cream
• Flat white (a latte but more coffee), sub non-dairy milk
• Steamer (steamed milk + flavor if desired), sub non-dairy milk, request no whip
• London Fog tea latte, sub non-dairy milk
• Matcha tea latte, sub non-dairy milk
• They have a selection of hot teas, including Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Jade Citrus Mint, Mint Majesty and Peach Tranquility.
• They have several brewed coffees, including Blonde Roast, Dark Roast, Pike Place, and Decaf.

My Go-To Drink At Starbucks

My go-to drink to order at Starbucks is a grande hot latte with almond milk or oatmilk, and sugar-free vanilla flavor. It’s a pretty standard drink for caffeine jolt purposes that is also delicious. Though I have also sampled more than half of the items on the above list and pretty much enjoyed all of them.

Another go-to drink for me is a grande blonde roast with a splash of oatmilk + jazzy flavor I’m in the mood for that particular day. It’s also pretty minimalistic, but it gets the job done.

Well, I hope you’ve found this post helpful! I will say, there have been times that I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the vegan options available at some places. So just double-check if you aren’t sure about something, and remember that it never hurts to ask!

Until next time, peace 🙂