Iced drinks took over the world in 2016, rising in popularity each year. But you can’t deny that chilly weather calls for some of the best hot drinks at Starbucks.
Skip the iced drinks for a while and grab a comforting cup to warm up your soul and hands.
Here are some delicious combinations ready to spoil your taste buds.
Topics Explored
- What Type of Hot Drinks Does Starbucks Have?
- Best Hot Drinks At Starbucks (Overall)
- Best Winter Hot Drinks
- Best Starbucks Secret Menu Hot Drinks
What Type of Hot Drinks Does Starbucks Have?
Hot coffee and tea are not the only warm drinks you can get at Starbucks. Their extensive menu includes a whole line of hot chocolates with different flavors, hot juices, and steamers.
Steamers are drinks made with steamed milk and flavorings. The juices are combined with spices for extra comfort.
Best Hot Drinks At Starbucks (Overall)
The struggle is real when it comes to picking the perfect warm drink. So, to make things easier for you, we created a list of the best hot drinks at Starbucks. Read on to learn why each of them is special and pick a winner to satisfy your cravings.
10. Vanilla Creme Steamer
Vanilla comes from a special type of orchid, and the taste reflects the beauty of the flower. The Vanilla Creme steamer tastes luxurious, creamy, and with a gentle yet dominant vanilla flavor. We love that it’s caffeine-free and suitable for kids too!
How To Order:
“I’d love a hot Vanilla Crème Steamer, please!”
Ingredients:
Milk, Vanilla Syrup, Whipped Cream
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 190 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 280 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 350 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 430 calories
9. Espresso Con Panna
Life is too short to have plain espresso each day. But if you still long for a strong coffee, the Espresso Con Panna is our suggestion. It’s made with two shots of espresso and rounded out with whipped cream. It tastes like a luscious espresso drink.
How To Order:
“Can I get an Espresso Con Panna, doppio size?”
Ingredients:
Brewed Espresso, Vanilla Syrup, Whipped Cream
Calories:
- Solo (0.75 fl oz): 30 calories
- Doppio (1.5 fl oz): 35 calories
- Triple (2.25 fl oz): 40 calories
- Quad (3 fl oz): 45 calories
8. London Fog Tea Latte
We picked the London Fog latte as our go-to drink on hazy days when nothing goes right. This comforting drink unites the classical Earl Grey tea with steamed milk and vanilla syrup. Add some lavender syrup and make each sip even more soothing.
How To Order:
“Just a grande hot London Fog Latte, please!”
Ingredients:
Milk, Vanilla Syrup, Earl Grey Tea
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 90 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 140 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 180 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 230 calories
7. Honey Citrus Mint Tea
Honey Citrus Mint tea, also known as Medicine Ball tea, is a former barista’s invention. It’s therapeutic, soothing, and excellent when you’re feeling under the weather. It’s a combination of steamed lemonade, Jade Citrus Mint green tea, Peach Tranquility herbal tea, and a hint of honey for those anti-inflammatory benefits. Tastes like the good kind of medicine!
How To Order:
“I’d like a hot Honey Citrus Mint Tea, please!”
Ingredients:
Jade Citrus Mint® Green Tea, Peach Tranquility® Tea, Lemonade, Honey
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 60 Calories
- Tall (12 oz): 80 Calories
- Grande (16 oz): 130 Calories
- Venti (20 oz): 150 Calories
6. Pike Place Roast
For a dose of caffeine and a pack of health benefits, we love the Matcha Latte. Starbucks’ Matcha tastes different; it’s slightly sweet, and when mixed with steamed milk, it makes a potent drink. We’ll switch our cup of java with this any day!
Pike Place roast is the best pick for when you just want a solid cup of brewed coffee. Hot beverages can have many add-ons, so go for Pike Roast when you don’t feel like anything sweet. It might be plain coffee but this blend spoils the senses with discreet notes of chocolate and toasted nuts.
How To Order:
“Can I have a hot coffee, Pike Place Roast, please?”
Ingredients:
Brewed Coffee
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 5 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 5 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 5 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 5 calories
5. Matcha Tea Latte
For a dose of caffeine and a pack of health benefits, we love the Matcha Latte. Starbucks’ Matcha tastes different; it’s slightly sweet, and when mixed with steamed milk, it makes a potent drink. We’ll switch our cup of java with this any day!
How To Order:
“Hi, I’d like a hot Matcha Latte, thanks.”
Ingredients:
Milk, Matcha Tea, Cane Sugar
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 110 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 190 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 240 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 320 calories
4. Caramel Macchiato
Caramel for us is a synonym for something very sweet- and we weren’t wrong. The caramel macchiato tastes milky, sugary, and with a delicious caramel drizzle. There’s one shot of espresso but it can barely be felt. It’s a treat-yourself type of drink!
How To Order:
“Hey, can I get a hot grande Caramel Macchiato?”
Ingredients:
Milk, Brewed Espresso, Vanilla Syrup, Caramel Sauce
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 120 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 190 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 250 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 310 calories
3. Flat White
The flat white is an ideal choice when you want a milky coffee that still has that punch. We can taste much more coffee due to the two ristretto shots. The steamed whole milk gives it a delicious silky texture. If you’re not a fan of thick foam layers, this will be your next favorite drink too.
How To Order:
“I’d like a hot Flat White with blonde espresso, thanks!”
Ingredients:
Milk, Brewed Espresso
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 110 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 170 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 220 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 290 calories
2. Pumpkin Spice Latte
The fall signature drink is one of the best sellers of Starbucks and for all the good reasons. The drink is a definition of coziness. It tastes warm, spicy, milky, and still has a strong caffeine kick. No other beverage can come close to replicating this unique taste.
How To Order:
“Can I have a grande Pumpkin Spice Latte, hot, with whipped cream?”
Ingredients:
Milk, Brewed Espresso, Whipped Cream, Vanilla Syrup, Pumpkin Spice Sauce, Pumpkin Spice Topping
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 210 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 300 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 390 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 470 calories
1. Chai Tea Latte
You can’t go wrong with a blend of spices mixed with steamed milk. Add some black tea to the equation, and you have a chai tea latte. We love this oriental drink for its healing and warming properties. It comes topped with rich, silky foam and enough caffeine to keep you alert.
How To Order:
“I’d love a hot Chai Tea Latte!”
Ingredients:
Milk, Water, Chai Tea
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 120 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 190 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 240 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 310 calories
Best Hot Winter Drinks
There’s no hot drinks list without some winter spirit. Each year you can find seasonal drinks at Starbucks that combine all the festive flavors. Of course, the best Starbucks winter drink is the one that resonates with you. Here are the drinks we suggest for unlocking your holiday spirit this season.
5. Hot Chocolate
If you’re looking for a winter pick-me-up that feels like a cuddle for your soul, get this! Starbucks’ hot chocolate is liquid happiness. Rich, creamy, and chocolatey… your taste buds will do a little happy dance.
Ingredients:
- Milk
- Mocha Sauce
- Whipped Cream
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 190 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 280 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 370 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 450 calories
4. White Chocolate Mocha
Just when we thought there’s nothing better than hot chocolate. The white chocolate mocha tastes like caramelized white chocolate and strong coffee, and it’s topped with whipped cream.
Decadent, delicious, and caffeinated, just like Christmas morning!
Ingredients:
- Milk
- White Mocha Sauce
- Brewed Espresso
- Whipped Cream
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 200 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 290 Calories
- Grande (16 oz): 390 Calories
- Venti (20 oz): 480 Calories
3. Apple Crisp Macchiato
Have you ever had an apple pie in a mug? Add espresso, and that’s precisely how this drink tastes like. The least we can say is we were impressed with the combo: apple brown sugar syrup, espresso, and steamed milk. This warming spiced coffee is the transitional drink from fall into the holiday season.
Ingredients:
- Milk
- Brewed Espresso
- Apple Brown Sugar Syrup
- Spiced Apple Drizzle
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 140 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 220 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 300 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 370 calories
2. Peppermint Mocha
There’s no holiday season without peppermint-flavored beverages. The peppermint mocha brings together espresso, steamed milk, mocha sauce, and peppermint-flavored syrup. But, you can hardly taste the espresso since the mocha sauce is overpowering. It’s more like peppermint-flavored hot chocolate!
Ingredients:
- Mocha Sauce
- Brewed Espresso
- Peppermint Syrup
- Whipped Cream
- Dark Chocolate Shavings
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 210 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 350 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 440 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 540 calories
1. Caramel Apple Spice
We were too excited about this drink since apple pie is our favorite dessert. And it did not disappoint. It tastes like a dessert in a cup, with whipped cream and cinnamon flavoring. Basically, this is a drink that makes you wanna curl up and binge-watch holiday movies.
Ingredients:
- Apple Juice
- Cinnamon Dolce Syrup
- Whipped Cream
- Caramel Sauce
Calories:
- Short (8 oz): 220 calories
- Tall (12 oz): 310 calories
- Grande (16 oz): 380 calories
- Venti (20 oz): 460 calories
Best Secret Menu Hot Drinks
Starbucks secret menu hot drinks are a special category. Most of them are a product of the wild imagination of customers. And they became so popular that baristas started recreating them without asking for a recipe. This is our list of recommendations.
5. Chocolate Dalmation
The Chocolate Dalmatian is a chocolate-packed drink with a hint of coffee. At first sip, we can tell that this is a chocolate lover’s dream drink.
It’s white mocha with java chips inside, whipped cream, and more java chips on top. For the summer days, you can have it iced or made into a frappuccino.
4. Hot “Liquid Cocaine”
The name promises a sudden rush of energy – and that’s exactly what we experienced.
The secret menu item includes 4 shots of espresso and 4 pumps of white chocolate syrup. The combination of sugar and caffeine is a quick pick-me-up!
3. Nutella Drink
The Nutella coffee is a guilty pleasure that reminds us of our favorite snack.
It starts with Cafe Misto which is equal parts brewed coffee and steamed milk. Add 1 pump mocha and hazelnut syrup and finish with whipped cream and caramel drizzle. Delicious!
2. Cha Cha Latte
Cha Cha latte brings south and east Asia in one cup. We love matcha and chai, but the combo is so unexpected that we had our doubts about the end result.
It turns out the Matcha Green Tea latte with chai syrup is our next go-to comfort drink.
1. French Vanilla Latte
The French Vanilla latte is a classic flavor. It’s a regular latte with 2 pumps of hazelnut and 2 pumps of vanilla syrup.
The drink is smooth, warm, and comforting. It’s the perfect drink to lift your mood on a rainy or cold day.
Summary
As the weather gets colder, gloomy, and the sun is barely showing, a warm drink can provide you with much-needed comfort.
We’ve selected the best hot drinks at Starbucks for the days when you’re on the run. Whether you’re looking for a sweet milky drink, a chocolatey festive cup, or a plain coffee with a twist, Starbucks has your back.
Wondering where your info comes from? We totally understand. Hey Joe only obtains our information from reputable sources. Contents from this article are sourced from the following publications:
- Starbucks: https://www.starbucks.com/menu/
