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The Best Iced Coffee at Starbucks

Ashe Samuels
Last Updated: February 5th, 2024

Coffee menus aren’t exactly easy to browse. How do you choose the best iced coffee at Starbucks when there are hundreds of different combinations?

For starters, iced coffee’s appeal lies in its simplicity. Compared to a dessert-like frappuccino, iced coffee washes down food nicely and has a simpler flavor. On the other hand, some iced coffee recipes can be too sugary or fatty. We’re here to help you find a happy balance.

The best iced coffee at Starbucks boils down to your dietary habits, personal tastes, and budget. We’re going to separate each drink by unique flavors, low calories, and low sugar to help you choose.

Most Unique Iced Coffee at Starbucks

Anyone can toss espresso shots over ice and milk. The unique recipes below go for several flavor combinations for a result that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.

1. Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso

iced chocolate almond milk shaken espresso
Image: Starbucks

A name like Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso brings to mind slow browsing sessions at a pastry shop. If you’re a fan of chocolate croissants, you’ll be right at home.

The base of this sweet-yet-balanced drink is chocolate malt powder and espresso shots shaken into almond milk. Their Blonde Espresso leans away from more robust flavors in favor of a slightly citrus finish, adding another level of complexity to an already unique drink.

This recipe easily responds to minor variations, too, such as different milk or a dollop of cream.

2. Iced Honey Almond Milk Flat White

iced honey almond milk flat white
Image: Starbucks

If you’re salivating at the first option, you have to check out the Iced Honey Almond Milk Flat White. With a similar base of almond milk, this recipe steers away from chocolate in favor of sweet honey.

This recipe also uses the Blonde Espresso roast to keep the drink dainty and refreshing. The citrus notes are a perfect complement to their honey blend and almond milk base.

Here you’ll enjoy a bit of sweetness, tartness, and nuttiness while soothing your coffee craving.

3. Salted Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew

salted caramel cream nitro cold brew
Image: Starbucks

Salted caramel is a pretty popular flavor in coffee shops, so what gives? Well, what makes this recipe unique is the nitro cold brew angle.

This recipe uses a mixture of salted vanilla syrup and caramel syrup over a base of nitro-infused cold brew. While your classic cold brew is silky smooth, nitro cold brew gives you an addicting fizz and a frothy top.

This recipe works well when you want something extra special without diving into full-blown dessert drink territory.

Low-Calorie Starbucks Iced Coffee

Although low calories is an ambiguous phrase depending on your diet, we have a simple way of looking at it. If a Starbucks drink could give you the same amount of calories as a full-blown meal, then it’s not really low-calorie.

Our options below will be around 200 calories or less.

1. Iced Caffè Americano

iced caffè americano
Image: Starbucks

This lean and mean iced recipe cuts straight to the chase. Hovering between ten and fifteen calories, the Iced Caffè Americano gives you all the coffee with none of the regrets.

This recipe uses a straightforward base of espresso shots tossed over ice and cold water. You’ll still get to enjoy a little crema on top, though not quite to the extent of a nitro cold brew.

If you don’t mind a touch more fat and sugar, add a dollop of creamer or a shot of syrup. If not, this drink is still an invigorating side to a main course.

2. Iced Caffè Latte

iced caffè latte
Image: Starbucks

Is it possible to get a traditional latte without going overboard on the calorie count? The Iced Caffè Latte gives you the creamy texture you crave while remaining below 200 calories.

This recipe tosses dark roast espresso shots over your milk of choice and ice. Depending on the size you choose, this drink sits at just 100 to 180 calories.

Choose a low fat milk or smaller size to shave down calories further. If this drink is a little too milky, you can always add another shot to boost the coffee flavor.

Low Sugar Starbucks Iced Coffee

Watching your sugar intake isn’t always easy with Starbucks, so we’ll lend you a hand.

1. Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

iced toasted vanilla oatmilk shaken espresso
Image: Starbucks

Less sugar doesn’t have to mean less flavor. The Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is so flavorful and sweet it’ll be the highlight of your day.

This drink comes with a base of espresso shots, vanilla syrup, and oat milk over ice. You can adjust the number of shots or vanilla as you please – however, use sugar-free vanilla syrup to keep this drink low sugar.

You can also skip the vanilla entirely in favor of a sprinkle of brown sugar or a Sugar In The Raw packet, both of which pair nicely with oat milk’s nutty flavor.

This drink is sweet, invigorating, and easy to customize. Save this order for the mornings when your brain isn’t firing on all cylinders.

2. Skinny Iced Starbucks® Blonde Vanilla Latte

skinny iced starbucks blonde vanilla latte
Image: Starbucks

Starbucks sometimes uses its Blonde Roast to keep its espresso on the lighter side. The Skinny Iced Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte is a lesson in mellow, gentle flavors.

Starbucks offers two sugar-free syrup options: cinnamon dolce and vanilla. Ask for the skinny version of this drink so you can moderate the sugar count.

Similar to the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, this recipe is also great with brown sugar or a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Best Iced Coffee at Starbucks – FAQs

We have some commonly asked questions below to help you on your hunt for the best iced coffee at Starbucks.

1. Which Coffee is Best Iced?

Iced coffee is popular due in no small part to how flexible it is. While dark-roasted espresso shots will give you notes of dark chocolate or caramel, light-roasted coffee also has its fans.

For example, the Starbucks Blonde Roast Espresso is roasted light to give you hints of nuts, citrus, and apple. Their Veranda Blend is another lightly roasted espresso with a malt-like aftertaste.

The best iced coffee depends on just how rich, fruity, or gentle you like your flavor notes.

2. What Syrups Are Good in Iced Coffee?

Iced coffee is tasty enough on its own, but can be even better with a shot of syrup. Vanilla, cinnamon dolce, and salted caramel are the most popular choices for this recipe.

3. Which Iced Coffee is Good For Weight Loss?

If you’re watching your calorie and fat count, choose iced coffees without syrup or sugar-free syrup options.

We also recommend choosing vegan milk substitutes or fat-free milk.

4. What is the Most Popular Iced Coffee?

When it comes to the sheer amount of orders, the most popular iced coffee at Starbucks are Iced White Chocolate Mocha and Cold Brew.

5. What is the Famous TikTok Drink From Starbucks?

The Iced White Mocha became famous on TikTok a few years back, though the new drink on the block is the Iced Vanilla Latte.

About The Author

Ashe Samuels

Ashe is a B2B copywriter, digital marketer, and graphic designer for the coffee, tea, and alcohol niches. Here I share industry news, review products, and analyze social trends.

Just so you know, if you click on a product on DrinkStack.com and decide to buy it, we may earn a small commission.


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