How to Order Vegan Drinks at Starbucks

Vegan Starbucks, anyone? The coffee chain’s fall favorites have returned in the U.S., and while the Pumpkin Spice Latte is still not vegan, the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is a cow-friendly option. This tasty beverage is vegan as is, because it comes with oat milk by default instead of cow’s milk. The Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato is also back on the menu, and is sure to get you in the autumnal spirit, with apple, cinnamon, oat, and brown sugar flavors, all topped with a spiced apple drizzle. Try it hot or iced!

If you’re still looking to fulfill your pumpkin spice craving at Starbucks, don’t worry! Try the Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte on our “secret menu” below, or ask your barista to veganize the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew by making a custom plant-based milk cold foam and adding pumpkin spice topping to it. Be sure to ask for it without any pumpkin spice sauce, and enjoy.

The Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is the chain’s sixth vegan drink. Others include the Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso that came out in March 2022 and the Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte that debuted for the 2021 holiday season.

While it’s great that Starbucks has expanded its vegan milk options, customers shouldn’t have to pay extra when they make a choice that’s better for animals, the environment, and their health. Ask Starbucks to follow the example of many other coffee chains by offering dairy-free milk at no extra charge.

Until the chain ends the upcharge, you can use the rewards program to make it easier—and cheaper—to order vegan drinks. Using the loyalty program, customers will earn two stars for every dollar that they spend at the chain. Once you earn 25 stars (from spending about $13) on drinks or food, you can cash them in to waive the fee and order your favorite drink with almond, soy, oat (at select stores), or coconut milk for no additional charge.

It’s no secret that cows suffer in the dairy industry, but by going vegan, you can save nearly 200 animals per year! That’s why PETA will continue to push Starbucks to eliminate its extra charge for nondairy milks—and you should, too.

Here’s our handy guide to ordering vegan drinks at your local Starbucks.

Getting Started

The basic drinks are vegan: Get yourself a hot coffee or an iced version with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and any flavored sweetener syrup (such as vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut), and you’re all set. Hot or iced tea is always vegan as well. For drinks that are a bit more “involved,” simply apply these three rules:

Replace

Remember to order oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk. All stores carry them, and they can be used to replace cow’s milk in any drink for an additional cost. You can also ask the barista to make cold foam using any of these nondairy milks, although this may not be available at all locations.

Hold

Ask your barista to hold the following nonvegan ingredients:

• Whipped cream
• Pumpkin spice sauce
• Java chips (used in the Java Chip Frappuccino and Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino)
• Caramel drizzle (used on the Caramel Macchiato and Caramel Frappuccino)
• Cinnamon dolce topping (which contains butter)

Avoid

Unfortunately, a few drinks can’t be made vegan because there’s cow’s milk or honey in the syrup. Completely avoid these drinks:

• Anything with white mocha
• Anything with caramel brûlée
• Chai lattes (but the Teavana brewed chai tea is fine)

Note: Clear syrups are usually vegan, but the sauces aren’t—except the mocha one.

Staples

Check out some of our favorite drinks that are vegan as-is or can be made vegan with minor adjustments:

• Freshly brewed coffees
• Caffè Americanos
• Caffè lattes (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
• Caffè mochas (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
• Caramel Macchiatos (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the caramel drizzle)
• Ombré iced coffees (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk)

• Flat whites (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk)
• Java Chip Frappuccinos (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the java chips and whipped cream—and try adding the Cookie Crumble Topping)
• Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
• Cinnamon Dolce Latte (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the Cinnamon Dolce Sprinkles and whipped cream)

• Matcha Tea Latte (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk)
• Matcha Crème Frappuccino Blended Beverage (with oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk and without the whipped cream)
• Iced Matcha Lemonade

• Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso
• Hazelnut Mocha Coconutmilk Macchiato

• Pink Drinks and Violet Drinks

• Cold Brew with Cinnamon Almondmilk Foam
• Cold Brew with Dark Cocoa Almondmilk Foam

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Seasonal

Order these seasonal favorites with nondairy milk, and be sure to hold the whipped cream:

• Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
• Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
• Peppermint Mochas

• Gingerbread Lattes
• Chestnut Praline Lattes
• Toffee Almondmilk Hot Cocoa

Secret

These secret (or not-so-secret) menu items can be ordered vegan but may need some explanation:

• The Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte

• The Vegan Nutella Frap

• The Captain Crunch Frap

And when the barista asks for your name, don’t forget to use your cup to speak out for animals!

Feeling creative? Make your own Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Check out our adorable ceramic mugs, which are perfect to enjoy your latte in.

Food

Starbucks also offers vegan food options. To see a complete list, check out our Starbucks Vegan Food Guide now.

Our free vegan starter kit has tips and information about going vegan. For animals, the environment, and your health, order one today.