How to Order at Starbucks

Get brewed coffee. This is just your basic drip coffee you might make at home, but prepared in many different flavors. All Starbucks have multiple brews going during the day, so you can sample several different roasts and blends. A pour-over, where hot water is passed through the ground coffee, is also offered; this takes longer but is typically the same price as brewed coffee. Brewed coffee is the cheapest and easiest thing on the menu to order. Some stores may also have a Clover machine, which can brew both core roasts and any reserved coffees stored at the location.

Try a latte. Lattes are a basic espresso drink made out of steamed milk and espresso shots. Any flavor can be added to a latte, and any type of milk can be used. Lattes can be made hot or iced.

Try an americano. These are one of the most popular drinks for coffee enthusiasts, as the espresso taste is strong. Americanos are made with espresso and water only and have one extra shot more than any other drink. Cream and sugar can be added just like with drip coffee, as well as any flavor you might like.

Try a cappuccino. These are similar to lattes because they are made solely of steamed milk and espresso, but cappuccinos comprise a large amount of foam. This means that your drink will be more light and fluffy than liquid. A cappuccino typically comes with approximately equal parts foamed and steamed milk; you may order it as “wet” (not so much foam) or “dry” (mostly foam) to preference. Add any flavors or sugar alterations you would like.

Order a caramel macchiato. Macchiato is the Italian word meaning, “marked.” It is used in this drink to describe the mark of espresso poured over the top, instead of being stirred into the drink. Caramel macchiatos are made with vanilla syrup, steamed milk, and foam, espresso, and caramel drizzle.

Get a mocha. Mochas are lattes (milk and espresso) with the addition of chocolate. The two mocha variants are milk chocolate and white chocolate. The former is a bit richer while the latter is much sweeter. Mochas are typically made without any foam, so if you like the creamy milk ask for a little extra on top.

Try a specialty espresso drink. If you are a real espresso lover, order it straight up! Ask for a single or double shot of espresso, and then add a modifier of choice. Often espresso shots are served macchiato style with a dollop of foam, or con panna with a bit of whipped cream. An espresso macchiato may be confused for a caramel or latte macchiato: make sure to specify.

Order a tea. If you are not a coffee lover, try getting one of the many teas available. Most teas are made with hot water, but there are several latte teas made with milk. These include the ever-popular chai tea (spicy cinnamon flavored tea) and the London fog (sweet vanilla and earl gray tea blend). You can order any tea to be made with milk or water, and hot or iced.

Get a frappuccino. Frappuccinos are blended drinks, typically made with coffee. Starbucks offers many specialty Frappuccinos, so ask your barista what ones are offered if you don’t see them on the menu. Some Frappuccinos, like the strawberries and cream, aren’t made with any coffee. These often come with a whip and a drizzle of chocolate or caramel.

Try other non-coffee drinks. If you are not interested in coffee or tea, don’t worry - there are several other non-coffee drinks available at Starbucks. For hot drinks, you can get hot chocolate, a steamer (milk with a syrup flavor), or an apple cider. You can also do lemonade or different smoothies if you want something cold and coffee-free.

Order your drink. Once you have decided on your coffee and all the possible variables, make your order. Start with the size of the drink, the temperature (which is hot by default, even in warm weather), then the name, then any amendments you want to make. For example, order a “grande chai tea latte with extra foam.” Don’t be afraid to be specific!^[1]