2023 Vegan Starbucks Guide (ALL Food and Drink Options!)

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Recently I’ve been wondering what vegan drinks at Starbucks are available (also food, because I’m always hungry). So, I reached out to Starbucks customer service and asked them for an official list of vegan drinks and food options. As you can see, there are many vegan options to get your caffeine fix!

Vegan Options at Starbucks

Starbucks offers many vegan coffee, tea, and other drink options, as well as a few vegan food options. Most drinks can be made vegan by choosing a non-dairy milk and omitting non-vegan ingredients. This guide covers ALL of the vegan options at Starbucks in 2023. Be sure to check your local store, as they are always changing the menu.

Vegan Drinks at Starbucks

Hot Drinks

  • Hot Coffees
    • Caffè Americano
    • Brewed Coffee
    • Caffè Misto – a Caffè Misto is brewed coffee mixed with steamed milk, so it can be made vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk
    • Cappuccino – the classic Cappuccino, an espresso drink with steamed milk and foam, can be made vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk and optional flavorings or syrup
    • Espresso
    • Flat White – Flat White, a type of espresso and milk beverage that originated in Australia, is similar to a latte but contains a stronger concentration of espresso and no foam. Order a vegan Flat White with your choice of non-dairy milk and optional flavorings or syrup
    • Caffè Latte – your classic latte with espresso, steamed milk, and a light layer of foam is vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk and optional flavorings or syrup
    • Cinnamon Dolce Latte – order with your choice of non-dairy milk, NO whip, and NO cinnamon dolce topping 
    • Blonde Vanilla Latte – for those who like their espresso on the lighter side, the Blonde Vanilla Latte, which is made with light roast espresso and vanilla syrup, can be made vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk
    • Caramel Macchiato – order with your choice of non-dairy milk, replace some or all of the vanilla syrup with caramel syrup (both syrups are vegan), and NO caramel sauce (the caramel syrup is vegan, but the caramel sauce is not). Better yet, follow these instructions to customize your own vegan Caramel Macchiato-style latte!
    • Espresso Macchiato – the Espresso Macchiato is a shot of espresso topped with steamed milk and foam, which can be vegan if you order it with your non-dairy milk of choice
    • Caffè Mocha – a mocha is a blend of espresso, chocolate sauce, and steamed milk. Luckily, the Starbucks mocha sauce is vegan so you can order your mocha drink dairy-free with your choice of non-dairy milk, NO whip, and any optional flavor syrups
    • Clover® Brewed Coffees – Starbucks Clover® Brewed Coffees are single cups of coffee made to order with the Clover® Vertica, a proprietary single-cup coffee brewer that grinds and brews in 30 seconds. This allows locations to serve a variety of brews at any given time at peak freshness, giving the coffee a smoother flavor and mouthfeel. All Clover® Brewed Coffees are vegan as they are made with Starbucks’ signature blends such as Pike Place and Sumatra
    • Starbucks Reserve® Latte (limited availability) – Starbucks Reserve® is a line of small batch, premium roasts only available at select Starbucks locations (use the store locator tool on the website to find locations that have it). The Starbucks Reserve® Latte is vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk and optional flavorings or syrup
    • Starbucks Reserve® Dark Chocolate Mocha (limited availability) – like the regular Caffè Mocha, the premium Starbucks Reserve® version can be made vegan with your non-dairy milk of choice. This drink is not topped with whipped cream, so no need to request no whip
    • Chestnut Praline Latte (holiday item – limited availability) – the Chestnut Praline Latte is full of warm holiday flavor. Order with your choice of non-dairy milk and NO whip (yes, the praline bits on top are vegan!)
    • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte (holiday item – limited availability) – this sugary sweet latte is made vegan by default with almond milk, and even the sprinkles are vegan
    • Peppermint Mocha (holiday item – limited availability) – the peppermint livens up the chocolate espresso flavor in this holiday drink, which can be made vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk, NO whip, and NO chocolate curls
  • Hot Teas
    • Chai Tea – Starbucks Chai Tea is hot tea prepared with tea bags. Add your favorite sweetener, syrup, or non-dairy milk. Be sure not to confuse this menu item with the Chai Tea Latte, which is made with a non-vegan chai concentrate
    • Earl Gray Tea – this black tea infused with bergamot is vegan as is or with your favorite sweetener, syrup, or non-dairy milk
    • London Fog Tea Latte – a London Fog is Earl Gray Tea mixed with steamed milk, and this latte, which can be made vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk, captures the flavors perfectly
    • Royal English Breakfast Tea – this classic black tea is vegan as is or with your favorite sweetener, syrup, or non-dairy milk
    • Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte – make your cuppa a latte with this latte version of the Royal English Breakfast Tea, which can be made vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk and customized with your favorite sweetener or syrup
    • Emperor’s Clouds & Mist® – this slightly sweet and smoky green tea is cultivated at 3,500 feet
    • Matcha Tea Latte – if you like matcha, you’ll love the Starbucks Matcha Tea Latte, which can be made vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk
    • Jade Citrus Mint® Brewed Tea – this green tea blend has notes of lemongrass, lemon verbena, and spearmint for a twist on your typical green tea
    • Mint Majesty® – this caffeine-free herbal tea is a blend of mint and lemon verbena for a refreshing yet calming hot tea
    • Peach Tranquility® – this relaxing caffeine-free herbal tea is made with peach, candied pineapple, chamomile, rose hips, and lemon verbena
  • Hot Drinks
  • Frappuccino®
    • Espresso Frappuccino® – this classic frozen espresso beverage can be made vegan with non-dairy milk. It’s not served with whipped cream, so no need to request no whip
    • Caffè Vanilla Frappuccino® – this frap is the frozen version of a vanilla latte! Order it vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk and NO whip
    • Caramel Frappuccino® – this frozen version of the caramel macchiato can be made vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk, NO whip, NO caramel sauce, and adding in caramel syrup. The “caramel” flavor of the drink comes from the non-vegan caramel sauce, so you’ll want to add some caramel flavor with syrup, which is vegan
    • Coffee Frappuccino® – this Plain Jane Frappuccino® can be made vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk. It’s not served with whipped cream, so no need to request no whip
    • Mocha Frappuccino® – infuse your Frappuccino® with chocolate flavor! Order it vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk and NO whip
    • Strawberry Crème Frappuccino® – order a vegan version of this fruity Frappuccino® made with a fresh strawberry puree with your choice of non-dairy milk and NO whip
    • Matcha Crème Frappuccino® – this Frappuccino® is like a green tea milkshake! Choose your favorite non-dairy milk and request NO whip for a vegan version 
    • Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino® – this Frappuccino® tastes like a vanilla milkshake! Order it vegan with your choice of non-dairy milk and NO whip
    • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Frappuccino® (holiday item – limited availability) – order with NO whip (yes, the sprinkles are vegan!)
    • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Crème Frappuccino® (holiday item – limited availability) – order with NO whip (yes, the sprinkles are vegan!)
    • Chestnut Praline Frappuccino® (holiday item – limited availability) – order with your choice of non-dairy milk and NO whip (yes, the praline topping is vegan!)
    • Chestnut Praline Crème Frappuccino® (holiday item – limited availability) – order with your choice of non-dairy milk and NO whip (yes, the praline topping is vegan!)
    • Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino® (holiday item – limited availability) – order with your choice of non-dairy milk, NO whip, and NO chocolate curls
    • Peppermint Mocha Crème Frappuccino® (holiday item – limited availability) – order with your choice of non-dairy milk, NO whip, and NO chocolate curls

Cold Drinks

Vegan Food At Starbucks

Hot Breakfast

Starbucks offers a selection of hot breakfast sandwiches and wraps, but unfortunately, none of these items are vegan.

Try this instead: Peet’s Everything Plant-Based Sandwich

Bakery

None of the cake pops, cookies, croissants, pastries, or muffins are vegan at this time.

Lunch

The other items on the Lunch menu include a variety of grilled and cold sandwiches, and protein boxes, but other than the Chickpea Bites & Avocado Protein Box, none of these items are currently vegan.

Snacks & Sweets

Packaged snacks may vary by location and change at any time, so check the ingredients label of the snacks in your local Starbucks. KIND Bars and This Bar Saves Lives bars are not vegan because they all contain honey.

Oatmeal & Yogurt

Sweeteners/Syrups/Toppings

Sweeteners

  • Sugar
  • Sugar In The Raw®
  • Splenda
  • Stevia In The Raw®
  • Classic Syrup
  • Liquid Cane Sugar

Syrups

  • Almond
  • Brown Sugar
  • Caramel (regular and sugar free)
  • Cinnamon Dolce
  • Gingerbread (seasonal)
  • Hazelnut (regular and sugar free)
  • Peach
  • Peppermint
  • Raspberry
  • Sugar Cookie (seasonal)
  • Toffee Nut
  • Vanilla (regular and sugar free)

The following syrups are NOT vegan: chai (contains honey), white chocolate, pistachio, pumpkin spice

Sauces/Toppings

  • Mocha Sauce
  • Cinnamon (from the self-serve area)
  • Praline pieces (seasonal)
  • Sugar cookie sprinkles (seasonal)

The following sauces are NOT vegan: white chocolate mocha sauce, caramel sauce, dark caramel sauce, pistachio sauce, pumpkin spice, creme brulee sauce

The following toppings are NOT vegan: whipped cream, Frappuccino® chips/java chips, dark chocolate curls, cinnamon dolce topping (the cinnamon dolce syrup is vegan though), cream toppings/cold foams (Irish Cream, Vanilla Cream, Salted Caramel Cream) 

How to order vegan at Starbucks

To summarize, here’s how to order vegan at Starbucks:

1.) Ask for plant milk

Starbucks offers soy, almond, oat, and coconut milk.

2.) Order drinks with NO whip

Many drinks can easily be made vegan if you order them with non-dairy milk and no whipped cream.

3.) Try a new flavor syrup or topping

Many of the flavor syrups are accidentally vegan, even the ones that seem like they wouldn’t be, such as the caramel syrup, cinnamon dolce, and toffee nut.

4.) Check the ingredients

When in doubt, check the ingredients. The Starbucks website lists the ingredients for all of its menu items.

Vegan Starbucks Q&A

Is Starbucks Hot Chocolate vegan?

The Starbucks Hot Chocolate can be made vegan with non-dairy milk and NO whip. The mocha drizzle is vegan.

Is Starbucks Mocha vegan?

The Starbucks Mocha can be made vegan by ordering it with non-dairy milk and NO whip.

Is Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte vegan?

No, the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is not vegan.

Is the Impossible Sandwich at Starbucks vegan?

No, the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich at Starbucks is NOT vegan. The bun contains eggs and butter, the egg patty is made with real eggs, and it is topped with dairy cheese. The only vegan component of the sandwich is the Impossible patty.

Is Starbucks caramel vegan?

Yes and no! The Starbucks caramel syrup that can be added to drinks as a flavor is vegan, but the caramel sauce/drizzle that goes on top of drinks is NOT vegan.

Is Starbucks chai vegan?

The Starbucks chai concentrate used in chai lattes is NOT vegan as it contains honey. However, the hot chai tea is vegan.

Are Starbucks bagels vegan?

Yes, most Starbucks bagels are vegan, aside from non-vegan flavors like cheese. 

Vegan Alternatives to Starbucks in the USA

All of Peet’s sauces and syrups are vegan friendly, so most coffee drinks are vegan if ordered with no whip (hello pumpkin spice and chai lattes!). They also have two vegan sandwiches, the Everything Plant-Based Sandwich and Mediterranean Flatbread.

Dunkin’ Donuts offers almond milk as a milk option for all of its drinks and has a few vegan food items such as bagels, English muffins, and avocado toast. Dunkin’ is generally more affordable than Starbucks and some locations have a Baskin Robbins inside, which has non-dairy ice cream and milkshakes.

Tim Horton’s is a Canadian coffee chain with some locations in the Northeast US. They offer almond, coconut, and oat milk.

Colectivo Coffee is a coffee chain with locations in Wisconsin and Illinois. They have all kinds of vegan coffee options and vegan pastries, salads, and sandwiches. 

  • Your local coffee shop

Check out your local coffee shop for plant milk and vegan breakfast and lunch options!

Vegan Starbucks Copycat Recipes

  1. Vegan Caramel Macchiato
  2. Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
  3. Vegan Frappuccino
  4. Pumpkin Bread
  5. Lemon Loaf
  6. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
  7. Double Chocolate Loaf
  8. Vegan Egg Bites
  9. Chickpea Protein Bites
  10. Vegan and Gluten-Free Pumpkin Scones

What is YOUR go-to Starbucks order?

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