If you’re anything like me, you sometimes try to avoid dairy in your coffee drinks.
Whether you’re lactose intolerant or vegan, avoiding dairy can be a challenge.
The good news is that there are a ton of dairy-free Starbucks drinks.
In this article, I’ll give you twenty-one drinks you can try next time you’re looking for a dairy-free drink.
Let’s jump in!
21 Delicious Dairy-Free Starbucks Drinks
This list isn’t complete.
There are plenty of alternatives you can try.
I just pulled out a mix of my favorites, the easiest to order, and a few oddballs that actually taste amazing.
1. Cold Coffee and Tea Drinks
It shouldn’t really come as a surprise that cold coffee and tea drinks are dairy free. Just get a cold brew or iced coffee without any milk.
Or get a hot tea.
Both options are already dairy-free.
But you can always ask for a splash of non dairy milk in either one to add a little creaminess.
2. Frappuccinos
Okay, who doesn’t love a Frappuccino? The only problem is that Frappuccinos come standard with 2% milk.
However, making them dairy free is easy. Just ask for non-dairy milk as a substitute.
You can get either coconut, almond, soy, or oat milk.
Be aware, though, that non-dairy milk still has an upcharge in the US.
Another thing: you’ll need to avoid caramel and white chocolate mocha Frappuccinos. Caramel and white chocolate mocha sauce both have dairy in them.
But all the other Frappuccinos can be made dairy-free.
3. Honey Almondmilk Flat White
The flat white is a great addition to the coffee menu, thanks to our friends down under.
It’s like a latte or cortado, but the steamed milk is a little thinner and less foamy.
Getting a Honey Almondmilk Flat White is a great way to add a little sweetness and nuttiness to your drink without the added sugar.
Plus, it’s dairy free. Be careful, though, because honey sometimes isn’t considered vegan.
This is a great drink for when you want a little coffee but don’t want all the foam.
4. Iced Honey Almondmilk Flat White
Is a hot flat white not the move? Is it too warm outside to get a hot drink?
Well then, why not try the Honey Almondmilk Flat White over ice?
You’ll get the same non-dairy drink as before, except it will be poured over ice and served cold.
It’s a perfect non-dairy summer sipper.
Flat Whites are made with ristretto shots of Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast.
That means your coffee will taste bright, punchy, and a little sweeter than traditional espresso drinks.
5. Oatmilk Honey Latte
The latte is one of the most common coffee drinks in the world. A mix of frothed milk and espresso, it’s a standard on every menu.
Because it’s so simple, is really easy to make it dairy-free. All you need to do is ask for plant-based milk instead of the standard 2% milk Starbucks uses.
The Oatmilk Honey Latte is a great non-dairy variation.
The honey adds sweetness without the extra sugar, and the oat milk takes out the dairy.
Also, in my experience, oat milk froths the best out of the milk alternatives. The texture of oat milk is my favorite for lattes when using milk alternatives.
6. Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew
Are you a fan of cold brew?
But do you like adding some sweetness and creaminess to your cold brew drink?
Well, I’d recommend trying the Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew.
You’ll get Starbucks’ signature cold brew with a few pumps of honey and a splash of almond milk.
I personally enjoy almond milk in my cold drinks. It adds some mellow sweetness and a nutty flavor that pairs really well with a strong cold brew.
The combination is a great, refreshing summer coffee drink that has no dairy.
7. Cold Brew with Cinnamon Almondmilk Foam
The Cold Brew with Cinnamon Almondmilk Foam is another great way to enjoy Starbucks’ cold brew.
Instead of adding just almond milk, you’ll get foamy, textured almond milk with vanilla and cinnamon.
This cold brew is definitely on the sweeter side, but if you’re looking for a sweet drink, this is still a great option.
And if you’re looking for a sweet drink without much sugar, then I would definitely recommend this. It only has 6g of sugar.
8. Honey Almondmilk Nitro Cold Brew
Prefer nitro cold brew to regular cold brew? Well then, you’re in luck because you can add almond milk and honey to your nitro cold brew.
It makes a lovely, somewhat sweet nitro when you add a few pumps of honey and a splash of almond milk.
The best part? It doesn’t take away from the classic nitro texture or taste. You’ll still get that bubbly sensation, but you’ll also get the creamy taste of the almond milk.
9. Nitro Cold Brew with Dark Chocolate Almondmilk Foam
One of the reasons I like nitro cold brew is because it has a chocolatey taste to it.
So, it makes sense that adding dark chocolate almond milk foam to your nitro would taste delicious.
When you add foam to a nitro cold brew, you’ll get a really fun texture and a sweet taste to complement the coffee.
Basically, this Starbucks drink is like a cold dark chocolate mocha with a little zest in the texture.
10. Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso
If you haven’t heard of a shaken espresso before, think of it like a true coffee cocktail. It’s one or two shots of espresso shaken in a cocktail shaker over ice with a splash of milk and simple syrup.
And guess what?
It’s pretty dang delicious.
For this particular drink, you’ll need to ask for almond milk over the top instead of 2% milk.
But the shaken espresso and chocolate malt powder that’s added is already dairy-free.
11. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Another addition to the shaken espresso drink, the brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso is my personal favorite.
Brown sugar and espresso are shaken together to create a great sweet espresso.
Then the oat milk adds a full-bodied creamy flavor that I think complements the brown sugar the best.
I’d recommend trying this drink on a warm autumn day when you want some fall flavors.
12. Coconutmilk Cascara Latte with Blonde Espresso
If you aren’t familiar, cascara is a tea that is brewed from dried coffee cherries.
Starbucks has taken cascara a step further and created a syrup with it. It has tastes of raising and berries.
Pair the cascara syrup with a blonde espresso coconut milk latte, and you’ll get a seriously delicious dairy free drink.
The coconut milk adds a lighter texture to complement the Blonde Roast espresso. And the cascara syrup adds earthier notes.
13. Pink Drink
The Pink Drink is one of the drinks on the Starbucks menu that is dairy-free without having to customize anything.
It uses a strawberry acai base, coconut milk, frozen strawberries, and ice to make the refreshing cold drink.
It’s also a great option if you don’t want any coffee.
It does, however, have 25g of sugar in the grande size.
14. Dragon Drink
Like the Pink Drink, the Dragon Drink is part one of Starbucks’ Refreshers drinks. All the Refreshers are dairy-free and made with coconut milk.
The Dragon Drink is made with a mango dragonfruit base, ice, coconut milk, and frozen dragonfruit.
It’s another great cold drink option, especially if you don’t like strawberries.
If you don’t like coconut milk, you can always ask for a different milk substitute like soy or almond milk.
15. Violet Drink
This drink is also called the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher.
I bet you can guess what the base is?
Yeah, hibiscus and blackberries.
It also has coconut milk like the other refreshers and uses frozen blackberries to finish it off.
As with the other refreshers, you can ask for different nondairy milk like almond or soy milk.
The Violet Drink is another great option for when you don’t want coffee but still want a great cold beverage.
16. Star Drink
Don’t let the green color of the Star Drink throw you off.
It’s made with star fruit and kiwi base, coconut milk, and frozen kiwi.
You can ask for different milk for this Refresher.
For me, the Star Drink tastes the least sweet of the Starbucks Refreshers. It has a mellower sweetness and a truly refreshing feeling.
That said, I’m a big fan of kiwi. If you don’t like kiwi, this probably isn’t for you.
17. Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink
This Refresher doesn’t have a fancy short name like the others, but it’s still a wonderful iced drink.
It’s made with guava juice blend, coconut milk, and pineapple ginger syrup.
Because it’s made with syrup instead of frozen fruit pieces, it has more sugar: 33g in the grande size.
But it’s still a tasty cold drink for warm days when you don’t mind a little extra sugar.
18. Steamed Apple Juice
Talk about a perfect autumn drink.
This drink is exactly what it sounds like: steamed apple juice.
It’s made with 100% apple juice and steamed like milk would be for an espresso drink.
It’s hot apple juice. What more can I say?
It’s dairy-free because there isn’t any milk at all.
And it’s perfect for when the temperature starts to drop in the fall.
19. Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink
Are you a fan of matcha but don’t want to get another matcha latte?
Well then, I’d say you should try the Pineapple Matcha Drink.
It’s a Refresher that combines matcha, coconut milk, and pineapple ginger syrup.
It makes for a great iced drink that has the classic matcha flavor but with a pineapple twist.
20. Pineapple Coconut Green Smoothie
Want a smoothie instead of a refresher? Then the Pineapple Coconut Green Smoothie is my recommendation.
It’s made with coconut milk, pineapple, and kale. You can also substitute different milk if you don’t like coconut.
It’s a great blended drink for when you want something a little heartier than a Refresher.
21. Oatmilk Latte
The last addition to this list is a dairy-free take on a classic standard.
If you love lattes, but want to stay away from the milk that comes in them, why not try oatmilk instead?
Back in my barista days, I always thought oat milk was the best and easiest milk alternative to work with and create a tasty latte.
Granted, it does change the taste a bit, but it won’t leave you feeling as heavy as a dairy latte.
Plus, the taste it goes give your drink is pleasant and earthy. I think it actually complements the espresso better than dairy milk!
How do You Order Dairy-Free Starbucks Drinks?
It’s pretty easy to order dairy-free at Starbucks.
First and foremost, if you aren’t sure about which drinks are dairy-free, you can always ask your barista to clarify.
For drinks that come standard with 2% milk, all you need to do is substitute one of the four dairy-free kinds of milk.
For drinks like the Refreshers that come standard with dairy-free milk, you don’t actually need to do anything!
IMPORTANT
Starbucks can’t guarantee dairy-free drinks against allergens. The equipment for dairy drinks and non-dairy drinks are the same. That makes cross-contamination possible. If you are allergic to dairy, make it clear to your barista that you have an allergy.
What About Dairy-Free Toppings, Sauces, and Syrups?
As far as toppings at Starbucks go, there aren’t many options.
Starbucks is testing dairy-free whipped creams outside the US, but for now, the only whipped cream on the menu in the US has dairy.
If you want a dairy-free topping, try adding almond milk foam to your cold brew.
For sauces and syrups, almost all of them are dairy-free.
The only ones to avoid are caramel and white chocolate mocha. Those are made with dairy before getting to the stores, so there’s no way to order them dairy-free.
Final Thoughts
This list isn’t exhaustive, so you should try playing around with your favorite Starbucks drinks to find a dairy-free one that works for you.
My personal dairy-free favorite is the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
It’s a little sweet, has just the right amount of espresso, and is served cold.
Hopefully, this list gave you a great starting point to explore the wonderful world of dairy-free Starbucks drinks!
Trying to avoid caffeine at Starbucks? Check out our article on the best caffeine-free Starbucks drinks!
