How to Order at Starbucks

Co-authored by Rich Lee

Last Updated: June 16, 2024 Approved

Ordering at Starbucks, a popular international chain of upscale coffeehouses can be intimidating to those of us who are not coffee connoisseurs or Starbucks regulars. With some basic understanding of the guidelines of coffee making, placing your next order at Starbucks will be a breeze.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Tailoring Your Drink

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1
Consider your cravings. To get a drink you will enjoy, it is important ordering something based on what you are craving. Ordering at Starbucks does not necessarily mean that you must order coffee; in fact, there are dozens of drink choices including tea, smoothies, and hot chocolates. Consider the current outside temperature and season to decide what sounds just right.
- If you are not sure what sounds good, do not be afraid to ask your barista for suggestions or help. They can give you choices based on your drink preferences to help make one tailored to you.
- Remember to think about if you want the drink hot, iced, or blended, as well as the sweetness and caffeine.
2
Choose a size. Starbucks is known for having its name-specific sizing. Don’t fear, getting the sizes down is easy. A tall is the equivalent of 12oz, a grande is 16oz, and a venti is 20oz in hot and 26oz in iced. While not listed on the menu, all Starbucks locations offer a short drink equalling 8oz. Starbucks locations in the United States also offer Trenta for a limited number of drinks, which is equal to 31oz.
- A tall typically comes with a single shot of espresso, a grande comes with a double shot, and a venti also comes with a double shot, unless it is a venti iced drink, in which it comes with a triple shot of espresso.
- If you want more espresso than the size your order comes with, simply ask for extra shots. These will cost more, but you will be able to get that perfect amount of espresso without having to size your entire drink up.
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3
Add a little flavor. It does not matter if you order coffee, tea, or any other drink - you always can add sugar or a syrup flavor. Adding a flavor will typically give you two extra pumps of syrup, so if you want your drink extra sweet be sure to specify and be ready to pay more. Sugar is free, but a syrup flavor is not.
- If you’re uncertain what flavor you want to add, ask to see a flavor menu or ask the barista what popular flavors are available. There are dozens of flavor choices, so don’t feel like you are limited to simply “sugar” or “no sugar.”
- Most of the popular syrup flavors like vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut all come with sugar-free options. If you are trying to be a bit healthier, order a sugar-free syrup flavor for your drink.
- Ask about seasonal flavors when you order, as many specialty syrups are available at different times of the year. In the fall and winter, pumpkin is available while in the summer coconut is often out in participating locations.
4
Choose the liquid base. Some drinks are made with milk while others are made with water as the base. If you prefer one over the other, specify that when you order. Typically, the available milk options are nonfat, 2% milk, soymilk, and half-and-half. Starbucks also carries other kinds of milk such as almond or coconut milk.
- You can get any drink hot or iced, and many coffee drinks blended. If you change the form of your drink, you might also have to change the liquid base. For example, blended coffee must be made with a milk base instead of water to get the right consistency.
- When milk is steamed, it creates a richly aerated foam. This is like warm whipped milk on the top of your drink. If you like foam, you can order your drink with extra, or if you don’t like it ask for your drink to go without.
Espresso and coffee both naturally have caffeine, as make black and green teas. If you want less caffeine in your drink, order half-caf (1/2 the normal amount of caffeine) or decaf (with no caffeine). You can also add extra shots of coffee if you are looking for a bit more energy from your drink.

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Choosing a Drink

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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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]
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Is there a charge for changing the type of milk? For example, whole milk to 2% milk or non-fat milk.

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Nonfat, 2%, and whole milk are free. However there's an extra charge if you want half-and-half (breve), cream, or non-dairy milk substitutes.

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Will there be room for cream if you order a regular coffee with mocha syrup?

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The barista is required to ask "would you like room for cream"? or you can just say "leave room (for cream at the top)".

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How do I order something off of the secret menu?

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Most of the baristas actually find the secret menu to be irritating, because many of the drinks either don't actually exist or come from other stores. Because they are not part of the official menu and training, not every barista will know what you're talking about when you try to order it. If you want a drink from the secret menu, it's best to look up the ingredients, and then carefully tell the barista how the drink is made so that they can make it for you!

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Remember to wait at the end of the bar and not by the register.

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Double-check your drink to make sure that it is what you want after it has been handed over. Hovering over the bar and telling the barista how to do their job will decrease your chances of getting a quality beverage.

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Remember that sometimes the baristas will get your name wrong, so be prepared for those mistakes.

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