Last Updated on March 31, 2023 by brewthatcoffee
Do Starbucks smoothies exist? Sort of. Here are the best drinks Starbucks offers that resemble the smoothie you crave. Think refreshers and blended drinks.
You may still need your Starbucks caffeine shot to kickstart your day, but as summer approaches and the mercury rises, you will need something cold to quench your thirst. If you’re up for a liquid feast, Starbucks has a wide array of cold treats, including smoothies.
Here are 10 Starbucks warm-weather smoothies:
- Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
- Chocolate Smoothie
- Matcha Green Tea Frappuccino
- Tangy Pin͂a Colada Frappuccino
- Pink Drink
- Dragon Drink
- Pineapple Coconut Smoothie
- Pumpkin Smoothie
- Strawberries and Cream
- Purple Drink
Note: The only Starbucks regular menu item that’s an actual smoothie is the Pineapple Coconut Green Smoothie.
Does Starbucks Make A Fruit Smoothie?
Yes, Starbucks makes a variety of fruit smoothies. They may not be listed as such on the menu, but there is no shortage of great combinations to create the perfect cold quencher for summer.
Starbucks makes its smoothies with real fruit puree and other ingredients such as yogurt, ice, and protein powder. These smoothies are perfect when you want a cooling, healthy drink.
What’s The Difference Between A Fruit Frappé And A Smoothie?
A fruit frappé and a smoothie are similar because they are both cold, blended beverages, but there are some differences. A frappé’s base is usually ice, milk, or cream, whereas a smoothie typically has a base of fruit puree, ice, yogurt, or other liquids.
A frappe is an iced drink that is beaten, blended, or shaken until it produces a tasty, foamy drink. Often it will include whipped cream and toppings. Starbucks customers sometimes request additional sweet sauces, dairy alternatives, sugar, and vanilla, amongst other modifications, when creating a secret menu drink from their frappé.
Baristas blend smoothies until they reach the correct ice consistency, and producing foam is unimportant. Customers often order smoothies because they want a healthy drink, and these include fresh fruit and vegetables and usually have less sugar and caffeine, if any.
Starbucks has different names for its blended beverages, including Refreshers and Frappuccino Blended Beverages. When you order secret menu drinks, the boundary lines between frappés and smoothies become quite blurry. But every Starbucks smoothie is absolutely scrumptious, regardless of its ingredients.
Best Starbucks Smoothies & Fruit Drinks
You can order some Starbucks smoothies straight off the regular menu, but if you’re a regular Starbucks customer, you will learn some tricks to upgrade those drinks to new divine creations. Be sure to know the exact instructions to give your barista when ordering from the secret menu. Here are 10 of the best Starbucks smoothies that are perfect for warm weather.
1. Mango Dragonfruit Refresher (Regular Menu)
Starbucks makes this refreshing smoothie with a blend of sweet mango and dragonfruit flavors, green coffee extract, dragonfruit pieces, and ice. It’s the perfect choice for warm weather when you want a fruity drink with a caffeine kick.
Nutritional Information: 90 calories, 19g sugar, and 45mg caffeine
Tips for modifying: You can decrease the sugar content by asking for less syrup or sugar-free syrup. Or, if you prefer a creamier drink, adding coconut milk to the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher will add tropical creaminess to it.
2. Chocolate Smoothie (Secret Menu)
Even the chocolate smoothie has fruit in it! It’s less sweet than you would expect because of the dark chocolate flavor. It consists of a whole banana, protein powder, milk, and two pumps of dark chocolate sauce, perfect for a chocoholic on a hot summer day. It could even work as a post-workout drink with that extra protein powder.
Nutritional Information: 320 calories, 34g sugar, 0mg caffeine
Tips for modifying: If you’re on a plant-based diet, ask for any non-dairy options, such as almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or oat milk.
3. Matcha Green Tea Frappuccino (Regular Menu)
This matcha smoothie is a delicious icy drink bound to cool you down in warm weather. It’s made with 3 scoops of matcha green tea powder, 3 pumps of classic syrup, ice, and milk, topped with a dollop of sweetened cream. This is a decadent treat for matcha lovers.
Nutritional Information: 420 calories, 61g sugar, 70mg caffeine
Tips for modifying: Use any non-dairy milk for the vegan option. To cut calories, ask for less syrup, use non-fat milk, or minus the whipped cream.
4. Tangy Pin͂a Colada Frappuccino (Secret Menu)
The very thought of a Pin͂a Colada takes your mind to being on vacation on a tropical beach with the summer sun beating down on your skin. So this frappuccino variety is just the thing for warm weather. To order this tropical treat from the secret menu, ask for a Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino with coconut milk, half a scoop of pineapple ginger powder, and two pumps of pineapple syrup.
Approximate Nutritional Information: 380 calories, 52g sugar, 0mg caffeine
Tips for modifying: Since this smoothie is pure self-indulgence, add some whipped cream and a sprinkling of pineapple ginger powder to top it off.
5. Pink Drink (Regular Menu)
This summer sip has a strawberry acai-flavored base with hints of passion fruit blended with coconut milk, ice, and freeze-dried strawberries. It’s a creamy, delicious treat in warm weather but so addictive that it works as a year-round comfort drink.
Nutritional Information: 140 calories, 25g sugar, and 45mg caffeine
Tips for modifying: Select another milk alternative if coconut is not your preference. Try topping it off with some vanilla sweet cream cold foam for a more decadent drink.
6. Dragon Drink (Regular Menu)
Dragonfruit is everybody’s favorite these days, and Starbucks’ Dragonfruit Drink follows the trend. It tastes like a tropical island holiday! Baristas hand-blend a mix of creamy coconut milk and ice with dragonfruit and sweet mango flavors, finishing this masterpiece with a scoop of dragonfruit pieces.
Nutritional Information: 130 calories, 23g sugar, 45mg caffeine
Tips for modifying: For fewer calories, ask for sugar-free syrup. You could ask for some freeze-dried pineapple or strawberry puree for some extra tropical zing.
7. Pineapple Coconut Smoothie (Regular Menu)
The Pineapple Coconut smoothie is a healthy and tasty treat in warm summer weather. The ingredients are kale, spinach, toasted coconut, pineapple, ice, and coconut milk, blended into a guilt-free beverage any health nut would be proud to order.
Nutritional Information: 270 calories, 37g sugar, 0mg caffeine
Tips for modifying: If you’re counting calories and don’t mind dairy, choose non-fat milk.
8. Pumpkin Smoothie (Secret Menu)
You would think that the Pumpkin smoothie was a fall special only, but it’s available year-round. To make this secret menu item, ask your barista to pour whole milk up to the midline, add a single scoop of protein powder, 6 pumps of Pumpkin Spice sauce, one banana, and ice.
Tips for modifying: Add whipped cream with caramel crunch topping for a delicious comfort drink.
9. Strawberries And Cream (Secret Menu)
Think high tea in an English country garden or Wimbledon. Both go with strawberries and cream, but so does Starbucks. If you want to order this secret menu smoothie, ask for a Pink Drink to be blended with two pumps of vanilla syrup, ice, and whipped cream. Strawberry inclusions top off the whipped cream to create this tantalizing smoothie.
Estimated Nutritional Information: 240 calories, 35g sugar, 45mg caffeine
Tips for modifying: Add a scoop of strawberries to make this creamy treat extra-fruity.
10. Starbucks Purple Drink (Secret Menu)
The Purple Drink is the newest Starbucks internet and social media sensation. This famous smoothie is made with passion iced tea, vanilla syrup, soy milk, and scoops of blueberries. When the weather starts warming up, try this smoothie to see what the viral fuss is about.
Nutritional Information: 134 calories, 24g sugar, 0mg caffeine
Tips for modifying: If you’re not a fan of soy milk, you may prefer coconut milk, but the groovy purple shade fades to a lighter lavender with this substitution.
How To Order A Starbucks Smoothie
If you want a smoothie from the regular menu, ask for it by name, and the barista will prepare it for you. But so many other delicious smoothie treats come from the secret menu, so you must give the barista the ingredients for your customized drink.
If your smoothie is an adaptation of a regular menu drink, refer the barista to it and make the changes and additions. You can substitute different types of milk and change or add syrup flavors, toppings, and espresso and shots options.
Starbucks Smoothie FAQs
If you’re not a Starbucks regular, these FAQs will give you more insight into their smoothies.
The Takeaway
The list of Starbucks smoothies that are perfect for warm weather is endless. There are healthy and tasty options on the regular menu and any number on the secret menu.
Starbucks will blend almost anything into a smoothie for its customers. They are always willing to make your summer dreams come true, so dare to try one of the 10 best smoothies. You won’t be disappointed.
Resources
https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-a-frappe-1907894#:~:text=A%20frapp%C3%A9%20is%20blended%20longer,ice%20consistency%2C%20regardless%20of%20foam.
https://www.starbucks.com/menu
https://www.tastingtable.com/1027111/starbucks-secret-menu-drinks-for-smoothie-lovers/