Starbucks Vegan Options

Table of Contents

Just because you’re vegan doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to enjoy fast food. Sometimes it is also necessary if you are out and it’s the only thing near you. Starbucks began in Seattle, Washington in 1971. It is one of the biggest American chain restaurants worldwide with almost 33,000 locations.

Even though they are known for their dairy-filled lattes and fraps, there are still some Starbucks creations that you can have as well if you are vegan. The safest thing to do is to check the ingredient list or allergen pamphlet at the fast-food restaurant every time you go. Fast food restaurants are known to add, change, or update products often and updates to our site may not always happen as quickly as they change.

Starbucks Vegan Options On The Menu

Starbucks does have some vegan-friendly options available for you in some of its locations. If you have a Starbucks near you, there is a menu of foods that you can order without having to leave your seat. They have several different drinks that are also vegan.

HERE’S STARBUCKS’ VEGAN MENU: VEGAN FOOD AT STARBUCKS

Please note that not everything is available at every location

Breakfast menu
Bagels: Plain, Sprouted Grain, Cinnamon Raisin, Blueberry
Impossible Breakfast Sandwich – no cheese or egg
Classic Oatmeal
Hearty Blueberry Oatmeal
Strawberry Overnight Grains
Vegan Superberry Acai Bowl
Avocado Spread
Justin’s Almond Butter
Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
Fruit Salad
Banana
Watermelon
Orange
Lunch Menu
Lentils & Vegetable Protein Bowl with Brown Rice
Avocado Spread
Snacks & Sweets Menu
Chickpea Bites & Avocado Protein Box
Charles Chocolates’ Caramelized Crisped Rice Bar
That’s It Fruit Bars
Dang Sriracha Spice Sticky-Rice Chips
Avocado Spread
Fruit Salad
Hippeas
Justin’s Almond Butter
Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
Bissinger’s 75% Dark Chocolate + Sea Salt Mini Chocolates
Dark Chocolate bars
Dried Fruit
Smoked Almonds
Almonds, Cashews, Cranberries, and Raisins
Kettle Lightly Salted Chips
Kettle Sea Salt and Balsamic Vinegar Crisps
Peanut and Cashew Bar
Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Peter Rabbit Organics Fruit Pouches
Plum Organics Blueberry & Oatmeal Jammy Sammy

STARBUCKS PLANT-BASED SPECIALITY DRINKS

Starbucks has your choice of soya, oat, coconut, or almond milk now that can be used to order the drinks below.

VEGAN-FRIENDLY ESPRESSOS AT STARBUCKS

Caffe Latte
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

Vanilla Latte
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

Blonde Vanilla Latte
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

Latte Macchiato
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

Cortado
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

Espresso Macchiato
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

Cappuccino
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

Cafe Misto
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

Flat White
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

The caramel drizzle for the caramel macchiato is NOT vegan as it contains milk so none of those are okay for vegans to consume even if made with one of the plant-based milk varieties.

VEGAN-FRIENDLY MOCHA/HOT CHOCOLATE AT STARBUCKS

Caffe Mocha – NO WHIP
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Classic Hot Chocolate – NO WHIP
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

The signature hot chocolate is not safe for vegans even with a plant-based milk option

The signature caramel hot chocolate is not safe for vegans even with a plant-based milk option

White Chocolate Mocha is not safe for vegans to consume as white chocolate contains milk even if a plant-based milk is used.

VEGAN-FRIENDLY TEAS AT STARBUCKS

English Breakfast Tea
Earl Gray Tea
Hibiscus Blend Tea
Emperor’s Clouds & Mist Tea
Mint Citrus Tea
Youthberry Tea
Chai Tea
Jasmine Pearl Tea
Mint Herbal Blend Tea
Chamomile Tea
Matcha Tea Latte
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

VEGAN-FRIENDLY FROZEN / ICED TEAS AT STARBUCKS

Iced Black Tea and Lemonade
Iced Green Tea and Lemonade
Iced Hibiscus Tea
Iced Black Tea
Iced Green Tea
Peach Iced Tea
Lemon Iced Tea

VEGAN-FRIENDLY COLD CRAFT AT STARBUCKS

Cold Brew (no milk)
Cold Brew Latte
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Cold Brew Vanilla Latte
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Cappuccino
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Nitro Cold Brew (no milk)

VEGAN-FRIENDLY ICED COFFEE AT STARBUCKS

Iced Caffe Latte
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Iced Cappuccino
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Iced Caffe Americano
Iced Caffe Mocha – NO WHIP
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Iced Matcha Tea Latte
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Iced Blonde Latte
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Ombre Iced Coffee
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

Iced White Mocha is not safe for vegans to consume as white chocolate contains milk even if plant-based milk is used.

Iced Caramel Macchiato is not safe for vegans to consume as the caramel drizzle contains milk even if plant-based milk is used.

Double shot Iced Coffee and Vanilla Iced Coffee, as well as Iced Caramel Cloud Macchiato also appear to not be vegan friendly.

VEGAN FRAPPUCCINO AT STARBUCKS

Coffee Frappuccino – NO WHIP
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Mocha Frappuccino – NO WHIP
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Espresso Frappuccino – NO WHIP
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Java Chip Frappuccino – NO WHIP, NO CHIPS
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Vanilla Cream Frappuccino – NO WHIP
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Double Chocolate Chip Cream Frappuccino – NO WHIP, NO CHIPS
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Strawberries & Cream Frappuccino – NO WHIP
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Chocolate Cream Frappuccino – NO WHIP
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Mocha Tea Cream Frappuccino – NO WHIP
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

Caramel Frappuccino and Caramel Cream Frappuccino are not safe for vegans to consume as the caramel drizzle contains milk even if plant-based milk is used.

White Mocha Frappuccino and White Chocolate Cream Frappuccino are not safe for vegans to consume as white chocolate contains milk even if plant-based milk is used.

Cookies & Cream Frappuccino is not safe for vegans to consume as the cookie contains dairy even if plant-based milk is used.

VEGAN MODIFIERS AT STARBUCKS

Sugar-Free Caramel Flavor Syrup
Sugar-Free Hazelnut Flavor Syrup
Sugar-Free Vanilla Flavor Syrup
Caramel Flavor Syrup
Hazelnut Flavor Syrup
Vanilla Flavor Syrup
Almond Flavor Syrup
Toffee-Nut Syrup
Mocha Drizzle
Gingerbread syrup (seasonal)
Soya Whipped Topping (not available in the US)

VEGAN SMOOTHIES AT STARBUCKS

Chocolate Smoothie – NO protein powder
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends
Strawberry Smoothie – NO protein powder
Varieties: soya, coconut, almond, oat, original nut blends

VEGAN DRINKS AT STARBUCKS

Matcha Lemonade
Blended Strawberry Lemonade
Pink Drinks
Violet Drinks
Dragon Drinks
Star Drink
Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink
Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink
Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher
Golden Ginger Drink
Chocolate Milk – Ask for non-dairy milk with 1-3 pumps of chocolate syrup

The Best Hot Chocolate Option

There are many ways to make Starbucks hot chocolate. Some people make their own using vegan chocolate, soy milk, or even chocolate chips. There is a Starbucks vegan hot chocolate mix for purchase at many locations which can be used in place of water or milk, but it is best to check with the location before ordering the hot chocolate mix. If it says made with water or milk and the hot chocolate mix does not, you can ask to substitute it.

Chocolate drinks at Starbucks include mochas, hot cocoa, frappuccinos and even iced espresso.

Best Chocolate Drinks At Starbucks Are Here:

Caffè Mocha (Chocolate & Espresso). Starbucks Caffè Mocha is the best drink to order if you want a hot coffee with a touch of chocolate and whipped cream on top. To make this classic coffeehouse drink, freshly brewed espresso is poured over rich chocolate mocha sauce. Perfectly steamed milk is added to the cup along with a topping of whipped cream.

White Chocolate Mocha. Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha drink is simply a Caffe Mocha made with white chocolate mocha sauce in place of the regular dark chocolate sauce. Make note, the white chocolate version of this drink has more calories and a little less caffeine than its bittersweet chocolate counterpart.

Starbucks Reserve Dark Chocolate Mocha. This Starbucks chocolate drink is available at Starbucks Reserve locations and limited Starbucks stores that feature Reserve espresso. The Reserve Dark Chocolate Mocha is a delicious mix of small-lot Reserve espresso, cocoa, ground chocolate and steamed milk.

Iced Caffè Mocha. This Starbucks iced coffee drink combines mocha sauce, espresso, milk and ice. Topped with Starbucks whipped cream, each sip is a delightful mix of chocolate, coffee and cream.

Iced White Chocolate Mocha. This customer-favourite is a sweet mixture of white chocolate mocha sauce, espresso, milk and ice finished with whipped cream. And if you’re looking for a Starbucks decaf iced coffee, you can get a decaf Iced White Mocha. Simply order this drink with decaf espresso for a completely caffeine-free, chocolate drink.

Iced White Mocha with Sweet Cream Cold Foam & Caramel Drizzle. This Starbucks “secret menu” drink that’s risen to Tik Tok fame, is simply an Iced White Chocolate Mocha topped with a generous helping of vanilla sweet cream cold foam in place of whipped cream.

Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso. This coffee-forward drink gets an extra shot of espresso compared to other drinks made in the same Starbucks cup size. Additionally, this shaken espresso is made with chocolate malt powder instead of the more sweet mocha sauce.

Starbucks Reserve Iced Dark Chocolate Mocha. The Reserve Iced Dark Chocolate Mocha is a special iced coffee treat only found at Reserve locations and Starbucks stores that sell Reserve espresso. This mocha pairs Reserve espresso with chocolate, ice and milk.

Hot Chocolate. This classic winter drink is perfect for kids or anyone who loves rich chocolate combined with creamy milk. Topped with Starbucks sweetened whipped cream and chocolate drizzle, it’s easy to see why this drink is a favourite among many.

White Hot Chocolate. This white chocolate twist on the classic hot chocolate drink is rich, sweet, creamy and one of Starbucks' many caffeine-free drinks.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate. This seasonal Starbucks hot chocolate brings together two holiday favourites—chocolate mocha sauce and peppermint syrup. For the final touch, dark chocolate curls adorn a fluffy cloud of whipped cream.

Peppermint White Hot Chocolate. This perfectly-peppermint sweet treat is simply a combination of Starbucks creamy white hot chocolate and sweet peppermint syrup. It’s easy to see why this Starbucks peppermint drink is a holiday classic.

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino. Every sip of this over-the-top frappuccino is chocolate-filled. The drink itself has mocha sauce and chocolate frappuccino chips blended into it. And if that’s not enough chocolate for you, this popular frappuccino is layered and topped with chocolate drizzle, chocolate cookie crumbs and whipped cream.

Mocha Frappuccino. If you love Starbucks rich mochas but want a drink that’s even more decadent, then say, “hello” to the Mocha Frappuccino. This frappuccino is a blend of all the mocha flavours you love with whole milk and ice to create this shake-like beverage. Of course, it’s also topped with Starbucks' signature vanilla-flavoured whipped cream.

Java Chip Frappuccino. An original Starbucks chocolate drink, the much-loved Java Chip Frappuccino has three helpings of chocolate. Not only does this creamy blended beverage bring together mocha sauce and chocolate chips, but it’s topped with an enticing swirl of mocha drizzle.

White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino. White chocolate and coffee frappuccino roast are blended with whole milk and ice to create this simple, yet really tasty treat. Topped with fluffy whipped cream, Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino is a must-try drink for anyone that loves white chocolate.

Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème Frappuccino. If you want a Starbucks chocolate drink that’s beyond chocolaty but doesn’t contain coffee, then meet the Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème Frappuccino. This cream-based Frappuccino gets its chocolate flavour four ways—mocha sauce, chocolate chips, mocha drizzle and chocolate cookie crumble topping!

Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino. Wondering what the difference is between the Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino and the Chocolate Cookie Crumble? Really, the only difference is the Double Chocolaty Chip doesn’t have cookie crumbs. Basically, the Double Chocolaty Chip is the cream-based version of the Java Chip Frappuccino. The bottom line is, it’s a whole lot of chocolate and a whole lot of sweetness, minus the coffee.

White Chocolate Crème Frappuccino. Starbucks White Chocolate Crème Frappuccino Blended Beverage is one of the simple chocolate pleasures in life. This caffeine-free frappuccino is simply an ice-cold blend of white chocolate, cream and ice.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Frappuccino. Strawberries and chocolate come together to make this customized secret menu frappuccino. To try out a Chocolate Covered Strawberry Frappuccino, simply order a Strawberry Crème Frappuccino with java chips blended in and mocha sauce drizzled on top.

Chocolate Organic Milk. This organic, low-fat chocolate milk box is conveniently located in the refrigerator section of Starbucks. It’s the perfect option for children or anyone who loves chocolate milk.

How To Be Vegan In A Fast Food World

The second biggest concern of vegans is they won’t be accepted. Even with most Starbucks getting more accepting towards vegan options, there are still many establishments that you can not eat at. Most chains get rid of them and hide them because of complaints from the general public and less willing employees.

Other restaurants make them just on request, and this might be a legitimate concern since sometimes these types of requests are refused or made too complicated. So as you go to make your food choices, be very careful with what you eat because people will judge you even if they don’t know what they are talking about.

When it comes to vegan offerings, Starbucks has a checkered past. They’ve rolled out vegan food options only to discontinue them. And while they do offer an Impossible Breakfast Sandwich, this offering contains both dairy cheese and eggs.

To their credit, Starbucks offers a number of plant-based kinds of milk. But unfortunately, they impose a surcharge when choosing these instead of cows’ milk.

A Brief History Of Starbucks

Starbucks, an American company that is the largest coffeehouse chain in the world. Its headquarters are in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl, opening its first store in 1971 near the historic Pike Place Market in Seattle.

The three Starbucks founders had two things in common: they were all coming from academia, and they all loved coffee and tea. They invested and borrowed some money to open the first store in Seattle and named it “Starbucks” after the first mate, Starbuck, in Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick.

Alfred Peet, a coffee-roasting entrepreneur, was a major inspiration to the founders of Starbucks. Peet was a Dutch immigrant who had begun importing fine arabica coffees into the United States during the 1950s. In 1966 he opened a small store, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, in Berkeley, California, that specialized in importing first-rate coffees and teas. Peet’s success encouraged the Starbucks founders to base their business model on selling high-quality coffee beans and equipment, and Peet’s became the initial supplier of green coffee beans to Starbucks.

The partners then purchased a used roaster from Holland, and Baldwin and Bowker experimented with Alfred Peet’s roasting techniques to create their own blends and flavours. By the early 1980s, Starbucks had opened four stores in Seattle that stood out from the competitors with their top-quality fresh-roasted coffees. In 1980 Siegl decided to pursue other interests and left the two remaining partners, with Baldwin assuming the role of company president.

In 1981 Howard Schultz, a sales representative for Hammarplast, a Swedish company that made kitchen equipment and housewares from which Starbucks bought drip-coffee makers, noticed how large the company’s orders were, which prompted him to pay it a visit.

Schultz was so impressed that he decided to pursue a career at Starbucks, and he was hired as the head of marketing in 1982. Schultz noticed that first-time customers sometimes felt uneasy in the stores because of their lack of knowledge about fine coffees, so he worked with store employees on developing customer-friendly sales skills and produced brochures that made it easy for customers to learn about the company’s products.

Schultz’s biggest idea for the future of Starbucks came during the spring of 1983 when the company sent him to Milan to attend an international housewares show. While in Italy, he was impressed with the country’s cafés and discovered that Milan alone boasted 1,500 coffeehouses.

Inspired, he thought of doing something similar in Starbucks and envisioned turning a tiny regional operation into a national coffeehouse chain via rapid store expansion. However, Baldwin and Bowker were not enthusiastic about Schultz’s idea, as they did not want Starbucks to deviate much from its traditional model of business. They wanted Starbucks to remain strictly a coffee and equipment seller and not turn into a café that served espressos and cappuccinos.

Seeing that he would not be able to persuade Baldwin and Bowker to embrace the café idea, Schultz left Starbucks in 1985 and started his own coffee chain, called Il Giornale, which was an immediate success, quickly expanding into multiple cities.

In March 1987 Baldwin and Bowker decided to sell Starbucks, and Schultz was quick to use Il Giornale to purchase the company with investor backing. He combined all his operations under the Starbucks brand and committed to the café concept for the business, with additional sales of beans, equipment, and other items in Starbucks stores.

Under Schultz’s guidance, in four years the coffeehouse chain grew from fewer than 20 stores to more than 100. Starbucks entered into a meteoric period of expansion that continued after the company went public in 1992. In 1996 it began opening stores outside North America, and Starbucks soon became the largest coffeehouse chain in the world. By the end of the decade, Starbucks had some 2,500 locations in about a dozen countries.

Schultz announced in 2000 that he was stepping down as CEO but would remain as chairman. By 2007 the chain boasted more than 15,000 locations worldwide but was foundering, and in January 2008 Schultz returned as CEO. He oversaw the closure of 900 stores and implemented an ambitious strategy to secure new avenues of growth, which included acquisitions of a bakery chain and the makers of a coffee-brewing system as well as the introduction of an instant-coffee brand.

He also oversaw changes to menu offerings at Starbucks stores; Starbucks had begun selling food in its cafés in 2003. These moves were largely successful, and by 2012 Starbucks had rebounded financially. Schultz again stepped down as CEO and was replaced as CEO by Kevin Johnson in 2017.

Schultz continued to be active in the company, serving as executive chairman until 2018, when he was replaced by Myron Ullman. The world’s largest Starbucks, a Starbucks Reserve Roastery, opened in Chicago in 2019. In 2021 Starbucks had a presence in dozens of countries around the globe and operated over 32,000 stores.

Conclusion

You have a reasonable amount of choice when you visit a Starbucks and look for vegan drinks. All the basic drinks are vegan, and Starbucks has a choice of vegan plant milk you can opt for instead of regular dairy milk. When you’re vegan, you don’t always have to be a victim of dining out.

You can find fast food products that will have something that is familiar to your diet. You can also take advantage of new vegan-friendly restaurants that are popping up all over the country. The only choice that is always wrong is to eat food that has nothing to offer you! By choosing to eat out, you will be able to find vegan products that are for you and that you like. Every meal you take is one step towards living a healthier lifestyle. So enjoy your meal!

I trust you enjoyed reading the article about Starbucks Vegan Options. Please stay tuned. There are more blog posts to come very shortly.

JeannetteZ

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