Unlock the Starbucks Menu: 10 Drinks and Food Items You Should Order

You want to know what Starbucks really tastes like? I worked as a barista in Chicago for almost a year. This really gave me the inside scoop on pretty much everything. The training allowed me to taste every possible drink. I got free drinks and meals on every shift. I got to taste almost every menu in this job. It really is a very tasty perk.

When deciding what to order, I usually gravitate towards sweets and, frankly, cold drinks. But the real beauty of Starbucks is its customisability. You can use my recommendations as a starting point. You can tweak them to your liking. You’re sure to find a unique drink that’s perfect for you.

1. **Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso**: According to baristas on TikTok, this drink is already gaining traction.

The drink is rumoured to be espresso based. Oat milk shaken with ice. All of this is blended with a new horchata syrup. The core idea is to combine the rich espresso flavour with a sweet cinnamon flavour, designed to create a refreshing and delicious new format. Shaken espresso is known to be very popular.

In terms of ingredients, oat milk delivers a creamy flavour. The espresso also delivers the needed caffeine. The squalane flavour delivers a unique warm spice sweetness. If you’re a fan of shaken espresso, you’ll love it.

2. **Horchata Matcha Latte**: When you want to try something unexpected, come and try the combination of Kakucha and Matcha together. The Kakucha syrup is now said to come in cinnamon and vanilla flavours. This goes well with a lot of things on the menu, including matcha.

Starbucks reformed their matcha recipe in 2025. They started using unsweetened matcha powder. This change is great because it gives you more control. You can easily substitute a standard added sweetener. Substitute something completely different on the list. For example, you could go with this horchata syrup. Substituting horchata for simple syrup will bring a familiar sweetness. But it also adds a deep cinnamon spice.

Simply put, matcha has a wonderfully earthy flavour and the sweetness from the syrup balances this out nicely. Then the cinnamon also brings a warm spicy element which complements the essence of matcha. For those who prefer a sweeter matcha latte. You can add a pump of Horchata syrup. If you’re adventurous, you can also add vanilla honey syrup to the horchata.

3. **Cold Brew with Horchata Cold Foam**: Cold beer lovers, this one’s for you. You’ll love the rich dark smooth flavour. It comes from a cold, slow brewing method. It’s very different from regular iced coffee. Still, I think there are times when a little sweetness is needed, even if your base is a strong cup of coffee.

The easiest way to introduce a sweet spice flavour is to add a pump or two of horchata syrup straight into the cold brew, which makes it easy. Then order it topped with horchata-flavoured cold foam, which Starbucks famously creates by mixing bases. They’ll use vanilla sweet cream and syrup as the base.

As a new potential syrup on the list, horchata cold foam is a must try. Imagine replacing it with vanilla which is commonly found in sweet cream bases. You’ll have a delightful cinnamon foam on top of your cold brew coffee. It rises slowly in your mouth with each sip.

4. **Iced London Fog with Horchata Syrup**: Let’s talk about the comforting drink that is London Fog. This is usually made with Earl Grey tea, milk and vanilla syrup. It is usually topped with steamed milk. It was first used as a remedy for pregnancy sickness back in 1994, so you can see how comforting this drink would be to drink. Luckily, it has since become a regular drink on the menu. Now, in the warmer months, one can easily order the iced version.

When added horchata syrup brings out all the flavours of the tea. You get the feeling that the citrus and signature bergamot make the difference. It also introduces flavours of cinnamon and vanilla. This will complement the existing flavours within.

Starbucks usually hand-shakes the ingredients to create an iced London Fog latte. Want to get that ‘foggy’ cloudy look? You can add a layer of cold foam on top. You have a variety of options. For a warmer cold foam, you can specifically request the addition of horchata cold foam. Of course, you can also opt for the original vanilla cold foam. If you are adventurous, try both.

5. **Horchata Cookie Crumble Frappuccino**: Starbucks’ reputation is largely built on roasted coffee, but the famous Frappuccino did bring them widespread popularity afterwards. Some people think they’re just fancy milkshakes for addictive teenagers, but their deliciousness can’t be questioned. The Frappuccino is made from special unique espresso powder mixed with ice, milk and a variety of flavours.

If you’re feeling particularly brave, you can try a specific blackout here. Order a Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino and ask for squarrose syrup instead of mocha sauce. This substitution will then completely change the original flavour, which will go from chocolatey to cinnamon-sugar, and possibly the biscuit flavour inside. It would give a mixed texture and a warm spice biscuit feel.

6. **Iced Horchata Latte**: Sometimes the best way to enjoy a new flavour is actually quite simple: introducing a new ingredient into a drink you already love so much. The iced latte is probably a drink that you’ll order often no matter what year it is. Try using Starbucks’ new Horchata syrup, and maybe this simple method will make it deliciously refreshing.

Your iced horchata latte doesn’t have to be pure coffee. We recommend adding extra creamy spices using the cold foam of the horchata flavour.

You can even try to create a summery atmosphere here? Blueberry coffee is apparently a big hit in the summer. However Starbucks serves strawberry puree all year round. Try sprinkling strawberry puree on both sides of the bottom of your latte for an added touch and fruity flavour that complements the aroma of the horchata coffee.

7. **Iced Caramel Macchiatos**: It must be stressed that the caramel drizzle is the most important part, really. I swear, baristas sometimes skimp on it. If it’s not drizzled enough, it’s a different story. If it’s done right, there are layers of gooey sauce running down the sides all the way to the top, completing the whole drink.

This drink holds a very special place in my heart. Whenever I’m looking for something that sounds more ‘fancy’. It always has layers of flavour. It combines espresso milk and vanilla syrup. Then it’s topped with the iconic criss-cross caramel. While I’m not a huge fan of caramel, it’s a great way to mix it with espresso milk. This drink is the perfect balance of coffee, milk, vanilla and caramel.

8. **Classic Soy-Milk Latte (Hot or Iced)**: Sometimes you really don’t need something too complicated, or a drink that always has a lot of syrup in it. In fact, a simple sweet drink can give you a much-needed pick-me-up. Like the classic soya latte, it goes perfectly whether you like your drinks hot or iced.

Using vanilla soya milk is great here. Because it’s such a flavour, there’s no need to add extra syrup unless you want a big glass of sugary water.

As a non-coffee drinker, a latte is a better option compared to a cappuccino. Lattes have less foam and thicker milk. This means you’ll feel better about the coffee in your cup. Whether you need a hot drink for a busy morning or a cool refresher for a warm afternoon. A simple soya milk latte is a great choice.

9. **Glazed Doughnuts**: Let’s talk about some great food here. Pastries are fantastic with any kind of coffee drink, and if I had to pick one out of the bunch, it would be pure Glazed Doughnuts.It’s a classic for a real reason. It provides the perfect amount of sweetness to your coffee drink, which is my go-to when it comes to hot drinks.

10. **Blueberry Scones (Warmed Up)**: If you don’t like cold pastries. Here’s another very simple tip to elevate another one of your favorites. Simply order a Blueberry Scones and let them warm up. This small, simple step really does make a world of difference right away.

When heated, the scones will be slightly moister and will taste fresher. Honestly, it feels like they just came out of the oven. I really like Starbucks’ own blueberry scones, they are a little fluffier than the traditional scones you see elsewhere. Trust me, try warming them up with a classic black coffee. This simple pairing is incredibly comforting and satisfying.

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