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Top 10 Starbucks Caramel Drinks
You can’t go wrong with caramel in coffee- here's what to order at Starbucks!
Published March 30, 2022
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Asharita D'Silva
Coffee experts@Era of We
Caramel and coffee are an iconic pairing- the sweetness of caramel is a natural match for the bitterness of coffee. It comes as no surprise then that caramel is one of the most popular flavor additions in Starbucks. People just can’t get enough of this combination so Starbucks has consistently introduced a variety of caramel drinks on their menu. Enterprising customers have also created combinations that have made it to the Starbucks secret menu, expanding the already expansive Starbucks caramel drink menu.
With all these options, you might want to familiarize yourself with the caramel drinks at Starbucks before walking up to the counter. Let’s unravel this sweet concoction, starting with what caramel does Starbucks use?
What Caramel Does Starbucks Use?
If you want to know how to order caramel iced coffee at Starbucks or a hot caramel drink, you should be familiar with the variety of caramel toppings and syrups available, which are:
- Caramel Syrup
Starbucks Caramel Syrup is a dairy-free, thin syrup that dissolves easily and so is most commonly used to sweeten cold beverages.
- Caramel Drizzle
Starbucks caramel drizzle or Starbucks caramel sauce is thicker than the syrup and is used as a topping or to line the edges and sides of the serving cup.
- Dark Caramel Sauce
If you like a deeper and richer flavor, then the Starbucks Dark Caramel Sauce is for you. Made with condensed milk and dark caramel, this addition is great for frappuccinos.
- Caramel Topping
This topping consists of small, crunchy bits of caramel sugar. Apart from being a topping, Starbucks caramel crunch can also be layered at the bottom of certain drinks.
The Best Starbucks Caramel Drinks
1. Caramel Macchiato
Let’s start with a classic- the Starbucks Caramel Macchiato. Introduced in 1996, the caramel macchiato is basically an upside-down vanilla latte with vanilla syrup, milk at the bottom, espresso at the top, and covered in Starbucks caramel drizzle. This drink gets one less pump of syrup compared to other drinks on the Starbucks menu since the caramel drizzle adds quite a bit of sweetness.
You can also have this drink cold, called an Iced Caramel Macchiato. If you prefer decaf, then you can ask your barista to make a decaf caramel macchiato. After all, it’s not Starbucks if you can’t customize as much as you want! On the other hand, if you like home brewing, check out this recipe for a hot caramel macchiato and this recipe if you like iced caramel macchiato.
2. Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
This one is for die-hard caramel lovers. The Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino recipe is quite long and involves blended espresso, coffee syrup, milk, ice, and dark caramel sauce topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and caramel crunch topping. You’re essentially combining as much caramel as possible in one drink when you order this.
The unique feature of this drink is how it’s layered with caramel throughout to give you an interesting taste experience. As you can imagine with so much caramel, the caramel ribbon crunch frappuccino recipe has a lot of sugar and is very high in calories. Save this for a treat!
3. Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
Salted caramel is lovely if you like more depth to your caramel drinks and this Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew doesn’t disappoint. This caramel drink is made with cold brew poured over ice and topped with whipped cream, Starbucks caramel syrup, vanilla cream, and a dash of salt. The potent cold brew cuts perfectly through the sweetness of the caramel and cream to give you a strong yet flavorful drink.
Cold brew has a higher caffeine content than hot brewed coffee so this is the ideal drink to get if you want a strong hit of caffeine without the usual bitterness.
4. Caramel Apple Spice
Perfect for fall, the Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice combines the sugary sweetness with the spicy sweetness of cinnamon, all in a juice base, usually apple juice. This is the drink to get if you don’t want caffeine and yet somehow ended up at Starbucks.
You can also get this made with peach juice but apple juice really captures the essence of this drink. The steamed juice is mixed with cinnamon syrup and topped with whipped cream and caramel syrup. This slightly warm drink is perfect on cold fall days.
5. Blonde Caramel Brulée Latte
A seasonal menu item, the Blonde Caramel Brulée Latte consists of caramel brulée syrup, blonde roast espresso, steamed milk, and whipped cream with caramel brulée topping. You can order this drink hot or as an iced latte. A decaf option is also possible and you can order this as a blended frappuccino if you’d like.
Caramel brulée sauce is thicker than the usual Starbucks caramel sauce and contains dairy, so you can’t get a dairy-free version of this drink. The caramel brulée sauce has a smokier and deeper flavor than the regular caramel sauce which is more buttery. The blonde roast espresso adds a light coffee flavor that complements the strong caramel brulée sauce. The toppings are festive and this drink even has a little bit of shimmer to add to the festive feeling. Craving something at home? This recipe is a close second to the original concoction.
6. Salted Caramel Mocha
Another classic caramel drink on the Starbucks menu, the Salted Caramel Mocha is a treat for the tastebuds. This caramel drink is brewed with espresso, steamed milk, toffee nut syrup, and mocha sauce topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and sea salt. The sea salt accentuates the sweet flavors in this drink to give you a balanced yet nuanced beverage.
If you’d like to make this drink less sweet, ask for less toffee nut syrup. The normal version has 4 pumps of toffee nut syrup, which can be too sweet for many, especially when combined with mocha sauce and caramel drizzle. You can order this drink hot or as an iced mocha or frappuccino.
7. Caramel Frappuccino
The Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino is absolutely iconic and was one of the three original frappuccino flavors to be launched. You can’t go wrong with this drink made of espresso, steamed milk, ice, caramel syrup, frappuccino coffee syrup, and topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle. It combines rich coffee flavors with the buttery sweetness of caramel.
Surprisingly, the caramel frappuccino has fewer calories than most other frappuccino drinks on the menu, so this is a treat that won’t lead to overindulgence. The caffeine content is average, so it won’t give you a big boost of energy but still an adequate kick. This drink is a must-try even if you don’t usually go for sweet drinks at Starbucks. To make something similar at home, check out this brewing guide.
8. Twix Frappuccino
Time for a Starbucks secret menu drink- the Twix Frappuccino. Made with a base of the classic caramel frappuccino, the Twix frappuccino also contains java chips, hazelnut syrup, caramel syrup, and mocha drizzle. You can reduce the amount of caramel syrup when you order since the base drink already has a lot of caramel, in the form of both caramel syrup and caramel drizzle.
This is essentially a candy bar in beverage form, so remember to pace yourself! It can be very sweet, and that’s not for everybody. Keep in mind that this drink won’t be on the menu so if you want to order it, ask the barista for a caramel frappuccino with extra hazelnut syrup (2 pumps should be enough), java chips, and mocha drizzle on top.
9. Salted Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew
Need a heady dose of caffeine but also craving the sweetness of Starbucks caramel? Then the Salted Caramel Nitro Cold Brew is what you need. Now, it may sound similar to the salted caramel cream cold brew mentioned earlier but the key difference is that this drink is made with nitro cold brew and not your standard cold brew. Nitro cold brew involves the addition of nitrogen bubbles to cold brew, giving it a fizzy and smooth flavor. It also has a lot more caffeine than the usual cold brew.
The Salted Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew is served without ice, so I love drinking this on particularly hot days and I don’t have to worry about melting ice diluting my coffee. The caffeine kick is potent and is perfectly matched with the salty-sweet caramel cream. This is a fan-favorite summer drink, and if you like things simple yet sweet, go for this on your next Starbucks run.
10. Raspberry Caramel Macchiato
Rounding off this list of the best caramel drinks on the Starbucks menu, the Raspberry Caramel Macchiato is a unique combination of tart and sweet. You won’t find this on the regular menu since this is a Starbucks secret menu drink. To order this drink, ask the barista for a caramel macchiato but replace the vanilla syrup with raspberry syrup.
The sour raspberry syrup cuts through the sweet caramel to give you a drink that won’t overwhelm your taste buds while also being delicious. This drink turns red because of the raspberry syrup, which some people might not like so keep that in mind. You can order this hot or iced.
There you have it! Caramel is one of the signature flavors at Starbucks and with this handy guide you can order a whole array of caramel drinks whatever the mood or season. A few things to remember:
- Caramel sauce and caramel syrup are NOT the same things. The sauce is thicker and is mostly a base while the syrup is thinner and is used on the sides or on top of drinks.
- If you want a sweeter drink, go for the syrup.
- You may be charged extra for extra syrup in some drinks.
- Some of the caramel toppings are seasonal.
With this in mind, have fun exploring the caramel drinks at Starbucks!
About the author
Asharita D'Silva
Join me in discovering the wonderful world of coffee! As a writer, coffee is my fuel and newfound passion. I love writing about new coffees, sustainability, and coffee culture around the world. I'm always discovering new things about coffee and the industry, which I share with the great community here at Era Of We.
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