Starbucks is well known for its vast selection of deliciously decadent caramel drinks!
Whether you like iced caramel frappes, hot caramel lattes, or something else, there’s a good chance that Starbucks offers something perfect just for you.
Below, we will go over everything to know about the best caramel drinks available at Starbucks.
How Are Starbucks Caramel Drinks Made?
Starbucks Caramel drinks can be made in many different ways. These beverages can be blended, made with hot coffee, mixed with ice, and more.
Since Starbucks infuses caramel into its beverages in a few different ways, it’s helpful to know which syrups, caramel sauces, crunchy toppings, foams, and other ingredients can be added to your drink.
What Types of Caramel Drinks Are Available at Starbucks?
So which caramel beverages are available at Starbucks?
You can choose from frappuccinos, iced coffees, steamers, and more.
Here are the kinds of drinks that come available in caramel flavors at Starbucks:
- Hot Coffees & Lattes: Macchiatos, flat whites, lattes, and hot coffees can be infused with caramel flavors. These drinks usually contain espresso and are served hot.
- Iced Coffees: Starbucks iced coffees are made similarly to the hot ones but served over ice.
- Frappuccinos: Frappuccinos are blended iced drinks that contain coffee and flavorings.
- Crème Frappuccinos: These sweet blended iced beverages do not contain coffee.
- Steamers & Cocoas: Made with milk and served hot, these drinks do not contain coffee or espresso.
- Nitro Brews & Cold Brews: Nitro brews and cold brews are cold coffees and can be enjoyed without ice.
- Other Drinks: Starbucks occasionally offers coffee-free beverages such as the caramel apple spice drink. These drinks are often seasonal and can be ordered during the holidays.
How Can Caramel Be Included in Starbucks Drinks?
Just like when ordering caramel drinks from Dunkin’ Donuts you can choose caramel flavor to be added to virtually any drink at Starbucks. But in addition to the caramel syrup, there are more interesting options available!
Caramel flavor can be added to Starbucks drinks in a few different ways:
Caramel Syrup: Starbucks uses sweetened simple syrup to add liquid caramel flavors seamlessly into certain beverages. This syrup is made with sugar, caramel flavors, colorings, and extracts. Starbucks utilizes Fontana Caramel Syrup to pump caramel flavor into drinks. A sugar-free caramel syrup is also available from the coffee chain.
Caramel Sauce: Starbucks caramel sauce has a thick and creamy consistency that adds decadent flavors to many popular drinks. The caramel sauce is thicker and creamier than the thinner, liquid syrup and is often drizzled inside of a cup or on top of whipped cream for a rich and sweet caramel taste. Starbucks uses its own brand of caramel sauce for beverages.
Dark Caramel Sauce: Starbucks dark caramel sauce is cooked longer than regular caramel sauce. It is darker in color and creates deeper and richer flavors with smoky undertones. This sauce goes well with espresso and is made using burnt sugar, flavors, and cream.
Caramel Crunch Topping: Used in caramel crunch ribbons, this is a sweet, buttery, and crunchy mixture that adds a textural component to some Starbucks caramel drinks. It is most often used in blended beverages.
Salted Caramel Cream Cold Foam: Added to the top of drinks in a foamy layer, this topping is made without heat using cream, milk, vanilla caramel syrup, and salt.
Caramel Brulée Sauce & Topping: This delicious caramel brulée topping is sugar-based and adds a luxurious component to Caramel Brulée drinks. As a topping, it uses caramelized sugar for a toasted, sweet taste.
18 Best Caramel Drinks at Starbucks
Now you know what types of caramel drinks are available at Starbucks, which ingredients are used for these beverages, and how they can be prepared.
So here are 18 mouth-watering options to consider ordering!
1. Iced Caramel Macchiato
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 150 mg
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 34 g
The Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato is without a doubt one of the most popular cold beverages available from the brand.
This drink combines full-bodied espresso, vanilla-flavored syrup, ice, and milk. It is topped with sweet caramel drizzle for a delicious finish!
A hot macchiato is also available if you are in the mood for a latte.
2. Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 185 mg
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 26 g
The Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew is one of my absolute favorites from Starbucks. It’s super refreshing and has enough caffeine to kickstart your day.
With this cold drink, sweet and savory flavors combine in a refreshing beverage for pure coffee goodness. Sweetened with a touch of caramel and then topped with salt and rich cold foam!
I think that this super smooth beverage is the best Starbucks cold brew drink.
3. Caramel Frappuccino
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 90 mg
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 54 g
Another incredibly popular cold Starbucks Caramel drink, the Caramel Frappuccino is a blended beverage that is made using coffee, ice, and milk. Buttery caramel sauce is added in a layer on top with or without whipped cream.
4. Salted Caramel Mocha
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 175 mg
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 59 g
Want a sweet way to warm up and get energized?
The Salted Caramel Mocha drink at Starbucks is made with shots of espresso, steamed milk, mocha sauce, and toffee nut syrup. The drink is then topped off with sweetened whipped cream, and caramel drizzle sauce with a blend of sugar and sea salt for decadent flavors in every sip!
5. Salted Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 270 mg
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 23 g
This nitro cold brew is incredibly smooth. It is sweetened with caramel flavors and topped with rich cold foam and salt for the perfect flavor experience.
If you are looking for an energy boost, then this is the perfect option. With 270 milligrams on the grande-sized drink, the Salted Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew is sure to knock your socks off!
6. Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 85 mg
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 60 g
With buttery caramel syrup, ice, milk, blended coffee, and a layer of dark caramel sauce, this decadent drink is simply divine!
It also has whipped cream and a crunchy caramel and sugar topping for a beautifully tasty effect.
7. Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crème Frappuccino
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 0 mg
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 46 g
This caffeine-free frappuccino has a sweet, buttery caramel layer. It is blended with ice and topped with dark caramel sauce and whipped cream. A crunchy caramel and sugar topping is added for a tasty and attractive finish!
8. Caramel Macchiato
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 150 mg
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 33 g
Nothing can top a classic Starbucks Caramel Macchiato. Made with steamed milk, vanilla-flavored syrup, espresso, and a drizzle of caramel sauce, this is a sweet drink that you must try at least once!
9. Caramel Brulée Latte
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 150 mg
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 48 g
The delicious Caramel Brulée Latte is a perfectly sweet way to invigorate your senses!
This drink is made with steamed milk, signature espresso, caramel brrulée sauce, and whipped cream. It is also topped with caramel brulée bits for a gourmet finishing touch.
10. Iced Salted Caramel Mocha
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 175 mg
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 55 g
Deliciously combining espresso, mocha sauce, milk, and toffee nut-flavored syrup, the Iced Salted Caramel Mocha is topped with sweetened whipped cream and a mixture of sea salt and sugar!
11. Iced Caramel Brulée Latte
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 150 mg
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 44 g
Signature espresso, ice, rich caramel brulée sauce, milk, and whipped cream, combine for a deliciously decadent drink. This beverage is also topped with caramel brulée bits!
12. Caramel Apple Spice
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 0 mg
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 70 g
Steamed apple juice and cinnamon syrup are combined with whipped cream and a caramel sauce drizzle in this delicious hot beverage!
This is definitely one of the best Starbucks apple drinks on the menu!
13. Caramel Brulée Frappuccino
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 90 mg
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 58 g
If you love the taste of caramel, sugar, and cream, the Caramel Brulée Frappuccino might just be for you! It is blended and topped with caramel brulée crunchy pieces.
14. Caramel Brulée Crème Frappuccino
Grande Size (16 oz):
- Caffeine: 0 mg
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 49 g
The Caramel Brulée Crème Frappuccino doesn’t have any coffee and offers you a sweet, creamy way to indulge. It is blended and topped with whipped cream!
15. Raspberry Caramel Macchiato (Secret Menu)
Going to the secret menu items our first pick is the colorful Raspberry Caramel Macchiato.
To order it, just ask for a Caramel Macchiato, but substitute the vanilla syrup on the bottom of the drink with raspberry syrup.
16. Iced Pumpkin Caramel Macchiato (Secret Menu)
Want to try a sweet and special fall-season drink? The Iced Pumpkin Caramel Macchiato certainly fits the bill!
Ask for an Iced Caramel Macchiato, where the vanilla syrup pumps are replaced with pumpkin syrup.
17. Fall Breeze (Secret Menu)
Another off-menu fall drink item, the Fall Breeze is a delicious treat full of seasonal spices. Just order a Venti Iced Chai Tea Latte, made with breve (half and half). Then add 4 pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup and caramel drizzle on top.
18. Caramel Snickerdoodle Macchiato
Last but not least, here’s another delicious off-menu item that will inspire your creativity.
Order an iced soy caramel macchiato upside down and add vanilla syrup and cinnamon dolce syrup. It is like a snickerdoodle in a cup!
3 Tips on Ordering Caramel Drinks at Starbucks
Here are a few tips to get the most out of your caramel drink experience:
- When ordering your own customized caramel drink or a secret menu drink, aim for a time that is not super busy and leave a tip for your barista.
- For a dairy-free option, choose a drink that has caramel syrup but no caramel sauce and substitute milk with a plant-based option like soy, oat, or coconut milk.
- If you want fewer calories, you can choose your drink to be made with sugar-free caramel syrup and either non-fat milk or almond milk.
Now you know which caramel toppings are used at Starbucks and how these sweet drinks are made.
So the next time you’re at the drive-through, you will know exactly which caramel concoctions to order!