Starbucks is customization heaven. You can take practically any menu item and personalize it to your heart’s content. And as spectacular as the endless array of options is, it can sometimes feel like too much!
There are so many decisions to be made when you want to mix up your regular go-to drink, which might make you feel completely overwhelmed. But at the same time, who wants to stick to the same-old same-old every day?
Not many people, that’s for sure!
As a former Starbucks barista, I spent a decent portion of my shifts experimenting. I’d pair different syrups with various milk alternatives and hope for the best. Not every brainstormed concoction tasted like a dream, but not every attempt was a total fail either!
Years later, I still drink two of these creative coffee beverages as frequently as possible. And here I am today, ready and willing to let you in on the top two Starbucks drinks you have to try!
Without further ado…
Creamy White Chocolate Doppio
In the coffee world, the term doppio is an Italian-adopted phrase that means double. As you can imagine, the double refers to how many shots of espresso are involved! In contrast to a doppio, one single shot of espresso is called a solo.
Anyway… Back to doppios!
Two shots of espresso on their own is not for the faint of heart. Not everyone vibes with the bitter aftertaste of full-length espresso, especially at Starbucks where the beans are meant to taste sharper. As intimidating as straight-up espresso shots can be, they pack a mean punch and can jolt even the sleepiest of sleepy heads into an awakened state.
So why not compromise? Take the benefits of a doppio and pair them with the sugary nature of white chocolate sauce to sweeten them up a bit. I recommend one pump of white chocolate sauce, but I prefer a light touch of sugary goodness.
Feel free to opt for two pumps if you want to drown out the espresso a little more. Ask for a splash of half-and-half to make the doppio a teeny bit creamy, and ta da!
Just like that, you have an energy boost that not only tastes good but does the trick, too.
Cinnamon Dolce Vanilla-Infused Cold Brew
I like to think of a doppio as the appetizer, whereas cold brew? Now we’re talkin’.
See, cold brew is the real deal, hands down. The caffeine concentration in cold brew varies depending on the size of your cup.
Here’s the breakdown of caffeine in cold brew at Starbucks —
- 155 mg in a tall
- 205 mg in a grande
- 310 mg in a venti
- 360 mg in a trenta
Now, I wouldn’t recommend a trenta-sized cold brew no matter how tired you are, but that’s your prerogative.
What I will say is that cold brew carries more caffeine than a shot or two of espresso. But why purchase just a regular cold brew from Starbucks when you can hype it up and make it a little tastier?
My recommendation is that you order a vanilla sweet cream cold brew, but kindly ask that they hold off on the added vanilla syrup. Mention that you’d like to replace the vanilla syrup with one or two pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup instead.
I opt for sugar-free cinnamon dolce, but you are free to make the sugar-or-no-sugar decision for yourself. It’s your customization after all.
From there, just stick your straw through the lid, give it a little twirl, and take that first sip! I swear by this cinnamon dolce vanilla-infused cold brew.