Not everyone likes Starbucks or – believe it or not – chocolate. But for those of us who do, there’s nothing better than Starbucks chocolate drinks.
The good news is they come in both hot and cold varieties, so you can drink them year-round. And there are many ways to give your favorite Starbucks drink a little kick of chocolate.
Ways to Add Chocolate to a Starbucks Drink
Here are five main ways to add chocolate to a Starbucks drink:
-
Mocha Sauce/Drizzle
This is the most common way to add chocolate to your Starbucks drink. Mocha sauce is not only used in Starbucks chocolate drinks; it is also the drizzle used on top of them. Best of all, the sauce is vegan and dairy-free, meaning anyone can enjoy adding it to their Starbucks beverage of choice.
-
Frappuccino Chips
Sometimes called Java Chips, these chocolate chips are coated in cookie crumbs. They can be used to add chocolate to any Starbucks blended drinks.
-
Chocolate Malt Powder
This powder was created to use only in one Starbucks drink, the Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso. But you can add it to any Starbucks drink you want to give it not just a little taste of chocolate but the flavor of a chocolate bar in your beverage.
-
Chocolate Cookie Grind Topping
A cookie crumble topping most often used on the Mocha Cookie Frappuccino and Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème Frappuccino. But these cookie bits can be added to any Starbucks drink you choose to make it extra sweet and chocolatey.
-
Chocolate Cold Foam
This combination of chocolate malt power or mocha sauce with vanilla sweet cream cold foam can be added to iced drinks for a fully-customized creation. It is mentioned here as a “Secret Menu” item.
But comments in an article in Delish from current and former baristas point out that no such secret menu exists. These items are often discontinued drinks or something made up by a local barista they love and hope to share.
There is also a dark chocolate mocha sauce. However, it is only available at Starbucks Reserve locations.
These unique roasteries serve high-end coffee drinks, a selection of wines and other alcohol-based beverages, and food. Currently, there are locations in Milan, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seattle, New York, and Chicago.
Ordering Tips for Starbucks Chocolate Drinks
The first and foremost tip when ordering your Starbucks chocolate drinks is to know your Starbucks chocolate.
You might think this was the easy part of the process, but you would be wrong. Coffee at Three points out that the traditional sauces are mocha sauce and white chocolate mocha sauce.
But there are additional flavored white chocolate sauces offered seasonally, like toasted white chocolate.
Here are some other tips to help you master ordering chocolate drinks on your next trip to Starbucks:
- Want your chocolate drink on the sweeter side? Ask to add 1-2 pumps of white chocolate mocha to your drink
- The regular mocha sauce has caffeine, but the white chocolate mocha sauce does not. If you’re looking to lower the caffeine in your Starbucks chocolate drink, substitute white chocolate mocha sauce for some or all of the regular mocha sauce.
- If you’re ordering a hot chocolate and miss the way it used to taste, ask them to add vanilla syrup. It used to be included in the recipe but was removed a few years ago.
- Want your Starbucks chocolate drink hot but don’t want a scorched tongue? Ask for it at “kid’s temp.” This is heated to 130 degrees instead of the typical 160 degrees.
- Any Starbucks chocolate drink can be made dairy-free. Options include almond, coconut, oat, and soy milk. Make sure you ask for no whipped cream if you want a genuinely dairy-free drink.
How to Order a Chocolate Cold Brew at Starbucks
If you’ve decided to try cold brew and want a chocolate version, you’re in luck. There are now two to choose from: the hot cocoa cold brew and the chocolate cream cold brew, introduced in May. However, the hot cocoa cold brew isn’t on the official menu.
So here’s what you need to ask for if you want to order one:
- Order a venti Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew with only two pumps of vanilla
- Request four pumps of mocha sauce and one pump of toasted white mocha sauce
- Ask for chocolate powder and chocolate curls on top
- Add a swirl of whipped cream or a drizzle of chocolate syrup if you’re feeling decadent
If you don’t want to go to all that trouble, you could try the chocolate cream cold brew instead. It’s a regular menu item, so you don’t need to make any special requests of your barista if you’re ordering the standard version.
This drink tops a traditional Starbucks cold brew with a chocolate cream cold foam sweetened with vanilla syrup.
20 Starbucks Chocolate Drinks You Will Love
Hot Starbucks Chocolate Drinks
1. White Chocolate Raspberry Mocha
The white chocolate mocha is always on the menu, Today reminds us. But you can kick this Starbucks chocolate drink up a notch by adding a splash of raspberry syrup.
This super sweet drink could be a substitute for dessert. And if your local Starbucks doesn’t have raspberry syrup, you can use any other berry syrup available.
2. The Cinderella Latte
You can get this drink hot, iced, or as a Frappuccino, but since it uses seasonal Fall flavors, if you like hot coffee drinks, it’s the time of year to get your beverage warm and toasty.
According to Seattle Refined, this fairy-tale-themed drink was created by former barista Erica Howard-Cox at the Burlington Starbucks in the Pacific Northwest. It combines the company’s famed pumpkin spice latte with white chocolate mocha.
It was inspired by the transformation of a regular pumpkin into the white carriage Cinderella’s fairy Godmother created to take her to the ball and win the prince’s heart.
3. Pixie Dust Latte
Looking for another fairytale-inspired Starbucks chocolate drink? Erica Howard-Cox didn’t just dream up the Cinderella Latte. She also created the Pixie Dust Latte, half cinnamon dolce latte, and half white chocolate mocha.
4. White Chocolate Mocha
This is one of the more traditional Starbucks chocolate drinks. Like the standard Café Mocha, it is made with two shots of espresso, milk, steamed milk foam, and optional whip cream.
The difference is in the chocolate sauce. This uses a white mocha sauce, which is sweeter and caffeine-free.
5. Raspberry Mocha Eggnog
Wide Open Eats explains that this drink is a special-order item. It is one of the items on the alleged secret menu. It’s a hot white chocolate mocha, made with eggnog instead of milk, with 2 pumps of raspberry syrup added.
This is a decadent treat you’ll likely only be able to order around the winter holidays when Starbucks is likely to have eggnog on hand.
6. Caramel Snickerdoodle Macchiato
To get this drink, you’ll want to order a soy milk macchiato upside down. What does that mean, exactly? A macchiato is an espresso topped with the foam created when you steam milk.
It doesn’t include the milk itself. If it did, that would be a latte or a cappuccino. But the latter is a little milk and a lot of foam. And a latte is a lot of milk and a little foam.
Upside down simply means the foam is on the bottom and the espresso on the top. Add vanilla and cinnamon dolce syrup to make this caffeinated cookie drink.
7. Zebra Hot Chocolate
Just because it’s Starbucks doesn’t mean all the drinks are coffee-based. Your local barista can whip up an excellent hot chocolate, as well. And you don’t have to choose between milk and white chocolate. Choose this Zebra Hot Chocolate to satisfy both cravings.
8. Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
The peppermint white hot chocolate is a seasonal drink, but you can get it year-round if you’re willing to forego the chocolate curls. Milk, white chocolate mocha sauce, peppermint syrup, and whipped cream make up the non-seasonal version.
9. S’Mores Hot Chocolate
This hot chocolate creates the signature flavor of your favorite fireside snack. Order a hot chocolate with chestnut praline syrup and mocha drizzle. If you’re ordering a grande, you’ll need 4 pumps of syrup. And if your local store doesn’t have chestnut praline syrup, ask them to substitute toffee nut syrup instead.
10. Snickerdoodle Hot Chocolate
This is another seasonal selection, but according to Insider, most Starbucks locations carry the ingredients needed to make it year-round. It’s a white hot chocolate, with cinnamon dolce syrup and cinnamon sugar on top if it’s available.
You can make it a latte by adding two shots of espresso.
Cold Starbucks Drinks
11. Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso
This iced drink is ideal for coffee lovers because it contains an extra shot of espresso. According to Elijah’s Coffee, it has fewer calories but more caffeine than other iced drinks because it’s made with chocolate malt powder.
12. Chocolate Mousse Iced Macchiatto
BaristaHQ recommends these delicious iced Starbucks chocolate drinks. To order one, ask for a venti iced caramel macchiato made with half and half, with white chocolate mocha sauce instead of vanilla. Finish it off with caramel syrup and mocha cookie crumble.
13. Iced White Mocha with Sweet Cream Cold Foam and Caramel Drizzle
This sweet iced drink is a Tik Tok Sensation. It’s made with caramel sauce, white chocolate mocha sauce, heavy cream, vanilla syrup, espresso, and vanilla sweet cream cold foam.
14. Reserve Iced Dark Chocolate Mocha
This drink is delightfully delicious, but you can only get it at Starbucks Reserve locations. If you have one of these in your neighborhood, you can enjoy this drink year-round.
It combines a reserve, often single-origin espresso, ground chocolate, steamed milk, and cocoa.
15. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cold Brew
This one is a little different, but if you like fruity flavors with your coffee, Totally the Bomb says you’re sure to enjoy it. And what’s even better is that you can make it a white chocolate-covered strawberry or a dark chocolate one.
Just choose the appropriate mocha sauce. To get this at your local Starbucks, order a cold brew with equal pumps of raspberry syrup and mocha or white mocha sauce.
Top with sweet cream cold foam combined with raspberry purée, and sprinkle with chocolate curls or drizzle with extra mocha sauce.
Frappuccino Starbucks Drinks
16. Cookie Dough Frappuccino
Cookie Dough flavors are all the rage these days. So it’s not surprising that Starbucks has jumped on the bandwagon and offers a version of its own.
According to Restaurant Clicks, ordering this is as easy as asking for a Cinnamon Dolce Frappuccino with mocha syrup and java chips, topped with whipped cream and cookie crumble. It is a bit of extra work for your barista, so please remember to tip accordingly.
17. Cadbury Crème Egg Frappuccino
Today explains this is a Java Chip Frappuccino, with 2 shots of espresso for a venti or grande and 1 shot for a tall. Then ask for 4 scoops of vanilla bean powder for a venti, 3 scoops for a grande, and 2 scoops for a tall.
Add 1 pump of caramel for a venti and ½ pump for a grande or a tall. Finish this sweet concoction with 2 pumps of vanilla syrup for a venti, 1 ½ pump for a grande, and 1 for a tall.
18. Ferrero Rocher Frappuccino
This decadent Frappuccino tastes just like the chocolate it was named after. Order a double chocolate chip Frappuccino with 3 pumps of mocha syrup and 2 pumps of hazelnut syrup, and wrap things up with a drizzle of hazelnut syrup.
19. Kit Kat Frappuccino
This drink isn’t on the menu. But BaristaHQ explains how to order these delicious Starbucks chocolate drinks at your nearest location. Request a vanilla bean Frappuccino with mocha sauce in the cup, with java chips blended in.
Top the Frappuccino with whipped cream, mocha sauce, and cookie pieces that give you the satisfying biscuity texture of its namesake chocolate.
20. Twix Frappuccino
This delightful dessert drink is another candy bar creation. Order the delicious delight by starting with a caramel Frappuccino, then add 2 more shots of caramel syrup, 2 shots of hazelnut syrup, and java chips.
Ask your barista to top the drink with caramel and mocha sauce drizzle.
How to Make Starbucks Double Chocolate Chip Frapp
Insanely Good Recipes has a brilliant copycat recipe for the Starbucks Double Chocolate Chip Frapp that will let you whip up a version of this delicious Starbucks chocolate drink right in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
- Milk – Any kind will do. Select based on your taste and dietary preferences
- Sugar – other types of sweetener work equally well
- Chocolate Chips – These get blended in the drink, but you can add some after blending for extra chocolatey flavor and some additional texture
- Chocolate Syrup – You can use any brand you prefer from the store or make your own using cocoa powder, sugar, and water
- Ice – Any size or shape will do. If you want your drink caffeinated, you can create coffee ice cubes and blend them into your drink
- Vanilla – You probably already have this in your cabinet or pantry, and it makes an excellent flavor enhancer
- Whipped Cream – This is optional, but most frappuccinos you get from Starbucks include it
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender
- Blend to desired consistency
- Pour into a cup and top with whipped cream and additional chocolate syrup is desired
FAQ
How many pumps of chocolate are in a Starbucks mocha?
This depends on the size of your drink. According to Grounds to Brew, there are 3 pumps in a tall (12 oz), 4 pumps in a grande (16 oz), and 5 pumps in a venti (20 oz).
Unlike the hot version, an iced venti mocha is 24 ounces and therefore has 6 pumps of mocha sauce. There is also a “short” option in hot drinks only. It is 8 ounces and has 2 pumps of mocha sauce.
What is chocolate cold foam made of?
Chocolate cold foam is made of 2% milk, heavy cream, vanilla syrup, cocoa powder, and malted milk powder. Lifestyle of a Foodie has a great copycat recipe you can try at home.
How many calories are in Starbucks chocolate cream?
According to Prevention, there are 250 calories in a grande Starbucks Chocolate Cream Cold Brew. The Starbucks website lists a tall at 190 calories, a venti at 300 calories, and a trenta at 320 calories.
Does it cost more to add chocolate to your Starbucks drink?
Adding more chocolate or mocha sauces to drinks containing chocolate does not cost extra. But there is a charge to add them to drinks that do not already have chocolate sauce.
Conclusion
There is certainly no shortage of Starbucks chocolate drinks to try in-store or recreate at home. They come in hot, cold, and frozen. And you can tweak them to meet your personal tastes.
Between Tik Tok and the so-called secret menu, you won’t run out of options to try anytime soon. Starbucks chocolate drinks will satisfy your cravings, no matter what they are.
Maybe you are trying to recreate your favorite holiday treat or candy bar. Or perhaps you’re looking for a fruitier or spicier version of the classic mocha.
No matter what you want, you will find it in your local Starbucks or your kitchen if you try one of the copycat recipes in this article.
Leave a Reply