The 15 Best Caffeine-Free Starbucks Drinks, Chosen by a Former Starbucks Barista

As a former Starbucks barista, I know the coffee chain’s drink menu well. I usually opt for a white chocolate mocha, caramel macchiato or vanilla sweet cream cold brew, but there are days when I’m not seeking an energy boost. That’s where these 15 caffeine-free Starbucks drinks come in, which range from Frappuccinos to herbal teas. Read on for some of my favorites, plus a hack for when you’re craving your usual joe, minus the jolt.

12 Starbucks Drinks for Kids, Approved by a Nutritionist and a Former Starbucks Barista

1. Iced Passion Tango Tea Lemonade

• Ingredients: Passion Tango tea, lemonade, ice
• Modifications: none

The Passion tea is the only decaf iced tea the chain offers (the others are green and black). The tart infusion of hibiscus flowers, apple, licorice root, lemongrass, cinnamon and fruit juice extract is naturally sugar- and calorie-free. In this recipe, it’s spiked with mouth-puckering lemonade. Ask for a pump or two of Classic syrup to make it sweeter (although I prefer it without).

2. Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino

• Ingredients: whole milk, Crème Frappuccino syrup, vanilla bean powder, ice, whipped cream
• Modifications: none

This was the first Starbucks drink I ever had. I remember ordering it with caramel drizzle as a tween and feeling so cool sipping on it. It gets its ice cream -like flavor from deeply flavorful vanilla bean powder, instead of more artificial-tasting vanilla syrup. When I was a Starbucks barista, teens would often order these with a few pumps of raspberry syrup to create a secret menu cotton candy Frappuccino. It’s super sweet (and pink) but pretty damn tasty, TBH.

3. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

• Ingredients: oatmilk, espresso, brown sugar syrup, ice, cinnamon
• Modifications: ask for decaf espresso

If you’re someone who doesn’ t take your morning cuppa light and sweet, try this pick on for size. “It’s the best when I’m craving something outside my usual black iced coffee,” asserts PureWow assistant editor of branded content Madeline Merinuk . “It has the perfect amount of sweetness without being overpowering, and you can still really taste the espresso.”

4. Caramel Apple Spice

• Ingredients: steamed apple juice, Cinnamon Dolce syrup, caramel sauce and whipped cream
• Modifications: none

Don’t sleep on this autumnal gem, which is available year-round. The caffeine-free Starbucks drink is as comforting as it is sweet (it’s basically a cheater’s mulled cider), and a stellar substitute for people who aren’t fans of the hot chocolate .

5. Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crème Frappuccino

• Ingredients: whole milk, crème Frappuccino syrup, dark caramel sauce, caramel sauce, ice, whipped cream, caramel sugar topping
• Modifications: none

If you lean more dulce de leche than chocolate, you need to try this brown sugar-y blended drink. It’s super sweet and decadent but delivers all the candy-like notes you crave. And don’t get me started on the crunchy topping.

6. Iced Caramel Macchiato

• Ingredients: espresso, vanilla syrup, milk, caramel sauce, ice
• Modifications: ask for decaf espresso

At Starbucks, a “macchiato” is an upside-down vanilla latte. (A real macchiato is a shot of espresso topped with steamed milk—no caramel drizzle or flavor syrup.) But that doesn’t make this fan-favorite drink any less delicious. I like mine with oat or coconut milk; as for the temp, it’s tasty hot or cold.

7. Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino

• Ingredients: whole milk, Crème Frappuccino syrup, mocha sauce, Frappuccino chips, ice, whipped cream
• Modifications: none

Consider this the Vanilla Bean Frappuccino’s chocolaty equivalent. “This was my first foray into Starbucks back in the day,” recalls PureWow’s executive managing editor Catrina Yohay . “I thought I was so cool drinking my first ‘coffee.’ It’s essentially a mocha milkshake, and I weirdly love the little icy bits.”

8. Chestnut Praline Latte

• Ingredients: espresso, chestnut praline syrup, milk, whipped cream, chestnut praline topping
• Modifications: ask for decaf espresso

This Starbucks holiday drink is only available in the cold season, and in my opinion, it’s super underrated and often eclipsed by winter heavyweights, like the peppermint mocha. Steamed milk and espresso meet hints of caramelized chestnuts and warm spices for a cozy option that won’t knock you over the head with holly-jolly flourishes. It’s topped with spiced praline crumbs for good measure.

9. Hot Chocolate

• Ingredients: milk, mocha sauce, vanilla syrup
• Modifications: none

There’s nothing wrong with this soul-soothing sipper. Nix the whipped cream and chocolate sauce and request sugar-free vanilla and low-sugar mocha sauce to bring the sugar content down. (You can also reduce the number of pumps of the full-sugar flavorings instead, if you want to avoid sugar alcohols.)

10. Strawberry Crème Frappuccino

• Ingredients: whole milk, crème Frappuccino syrup, strawberry purée sauce, classic syrup, ice whipped cream
• Modifications: none

This marbled delight is ready for its Instagram closeup. Fruity, pretty and picky eater-proof, it tastes like summer and is a prime choice for folks who don’t like coffee. Might I suggest adding a scoop of vanilla bean powder to the mix?

11. Blended Strawberry Lemonade

• Ingredients: lemonade, Crème Frappuccino syrup, strawberry purée sauce, ice
• Modifications: none

This frosty, caffeine-free Starbucks drink tastes like pure sunshine. While it’s pretty high in sugar, it’s sure to satisfy when you’re craving a decaf treat (especially if you’re into fruit).

12. White Hot Chocolate

• Ingredients: milk, white chocolate mocha sauce, whipped cream
• Modifications: none

Yes, it’s decadent, but it’s also deliciously nostalgic. And on a cold winter night, I can so get down with one of these rich, silky steamers. Ask for a 50/50 split of mocha and white mocha sauces for a black-and-white cocoa. Trust.

13. Any Decaf Espresso Drink

• Ingredients: varies by drink
• Modifications: ask for decaf espresso

Fun fact: You can enjoy your usual latte, Americano, cappuccino, flat white or macchiato *without* caffeine. Simply ask the barista to use decaf espresso and you’re good to go; the rest of the ingredients will stay the same.

14. Any Decaf Coffee Drink or Hot Tea

• Ingredients: varies by drink
• Modifications: ask for decaf coffee when applicable

Whether you get a simple Pike Place (aka Starbucks’s medium roast drip coffee), a decaf iced coffee or a Caffè Misto (that’s drip coffee topped with steamed milk, what I like to call a cheater’s latte), it can be ordered sans-caffeine. (Just know that there’s no decaf cold brew on the menu, along with iced tea, chai or matcha.) There are also a few hot herbal teas on the menu, like Mint Majesty and Peach Tranquility. Top them with milk for a creamier texture.

15. Any Frappuccino (Almost)

• Ingredients: varies by drink
• Modifications: ask for decaf espresso in place of Frappuccino Roast

There are a handful of coffee-free Frappuccinos on the menu, and most of those are caffeine-free. (The Chai Crème and Matcha Crème varieties cannot be made decaf.) But if you want your usual coffee-based Frapp minus caffeine, you’re in luck: Decaf shots can be used instead of regular java—it’ll cost you extra, though. In my experience as a Starbucks barista, standard caramel is hands-down the most popular coffee-based Frappuccino, so I’d start there.

I’m a Former Starbucks Barista, and Here Are the 21 Best Sugar-Free Drinks at Starbucks