How Starbucks Makes Its Iconic Frappuccinos and Other Drinks

Curious how Starbucks actually makes that thick, sweet Coffee Frappuccino or the seemingly simple ‘brewed coffee’ you see on the menu? Whether you’re trying to recreate these drinks at home or just want to know what’s really in them, this guide breaks down every drink — caffeinated and not — with the exact ingredients, textures, and methods used in Starbucks stores.

Starbucks serves 9 types of Frappuccinos (both with and without caffeine), 5 brewed and iced coffee or tea options, and 2 hot chocolate or milk drinks — each with specific formulas for flavor, texture, and temperature. Below is the full breakdown.

Starbucks Frappuccinos: Caffeinated Options

Starbucks offers five Frappuccinos that contain coffee. Each starts with a base blend of milk, ice, and flavored syrups, then gets blended until smooth. Coffee Frappuccinos are typically thick, frosty, and moderately sweet — unless customized otherwise.

1. Coffee Frappuccino

The simplest coffee Frappuccino: a blend of coffee, milk, ice, and Frappuccino syrup, finished with whipped cream. It delivers a straightforward coffee flavor with icy texture.

2. Caramel Coffee Frappuccino

This version includes caramel syrup in the mix, topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. The caramel is made by heating sugar (usually sucrose) until it melts and browns — adding both color and flavor. The drink is sweet with a buttery-caramel note.

3. Mocha Frappuccino

A coffee Frappuccino with chocolate: it includes chocolate syrup along with the usual ingredients, giving it a rich mocha flavor. Topped with whipped cream. No cookie bits included.

4. Java Chip Frappuccino

Essentially a Mocha Frappuccino with added “chocolate chips” — which are actually small pieces of crispy chocolate-covered oat or wheat fragments, often referred to as “chocolate crunchies” or “chocolate malted biscuit bits.” It also comes with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.

5. Espresso Frappuccino

Made with a shot (or more) of espresso blended into the standard Frappuccino base. This increases the intensity of the coffee flavor beyond the regular Coffee Frappuccino.

Starbucks Frappuccinos: Non-Caffeinated Options

For those avoiding caffeine, Starbucks serves five non-coffee Frappuccinos. These are ice-blended drinks based on milk, ice, and flavored syrups, resulting in creamy, dessert-like beverages. Most are topped with whipped cream.

1. Vanilla Cream Frappuccino

A simple vanilla-flavored Frappuccino made without coffee. Includes vanilla syrup, milk, ice, and whipped cream.

2. Caramel Cream Frappuccino

Vanilla-based Frappuccino with added caramel syrup, but no coffee. Finished with whipped cream. Sweet and buttery.

3. Chocolate Cream Frappuccino

A chocolate-flavored Frappuccino without any coffee components. Uses chocolate syrup for flavor, served with whipped cream.

4. Green Tea Cream Frappuccino

Made with green tea-flavored syrup, milk, and ice. No actual matcha powder is used. Topped with whipped cream. Light and smooth.

5. Mango Passion Fruit Frappuccino

A fruity, refreshing Frappuccino blending mango and passion fruit flavors. Contains a small amount of black tea (often unnoticed), which some customers report tasting like an odd herbal note. This tea element can be omitted upon request.

Drip Coffee & Tea at Starbucks

Starbucks’ non-Frappuccino offerings include a few classic brewed options, iced teas, and milk-based drinks. These tend to be simpler, often overlooked, but offer variety and value.

1. Brewed Coffee (‘The Weekly’)

This is the most affordable coffee on the Starbucks menu (priced around 15–21 RMB depending on region). It’s made from a single-origin or blend coffee roasted medium to dark, changed weekly — hence often called ‘the Weekly,’ ‘This Week’s Coffee,’ or simply ‘Regular.’ Each week, the store rotates to a different coffee bean. Unlike espresso-based drinks, which always use dark-roasted espresso beans, this one lets you taste different roast profiles. More aromatic and stronger than a typical Americano, it’s essentially a filtered black coffee.

2. Misto (Half Coffee, Half Milk)

A custom drink: half brewed coffee and half steamed milk. Often ordered as a DIY alternative to the pricier pre-made ‘Misto.’ Served hot. For extra flavor, many add a pump of vanilla syrup to make a ‘Vanilla Misto,’ considered richer than a standard Vanilla Latte.

3. Chinese & English Teas

Starbucks serves basic black and herbal teas, including Indian black tea, which has a very strong herbal and malty profile. Choose carefully — it’s quite different from milder teas. Flavors are not detailed further in the source.

4. Black Tea Latte

Essentially tea with steamed milk — no syrup, no spices. Tastes closer to plain milk tea. Not a common order due to its very straightforward, unadorned taste compared to sweeter lattes. Essentially a natural, additive-free milk tea.

5. Green Tea Latte

Popular and well-known, made with green tea-flavored syrup and steamed milk. Often recommended to order it ‘half-sweet’ to balance the sweetness level. Comparable to the Green Tea Cream Frappuccino but served hot or iced without the ice base.

Other Starbucks Drinks

Beyond Frappuccinos and brewed coffee, Starbucks serves a small selection of hot drinks and milk-based beverages that round out the menu.

1. Signature Hot Chocolate

A classic hot chocolate made with cocoa powder (referred to as ‘mocha powder’), steamed milk, and topped with whipped cream. Available year-round. In summer, try the iced version — just confirm if you want whipped cream, as it affects price and recipe.

2. Steamed Milk & Steamed Soy Milk

Steamed milk is a common request, especially for pregnant customers. Steamed soy milk is also available and often ordered by those seeking a dairy-free, plant-based warm drink. Note: simply asking for ‘soy milk’ may result in a prepared, heated soy milk drink costing around 17 RMB — clarify if you just want it steamed.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Iced and Blended Drinks

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright, juicy iced coffee; its citrus and floral notes shine when brewed over ice. For a Frappuccino-like depth, their Classic Blend offers balanced chocolate and nuttiness, ideal for milk-based drinks. Finally, the Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 delivers smooth sweetness and mild acidity — great for those who enjoy softer, refined iced espresso blends. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.