Seven Starbucks drinks for fall that you’ve never heard of
Illustration by Cooper Anderson.
Even if you aren’t a Starbucks regular, you’ve probably heard of the Starbucks “secret menu.” If there weren’t enough drink options listed on the sliding chalkboard menus in-store, the secret menu refers to the custom drinks created by Starbucks superfans. Modifications can be as simple as asking for no foam on a latte, or so complicated that one can essentially create a new drink.
As a seasonal Starbucks worker, I’ve discovered many Starbucks teams also have their own behind-the-counter secret menus. If you’re looking to spice up your drink order for the fall semester (without spiced apple crisp), here are seven recommendations I picked up from partners and customers at my location.
Chocolate strawberry frappuccino: A decadent drink that fits in with milkshake-adjacent frappuccinos like the mocha cookie crumble.
How to order: “Can I please get a grande mocha frappuccino? Can you line the cup with strawberry puree, and add strawberry inclusions on top?”
Illustration by Cooper Anderson.
Iced strawberry green tea: The best way to cope with the peach juice shortage that left iced peach green tea fans high and dry.
How to order: “Can I please get a grande strawberry acai refresher, but sub water for green tea?”
Illustration by Cooper Anderson.
Pumpkin spice mocha/white mocha: A PSL for the people who can’t drink coffee without a shot of chocolate (me).
How to order: “Can I please get a grande pumpkin spice latte with two pumps of pumpkin spice and two pumps of [mocha/white mocha]?”
Illustration by Cooper Anderson.
The bubble tea drink: The only thing missing from this boba tea copycat is, well… the boba.
How to order: “Can I please get a grande iced black tea with no water and no ice? Can you do no classic syrup and sub four pumps of brown sugar syrup? And a splash of vanilla sweet cream, please.”
Illustration by Cooper Anderson.
Oreo frappuccino: A twist on the java chip frap for lovers of cookies and cream.
How to order: “Can I please get a grande vanilla bean frappuccino? Can you add java chips, mocha drizzle, and cookie crumble topping?”
Illustration by Cooper Anderson.
Iced shaken white mocha: I made up this drink earlier this year while working at Starbucks, and I should probably make a copyright claim because I haven’t ordered anything else since.
How to order: “Can I please get a grande iced shaken espresso with white mocha syrup instead of classic? Could you add vanilla cold foam as well?”
Illustration by Cooper Anderson.
Iced churro latte: This drink was actually imagined by the staff at the Starbucks on UVic’s campus!
I won’t give away their secret recipe, but it’s a unique spin on a sweetened latte that truly does taste like liquid churro. Get it while it’s still offered.
Hit up your local Starbucks for these new fall drinks! Us baristas are genuinely excited to try new recipes as long as customers are kind and patient with us — but no promises that your name will be spelled right on the cup.
