What Are All the Sugar and Sweetener Options at Starbucks? (2024)

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One of the main reasons that coffee drinkers across the globe love Starbucks? The chain isn’t just convenient and consistent, but it offers more ways to create and customize your specific drink order than just about anywhere on the planet.

And that means that when it comes to adding sugars or sweeteners to your drink, like everything else you’ve got plenty of options on the Starbucks menu. Whether you’re looking for something extra sweet, something plant-based, something low-cal, or something flavored, there’s a good chance you’ll find the sweetener you’re looking for on the Starbucks menu.

We’ve got all of the Starbucks sugar and sweetener choices listed in one place for you, as you’ll see summarized below. But there are so many ways to sweeten your drink that things can honestly get a little confusing…so we’re breaking down each of the ways you can add sugar or sweetener to your Starbucks order, what they mean, and what your options are within those customization categories.

What Are All the Sugar and Sweetener Options at Starbucks? (1)
Sweeteners
Sugar
Sugar In The Raw
Splenda
Stevia In The Raw
Classic Syrup
Liquid Cane Sugar
Honey Blend
Flavored Syrups
Apple Brown Sugar*
Brown Sugar
Caramel
Chestnut Praline*
Cinnamon Caramel*
Cinnamon Dolce
Coffee Frappuccino
Crème Frappuccino
Funnel Cake*
Gingerbread*
Hazelnut
Irish Cream*
Macadamia*
Peppermint
Sugar Cookie*
Toasted Vanilla
Toffeenut
Vanilla (Regular + Sugar-Free)
Sauces
Mocha Sauce
White Chocolate Sauce
Caramel Brulee Sauce*
Strawberry Purée Sauce
Dark Caramel Sauce
Pumpkin Sauce*
Powders
Vanilla Bean Powder
Chocolate Malt Powder
Matcha Powder

Starbucks Sweeteners

When you click through to customize any order on the Starbucks mobile app or online, there will be several different customization categories (with drop-downs full of choices underneath each one) for each type of drink. The categories vary a bit depending on your drink order – for example, you may see slightly different options if you order a hot drink versus cold drink versus a Frappuccino – but the choices under each available customization will generally be the same.

“Sweeteners” is its own customization category that’s broken down into two slightly different types of sweeteners: Sweetener Packets and Liquid Sweeteners. The packets essentially encompass your more traditional sugars and sugar alternatives, like Sugar in the Raw or Splenda, while Liquid Sweeteners refer to Starbucks’ syrup-like sweeteners that are made in house.

Starbucks Sweetener Packets:

  • Sugar
  • Sugar In The Raw
  • Honey
  • Splenda
  • Stevia In The Raw

Starbucks Liquid Sweeteners:

  • Classic Syrup
  • Liquid Cane Sugar
  • Honey Blend

Starbucks’ Classic Syrup and Honey Blend are made with a base of sugar (or honey) and water that’s mixed with natural flavors, while the Liquid Cane Sugar is slightly less sweet and has more of a brown sugar, molasses-like flavor.

Starbucks Flavors

The “Flavors” customization category at Starbucks is another way to sweeten your drink order, which is broken down into two sub-categories as well: Syrups and Sauces.

Starbucks’ Flavored Syrups are simple syrups made of sugar, water, and natural flavors. They are essentially the same thing as the Classic Syrup in the “Sweeteners” category, but with a plethora of added flavors to choose from. Meanwhile, Starbucks’ Sauces are thicker in consistency and don’t just contain sugar, but typically dairy products as well, like heavy cream, condensed milk, or even butter.

Flavored Syrups and Sauces can be added to most orders in your choice of pumps, which are usually offered in amounts from 1 to 12 pumps. Syrups are typically pumped right into the drink itself, while Sauces can be included within the drink or used to line the cup or drizzle on top of your drink. Sauces are typically what you’ll find in drinks like the Caramel Macchiato, Mocha Latte, and Pumpkin Spice Latte, giving the drink an added creaminess.

When it comes to both the Syrups and Sauces, many flavors are seasonal – those have been indicated with an asterisk below.

Starbucks Syrups:

  • Apple Brown Sugar*
  • Brown Sugar
  • Caramel (Regular + Sugar-Free)
  • Chestnut Praline*
  • Cinnamon Caramel*
  • Cinnamon Dolce
  • Coffee Frappuccino
  • Crème Frappuccino
  • Funnel Cake*
  • Gingerbread*
  • Hazelnut
  • Irish Cream*
  • Macadamia*
  • Peppermint
  • Sugar Cookie*
  • Toasted Vanilla
  • Toffeenut
  • Vanilla (Regular + Sugar-Free)

Starbucks Sauces:

  • Mocha Sauce
  • White Chocolate Sauce
  • Caramel Brulee Sauce*
  • Strawberry Purée Sauce
  • Dark Caramel Sauce
  • Pumpkin Sauce*

Starbucks Add-Ins

Lastly, under the “Add-Ins” customization category you’ll find two options: Powders and Line the Cup. Starbucks Powders are another form of sweetener that are made with sugar, natural flavors, and ground ingredients like cocoa powder, matcha tea, or vanilla bean. When you choose Line the Cup, you have the option to essentially add a drizzle of one of Starbucks’ Sauces to the inside of your cup.

Starbucks offers a few Powder flavors, which are used to make drinks like the Vanilla Bean Frappuccino, Matcha Latte, and Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso. The Line the Cup category usually comes with two choices: Caramel Sauce or Mocha Sauce. Both customizations can be added to many drink orders for additional sweetness and flavor.

Starbucks Powders:

  • Vanilla Bean Powder
  • Chocolate Malt Powder
  • Matcha Powder

Starbucks Line the Cup:

  • Caramel Sauce
  • Mocha Sauce

What does Starbucks use to sweeten their coffee?

It depends on the exact drink order, but typically any sweetened coffee drinks at Starbucks are sweetened with pumps of their Classic Syrup by default. This is a simple syrup that’s made with sugar, water, and natural flavors.

What’s the difference between Starbucks syrups and sauces?

Starbucks syrups are flavored liquid sweeteners that are made with a sugar and water base and mixed with various natural flavors; they are thin in consistency and inject flavor into the drink but don’t change its texture. Starbucks sauces are thicker in consistency and usually contain dairy (like condensed milk or heavy cream). Sauces are typically used to drizzle inside the cup or on top of drinks for added flavor and creaminess.

What sugar substitutes does Starbucks have?

Starbucks offers several sugar-free or alternative sweetener options that you’re able to customize or add to any order. Sugar alternatives include Stevia in the Raw and Splenda, and Starbucks also offers a Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup.

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Carly is a writer, editor, and lover of all things food. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Telecommunications from Pepperdine University in 2011. With nearly ten years of experience in copywriting and editorial roles at creative marketing agencies, she now writes content for websites and online publications in the food, beverage, and travel industries. A New Jersey native turned Los Angeles local, her kitchen is chock-full of cookbooks and food puns.

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What Are All the Sugar and Sweetener Options at Starbucks? (2024)

FAQs

What sugar options does Starbucks have? ›

sugar-free syrup, available in Vanilla or Cinnamon Dolce, or our Skinny Mocha Sauce. Try a sweetener substitute such as Sweet'N Low®, Equal®, SPLENDA® or Stevia Blend from Whole Earth.

What sweetener do they use at Starbucks? ›

In addition to traditional sugars, Starbucks offers artificial sweeteners such as Splenda and aspartame as low-calorie alternatives for customers who prefer sugar-free options.

Are Starbucks flavored syrups sweetened? ›

Ingredients : Sugar, Water,Natural Flavor, CitricAcid, PotassiumSorbate(Preservative).

How many pumps of sweetener does Starbucks have? ›

Starbucks typically puts three pumps of syrup in a tall latte, four in a grande, and five in a venti (six if it's an iced venti, because the drink is four ounces larger). It's a good rule of thumb to use if you're going rogue and making your own order so you don't overdo it.

Is a skinny caramel macchiato sugar-free? ›

Starbucks Skinny Caramel Macchiato is made with sugar-free vanilla syrup, freshly steamed nonfat milk, and Espresso Roast, and topped with a velvety-rich foam and a buttery caramel drizzle. It has ⅓ fewer calories than their regular Caramel Macchiato. Macchiato is espresso with a dash of frothy steamed milk.

What is classic sweetener at Starbucks? ›

Classic. The all-around sweetener. Classic syrup is Starbucks' version of simple syrup or liquid sugar and is what all of their shaken teas and iced coffees are sweetened with. It ranks second for giving us our sugar fix without any additional flavor.

What is the sugar syrup at Starbucks called? ›

Starbucks Classic Syrup (1-L.)

How to order in Starbucks like a pro? ›

Start with the size of the drink, the temperature (which is hot by default, even in warm weather), then the name, then any amendments you want to make. For example, order a “grande chai tea latte with extra foam.” Don't be afraid to be specific!

What does "upside down" mean at Starbucks? ›

Upside-down means that the layers of ingredients in your drink will be inverted, as your barista will follow the steps used to make it in reverse.

How do I ask for cream and sugar at Starbucks? ›

The addition of "with cream" indicates that you'd like to have creamer added to your coffee. This can be regular milk or any other milk alternatives that Starbucks offers. By stating "and sugar," you ensure that the barista sweetens your coffee with the appropriate amount of sugar, as per your preference.

Can I request sugar in Starbucks? ›

It does not matter if you order coffee, tea, or any other drink - you always can add sugar or a syrup flavor. Adding a flavor will typically give you two extra pumps of syrup, so if you want your drink extra sweet be sure to specify and be ready to pay more. Sugar is free, but a syrup flavor is not.

Does a flat white have sugar? ›

6. Flat white. Made by combining short shots of espresso with steamed whole milk, the flat white is a concentrated coffee drink that's low in sugar. Although a tall serving contains 13 grams of sugar from milk, it's free of added sugars, syrups, and sweeteners.

What happened to Starbucks sugar-free options? ›

The same goes for the sugar-free hazelnut syrup, which got the ax from Starbucks in 2016. Similarly, the skinny mocha sauce was struck from the company's menu in 2020. With the discontinuation of the sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup in 2021, the last sugar-free syrup left standing is the sugar-free vanilla.

What does Starbucks call sugar? ›

At Starbucks, there are 2 simple syrups (liquid sweeteners). One is called classic syrup and the other is called liquid cane sugar. They're both unflavored and used to sweeten hot and cold drinks. Classic syrup is made with white, granulated sugar and it's clear, without any color.

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