What Milk Does Starbucks Use?
Ever wonder how Starbucks delivers that premium blend of coffee with the creamiest texture every time? It’s for the Danone soy milk that unlocks the hidden depths of your coffee.
While you might plan to remake a Starbucks signature at home by pointing out its secret ingredients, dairy products like milk might be a health concern for some.
Starbucks usually puts soy milk as a standard offering in their coffees and drinks, but other options exist. Hence, today, we’ll try to learn some coffee magic!
Types of Milk Starbucks Use
Not only the soymilk from Danone, but Starbucks has quite several milks in their pantry to cater to every sort of customer.
There was a time when Starbucks used to put commercially and easily available whole milk in all of their drinks to make silk-textured froths.
Later on, they started putting nonfat options on the menu (a bit less creamy), but yum! Another setup in the Starbucks drinks is the 2% milk (that’s obviously not whole milk).
Plant-based dairy options have been put into drinks for a while now, and they never fail to deliver a rich combination of flavors just like traditional milk. On the list is soy, almond, coconut, and oat milk.
What Soy Milk Does Starbucks Use?
Soy milk was introduced in Starbucks since 1997 through Danone. It is the healthiest plant-based option for whoever wants to avoid dairy intolerances.
It has fewer calories yet delivers the richness of a cream. Some dashes of some sublimated cane juice along with vanilla syrup, and it’ll be one of the tastiest things you might have ever poured in your coffee!
What Coconut Milk Does Starbucks Use?
The Single Origin Sumatra Coconut Milk is a brand owned by Starbucks to serve a cream that’s high in fat content (but it doesn’t do so well with froths!).
But don’t worry, this plant-based option might be low in calcium, but studies say it is one of the things that doesn’t result in high cholesterol.
The milk unleashes depths of coffee through its natural, plant-based coconut base, naturally.
What Oat Milk Does Starbucks Use?
Oat milk is the closest to dairy milk when the flavor profiles are compared.
Oat milk drinks have been a popular addition in Starbucks for a while now; if you’re thinking about the Honey Oatmilk Latte, have you ever wondered how they serve the smooth taste every time?
It’s because of the Oatly Barista Edition Oatmilk. Unlike coconut milk, it provides richness and frothiness both- because of the ingredients provided by oat milk that reacts with the rapeseed oil put in the milk base.
What Almond Milk Does Starbucks Use?
Almond milk is a competitor of soymilk when it comes to customer choices. With fewer calories and a sweeter taste- almond milk is mostly popular for its flavor profile as it doesn’t do much for s fit body.
Starbucks prefers the Barista Blend from Califia Farms Unsweetened Almond milk; this one has a light texture so you can never have enough of that caffe misto or Iced Cinnamon Almond milk latte!
Taste and Ingredients of Soy Milk Used By Starbucks
Now that you have a basic understanding of all the milk options you’ll be offered at Starbucks, it’s time for an overview of the flavor profile and the ingredients. Let’s get down to business!
First, we’ll be discussing the dairy milk options:
- Whole Milk: Fat content remains as in the initial stage (3.25%)
- 2% Milk: As the name suggests, fat content is reduced here (2%)
- Nonfat Milk: No fat content at all
- Half and Half: A popular choice of a seamless blend of heavy cream and whole milk
- Heavy Cream: The opposite of nonfat milk; only the fat content of milk
- Vanilla Sweet Cream: A combo of heavy cream, 2% milk and vanilla syrup in 3:2:1 ration
The plant-based options are infused with a number of other ingredients to deliver the flavor and texture of milk,
- Soy Milk: Soybeans drenched in water; Cane juice; Vanilla flavor; Vitamins A, D2, B2, B12; Calcium carbonate; Sodium citrate; Baking soda; Sea salt; Carrageenan; Palmitate
- Coconut Milk: Water; Coconut cream and water; Vitamins A, D2; Gellan gum; Xantham gum; Guar gum; Corn Dextrin; Tricalcium phosphate; Sea salt; Carrageenan; Palmitate
- Oat Milk: Oat base with oats and water; Vitamins A, D2, B12; Tricalcium phosphate; Dicalcium phosphate; Dipotassium phosphate; Erucic acid with 2% rapeseed oil; Calcium carbonate; Sea salt
- Almond Milk: Almonds drenched in water; Cane sugar; Gellan gum; Guar gum; Sunflower lecithin; Potassium citrate; Calcium carbonate; Sea salt
Nutritional Values of Soy Milk
Soy milk, namely ‘powerhouse protein,’ is a plant-based alternative offering smooth texture and muscle-building nutrients. (7 grams of protein per cup).
It is often fortified with calcium and Vitamin D. Another vitamin found in this soy-protein option is Vitamin B12.
If we count the nutritional values of soy milk per cup, that’d be 130 calories (which is less than most).
Consisting of 4 grams of fat, 16 grams of carbs, 13 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein- this is healthy!
Different Milks Used By Starbucks
In the age of consumerism at its absolute peak, people are growing pickier with the choices they make regarding their purchases.
Markets were able to adapt to this with ever-growing product options, as well as multiple scopes of turning niche market options as profitable as mass producing ones.
Unfortunately, Starbucks does not give you milk straight from the udders of a cow, but what they do have is different versions of milk (precisely, 10).
Below is a table listed beneficial for anyone who counts their calories. The measurements are counted per cup. The first 6 are dairy milk; rest of them are plant-based.
| Type of Milk | Calories | Fat | Sugar |
| Whole milk | 149 | 7.9 | 12 (25 grams in 16 ounces) |
| 2% milk | 122 | 4.8 | 12 |
| Nonfat milk | 82 | 0.2 | 13 |
| Half and half | 317 | 28 | 10 |
| Heavy cream | 816 | 87 | 7 |
| Vanilla cream (splashes) | 65 | 1 | 4 |
| Soy milk | 130 | 4 | 13 |
| Coconut milk | 80 | 5 | 7 |
| Oat milk | 140 | 7 | 7 |
| Almond milk | 60 | 4 | 5 |
How Much is Coffee At Starbucks If You Want Different Milk?
While this remains a controversial topic, we’ve tried to keep up with our insider business and found that it usually depends on the locations.
Some Starbucks locations charge no additional cost for popular milk alternatives, whereas, in busier areas, they have paid up to 70 cents for it.
Here’s our analysis: if you stick with a measurement of four ounces of beverage, you’ll be charged no extra cost (not applicable for every store!).
According to recent news, Starbucks promised not to charge for the vegan alternatives, and so far, there are only a few hand-counted cases.
Is Starbucks Milk Sweetened Or Unsweetened?
With all ten different milk options in Starbucks (6 dairy and four non-dairy), the dairy options are less processed, and some fat and sugar content is readily available when preparing drinks with these.
Sugar is added according to customer preference. However, the vegan options need to be processed more and are not naturally sweet. Hence, they are sweetened with cane juice and vanilla to some extent.
Out of all these, almond milk contains the least amount of sugar in its contents (5 grams per cup), so it is the best option for people who want a bit more aerobicized option. The most sugary one is soy milk.
Which Starbucks Milk is Healthiest?
If you never have time to compensate for the diet, we’d suggest the nonfat milk for you. Be aware, as it might be a bit less creamy for the less fat content.
However, this will provide you with all the vital body foods. The 2% fat milk is also a reliable option to have the fat content just the right amount and still cut back on calories.
The almond milk, when you look at the calory chart, is a delicious option for the vegan pals out there.
Perfect for those who are lactose intolerant, its dietary friendliness might be another healthy addition to your diet.
What Milk Does Starbucks Use For Skinny?
The ‘skinny’ option calls for nonfat milk, meaning the milk has undergone a process to remove all the fat ( less than 0.5% fat content). This thinner milk is derived from no specific, single brand.
When mentioned, the term ‘skinny’ usually implies a beverage made with nonfat milk, no whipped cream, or added sugar/sweetener.
While not everyone’s cup of tea (pun intended!), some folks find pure health-conscious bliss in this option.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re craving a classic or guilt-free treat, there’s a milk option waiting for you to be poured by the baristas.
From creamy whole milk to vegan powerhouses, you name it, they offer it! To each their bean!
