Starbucks is known for their delicious icy cold coffee drinks that are perfect for cooling down on a hot summer day. But have you ever wondered what goes into making these refreshing iced coffee beverages? There are actually a few key ingredients that Starbucks relies on to brew and prepare their lineup of iced coffee options. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what Starbucks uses to make their iced coffee drinks so tasty and addicting.
Cold Brew Coffee
One of the most important components of Starbucks iced coffee is cold brew coffee. Unlike traditional hot coffee which is brewed hot and then chilled, cold brew coffee is brewed by steeping ground coffee in room temperature or cold water for 12-24 hours. This long steeping time extracts the flavors and caffeine from the coffee grounds, producing a smooth, less acidic and naturally sweet cold brew coffee concentrate.
Starbucks uses its signature Cold Brew coffee concentrate as the base for many of its iced coffee beverages. This 100% arabica coffee cold brew is steeped for a full 20 hours before being cut with water and served over ice or blended with milk and ice. The end result is a refreshing, delicious iced coffee with a hint of sweetness that highlights the natural flavors of the coffee.
How Starbucks Makes Their Cold Brew
To make their concentrated cold brew, Starbucks starts with high-quality, ethically sourced arabica coffee beans. They coarsely grind the beans to optimize flavor extraction. The coarse ground coffee is then steeped in room temperature filtered water for 20 hours, periodically stirring the mixture. This long steeping time allows the water to fully extract the oils, flavors and caffeine from the coffee grounds.
Once fully brewed, Starbucks filters out the coffee grounds from the extract, yielding a super smooth and concentrated cold brew coffee liquid. This concentrate liquid has approximately 2x the amount of caffeine as standard hot brewed coffee. The concentrate is then cut with either water or milk and served chilled over ice. This method produces Starbucks’ signature cold brew flavor.
Iced Espresso
In addition to cold brew, Starbucks also uses freshly pulled espresso shots in some of their iced coffee drinks. Espresso is made by forcing hot water at high pressure through finely ground coffee beans, producing a concentrated coffee liquid with a thick, smooth crema foam on top.
At Starbucks, espresso shots are freshly pulled each time an iced espresso drink is ordered. The hot espresso is immediately poured over ice to chill it rapidly and lock in the flavor. The end result is a bold, intense iced coffee option with the characteristic espresso crema on top even when served cold.
Some popular Starbucks iced coffee drinks featuring espresso include:
- Iced caffe latte – Espresso shots combined with chilled milk poured over ice
- Iced skinny mocha – Made with sugar free mocha sauce, espresso and nonfat milk
- Iced americano – Espresso shots topped with chilled water
The addition of freshly pulled espresso shots gives these beverages a more robust and complex coffee flavor compared to cold brew alone.
Flavorings
In addition to coffee, Starbucks uses various syrups, sauces and flavorings to give their iced coffee drinks extra taste and sweetness. Some commonly used flavorings include:
Mocha Sauce
Made from a blend of chocolate and coffee extract, mocha sauce adds a chocolatey flair.
Vanilla Syrup
Made from real vanilla extract and sugar, vanilla syrup provides a sweet, smooth flavor.
Cinnamon Dolce Syrup
This syrup combines cinnamon and vanilla flavors for a spiced, sweet taste.
Caramel Sauce
The buttery, rich caramel pairs perfectly with cold brew and milk.
White Chocolate Mocha Sauce
A sweeter take on mocha sauce made with white chocolate.
Toasted Coconut Syrup
Made with real coconut extract for tropical flavor.
These syrups, sauces and flavors are either added directly to the brewed coffee or blended with the milk before being combined with the coffee. They provide complementary flavors that enhance the iced coffee experience.
Milk
Milk is another key ingredient that gives many Starbucks iced coffee beverages a creamy, smooth texture. Options include:
2% Reduced Fat Milk
This milk provides richness without the high fat content.
Nonfat Milk
Made without any fat, nonfat milk is a lighter option.
Soy Milk
A non-dairy alternative with a creamy, nutty taste.
Almond Milk
Made from almonds, this milk has a mild nutty flavor.
Coconut Milk
Thick, creamy coconut milk lends tropical flair.
Starbucks baristas steam or froth the milk to give iced lattes, mochas and some cold brews a light, foamy texture. The milk smooths out any bitterness, mellows acidity and contributes a touch of sweetness to balanced out the coffee.
Whipped Cream
What would an iced coffee drink be without a dollop of fluffy whipped cream on top? Starbucks tops many of their iced coffee creations with their signature lightly sweetened whipped cream. Made from heavy whipping cream, vanilla syrup and a dash of salt, this whipped topping adds the perfect finishing touch of creaminess and texture.
Ice
Last but not least, ice is the final key component that pulls Starbucks’ iced coffee drinks together. The proper amount and quality of ice ensures the coffee is chilled to the ideal icy temperature without becoming quickly diluted.
Starbucks uses freshly made cubes from filtered water so the ice has a clean, fresh taste. A standard 26 oz. iced coffee is filled with ice cubes up to the top black line on the cup. This yields an ideal coffee-to-ice ratio so you get perfectly chilled coffee that isn’t watered down too quickly as the ice melts.
Steps for Preparing Starbucks Iced Coffee
Now that we’ve looked at all the ingredients, let’s overview the general steps Starbucks baristas use to put together their chilled coffee beverages:
- Brew fresh coffee concentrate either using cold brew method or hot espresso shots
- Select milk or alternative and froth/steam if using an iced latte
- Assemble cup with desired amount of ice cubes
- Pour freshly brewed coffee concentrate over ice
- Add any flavorings, sauces or syrups as appropriate for the drink
- Top with frothy milk or whipped cream
- Serve with a straw and enjoy!
This method produces an optimally flavored, chilled coffee drink.
Most Popular Iced Coffee Drinks at Starbucks
Now let’s explore some of Starbucks’ most popular iced coffee offerings and what goes into making them so delicious.
Iced Coffee
Starbucks’ iconic Iced Coffee starts with their fresh-brewed signature blend, either Pike Place or Ethiopia blend, chilled and served over ice. Customers can customize their Iced Coffee by adding milk, cream or any flavoring. This simple iced coffee lets the bold, smooth flavors of the coffee take center stage.
Iced Americano
A Starbucks favorite, the Iced Americano is made with freshly pulled espresso shots topped with chilled water. This results in a bolder iced coffee with robust espresso flavor. Customers can also add milk for a touch of creaminess.
Iced Latte
The Iced Latte is crafted with espresso shots poured over ice, combined with chilled steamed milk. The milk adds sweetness and balances the espresso for a creamy, cafe-style iced coffee.
Iced Mocha
Chocolate lovers rejoice – the Iced Mocha combines espresso, bittersweet mocha sauce and milk over ice for a cooler take on the classic Mocha Latte. The mocha adds layers of chocolate flavor.
White Chocolate Mocha
Like a dessert in drink form, the indulgent Iced White Chocolate Mocha features white chocolate mocha sauce, espresso and steamed milk over ice. The white chocolate provides an extra touch of sweetness.
Caramel Macchiato
Smooth vanilla-spiced milk swirls together with bold espresso and buttery caramel sauce to create an icy cold Caramel Macchiato. The layers of flavor make this a customer favorite.
Cold Brew Coffee
Starbucks’ velvety-smooth Cold Brew Iced Coffee shines with their signature Cold Brew concentrate served black over ice. Customers can customize with milk, flavored syrups and more to taste.
Nitro Cold Brew
For an extra lush and cascading iced coffee, Starbucks’ small-batch Nitro Cold Brew undergoes a nitrogen-infusion process for a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and subtle natural sweetness.
Salted Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew
This indulgent drink tops cold brew with a float of silky salted sweet cream cold foam. The contrast of salty and sweet is perfect over the natural Cold Brew flavors.
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Available seasonally, the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew delivers flavors of fall with Starbucks’ pumpkin cream cold foam floating over cold brew coffee. Spices like cinnamon add warmth.
Nutrition Information
| Drink | Calories (12 fl oz) | Total Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iced Coffee (black) | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Iced Americano (with nonfat milk) | 25 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Iced Latte (2% milk) | 140 | 6 | 17 | 11 |
| Iced Mocha (2% milk) | 230 | 8 | 33 | 11 |
| White Chocolate Mocha | 270 | 10 | 42 | 14 |
As shown above, calories and sugar content varies greatly based on the ingredients used in each drink. Choosing options like Iced Coffee, Americano or Latte and minimizing flavored syrups and heavy cream additions can reduce the calories.
Cost of Starbucks Iced Coffee
The cost of a Starbucks iced coffee depends on size, customizations and location. Below are approximate costs for a standard 12 oz iced coffee drink:
- Iced Coffee/Cold Brew – $2 to $4
- Iced Americano – $3 to $4.50
- Iced Latte – $3.50 to $5
- Iced Mocha – $4 to $6
- Specialty drinks like Caramel Macchiato – $4.50 to $6.50
Expect to pay more for larger cup sizes, additional espresso shots, syrups or toppings. Pricing also varies by region. Ordering the basic iced coffee and avoiding extensive customization can offer the most affordability.
Tips for Customizing Your Starbucks Iced Coffee
One of the best parts about Starbucks iced coffee is all the different ways you can customize your drink to match your taste preferences. Here are some tips:
- Ask for less or no syrup pumps to reduce sweetness
- Substitute milk or cream for lower fat or non-dairy options
- Add an extra espresso shot for more caffeine kick
- Ask for light or no whipped cream to cut calories and fat
- Try cold foam for extra creamy texture without heaviness
- Substitute mocha or vanilla syrups for new flavors
- Play around with additional toppings like cinnamon
Don’t be afraid to ask your barista to tweak any element of the drink to create your ideal iced coffee experience. Starbucks is happy to accommodate most custom requests.
Making Starbucks-Style Iced Coffee at Home
Want to save some money and recreate those Starbucks iced coffee drinks in the comfort of your own kitchen? Here are some tips for mimicking the Starbucks iced coffee taste at home:
- Brew fresh coffee using your preferred method then directly chill in fridge
- Make cold brew by steeping coarse grounds in room temp or cold water for 12-24 hrs
- Use fine ground espresso beans and a moka pot for concentrated coffee
- Add milk, cream or non-dairy alternatives like oat or almond milk
- Use chocolate and coffee extracts to mimic mocha flavor
- Flavor with vanilla, caramel or cinnamon syrups
- Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream
- Fill a glass with ice to chill coffee drinks
With the right combination of strong coffee, creamy dairy or milk substitutes and your favorite flavors, you can make cafe-quality iced coffee drinks at home on a budget.
Conclusion
Starbucks has mastered the art of making refreshing, bold and flavorful iced coffee drinks with universally crowd-pleasing taste. While cold brew and espresso form the flavor base, it’s the underlying sweeteners, dairy, syrups and customization that take their chilled coffee to the next level. Understanding exactly what goes into these beverages can help consumers better appreciate each complex sip, or even DIY the drinks at home. So next time you visit Starbucks and order an iced coffee, take a moment to appreciate all the care that goes into crafting your perfect chilled drink.