While some flavors, such as eggnog, chestnut praline, or pumpkin spice, are only available during the holidays or special occasions, caramel flavoring is available all year. Whether you have an iced drink, hot drink, or even a snack in this coffee house, you can easily find a caramel variation. Hence, it is only reasonable that caramel is added to nearly any Starbucks beverage.
Starbucks caramel drinks are among the company’s most popular beverages. And it’s understandable. Caramel goes so well with coffee, creating a creamy, buttery flavor that is almost impossible to resist. In this article, you will learn about Starbucks’ best caramel drinks and even the caffeine content of each.
6 Starbucks Caramel Drinks You Need To Know
1. Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
To make this drink, caramel syrup would be added to Starbucks’ regular cold brew. Caramel syrup gives the drink a caramel flavor and a toffee-like sweetness that balances out the slight bitterness of cold brew coffee.
To make this drink even more attractive, the caramel cold brew is often served with ice, a frothy layer of Starbucks’ vanilla cream foam, and an additional pinch of salt on top.
A Grande Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew would have 185 milligrams of caffeine, which means that this smooth caramel and cream cold brew coffee is not only delicious but also powerful and would wake you up instantly.
2. Salted Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew
Like the standard Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew, this nitro cold brew is also flavored with caramel syrup. The only difference lies in the cold brew. This drink is chilled with the infused nitro bubble instead of ice. Since ice is not added, we can enjoy the stronger and more original taste of just coffee with this drink. The caramel flavor is again added through Starbucks caramel syrup, making this strong drink sweet and delicious.
The Salted Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew will get you up and running in no time. Don’t be fooled by the smoothness of the Nitro Cold Brew, for it has 270 mg of caffeine per Grande size. If you want a quick pick-me-up, this is the highest caffeine content among Starbucks caramel drinks. So, enjoy waking up with a sweet caramel taste and a topping of salted vanilla cold foam. This cold brew would be a delicious drink to wake up to.
3. Caramel Macchiato (hot or iced)
When caramel macchiato is served hot, it is made with steamed milk, vanilla syrups, espresso shots, and caramel sauces. This warm and tasty espresso-based drink would then be topped with a creamy caramel sauce, making each sip delightful from start to finish.
When served with ice, espresso shots will be diluted with ice and vanilla milk, then topped with rich caramel sauce. This combination makes the Iced Caramel Macchiato one of Starbucks’ most well-known and beloved iced coffee beverages, for no one can resist its sweet flavor.
This iconic espresso drink of Starbucks, in a grande, will contain about 150 milligrams of caffeine. Hence, don’t let the sweetness fool you, for this drink can also be very strong.
If you want to make this drink at home, you can follow this recipe by Starbucks here
4. Caramel Brulée Latte (Hot or Iced)
This creamy iced latte is made by combining caramel brulée sauce, espresso shots, and milk. This caramel drink is then completed with the frosty whipped cream and more caramel brulée to make it even more delicious and decadent. On colder days, the hot version of this sweet drink is guaranteed to warm your heart.
A grande of this seasonal drink also contains 150 milligrams of caffeine. So again, the sweetness can be deceiving. Yet, this is an espresso-based drink at the end of the day, so understandably, this drink is also powerful.
You can also make this drink at home with this recipe here
5. Caramel Frappuccino
For caramel fans, the Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino is the ideal treat. This drink is a coffee-based blended beverage flavored with caramel syrup. It is further topped with whipped cream that is covered in caramel sauce. Hence, this drink makes a great coffee-flavored dessert and you can get a double dose of caramel in just one drink. Think of all the sweetness this drink can offer.
The Caramel Frappuccino Blended Coffee combines the flavor of caramel coffee with the frosty essentials of a Frappuccino. Yet, you can still get a dose of caffeine with this drink, for a grande cup has 90 milligrams of caffeine. With this amount, this Frappuccino will be a pleasant drink that will not give you more energy than you need. However, if you are a light caffeine taker and have a sweet tooth, this drink is a perfect treat.
To make this at home, follow this recipe here
6. Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
The Starbucks Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino is another treat for all caramel lovers out there. Starbucks Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino is made with coffee, milk, ice, and buttery caramel syrup, then topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and caramel sugar. From start to end, this coffee-based blend is brimming with caramel sweetness.
The drink is first mixed with a large amount of caramel syrup and then topped with a coating of more caramel sauce. Finally, this Frappuccino is completed with whipped cream topping together with caramel crunch and caramel drizzle.
This delicious drink has 85 mg of caffeine in a large size, which is also suitable for caffeine light takers.
If you want a fancier and caffeine-free version of this drink, try the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crème Frappuccino. This is a good alternative for anyone looking for a tasty caffeine-free beverage in Starbucks.
Although this drink seems a little bit complicated, you can also recreate it at home with this recipe
Further reading: Best Starbucks Iced Coffee Drink: 2021 Updated List
More On Starbuck Caramel Drinks
The kinds of caramel
Caramel can be added to Starbucks drinks through caramel syrup, caramel sauce, and caramel crunch topping. Any Starbucks hot or iced beverage can be sweetened and flavored with caramel syrup. Usually, there is no additional price for adding the standard amount of caramel syrup pumps to a drink. Yet, it is always good to double-check whether or not there is an additional price.
Meanwhile, if you want to add caramel sauce to your drink, you will have to pay extra. Extra caramel sauce can be used to coat the interior of the cup, drizzled on top of the drink, or topped with whipped cream.
How to order added caramel
Normally, you can tell the barista how you want it done and have your caramel drink the way you like it to be. If you place your order online, you can go to the “flavors” section then “syrups” or “sauces” section in the mobile app to add caramel syrup or sauce. Choose “toppings” on the mobile app if you want to have caramel on top of your drink.
Look out for new flavors
One tip we can give you is to look out for the seasonal caramel sauce because it can also be a delicious addition to your drink. One popular seasonal menu is the Caramel Brulée topping and sauce.
Conclusion
Now you have known all about the most popular Starbucks caramel drinks. Do learning about the components of your favorite caramel drinks and their caffeine content surprise you? If the answer is yes, you are one step closer to becoming an expert at Starbucks drinks.
If this article makes you crave Starbucks caramel drinks, have it now and let the sweetness make your day.
