As temperatures rise, we’re swapping our hot oat milk lattes for some caffeine on ice. And thankfully, as always, Starbucks has plenty of vibrant, warm-weather beverages to see us through the hottest months of the year.
Throw on your favorite summer fit, grab the SPF and a hat, and let’s go. Here is your essential vegan guide to Starbucks summer drinks for 2026.
Need more? Check out our full guide to ordering vegan at Starbucks, which includes a detailed breakdown of which cold foams and sweet creams are dairy-free. Spoiler alert: Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam and Non-Dairy Salted Caramel Sweet Cream are must-tries.
New for summer 2026: Vegan highlights
Starbucks
1 Tropical Butterfly Lemonade Refresher
This summer is all about butterflies, says Starbucks, and we’re on board. The coffee chain’s new Tropical Butterfly Lemonade Refresher starts with a base of ice and lemonade, layered with guava and passionfruit, then finished with mango- and pineapple-flavored vegan pearls. The vibrant color comes from the drink’s namesake: an infusion of butterfly pea flower.
Barista tip: For extra fruity flavor, experiment by adding an extra pump of mango syrup to the mix.
@realboringhousewife
2 Butterfly Drink
The new Butterfly Drink is very similar to the Tropical Butterfly Lemonade Refresher, with guava, passionfruit, mango-pineapple pearls, and a butterfly pea flower infusion. But it’s even creamier, thanks to the addition of coconut milk. Better yet, coconut milk comes standard, so there’s no need to make any non-dairy swaps.
Barista tip: For an added boost, go for the Butterfly Energy Drink. It’s the same recipe, but with even more caffeine.
Starbucks
3 Horchata Frappuccino Blended Beverage
If you loved last year’s Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, the new Horchata Frappuccino Blended Beverage is sure to be a hit. The creamy drink features notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and toasted rice, and is finished with a dusting of cinnamon powder. Think fall flavors, reimagined for summer.
Barista tip: Unlike the others, this one has to be customized to be non-dairy. Swap the milk and ask for no whip.
Vegan-friendly summer Starbucks favorites
@hannah.tags
4 Toasted Coconut Cream Cold Brew
This one debuted in the spring, but with its tropical coconut flavor, it’s perfect for cooling down on hot summer days. The drink is made with a dairy-free syrup—just be sure to swap the milk for a plant-based alternative.
Barista tip: Add an extra pump of coconut syrup for an even more tropical, beachy flavor.
Starbucks
5 Iced Shaken Espressos
When mixology combines with coffee, you get a shaken espresso. Launched in 2021, this vegan-as-is espresso beverage is made with Starbucks’ Blonde espresso that’s mixed with ice in a plastic cocktail shaker. For a sweeter variety, go for the Iced Horchata Shaken Espresso, Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, or the Iced Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
Barista tip: If the taste of espresso is too strong for your palate, order it with non-dairy milk—or pick one of the sweeter varieties.
@sbuxtaylor
6 Iced Matcha
The matcha trend is here to stay, and Starbucks is fully on board. The chain now offers an entire matcha menu, much of which can be made vegan, including the classic Iced Matcha Latte—just swap in your favorite dairy-free milk. You can also customize drinks like the Iced Lavender Cream Matcha and the Iced Double Berry Matcha by replacing the sweet cream with a non-dairy alternative.
Barista tip: Your choice of milk can change the flavor profile. For a lighter, more tropical feel, opt for coconut milk. For a richer, creamier texture, go with oat milk.
7 Frappuccinos
No summer is complete without these chilly, milkshake-like coffee drinks. Just remember to ask for non-dairy milk and no whip! Frappuccinos are split into two categories: Coffee and Crème (the latter is caffeine-free). For a cool kick of caffeine, go for the Coffee Frappuccino. Crème options include Strawberry, Vanilla Bean, and Matcha.
Barista tip: For a less sweet indulgence, ask for one less pump of syrup.
@candasseats
8 Refreshers
These fruity drinks don’t contain coffee, but they’ll definitely keep you alert. You can personalize each beverage to your caffeine needs. Don’t need a boost? Go caffeine-free. Need a little pick-me-up? Opt for light caffeine. When you need a big dose of caffeine, go for an Energy Refresher. Choose from flavors like Mango Strawberry, Mango Dragonfruit, Strawberry Acai, and the new Tropical Butterfly.
Barista tip: Don’t skip the lemonade options for the ultimate summer sip with a hint of citrus and extra fizz.
Starbucks
9Coconut Milk Refreshers
For a creamy take on Starbucks’ signature Refreshers, opt for the chain’s coconut milk Refreshers. The classic Pink Drink, for example, is a creamy energy beverage made with a base of the Strawberry Refresher, a splash of coconut milk, and freeze-dried strawberries shaken with ice. Other options include Dragon Drink, Butterfly Drink, and Mango Dream.
Barista tip: These drinks don’t look like coffee, but they do contain caffeine (which can be removed if you prefer a caffeine-free option).
Disney for Foodies
10Iced Ube Coconut Macchiato
Bored of lattes? Try an iced macchiato. It’s basically espresso, poured over cold milk and some ice. This version adds in ube and coconut for an extra summery feel. To make it vegan, make sure to ask for non-dairy ube coconut cream and non-dairy milk.
Barista tip: Looking to cut back on caffeine? This drink is just as delicious when made half decaf.
Summer Starbucks classics, made vegan
Starbucks
11 Nitro Cold Brew and Cold Brew
In terms of coffee’s centuries-old history, nitro cold brew is a baby. This smooth drink entered the scene via third-wave coffee culture in the 2010s. At first glance, the thick layer of foam that floats atop this unadorned chilled coffee may look like cream, but it’s not—it’s crema, and it’s dairy-free. In fact, the drink is an unbelievably smooth, ever-so-slightly sweet, ice-cold coffee unadulterated with sugar or cream. The regular cold brew coffee is also vegan and smooth enough to drink without dairy-free milk.
Barista tip: Add a pump of non-dairy sweet cream for an extra touch of indulgence.
Starbucks
12 Iced Coffee
Iced coffee is the quintessential caffeinated summer drink. In contrast to cold brew, which is made from ground coffee steeped for up to 24 hours, an iced coffee is brewed hot, then chilled. Get it with your non-dairy milk of choice and enjoy!
Barista tip: If you find iced coffee bitter, ask for a shot of syrup—see here for a full list of vegan flavored syrups at Starbucks.
Starbucks
13 Americano on Ice
An Americano is made from espresso diluted with water. Urban legend has it that the Americano was invented during World War II, when American GIs in Italy weren’t used to the taste of straight espresso. So the drink was diluted with hot water to better appease the American palate.
Barista tip: It’s basically iced coffee after the ice melts, but it’s 10 cents cheaper for a tall.
Starbucks
14 Iced Latte
An iced latte is made with cold milk, so it doesn’t have the signature foamy topping of a regular latte. However, if you’re looking for a drink that will catapult you through the afternoon slump and go down easily, an iced latte will certainly do the trick. As with iced coffee, you can add whatever syrup you like—just stay away from the caramel sauce (the syrup is fine, but the sauce contains dairy. Confusing, we know). Just swap the cows’ milk for your favorite non-dairy alternative.
Barista tip: Still want the creaminess but with more espresso flavor? Ask for a long shot. This type of shot is pulled with more water and ends up roughly double in volume than a traditional shot. The result is a less milky but still creamy beverage that actually tastes like coffee.
Starbucks
15 Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte
While we’ve already gone over the latte category, this one deserves special attention as it is not vegan by default. This menu item comes with whipped cream and cinnamon dolce topping—both of which contain dairy. Veganize this sweet, cinnamony beverage by asking for non-dairy milk, no whip, and substitute a sprinkle of nutmeg instead of the Cinnamon Dolce Topping.
Barista tip: Ask for light ice, so you get more of the good stuff and prevent a sad, watered-down beverage.
Justine Guadarrama / Pinterest
16 Iced Flat White
A flat white is a drink that hails from 1980s Australia that’s made from espresso and steamed milk. So, what makes it different from cappuccinos and lattes? It’s all about the milk. A cappuccino is smaller than a latte and contains equal parts espresso, steamed, and frothed milk. A latte is about two-thirds steamed milk with a thin layer of foam on top. Flat whites, meanwhile, have a stronger coffee flavor, a velvety texture, and very little foam. However, when it comes to iced options that don’t involve steaming, the difference is less noticeable. Order an iced flat white for a slightly less milky version of a latte.
Barista tip: You’re looking at an upcharge if you opt for an iced flat white over an iced latte. You’ve been warned.
Starbucks
17 Iced Tea and Iced Tea Lattes
Starbucks can put any tea on ice, but it also has a full menu of teas specifically designed to keep you cool. Choose from black, white, herbal, or green varieties (including matcha). Any tea can be transformed into a tea latte by asking for non-dairy milk, though the menu currently features matcha and London Fog.
Barista tip: You can ask for any iced tea with lemonade for a custom Arnold Palmer. Particularly perfect lemonade pairings include Matcha, Passion Tango, Black, and Peach.
@eatwell_atsbu
18 Anything on ice
Don’t see your favorite hot beverage in an iced form? Just ask. The Starbucks baristas have the power to ice anything. Always remember to substitute non-dairy milk for the standard two percent cows’ milk, hold the whipped cream, and stay away from the Java Chips, Frappuccino Chips, Cinnamon Dolce Topping, Mocha Sauce, and Caramel Sauce. Follow these rules, and you’re virtually in the clear. Here’s to a cool summer.
In addition to an extensive vegan-friendly café menu, the world’s biggest coffee chain also has several grab-and-go drink options that are free from dairy and honey, including Olipop soda, juice, and energy drinks.
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
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Tanya Flink is a VegNews writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.
