Starbucks Caramel Drinks
Caramel is one of the most beloved syrup flavors at Starbucks, adding its distinctive sweet and buttery taste to both coffee and non-coffee beverages. The coffee giant offers various pre-set caramel drinks as well as customizations to add caramel to nearly anything on the menu. Whether you like rich, indulgent flavors or want something lighter, there is likely a caramel Starbucks drink you will enjoy.
Introduction to Starbucks Caramel Drinks
Caramel has long been a staple ingredient used to sweeten and enhance coffee and espresso drinks at Starbucks. The famous coffee company has capitalized on the public’s taste for caramel over the years, using it to create some of its most well-known menu items.
Types of Caramel Drinks on the Menu
Starbucks locations offer select caramel drinks as pre-set menu options including:
- Caramel Macchiato – vanilla-spiced steamed milk blended with espresso and buttery caramel sauce
- Caramel Frappuccino – a blended iced coffee drink with caramel syrup, milk, coffee, and ice
- Iced Caramel Cloud Macchiato – a light, fluffy iced coffee with cloud foam, espresso, and caramel drizzle In addition to these pre-set choices, customers can customize their caramel beverages by adding caramel syrup or sauce to other Starbucks offerings. So whether ordering a Caffe Latte, Hot Chocolate, Refreshers drink, or even brewed coffee or tea, there are many possibilities to incorporate that sweet, buttery caramel taste.
Customizations Offered for Caramel Drinks
The caramel syrups and sauces used at Starbucks lend themselves very well to custom drink creations. The coffee chain offers several forms of this sweet treat that customers can mix and match:
Starbucks’s favorite caramel drinks
While caramel can enhance just about anything, Starbucks does offer several specialty drinks where it takes center stage. These pre-set menu items highlight caramel in creative, crave-worthy recipes customers love returning for again and again.
1. Caramel Macchiato
Starbucks fans discovered caramel in the early 2000s when this coffeehouse staple became a Starbucks staple. Steamed milk with espresso shots is blended with rich, buttery caramel sauce. Every sip of Starbucks Caramel Macchiato creates a new texture and flavor.
One of the most popular features of this cup is its gooey caramel at the bottom. Starbucks reaffirmed caramel as a quintessential flavor with this drink, a cross between Latte Macchiato and simple caramel coffee.
The Caramel Frappuccino proves caramel works just as well chilled as piping hot. This blended iced coffee drink combines coffee and milk with sweet caramel syrup and is finished with whipped cream and more caramel drizzle.
It’s an especially delicious choice on a hot summer day. The cold, creamy, and sweet flavors are reminiscent of a Starbucks caramel milkshake!
3. Iced Caramel Cloud Macchiato
One of Starbucks’s newest caramel creations is the Iced Caramel Cloud Macchiato. Released in 2019, it was inspired by the signature fluffy foam topping their hot Cloud Macchiatos.
To make a cold version, they use cloud foam sweetened with caramel syrup and top it over espresso and ice—the airy texture of the foam offsets the richness of the caramel for a well-balanced iced coffee treat.
4. Salted Caramel Mocha
This seasonal specialty drink combines coffeehouse flavor favorites mocha and caramel for an extra decadent sip. It’s made by blending mocha sauce and steamed milk with espresso, then finishing it off with buttery caramel sauce, chocolatey mocha drizzle, and a sprinkle of sea salt on top.
The salt enhances the sweetness of the caramel and chocolate for the ultimate sweet-and-salty experience. Starbucks customers eagerly anticipate this drink’s return to menus every holiday season.
5. Caramel Apple Spice
For those seeking a caramel option without coffee, this hot cider beverage is a fan favorite. Steamed apple juice is combined with sweet caramel sauce, spiced cinnamon, whipped cream, and more caramel drizzle for a comforting, non-caffeinated drink.
Reminiscent of warm apple pie and perfect for fall, Caramel Apple Spice highlights caramel as more than just a coffee additive.
Tips for Ordering Caramel Drinks
When deciding what caramel creation is right for you at Starbucks, keep these helpful tips in mind:
Special Edition Caramel Beverages
Beyond everyday menu options, Starbucks frequently releases limited-edition seasonal and regional caramel drink specials when you crave unique twists on the flavor.
Seasonal Favorites:-
The coffee leader brings back popular caramel recipes during the fall and winter months, like:
- Pumpkin Spice Caramel Macchiato – available late summer through Thanksgiving, this autumnal twist on caramel macchiato includes notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin.
- Caramel Brulee Latte – a holiday release combining rich steamed milk, blonde espresso roast, and the sweet custard flavors reminiscent of creme brulee with a caramelized sugar top.
Regional Exclusives:-
Certain parts of the world get exclusive caramel recipes you can only find in those countries, such as:-
- Salted Honey Caramel Latte – this Canadian specialty features a house-made honey caramel sauce with hints of sea salt mixed into steamed milk and espresso.
- Milky Caramel Latte – Japan’s thick, sweet version contains even more luscious caramel than the typical Caramel Macchiato.
Secret Menu Creations
Some unique “off-menu” items come about by customers customizing their caramel inventions. A few popular secret recipes include:
- Caramel Cocoa Cloud Macchiato – vanilla syrup, dark cocoa cloud powder, espresso, steamed milk, caramel drizzle
- Caramel Snickerdoodle Hot Chocolate – adding caramel syrup plus cinnamon dolce syrup to hot chocolate
- Caramel Cream Cold Brew – cold brew coffee sweetened with caramel syrup and vanilla sweet cream foam.
So don’t be afraid to order your custom caramel masterpiece next Starbucks run by using our Starbucks Calories Calculator.
Faqs about Starbucks Caramel Drinks
Conclusion
With its sweet, indulgent flavor profile, caramel endures as a perennial Starbucks specialty that makes any coffee, espresso, or tea beverage even crave-worthy. The coffee giant capitalizes on the public’s caramel obsession by continually releasing signature drinks starring this top syrup flavor and using it prominently to enhance seasonal menus. Customers also rely on caramel to personalize their own perfect custom Starbucks order. So whether you like your caramel drinks hot, iced, layered, blended, creamy, or even salty — Starbucks surely has the ideal caramel beverage to satisfy any sweet tooth!
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