10 Best Starbucks Drinks For Kids In 2023
At Lifeboost our unwavering commitment is to provide our community with offerings that prioritize health. We understand the appeal. Enjoyment that big coffeehouse chains, like Starbucks bring to people of all ages, including children. However, as Coffee enthusiasts of both quality and wellbeing we often ponder; Does Starbucks offer any beverages specifically designed for kids? And are they healthy?
Well you're in luck because Starbucks does cater to its younger customers! As the world's leading coffeehouse chain they have curated a selection of drinks that are kid friendly ensuring even the little ones can experience the magic of Starbucks. In addition to children's beverages there is also flexibility to customize many of their signature drinks to suit kids preferences. However if you share our concerns about caffeine and sugar content rest assured. It's no secret that some Starbucks creations can be high in calories and packed with caffeine – not exactly ideal for the younger ones.
Don't worry! In this curated list we have carefully examined Starbucks extensive menu to showcase the ten drinks that strike a harmonious balance between taste and wellness, for your children.
If you're searching for a healthier option, you'll be pleased to find that we've sprinkled in recommendations from our very own Lifeboost collection – because sometimes, the best choices are closer than you think.
Top 10 Kid-Friendly Starbucks Drinks
Crème Frappuccino
Let's start our list with the franchise's most popular and iconic drink. Frappuccinos are a hit among Starbucks patrons. It's a blended iced coffee beverage containing ice, crème or coffee base, syrups, whipped cream, and/or spices. However, as delicious as it is, the drink comes with extra calories, caffeine, and sugar.
The good news is your kids can also enjoy all the deliciousness in the form of Crème Frappuccino. It contains zero caffeine and is much lighter than a regular frappuccino. In fact, even adults who avoid caffeine can take pleasure in this caffeine-free version.
The drink contains a crème base, milk, ice, and syrup (of your choice). It is then topped with a swirl of whipping cream. Popular flavor options include Vanilla Bean, Cotton Candy, and Unicorn.
P.S. For adults watching their caffeine intake, we have a healthier alternative in the form of Decaf Coffee (both whole beans and ground) from Lifeboost. You can use it to recreate the iconic Starbucks Frappuccino at home. Besides being decaf, this coffee is also extremely low in acidity, hence easy on the stomach.
Caramel Apple Spice
If your go-to Starbucks drink is caramel-based, you know how delectable it is. Give your kid the same treat by ordering a Caramel Apple Spice. Despite its name, nothing about this drink is "spicy." Instead, it's a decadent drink; you can call it a sippable apple pie in a cup.
The ingredients are simple. It's just steamed apple juice mixed with four pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup with a topping of whipped cream and caramel sauce. You can always reduce the number of syrup pumps or skip the caramel sauce topping to lessen its sugar content.
Lemonade
Order a Short Lemonade for your munchkin and beat the heat together! This is one of the most popular choices for kids at Starbucks. It is refreshing, healthy, and you don't have to worry about hidden ingredients. That's because Starbucks serves their lemonade unsweetened, usually poured over ice.
But since most kids don't do well with sour drinks, you can make it more pleasing by adding a swirl of honey or a pump of Starbucks' in-house classic syrup.
Iced or Steamed Apple Juice
Iced or steamed apple juice from Starbucks is as simple as it sounds. It is apple juice that's been chilled or warmed up.
However, the best thing is that Starbucks uses its own brand of 100% pure apple juice called Tree Top Apple Juice. Unlike others, they steer clear of apple concentrates. So, nothing artificial or unhealthy goes inside your youngster! Besides, apple juice is a classic and makes a delicious, healthy drink for kids.
Blended Strawberry Lemonade
Nothing about a regular lemonade is appealing to your kid? No worries. Starbucks offers a sweeter version known as Blended Strawberry Lemonade. This drink looks as delicious as it tastes with its light baby pink color.
Strawberry lemonade is similar to a Crème Frappuccino in terms of texture, but is much lighter. It is a blended drink containing ice, lemonade, and strawberry puree. Typically, the drink has a topping of freeze-dried strawberries.
Purple Drink
You'll know the brand's famous Pink Drink on the menu if you're a serious Starbucks fan. On a side note, Starbucks now sells its Pink Drink in a bottled version. Made with strawberries, açaí, coconut milk, and passion fruit juice, the Pink Drink is all things tropical! However, its high sugar and caffeine content makes it unsuitable for kids.
Here comes the Purple Drink to the rescue! It is a relatively new beverage made with Iced Passion Tango Tea, a splash of vanilla syrup, soy milk (or any other milk of your choice), blueberries, and blackberries. However, this drink is part of Starbucks' secret menu. So, you'll have to custom order it.
Steamers
A Starbucks steamer is a non-coffee, steamed milk drink. It's made with the usual steamed milk that your kid might find at home. However, adding Starbucks' in-house syrups makes it unique and delicious.
Let your kid pick his or her favorite flavor. The options are endless- Cinnamon Dolce, raspberry, hazelnut, mocha, caramel, peppermint, brown sugar, vanilla, you name it! As for the quantity, just one or two pumps of syrup are enough to give sweetness and flavor to the drink without spiking sugar levels.
Hot Chocolate
We've not met any kid who said no to a cup of hot chocolate. It's a classic for a reason. Everybody loves it, including us adults. So, you can never go wrong with this one.
Starbucks makes its hot chocolate with steamed 2% milk and two pumps of mocha sauce. The drink has a whipped cream topping and a drizzle of mocha sauce. Yum! If you order it for your kids, you'll find it in their short size of 8 ounces.
Do note Starbucks hot chocolate has some caffeine. Nothing seriously high, so occasional consumption won't hurt. However, you can order their White-Hot Chocolate drink if you want to skip the caffeine altogether.
Now, here's something special for the grown-ups who adore both coffee and hot chocolate. Lifeboost Coffee offers a line of chocolate-based coffee flavors such as, Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, Dark Chocolate Coconut Truffle, Chocolate Macadamia Truffle, and White Chocolate Mocha, to name a few. These flavors bring together the best of both worlds, satisfying your craving for the comforting warmth of hot chocolate and the energizing kick of coffee.
Babyccino
Yup, Babyccino is exactly what you think it is- a cappuccino for the kids! It is not officially on the menu but is easy to order. Ask for a Short-steamed milk with extra foam. That's it. The foam on top mimics a classic cappuccino, hence the name.
If you want to make it extra fancy for your little one, request caramel drizzle on top.
Blended Juice Drink
A dressed-up fruit juice will have any kid slurping with joy. Blended juice drinks are simply fresh-pressed juice blended with ice. It is perhaps the healthiest Starbucks drink for kids. The resulting drink has a consistency like Frappuccinos but no added sugar or coffee.
Depending on the location, you might find various flavors such as watermelon, orange, apple, mango, apple, raspberry, strawberry, etc.
Tips For Ordering Kids' Drinks At Starbucks
- When it comes to ordering kids' drinks at Starbucks, things are a bit different. Here are some helpful tips:
- Kids' drinks are available in two sizes depending on the drink type. Hot drinks come in the Short size (8 ounces). Cold drinks come in a Tall size (12 ounces).
- You can always customize the pumps of syrup in your kids' drinks. If you're worried about the sugar content, you can request the drink be made with fewer pumps of syrups.
- Sometimes even a Short drink might be big for your little one. What you can do is ask for an empty cup and split the drink between your kids.
- When ordering a hot drink for kids, ask the drink to be served at "kids' temperature." This means the drink will have a temperature of 130°F instead of 160°F. Even adults can take advantage of this temperature to take a sip right after being served instead of waiting for the drink to cool down.
- Chocolate naturally has caffeine. Hence, chocolate-based drinks contain caffeine. There isn't a lot, though. For example, a kid's hot chocolate has 15 mg of caffeine.
- It might be tempting to order Starbucks refreshers for your kids. However, note that popular refreshers like Strawberry Acai Lemonade and Pink Drink contain caffeine as they contain green coffee extract. Stick to the drinks we've mentioned, or better yet, introduce them to a mild brew of Lifeboost at home, ensuring a healthier caffeine-free option.
FAQs
Does Starbucks have a kid size?
Let's get this straight, Starbucks does not have a kid-size officially. But the kid size is just the smallest size available. This means Short (8 ounces) for hot drinks and Tall (12 ounces) for cold drinks.
Does Starbucks have a kids' menu?
No, Starbucks does not have a kids' menu. However, they offer plenty of kid-friendly drinks. We have mentioned the best ones on the list above.
Is coffee OK for kids?
Generally, coffee is not OK for kids. It ultimately depends on the kids' age. While no amount of caffeine is proven safe for kids aged 12 and below, the caffeine recommendation for teens is no more than 100 mg per day.
If you decide to let your teenagers have a bit of coffee, it's safer to make it at home using clean coffee beans. It means the beans should be free from toxins, checked in a 3rd party lab, and USDA-approved. Luckily, you can find such clean coffee right here at Lifeboost Coffee.
Is Babyccino free?
Yes, babyccino is free. But there's a condition. You'll get a babyccino for free if you order another drink at Starbucks.
Is Starbucks Pink Drink for kids?
Starbucks Pink Drink is not for kids under 12 since it contains caffeine. A much safer option is the Purple Drink.
What is the best Starbucks drink for a 10-year-old?
Hot Chocolate, Vanilla Bean Frappuccino (Crème Frappuccino), Strawberry Lemonade, and Caramel Apple Spice are some of the best Starbucks drinks for a 10-year-old.
Check out Lifeboost Coffee Medium Roast Decaf.