Favorites You Know And Flops You Don’t

At Starbucks, every sip tells a story—but not all stories are loved. While some drinks are celebrated with fanfare and long lines, others vanish from the menu, barely missed. As you read on, you’ll find two kinds of items—those that have soared to iconic status and those that slipped into obscurity. The drinks listed reveal what customers crave and what they leave behind. Let’s kick it off with the unpopular ones.

1. Chai Crème Frappuccino

Frequently cited by baristas as one of the least-ordered Frappuccinos, many find it too sweet without enough spice, unlike traditional chai. It also lacks caffeine, which turns off customers seeking an energy boost. Many regular chai drinkers prefer the hot tea latte version.

2. Blended Strawberry Lemonade

Despite its kid-friendly flavor, this drink has been quietly discontinued in some stores due to low demand. The absence of coffee, tea, or caffeine limits its appeal among core Starbucks consumers. Also, the drink's visual simplicity made it less Instagrammable than competitors.

3. Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew

Launching during a time of menu oversaturation may have contributed to its obscurity. It was removed from several regional menus after sales failed to meet projections. Even during Starbucks’ cold brew boom and plant-based push, it failed to gain traction.

4. Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink

Some customers complained it tasted more like candy than fruit. Originally part of Starbucks’ dairy-free Refreshers line, it failed to rival the Pink or Dragon Drink. Customer interest waned just months after its debut, and it was quietly discontinued.

5. Chestnut Praline Latte

Despite heavy holiday marketing, it consistently trails behind Peppermint Mocha and PSL in sales. It returns each winter but with lower reorder rates than other seasonal offerings. The nutty flavor doesn’t resonate with customers who expect sweet and bold holiday flavors.

6. Caffè Misto

A low cost doesn't stop it from being frequently ranked as one of the least ordered hot beverages. Most customers don’t know it exists or confuse it with a latte, and its plain composition makes it unmemorable to many.

7. Iced Golden Ginger Drink

It was designed to capitalize on the turmeric wellness trend but failed to sustain it. The bold yellow color intrigued many but turned off others unfamiliar with ginger. Due to low interest and weak seasonal performance, it was permanently removed from the menu.

8. Pistachio Latte

Even though this drink has returned for multiple seasons, it has never reached top-tier seasonal drink status. It’s often removed early from seasonal rotations because of limited sales. Fans of nutty drinks find it too sweet, while sweet drink lovers find it too earthy.

9. Serious Strawberry Frappuccino

Sales plummeted after initial hype, leading to its removal in some regions. Customers expected a bold strawberry flavor but often found it bland or overly milky. Even strawberry lovers tended to prefer the classic Strawberries & Crème option.

10. Iced Clover Brewed Coffee

Originally marketed as a "connoisseur’s brew," it didn’t match the casual vibe of most Starbucks orders. Its premium pricing and niche brewing method made it unpopular with general customers. After Clover machine removals across many U.S. stores, it was widely discontinued.

Now, let’s switch up to Starbucks' most popular drink options.

1. Pink Drink

In 2023, Pink Drink was one of Starbucks’ top 5 mobile-ordered beverages nationwide. Loved for its striking pink hue and creamy coconut milk blend, it’s a photo-friendly favorite. It gained explosive popularity after going viral on TikTok, with hundreds of millions of views under related hashtags.

2. Pumpkin Spice Latte

With over 100 million units sold, it is Starbucks’ most successful seasonal drink ever. This drink has generated more than $100 million in annual revenue during peak seasons. Devoted fans celebrate its return yearly and refer to it as the “PSL.”

3. Caramel Macchiato

Here comes one of the top 5 ordered espresso-based drinks in Starbucks history. Known for its signature layered presentation with caramel drizzle, it continues to rank high on loyalty card user preferences and app favorites. It was introduced in 1996 for Starbucks’ 25th anniversary.

4. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

This drink became Starbucks’ fastest-growing dairy-free espresso drink in 2021. Frequently landing in the top 10 of most customized and reordered items, its extra-long name has inspired countless memes. The two major trends it taps into are oat milk and “shaken” espresso prep methods.

5. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

A consistent crowd-pleaser during summer for its balance of bold and sweet, it was one of the most reordered cold drinks among app users in 2022 and 2023. It’s also touted as a smoother alternative to sweetened iced coffee with fewer calories.

6. Iced White Chocolate Mocha

This drink is among the top-selling iced espresso drinks across multiple U.S. regions. Among younger demographics and iced drink enthusiasts, it’s a perennial favorite. Known for its creamy, dessert-like flavor with espresso undertones, it’s frequently recommended by baristas for those transitioning from Frappuccinos.

7. Java Chip Frappuccino

Packed with chocolate chips and mocha sauce, it's basically a drinkable dessert. It maintains a top spot in Frappuccino sales, especially among younger audiences, and continues to appear in Starbucks' “Top 10 Beverages” by units sold. Starbucks Rewards promotional campaigns feature it regularly.

8. Iced Matcha Latte

As matcha gained trend traction, this drink saw a sales surge in 2022. Routinely ranked among top 3 non-coffee drinks ordered by Gen Z, it’s valued for its earthy, energizing qualities and antioxidant content. With its pastel green hue and layered presentation, it’s highly photogenic.

9. Iced Caramel Cloud Macchiato

It was among the highest-selling new drink launches of 2019, and it repeatedly appears on trending TikTok drinks lists due to its frothy texture. Launched in partnership with pop star Ariana Grande, it’s known for its airy “cloud foam” made with egg whites.

10. Dragon Drink

Even though it’s sometimes mistaken for acai-based drinks due to its bright hue, it’s also loved for its sweet, tropical flavor and stunning color. During summer, it’s popular, and it frequently sells out in warm-weather markets. Since its 2019 release, it has consistently ranked in the top 5 Refreshers sold.