Starbucks Refreshers are the perfect drink for when you want a lightly caffeinated beverage that doesn’t taste like coffee and, instead, tastes like fruit.
They’re a mix of green coffee extract and real fruit juice, served hand-shaken over ice, typically with “inclusions” – freeze-dried fruit pieces.
There are many different iterations of these sweet, fruity drinks, so I’m going to cover the 13 best Starbucks Refreshers you need to try.
13 Best Starbucks Refreshers You Need To Try
13. Kiwi Star Fruit Refresher
For a drink that will transport you to the tropics – think an abundance of light, fresh fruit – order up the Kiwi Star Fruit Refresher.
The ingredients in this drink include the Kiwi Star Fruit Refreshers base, which is a blend of white grape concentrate, water, sugar, green coffee extract, watermelon, etc.
Then you also get a scoop of freeze-dried kiwi, plus ice. It’s hand-shaken, of course, and served up in all its bright, sunny yellow glory.
The author at Restaurant Clicks says, “I love that the Kiwi Star Fruit Refresher has such a distinctive and notable taste without being too overwhelming.”
She continues, “It satisfies a sugary fruit craving without diving deep into the richer flavors like mango or berries.”
12. Pink Drink
Where were you on social media when you first heard about the Pink Drink?
This viral sensation started out as on the Starbucks “secret menu,” the result of customer hacks, but Starbucks soon adopted it as its own and put it on the menu for real.
You have a Strawberry Acai base, coconut milk, freeze-dried strawberries, and ice, for a drink that’s as creamy-dreamy as it is light and refreshing.
The author at Tasting Table says, “It’s a lighter version of a great strawberry milkshake – and it’s so satisfying that we stunned ourselves by how fast we drank it.”
11. Dragon Drink
For a more subtle option, consider trying the Dragon Drink.
This beverage combines the mango dragonfruit base with coconut milk and ice. Simple, straightforward, and subtle.
The author at Tasting Table says, “The coconut milk doesn’t overwhelm the tropical flavors and blends nicely into the dragonfruit and mango.”
If the other Refreshers offer a punch of flavor that’s a little too intense for your tastebuds, consider ordering the Dragon Drink.
10. Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade
The author at Restaurant Clicks states, “I love the Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade for its amazing color alone.”
And it’s true – this drink has the most vibrant hue, a bright, fuchsia-y magenta punctuated with the little black dots of the dragonfruit seeds.
It’s made of a combination of the Mango Dragonfruit Refreshers Base, lemonade, freeze-dried dragonfruit and ice.
The author at Restaurant Clicks continues, “Balancing the tropical sweetness with the citrus flavor of the lemonade works wonderfully…”
9. Star Drink
The Star Drink is newer to the Starbucks menu, but it is by no means lesser unless you count the sweetness – it’s a bit less sweet than the Pink Drink.
For that reason, if you’re craving something not-too-sweet but creamy and fruity, the Star Drink is a terrific option.
It’s a combination of Kiwi Star Fruit Refreshers Base, Coconutmilk, freeze-dried kiwis, and ice.
The author at Restaurant Clicks says, “It’s my preferred beverage when it’s too hot outside for coffee…but I still need a refreshing energy boost to get me through the day.”
8. Strawberry Acai Lemonade
For a very berry experience, you can order the Strawberry Acai Lemonade from Starbucks.
Part Strawberry Acai Refresher base, water, freeze-dried strawberries, lemonade, and ice, this drink features flavors of sweet strawberries, as well as passionfruit and acai notes.
And then the lemonade balances everything with its zingy tang, making this drink the ultimate berry refreshment.
7. Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade
For a fully tropical beverage that will make you feel like you’re sipping on a drink on the water’s edge in Hawaii, order the Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade.
This Refresher features the Pineapple Passionfruit Refreshers base, lemonade, freeze-dried pineapple, and ice.
The author at Tasting Table writes, “You might not think that adding acidic lemonade to an already acidic drink would be a good idea…
“…but it turns out that the lemonade base generously fills in the gaps where the pineapple and passionfruit flavors fell short.”
They continue, “The sweetness of the lemonade instantly boosts the pineapple flavor…”
6. Paradise Drink
For a creamier take on the above drink, the Paradise Drink is the Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade, but subbing in Coconutmilk for the lemonade.
It’s got the Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher base, freeze-dried pineapple, and ice, plus Coconutmilk, making it reminiscent of a pina colada.
The author at Elite Daily reports that “pineapple bits bring that flavor a little more to the forefront when you get them in a sip.”
5. Violet Drink
The Pink Drink’s berry cousin, the Violet Drink is “creamy, sweet and tart,” plus the color is so worthy of social media.
Made with the Berry Refresher Base, Coconutmilk, freeze-dried blackberries, and ice, this beverage actually started out on the Starbucks secret menu.
Luckily for Starbucks fans everywhere, though, it made it to the actual menu, so no more “hacking” the menu is required to enjoy this lovely Violet Drink.
4. TikTok Pink Drink
You’ve heard of the Pink Drink – but have you heard of its TikTok alternative?
Fans of the Pink Drink on the TikTok app have a hack for you: Starting with the Pink Drink as the base, substitute heavy cream for coconut milk.
Then, add two scoops of vanilla bean powder and add whipped cream on top.
This drink is ultra-creamy, thanks to the heavy cream in place of the coconut milk, and the vanilla bean powder adds sweetness, as well as an extra flavor dimension.
It’s like taking the Pink Drink and turning it into a milkshake!
However, you can’t ask for “The TikTok Pink Drink”; instead, say:
“Can I get the Pink Drink, substitute heavy cream for the coconut milk, and add two scoops of vanilla bean powder, then top the drink with whipped cream?”
Or, you can order on the app and make all the changes yourself – the app is truly the best friend of the tongue-tied.
3. Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
The Mango Dragonfruit Refresher is really something to look at, with its deep, jewel-tone fuchsia color.
But it’s something to taste, too, starting with the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher base, freeze-dried dragonfruit bits and ice.
Tasting Table also reports there’s a secret menu hack for it; called the Rose Gold Refresher, it nixes the freeze-dried dragonfruit and water.
It then adds peach juice and one pump each of vanilla and raspberry syrup.
This leaves you with a drink that’s rose gold, as the name states, and slightly deeper and richer in flavor than the OG Mango Dragonfruit Refresher.
2. Gummy Bear Refresher
The Gummy Bear Refresher is actually a hack on the Strawberry Acai Refresher and/or Lemonade.
As well as the Strawberry Acai Refresher base and freeze-dried strawberries, you substitute the lemonade for peach juice and add two pumps of raspberry syrup.
It’s sweet, tangy, and refreshing, and totally reminiscent of those chewy gummy bears for which it’s named.
However, to order it, you can’t ask for the Gummy Bear Refresher; instead, say:
“Can I get the Strawberry Acai Lemonade but instead of lemonade, can I get peach juice, plus two pumps of raspberry syrup?”
1. Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher
For an intense berry flavor with floral notes, order the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher, which features the Berry Refresher base, freeze-dried blackberries, and ice.
It’s a must if you like the taste of blackberries, as the freeze-dried bits complement the Refresher base perfectly.
To know more, you can also read our posts on Starbucks Medicine Ball, Starbucks Cold Foam, and Starbucks Honey Blend.
Conclusion
Starbucks Refreshers are the perfect way to get that zing of caffeine but without the taste of coffee.
These 13 Starbucks Refresher drinks are the best of the best, but don’t let that stop you from hacking the menu and making your own – Starbucks is for customizing!
