How To Order At Starbucks
Unless you’re a regular, you may find ordering a drink at Starbucks an overwhelming and intimidating experience. One of the reasons for this is that it is usually hard enough to remember all the details of your drink, so adding other information can make you lose your cool.
There are just too many things on the menu for busy Starbucks baristas to explain it all when you step inside. Luckily, whether you want a simple coffee or a special seasonal drink with all the fixings, there is a simple process for ordering at Starbucks.
Today, we will help you get an idea of the range of sizes of cups at Starbucks, along with different flavored coffees at Starbucks. Now let’s figure out how to build that perfect order!
Ordering At Starbucks
To make things easier for your Starbucks barista, you can use this recommended sequence when placing your order.
Choose Your Temperature
You must specify whether you prefer your drink hot or iced, as this will determine the cup your barista grabs when taking your order.
What Size?
Most Starbucks drinks do not only come in small, medium, or large sizes. As a result, when making your order, you will have to apply some Starbucks terminology as it applies to their drink size options:
- Short – eight ounces
- Tall – twelve ounces
- Grande – sixteen ounces
- Venti (Hot) – twenty ounces
- Venti (Cold) – twenty-four ounces (the extra space is for the ice)
- Trenta – thirty-one ounces
Once you choose the size and temperature, the next thing would be to look at what add-ons could make your Starbucks order special.

Pick Out Syrups
Depending on what you like, you can add a touch of sweetness to your order with some syrup options. Some of the tasty flavors available include caramel, vanilla, chestnut praline, hazelnut, etc. You can let the barista know how many pumps you want.
Add Milk
Some of the milk options you can add to your order at Starbucks right now include non-fat, one percent, half, and whole—along with heavy cream. You can also opt for non-dairy options such as coconut, almond, or soy milk.
Don’t Forget Your Drink Type!
When making your order at Starbucks, you should also specify the kind of drink you want, for instance, latte, macchiato, mocha, or whatever your heart desires.
Personalize With Customizations
At Starbucks, you can truly personalize your drink by adding or omitting ingredients and making any special adjustments you want. For instance, you could request a caramel drizzle, light ice, or extra foam.
If you order a skinny drink, you will be getting non-fat milk, no whipped cream, and sugar-free syrups.
Putting It All Together
Once you have followed the above steps, your order at Starbucks should sound something like, “iced grande nonfat vanilla latte.” If that makes sense, you are ready to make an order from the Starbucks menus! Simply start with the size and temperature of your preferred drink, and then the rest will follow.
You can even order right from your digital device, making the ordering experience much easier and more accessible. Be it on the phone, tablet, or laptop, your next Starbucks order is right at your fingertips.
All you need to do is explore the menu, customize your order to just how you like it, and find the store location that is best for you to place the order at, then go pick it up!
We cover other topics around Starbucks on our blog as well, such as looking into if Starbucks cups can be recycled – so be sure to check out that post and others if you’re interested.