Anyone with experience with babies—whether it’s your own kids or a lucrative babysitting gig—knows that you can’t take them anywhere without some “I want (fill in the blank).” Kids are naturally curious, and if they see you sipping a latte or a lively Starbucks refresher, they’ll want it too. Of course, there’s no way we’re going to hand a caffeinated frappuccino to a man with already unlimited energy. These nine caffeine-free drinks will satisfy any kid’s “want” on a hot spring day.
Caffeine-free drinks at Starbucks
Kids aside, sometimes adults need a refreshing drink with a little less fizz to it. Whether you’ve already had your morning coffee or it’s 3pm and you want something fun and sweet to get you through a never-ending afternoon, the drinks below can appeal to adults too.
Remember, decaf is always an option, too. If you like the taste of coffee but don’t want to interrupt your beauty sleep, you can order anything decaf (except the refresher, which contains green coffee extract). A decaf soy mocha on a chilly evening or a decaf brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso on a balmy spring night can both be exceptional.
A final note about caffeine: Blonde roasts actually have slightly more caffeine than medium and dark roasts. For example, a Grand Blonde Roast coffee contains 360 mg of caffeine compared to the same size Pike Roast which contains 310 mg of caffeine. If you need a pick-me-up but are sensitive to caffeine, swap out any Blonde Espresso shot (which is automatically included in the Iced Shaken Espresso) for the Classic Signature Espresso.
9 Kid-Friendly Vegetarian Drinks at Starbucks
From blended frappuccinos (hold the whip) to brightly colored lemonade mixers, here are nine great Starbucks drinks to order for kids from toddlers to tweens.
@eatwell_atsbu/Instagram
1 Herbal Iced Tea
Starbucks can make an iced version of any loose leaf tea available in the store. Mint Majesty, Peach Tranquility and Comfort Brewed Wellness Tea are all good choices. For a fun, hot-pink twist on lemonade, order your kids an Iced Passion Tango Tea Lemonade.
@laurynbosstick/Instagram
2 purple drink
Not to be confused with the caffeine-spiked pink and violet drinks, the purple drink is an equally colorful fruit drink that won’t send kids into a tailspin. Ask for a blend of Passion Tango iced tea, organic soy or coconut milk, a pump of vanilla syrup and blackberries — stir, no stir.
Evolution is fresh
3 Evolution is fresh juice
Let your kid pick out an organic, 100-percent juice from the store’s refrigerated section while you wait to order your cold brew. Flavors include Organic Super Fruit Greens, Mighty Watermelon, Orange, Vital Berry and Defense Up (a vitamin-C-packed tropical blend of fruits). Ask the barista for a tall cup with ice, then pour juice over ice so your kid feels like they’re sipping a custom-made drink just like the adults.
@Notice/Instagram
4 Chocolate milk
Baristas can add a pump or two of vegan-friendly chocolate syrup to the non-dairy offerings for custom chocolate milk. Choose from soy, almond, coconut, or oat milk for your kids’ chocolate-infused drinks. Ask for freeze dried strawberry slices for a fun and fruity addition.
@payalinseattle
5 Hazelnut milk
Honestly, you can do this with any flavor (toffenut, toasted vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon dollops, etc.), but hazelnut is a crowd-pleaser no matter the age. Add a tall cup of almond milk (or oat or soy) with two pumps of hazelnut syrup and you have custom-made, perfectly sweetened hazelnut milk. Nutrition tip for parents: Soy milk has the most protein and calcium among Starbucks non-dairy milk alternatives. If you want to sneak in some nutrients with your kids’ “fun” drinks, choose soy.
@theherbivorefrog/Instagram
6 Frappuccino Cream
Not all Frappuccinos are created equal (or vegan). In fact, there are thousands of ways to customize these blended drinks—one of which is to create (vegan) cream-based, coffee-free concoctions. Vanilla bean cream and strawberries and cream are kid-friendly staples—just be sure to ask for no whipped cream. Also stay away from anything made with caramel sauce and java chips, as both contain dairy. Barista Tip: Add a dollop of hazelnut syrup to vanilla or strawberry crème for a cake batter-inspired flavor kids (and adults) will love.
Spin drift
7 Flavorful Spindrift
Swap the soda for a can of sparkling water. Let your child choose from grapefruit or raspberry lime, then ask your barista for a tall cup with ice and fresh strawberries. Pour the chilled can over ice and fruit for a fizzy, caffeine-and-sugar-free refresher.
@mezzmozzarella/Instagram
8 Blended Strawberry Lemonade
Blended Strawberry Lemonade is a menu staple you can order by name, or get creative and try lemonade mixed with peach, mango, or raspberry syrups for a smoothie-like drink with just the right amount of pucker for kids.
Starbucks
9 Some decaf
Almost everything at Starbucks can be decaffeinated, outside of refreshers and nitro cold brew. Does your preteen want a more adult option? Try an iced cinnamon Dolce latte with decaf blonde espresso, soy milk, no whip, and replace the Dolce sprinkles (which contain dairy) with nutmeg or chocolate powder. Frappuccinos can also be remade without caffeine by subbing decaffeinated shots. Cut back on the sugar by opting for a decaf caramel frappuccino with sugar-free syrup (made with Splenda, FYI), no whip and no drizzle.