15 Bottled And Canned Starbucks Coffees, Ranked
Whether you're an avid rewards member or you only resort to it when nothing else is available, there's no denying that Starbucks is the most popular coffee chain around. First opened in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks has vastly expanded over the decades, and nowadays, it's nearly impossible to turn a street corner without stumbling across a storefront. With such a vast and ever-updating menu, it's hard to resist grabbing a quick pick-me-up from Starbucks while you're out and about — some drinks offer a better value than others, but it's safe to say that there's a Starbucks drink out there that suits nearly anyone's taste buds.
Of course, not everyone has the time (or funds) to head over to their local Starbucks every day, and the corporation seems well aware of this. Over the years, Starbucks beverages have expanded to canned and bottled versions of their iconic drinks, sold at gas stations and just about any grocery chain that carries pre-packed beverages. From the iconic glass-bottle Frappuccinos to the tiny-but-mighty canned espressos, Starbucks offers quite a variety of canned and bottled beverages, and we're here to tell you which ones are worth the price and which ones are worth skipping. Whether you like your coffee with minimal add-ins or you want it so sweet you can't actually taste the coffee, these options have you covered, and for a fraction of the price you might pay in an actual Starbucks.
15. Mocha Doubleshot Energy
If there's one drink that threw us for a flavor loop — and not in a good way — it would be the mocha Doubleshot Energy. Somehow this drink tastes nothing like mocha and tastes, amazingly, like cotton candy; a big win for cotton candy lovers, perhaps, but a big loss for everyone else.
Maybe the unnecessary addition of ginseng and guarana makes this drink so unpalatable. Or perhaps it's the fact that the main flavor that is supposed to stand out — mocha — is nowhere to be found. Trust us, we kept on sipping, but we found no mocha, devastating as it is. We know for a fact that Starbucks can do mocha flavor well, as exemplified by drinks like the mocha Frappuccino. Unfortunately, the mocha Doubleshot misses the mark big time, so unless you're absolutely desperate for caffeine and there are no other options, then it's best to avoid this flavor at all costs.
14. Caffè Mocha Tripleshot Energy
We can't think of many reasons why Starbucks decided to introduce a Tripleshot energy drink when the Doubleshot already exists, but here we are. Sure, some people need a lot of caffeine — and we mean a lot of caffeine — to get through the day, and we're not here to judge. If you're one of those people, then the whopping 225 milligrams of caffeine that the caffè mocha Tripleshot has to offer may entice you. But we're here to warn you to steer clear at all costs, as nearly any coffee or energy drink would be a better option than this stomach-churning monstrosity.
Interestingly enough, purely basing this drink on its mocha flavor, we do rank it slightly above the mocha Doubleshot; that's not to say that it tastes better as a drink overall, but that it at least manages to taste somewhat like mocha and coffee, which is more than the Doubleshot can say. Unless you are absolutely desperate for a caffeine boost, it's best to avoid the mocha Tripleshot — the aftertaste is reminiscent of nail polish remover, so that should be a good enough warning for this one.
13. Coffee Frappuccino
Those who frequent Starbucks often (or realistically engage with any form of social media) have likely at least come across a Frappuccino, or possibly even enjoyed one of the frozen beverages themselves. Interestingly, a Starbucks bottled Frappuccino looks nothing like an actual Frappuccino, as it's not frozen and doesn't come decked out with whipped cream and excess garnishes. Nevertheless, these bottled Frappuccinos have been gracing grocery store shelves since 1996, and the test of time has more than proven their long-lasting popularity.
Of course, not all of the bottled Frappuccino flavors are going to be as good as others, and the classic coffee flavor comes in last place on this list. Interestingly, despite having no added flavor (like mocha and vanilla), the coffee Frappuccino packs in the most sugar of all of them at 34 grams of added sugar. And hey, if you enjoy sweet coffees, then this is definitely the drink for you. But be warned that the sweetness is almost so intense that it cancels everything else out. It tastes a bit like coffee, but mostly just tastes like a sickly-sweet mess.
12. Espresso Salted Caramel Cream
There are several caramel-flavored coffees on this list, and as you read, you'll discover that many earn pretty high rankings. Because of the overall success of Starbucks' caramel flavor, we had lots of hope for the Espresso with Salted Caramel Cream — but, unfortunately, it left us feeling wildly disappointed.
When you crack open one of these tiny cans and take a tiny sip, you get slapped with an overwhelming, sickly-sweet caramel flavor. It tastes like one of those caramel candies that everyone's grandma always seems to have in stock, and we don't mean that as a compliment. The flavor is simply too concentrated in this drink, but perhaps that's what you sign up for with an espresso beverage. It packs a big punch in a little can, and if you enjoy salted caramel, then you won't absolutely hate this one. However, you'd be much better off enjoying any of Starbucks' other canned caramel offerings, as they simply capture the caramel flavor profile much better than this espresso does.
11. French Vanilla Tripleshot Energy
If, against all warnings, the caffeine content of the Starbucks Tripleshot Energy drinks is simply too enticing, then it's best to go with the French Vanilla flavor. It boasts all of the things that make the other Tripleshots (and Doubleshots, for that matter), pretty unpalatable, which is why this flavor doesn't rank very high on the list. But, as we said, if you absolutely insist on drinking a Tripleshot Energy as your source of caffeine, then the French vanilla flavor is a bit better than the mocha one.
At first sip, this beverage doesn't seem too bad, and you just get vanilla notes mixed in with coffee. But then that aftertaste hits, perhaps not as strong as it does with the mocha flavor, but it's definitely there. The French vanilla flavor tastes just a touch creamier than the mocha one, and that's what works to its advantage — not a super compelling advantage, but one nonetheless.
10. Cold & Crafted Coffee with a Splash of Milk and Mocha
We wanted to like the Cold & Crafted coffee, especially because it seemingly would strike a balance between straight-up coffee and added sweet flavors, without reaching into Frappuccino-level sweet territory. Unfortunately, this coffee — which features a splash of milk and mocha — just tastes more bland than anything else. The mocha flavor just barely comes through, and the "splash" of milk was clearly taken quite creatively (and by creatively, we mean omitted almost entirely).
A big reason that this coffee doesn't work is that it doesn't have that strong cold brew flavor, despite cold brew coffee being the main ingredient. Instead, it tastes like coffee that was brewed hot and then poured over ice; sure, it gets the job done, but at what cost? The cost of any and all flavor, we're afraid to say, but the good news is that there aren't any unsettling or funky flavors here. You won't gag on this one, so we have to give it points for at least being generally palatable.
9. Dark Cocoa Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew
If you've never enjoyed the creamy, frothy goodness that is a nitro cold brew, then we wouldn't recommend Starbucks' Dark Cocoa Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew as your first one. Straight from the tap, nitro cold brew is incredibly smooth and bursting with flavor. Starbucks has attempted to replicate that consistency in a canned version, and we're not here to hate on all of the chain's canned nitro — for the most part, they're actually pretty good.
Unfortunately, the dark cocoa flavor just doesn't pop the way one might hope. It's incredibly bland, and while the hints of cocoa do pair well with the flavor of black coffee, it's just not enough to really make up for the lackluster nature of the drink as a whole. Allegedly this drink also features sweet cream, but no creaminess can be found. The drink is pretty smooth and not too sweet, but this flavor is forgettable at best.
8. Coffee Doubleshot Energy
The coffee-flavored Doubleshot Energy is one of the most clear-cut examples of a perfectly "meh" beverage. It's not overly oppressive, especially in comparison with the mocha-flavored Doubleshot, but it's nowhere near top-tier. The coffee flavor shines through well enough, though it tastes more like artificial coffee flavor than actual coffee, which seems a bit silly to us, as it could very easily just taste like actual coffee. But when it comes to these Doubleshots, which can be very hit or miss, we'll take palatable flavors when we can get them.
It would be a lie to say that the coffee Doubleshot doesn't feature a strange aftertaste, but it is true that it's somehow not at unbearable as with other flavors. This drink is ideal for those who want a strong caffeine hit and don't enjoy added flavors like vanilla, mocha, or caramel. What you see is what you get with the coffee Doubleshot, and while it's far from our favorite coffee on this list, we appreciate its simplicity.
7. Vanilla Frappuccino
When it comes to choosing a flavor, especially in the context of coffee, vanilla is almost always a safe bet. Who doesn't enjoy a vanilla latte, or a pump of vanilla in their iced coffee? Even artificial vanilla somehow still tastes pretty good, and it's pretty difficult to mess up the classic warm, sweet flavor profile.
We're not going to go as far as to say that Starbucks messed up the vanilla flavor in its vanilla Frappuccino, but we are going to say that it's most definitely not the best flavor variation available. It leaves something to be desired, as the vanilla doesn't stand out too much. We have to give the vanilla Frappuccino some points here because it's much better than the plain coffee flavor. That said, the main flavor profile is more "sweet" than anything else, so it'd be nice if the sweetness was tampered down just a smidge and the vanilla flavor was increased just a smidge.
6. Caramel Doubleshot Energy
The good news about Caramel Doubleshot Energy is that the caramel flavor shines through nicely, and anyone who enjoys the flavor is bound to enjoy this drink. The bad news is that, like the other drinks on this list that feature the ginseng and guarana additions, there's an aftertaste that is a little bit funky. It's not entirely off-putting, and luckily, the strong caramel flavor masks it pretty decently, but it's lurking, and once you think you've gotten the full flavor impact... bam. Weird aftertaste.
Any funky flavors aside, the caramel Doubleshot is ideal for those who are looking for quite the energy boost. Like the other Doubleshots on this list, the caramel variation features 135 milligrams of caffeine — quite a bit, or at least enough to kick-start your morning. If you like caramel flavor, then this is a good option, though it doesn't beat a straight-up iced caramel latte by any means. It does, however, beat out all other Doubleshot flavors, and for that reason alone, the caramel Doubleshot has found a comfortable upper-middle-ground spot on this list.
5. Mocha Frappuccino
We know that Starbucks is capable of terribly missing the mark when it comes to mocha flavor, but it's also capable of nailing it. Case in point: the mocha Frappuccino. This sweet beverage is a creamy, chocolatey delight, and nearly any palate will appreciate the harmony of flavors that come together in this bottle.
Unlike the mocha Doubleshot or Tripleshot, the Frappuccino doesn't have any bizarre, lingering aftertastes. It just tastes like mocha, albeit a very sweet version of it, so some people may sip on this beverage and yearn for a little bitterness that mocha sometimes has to offer. But that's really the only complaint we can muster up for this frap, and the only reason it isn't more highly ranked is that there are other flavors that are somehow even better. While we wouldn't necessarily recommend drinking a mocha Frappuccino first thing in the morning, as it leans more heavily on sugar than it does caffeine, it's a great option for a sweet treat on a hot day.
4. White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino
Fans who flock towards hot or iced White Chocolate Mochas at Starbucks are in for a real treat with the bottled Frappuccino version of the drink. As far as the white chocolate flavor goes, it really is incredibly close to that of the actual white chocolate sauce they serve at Starbucks — not an easy feat, as proven by other, less successful drinks on this list.
There's something about the white chocolate flavor that works remarkably well in a creamy, milky context, better than any of the other flavors. It's incredibly smooth and, though the coffee flavor isn't very strong, it's especially ideal for those who don't really like the taste of coffee. The only downside, which will likely come as no surprise, is that this drink is very, very sweet. All of the Frappuccinos are, so we can't really fault the white chocolate one for it, but this one tastes perhaps the sweetest of them all.
3. Espresso and Cream
Smooth, creamy, and refreshingly simple, the Espresso with Cream is eons better than the Espresso with Salted Caramel Cream. Starbucks' Espresso drinks aren't bad by any means — in fact, they're actually quite genius, packing a hefty amount of caffeine into a little container. These little canned espressos are perfect for those who want a boost but don't want to drink an entire tallboy to get it (looking at you, Doubleshots and Tripleshots).
As we mentioned, the Espresso with Cream is quite simple, and compared to the other flavors on this list, that feature works very well to its advantage. Sure, the quickest and most effective way to reap the caffeine benefits of espresso is to just drink it straight. But not everyone enjoys the flavor of black coffee, much less black espresso, which is notoriously very, very strong. So this cream-infused version is a good middle-ground between black coffee and sugary, milky lattes.
2. Caramel Frappuccino
The caramel flavor has been mostly successful on this list, and the caramel Frappuccino is no exception. In fact, this bottled beverage is taking the second place slot, as the caramel flavor not only works here, but it tastes incredibly delicious. Unlike the Espresso with Salted Caramel and Cream, the caramel in this Frappuccino tastes just like the caramel sauce that Starbucks offers in store, and not like an outdated candy.
There's also something about the caramel flavor that works so well with the creamy, milky nature of the drink itself. Both the caramel and milk have a certain richness about them, and together, they blend to form a perfectly harmonious drink. The coffee flavor isn't too strong here — that can be said about all of the Frappuccino drinks — but when hints of coffee do pop up, they work wonderfully with the milk and caramel. If you enjoy Starbucks' Iced Caramel Macchiato, then you'll definitely like the caramel Frappuccino, which boasts similarly sweet and creamy flavors.
1. Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew
While Starbucks' Dark Cocoa Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew isn't very successful, the exact opposite can be said about the Vanilla Sweet Cream flavor, which finds itself in the top slot on this list. It's not a landslide, as all of the drinks in the top five spots are notably good, but the vanilla nitro cold brew does really edge out the competition for a few important reasons.
First and foremost, this drink strikes a balance that few of the other drinks on this list have managed to find. It's sweet but not too sweet, tastes like vanilla without being overbearing, and has a nice strong coffee flavor without tasting overtly bitter. The nitro aspect of the cold brew works well here, adding an extra layer of creaminess that works oh-so-well with the vanilla flavor. Featuring just the right amount of caffeine, sweetness, and flavor, we can safely say that you won't be disappointed if you pick up one of these cans to start your morning.