Every Starbucks Hot Latte, Ranked

When you're out and about and nothing sounds better than a hot latte, Starbucks is one of the most reliable places to go. Not only is there a Starbucks location at just about every corner you might turn onto, Starbucks has an impressive lineup of lattes, including ones that go far beyond that tried-and-true milk and espresso combination.

As someone who is arguably a little too familiar with Starbucks' lattes (largely due to having worked there for several years), I feel very well-equipped to rank all 15 hot lattes that the chain has to offer. To clarify, this ranking encompasses all the hot espresso-based lattes that Starbucks currently boasts on its menu, including the seasonal PSL, protein-infused varieties and their sugar-free counterparts, mochas, and the ever-popular Caramel Macchiato (because as most of us are now well aware of, Starbucks' macchiato is basically just an upside-down latte).

My criteria for what makes a good hot latte is pretty simple. The bare-bones formula needs to be successful first and foremost, meaning I better taste espresso and the milk better be nicely steamed (and ideally there's a foamy head on top, but I wasn't too picky about that). Most of the lattes on this list feature some sort of added flavor, so I based my ranking on how good those flavor additions taste on their own and how well they elevate the latte as a whole.

I love a good pistachio-flavored product, but I'll be the first to admit that it's not the easiest flavor profile to get right. To start, pistachio-flavored products seldom taste like the actual nuts, but I still consider them successful if they capture that general nutty essence and, when appropriate, a nice amount of sweetness. Starbucks' Pistachio Latte accomplished neither of these tasks.

While it wasn't necessarily surprising that this latte was a dud (they can't all be winners), I was somewhat shocked at just how bad this drink was. More than anything, it tasted watered-down, and while I don't think the barista was back there filling my cup with water, I do think the pistachio syrup isn't quite as bold and flavorful as it should be. I don't often say this about Starbucks' drinks, but I actually think Pistachio Latte would have benefitted from added sweetness; as-is, the flavor fell incredibly flat and almost tasted more bitter than sweet. 

A classic hot mocha is one of life's greatest pleasures, but not all mocha sauces are created the same. I remember enjoying Starbucks' mocha sauce well enough back in the day when I was slinging mochas to the masses, but after revisiting it for this ranking, my feelings towards it have notably dipped.

The key to a good mocha is that balance between sweetness, richness, and bitterness. I'd argue that bitter edge is precisely why a mocha has such popularity in the coffee world, but it can't overpower the drink as a whole. The bitterness in Starbucks' Mocha absolutely overpowered the drink, to the point where the first flavor note I picked up on wasn't chocolate or sweetness; it was straight bitterness. This coffee beverage also struck me as strangely watery and not rich, luscious, and creamy as one might hope. I'm not sure if the mocha has gone downhill over the years, or maybe it was never that good, but it definitely did not fare well in this ranking.

Lavender has become quite trendy in recent years, infiltrating everything from baked goods to coffee. There are a few different ways to infuse lavender into a cup of coffee, but for many folks, the easiest way is to swing by Starbucks and pick up a Lavender Latte. After trying the drink for the first time for this ranking, however, I can't say I endorse that particular route.

A good lavender latte is ideally both a little bit floral and a little bit sweet, and those flavor notes need to play off of each other in a sort of mellow way to work. Starbucks' Lavender Latte hits you hard over the head with a floral flavor profile and overt sweetness, but both notes are doing far too much. At the same time, the beverage itself struck me as rather watery with no real depth beyond flowery sweetness, and the espresso was nowhere to be found. A lack of cohesion definitely impacted Lavender Latte's chances at ranking any higher, but I do have to give it some credit, because it no doubt tastes like lavender.

If you're at all familiar with any of my other food reviews or rankings, then it's no secret that I'm not the biggest fan of the protein fad. When I ranked Starbucks iced shaken espressos, the Vanilla Protein one came in dead last place, so it's safe to say that I didn't go into the chain's Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte with high hopes. 

Considering that this SF vanilla rendition ranks as low as it does on this list, it clearly didn't manage to wow me or change my mind on the whole protein-infused coffee thing (which, by the way, comes in the form of a "protein-boosted milk"). But dare I say the bigger issue here was the sugar-free syrup. I wouldn't have necessarily guessed that this was anything but a sugar-free latte, though there was perhaps a slightly chalky aftertaste that may be the key inkling to unmasking the protein plot. But that sugar-free vanilla syrup definitely tasted sugar-free, it was sort of weak in flavor overall, and personally, this just isn't a latte I'd ever get again.

Now that I've got my whole protein and sugar-free spiel out of the way, I can more succinctly lead into the Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte. As one might reasonably guess based on how I felt about the SF vanilla one, this variation wasn't a huge hit in my book. However, the SF caramel flavor simply fared a bit better, giving it a slight edge.

Although I typically prefer vanilla flavor over caramel, I noticed a trend in this hot latte ranking where I was gravitating more towards the caramel drinks. Maybe Starbucks just has a really decent caramel syrup (and SF variant) or maybe the caramel simply shone through better. Either way, while I didn't like the slight chalky flavor and sugar-free aftertaste that this latte had to offer, I at least enjoyed the stronger notes of rich caramel where I could get them. 

Admittedly, I've never been a huge regular latte person. I love plain black coffee, but there's something about a plain latte that just tastes too milky (especially hot ones). So, naturally, it's not incredibly surprising that Starbucks' classic Caffe Latte is ranking pretty low on this list. Plus, with so many successful flavor additions out there, this one didn't stand much of a chance.

I will at least sing praises to the latte's decent balance in flavor. Did it taste overly milky to me? Yes, and the combination of supercharged milk plus heat minus any sweetness or flavor enhancer just isn't a successful formula in my eyes. But to some purists, this is the only latte variation worth ordering at Starbucks, and I have to at least respect the simplicity. It's no-frills, it actually tastes like espresso, and it's not going to bog you down with sugar (but it's also just not for me). 

Back in the heyday of my late teens when copious amounts of sugar didn't even phase me, Starbucks' White Chocolate Mocha was a frequent order of mine. To be fair, I was getting the iced version, but the hot latte version is no doubt a classic, and one that I have fond memories of.

When revisiting the White Chocolate Mocha for this ranking, I still enjoyed it, but I definitely wasn't quite as impressed as I once was. Sure, Starbucks' white mocha sauce is undeniably rich and tasty, but it's so absurdly sweet that I could barely take a few sips of this latte without getting immediate sugar fatigue. Obviously everyone has different sugar tolerances and preferences, so I'm not here to yuck anyone's yum. But realistically, it's hard to imagine anyone slurping one of these bad boys down on the daily, and my teeth hurt just thinking about it. Is Starbucks' White Chocolate Mocha delicious as an occasional treat? Absolutely. But I wouldn't recommend it as a go-to, everyday coffee order.

Just like that, we've found our way back to the protein lattes. The next one to enter the latte realm is the Vanilla Protein, not to be mistaken with Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein. And, as one might expect, the sugar-full version is a step up from the sugar-free version, but I still wouldn't exactly call it a winner.

Something that this latte got right was that warm, subtle vanilla flavor. It was a little bit sweet, a little bit toasty, and very comforting. But that slight chalky flavor (from the protein-infused milk, I assume) is something I have a hard time getting past. I'm sure there's someone out there who truly wouldn't mind or notice that chalky flavor and would appreciate the nutritional boost that this latte has to offer. I'd personally reach for a regular vanilla latte time and time again, but I have to give this one at least some credit, because it was tastier than I expected.

Following the same trend that the sugar-free ones did, regular Caramel Protein Latte proved to be a little bit tastier than Vanilla Protein, but only enough to beat it by a notch. Once again, I appreciated how clearly the caramel notes shone through in this beverage. Sometimes syrups get a little lost in the sauce, and I could especially see that being a problem with a protein milk latte. But the caramel was the star of the show here — minus any sugar-free aftertaste to boot — and it offered up genuinely nice, rich, almost butterscotch-like notes. 

The same slight chalky taste that I noticed in the vanilla version was (unsurprisingly) present here as well, so I could only realistically rank this so high. Of all the protein lattes on the menu, though, I'd confidently and soundly dub full-sugar caramel as the winner in that smaller-sect ranking.

If there's one flavor that's always going to intrigue me, it's coconut. That said, I've noticed that coconut can be a difficult flavor to translate to coffee drinks, and they'll often taste overly sweet or like someone sprayed coconut-scented perfume directly into the cup. Starbucks' Toasted Coconut Latte gave me hope, because if there's one way coconut could truly work in a coffee format, it'd be with the help of some toasty notes.

Although I can't say that this drink lived up to my expectations, I can't call it a complete dud, either. The coconut flavor is a slow-burn, and it doesn't hit you right away. After a moment, a slight coconut note does hit the palate, and it's not entirely unpleasant. It wasn't exactly toasty, though, so I didn't feel confident in putting this one in the top five. I found myself revisiting this latte for more sips, so there's definitely something there — I'd imagine a coconut milk pairing would take it to even greater heights.

There's no denying that pumpkin spice lattes can be a bit divisive, and Starbucks is more or less responsible for starting it all (or at least popularizing the PSL we all love and love to hate). I have never been on the PSL hate train, and in fact, I look forward to enjoying one or two of them when the season rolls around. 

I was not surprised that Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte managed to break into the top five on this list, and if anything, I thought it might rank a touch higher. I love the balance of spices and sweetness in this drink. This may be a controversial take, but I've never found the PSL too sweet. It's got a sugary kick, but those warming spices do a great job of keeping it relatively toned down. Sure, a pumpkin spice latte isn't exactly the type of drink you'll order every time (and in fact you can't, since it is seasonal) but it's a solid and reliable fall-themed treat.

Starbucks' Caramel Macchiato is a menu staple that satisfies both vanilla and caramel lovers. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this drink, largely because it teeters into sweet territory. But there's something about that rich caramel sauce that kept me coming back sip after sip, and that alone made this latte a winner in my book.

For those unfamiliar, Starbucks' Caramel Macchiato is a latte-like concoction that starts with vanilla syrup, then steamed milk, and it's topped with the espresso and a drizzle of caramel sauce. It's warm, cozy, and very comforting, and it sort of hits that sweet-spot of being just as well-suited for a weekly drink as it is an occasional treat. That combination of vanilla and caramel works especially well with the frothy milk, with the espresso doing just enough heavy lifting to remind you that this is, indeed, a coffee drink.

I've always been a big fan of Starbucks' Cinnamon Dolce syrup since my days working there, and that sentiment remains true nearly a decade later. There's always the risk of running into a Red Hots-adjacent, fake cinnamon flavor when it comes to cinnamon syrup. But Starbucks got the formula right with its version, avoiding that imitation cinnamon flavor, and if anything, it's one of the more underrated syrups in the chain's lineup.

What makes the Cinnamon Dolce Latte so successful is that rich, warm flavor that goes beyond plain spiced cinnamon notes. There's some seriously rich and almost buttery undertones going on here, which pair especially well with both espresso and milk. I was a bit disappointed that my Cinnamon Dolce Latte was missing the whipped cream (a few of my drinks were, which I'll address in the methodology slide), but honestly, it almost didn't matter. It only proved how strong Cinnamon Dolce is on its own, and that sweet, spiced, buttery syrup speaks for itself. 

There's no latte variation better suited to be an everyday, go-to drink than a vanilla latte. There's something about that sweet, warm vanilla syrup that works incredibly well with steamed milk and espresso, and dare I say that Starbucks has one of the best variations of such a drink out there.

Some coffee beverages have no frills, some have too many frills, but the vanilla latte has just the right amount. While you could order this drink at Starbucks with any type of espresso, the standard drink comes with Blonde Vanilla Latte, so that's what I went with. I enjoyed how the warm vanilla notes contrasted with the lighter, more acidic blonde espresso, and everything had a nice creamy touch thanks to the steamed milk. The Vanilla Latte is so incredibly reliable, it always hits the spot, and it's one hot drink I'd gladly return to again and again.

If there's one hot latte that I didn't think much of when ordering, it was the Pecan Crunch. I was immediately impressed by this one, though, so much to the point where I felt nearly certainly it would take the top spot after just a couple sips.

I'm not the biggest actual pecan fan, but there was something so incredibly rich, nutty, and delicious about the pecan flavor in this latte. It almost reminded me of the warm nuttiness of hazelnuts. Along with that nuttiness came just the right amount of sweetness, butteriness, and some spiced notes, too. I was blown away by how balanced this drink tasted, and it felt simultaneously special yet also like something I could sip on several times throughout the week. If you love rich, nutty notes in your coffee, then trust me when I say that Starbucks' Pecan Crunch Latte is the real deal, and one hot drink absolutely worth trying.

Since there were quite a few lattes to unpack in this ranking, I opted to place two separate orders on different days to give each drink more one-on-one attention. Otherwise, sampling the lattes came down to sipping and assessing. Important considerations in the ranking included how well a given flavor lived up to its name, how well a flavor blended with the other elements of the latte, sweetness (too much or too little), and if a given drink had any particularly off-putting or strange flavor notes that I just couldn't look past.

It's worth noting that a handful of the lattes on this list — Mocha, White Mocha, Cinnamon Dolce, and PSL — were all supposed to come with whipped cream. I ordered the drinks as-is, meaning whipped cream should have been included by default, but either my barista forgot to add it or my Starbucks location was out. Either way, I didn't let this hiccup hinder the ranking, and if anything, the lack of whipped cream provided easier access to the bulk of the flavors that I was assessing (aka the actual drink/syrup).