The Best Starbucks Refreshers to Try this Year!
Imagine it’s a hot summer day, you are sweating and feel sluggish because you just had lunch. And you wonder if there is a special drink you could have to give you a boost to make it through the afternoon. The answer is to try one of the best Refreshers at Starbucks!
And what is that you ask?
Well, Starbucks refreshers are lightly caffeinated iced drinks made with green coffee extract and fruit juice. These refreshers are like cold fruit juice with caffeine, and they don't even taste like coffee!
With that knowledge at hand, you finally make it to a Starbucks, and then the barista asks you which inclusions you want, but alas, you are at a loss of words because in your head you’re like, what the heck is that?
Don’t fret though because we are here to guide you through the world of refreshers. We will list of the best Starbucks refreshers that you must try, including details like the amount of caffeine in the different Starbucks cup sizes and ingredients. We will also learn a bit about the world of Starbucks Refreshers.
So, the next time you decide to visit Starbucks, you will look like a pro when you order one of these drinks!
And the barista will love you for that.
Oh, and be sure to check this page often! Starbucks changes their Refreshers menu from time to time!
What are the Best Starbucks Refreshers?
Now that you are familiar with all the variations of the Starbucks refreshers, it is time to get into the best Starbucks refreshers.
Insider Tip: If you are trying the Starbucks refreshers for the first time, then you can ask your barista for a sample of each of the drinks. But be mindful if your barista is busy!
Here are the most popular Starbucks refreshers:
- Paradise Drink Refresher
This refreshing drink with pineapple and coconut milk will transport you to paradise! - Strawberry Açaí Lemonade Refresher
A thirst-quenching Strawberry Açaí drink made with lemonade. - Pink Drink
This much loved “Instagram worthy” Starbucks refresher is a must-try! - Dragon Drink
Starbucks defines the Dragon Drink as, a “tropical, crave-able combination of fruity and creamy refreshment.” - Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher
This pineapple and passionfruit refresher has chunks for dried pineapple for a true tropical experience. - Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade Refresher
If you like tropical flavors, then this lemonade while quench your thirst while making you believe you're in the Caribbean! - Strawberry Açaí Refresher
This drink is vibrant with strawberry and passion fruit flavors, accented with açaí notes. - Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
This tropical drink comes with real pieces of dragonfruit. - Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher
If you enjoyed the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher, then try this one for an added oomph! - Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher - Currently not available
Imagine if blackberries and hibiscus had a baby, then this is how the Very Berry Hibiscus refresher would taste. - Kiwi Starfruit Refresher - Currently not available
This is the perfect choice for all the kiwi fans out there. - Violet Drink - Currently not available
A great variation of the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher. This drink brings together the flavors of hibiscus and blackberries along with coconut milk. - Star Drink - Currently not available
In this drink, the kiwi starfruit juice is swirled with creamy coconut milk.
1. Paradise Drink Refresher
Overview
First drink on the list, this Starbucks refresher is certainly the best Starbucks Refresher on my list. At first I was a bit skeptical of the pineapple inclusions, but they pack a great punch of tropical flavor. And what beats the combination of pineapple and coconut? Nothing!
| Ingredients: | Ice, Pineapple Passionfruit Refreshers Base, Coconutmilk, Freeze Dried Pineapple | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 110 (Tall) 140 (Grande) 200 (Venti) 270 mg (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
The most tropical Starbucks drink in Starbucks and the most delicious one (according to me!)
2. Strawberry Açaí Lemonade Refresher
Overview
The classic Strawberry Açaí with ice-cold lemonade is the perfect drink for this summer. It never gets old and suits most occasions and tastes! This drink is lightly caffeinated; just enough to get your day started!
| Ingredients: | Ice, Strawberry Açaí Refresher Base, Lemonade, Freeze Dried Strawberries | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 110 (Tall) 140 (Grande) 200 (Venti) 280 mg (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
A quintessential Starbucks drink that is both refreshing and revitalizing.
3. Pink Drink
Overview
I am sure that you have seen the Starbucks Pink drink all over your Instagram. This “Instagrammable” drink tastes just as amazing as it looks! This is thanks to the creamy mix of coconut milk and strawberries.
Don't forget to take a selfie with this beauty!
| Ingredients: | Ice, Strawberry Açaí Refresher Base, Coconutmilk, Freeze Dried Strawberries | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 110 (Tall) 140 (Grande) 200 (Venti) 270 mg (Treta) |
Bottom Line
And post that selfie on a Wednesday, because on "Wednesdays we wear pink!"
4. Dragon Drink
Overview
If you're in the mood for a tropical drink, then this is the best option for you! This drink is made with a creamy coconut base, pieces of dragonfruit, and of course, ice. Then the barista shakes the ingredients in a shaker like Shakira shakes her hips on stage!
| Ingredients: | Ice, Mango Dragonfruit Refresher Base, Coconutmilk, Freeze Dried Dragonfruit | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 110 (Tall) 130 (Grande) 190 (Venti) 270 (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
Unlike the name of the drink, it is sweet and icy - no fire or smoke involved here!
5. Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher
Overview
If you're in a summery mood (and it does not have to be summer for that!) then you must try this pineapple and passionfruit flavor refresher. The freeze dried pineapple chunks will bring back memories from the summer!
| Ingredients: | Ice, Pineapple Passionfruit Refreshers Base, Freeze Dried Pineapple | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 80 (Tall) 100 (Grande) 140 (Venti) 190 (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
Have this refresher to mentally escape winter suffering!
6. Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade Refresher
Overview
Who would have imagined that pineapple, passionfruit and lemonade go so well together! This tropical acidic drink will blow your thirst away!
| Ingredients: | Ice, Mango Dragonfruit Refresher Base, Coconutmilk, Freeze Dried Dragonfruit | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 110 (Tall) 140 (Grande) 210 (Venti) 290 (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
If you like sour drinks, then this refresher will not sour your day. Drink it to make your thirst sour away!
7. Strawberry Açaí Refresher
Overview
This is one of the most beloved Starbucks refreshers. The sweet taste of strawberries infused with the notes of passionfruit and açaí is something to die for! Many people believe Strawberry Açaí is the best refresher flavor!
| Ingredients: | Ice, Strawberry Açaí Refresher Base, Freeze Dried Strawberries | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 80 (Tall) 90 (Grande) 130 (Venti) 190 (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
This drink is definitely one of the most delicious refreshers on the Starbucks menu. Try it out if you don't believe me...
8. Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
Overview
If you are looking for the most exotic thirst quencher, then I present you with the best refresher for that, the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher. This iced beverage comes with bits of real dragonfruit, which are heavenly when mixed with the sweetness of tropical mango.
| Ingredients: | Ice, Mango Dragonfruit Refresher Base, Freeze Dried Dragonfruit, Water | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 70 (Tall) 90 (Grande) 130 (Venti) 180 (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
If possible, can we rename this Starbucks refresher to the Starbucks Tropics Drink?
9. Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher
Overview
We established that the Mango Dragonfruit refresher is a great thirst quencher. With the addition of Starbucks Lemonade, you get a little zing in your sweet drink!
| Ingredients: | Ice, Mango Dragonfruit Base, Freeze Dried Dragonfruit, Lemonade | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 70 (Tall) 90 (Grande) 130 (Venti) 180 (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
This deadly good combination of mango and dragonfruit is everything that you need on a hot summer day.
10. Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher
Overview
The Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher is made with real fruit juice that is shaken with ice and blackberries (ask for a lot of them!). This drink is definitely one of the classic Starbucks Refresher drinks!
| Ingredients: | Ice, Berry Refresher Base, Water, Freeze Dried Blackberries | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 50 (Tall) 70 (Grande) 90 (Venti) 130 (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
Unfortunately, you will not find this classic drink on the Starbucks menu, but you can certainly still order it!
11. Kiwi Starfruit Starbucks Refresher
Overview
The Kiwi Starfruit Refresher is a blessing in disguise for all you kiwi fans out there. You will get bits of real kiwi fruit in this hand-shaken drink combined with starfruit-flavored juice and ice.
| Ingredients: | Ice, Kiwi Starfruit Refresher Base, Water, Freeze Dried Kiwi | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 70 (Tall) 90 (Grande) 130 (Venti) 180 (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
One of my favorite new Starbucks Refreshers, I prefer it with less ice and extra starfruit juice.
12. Violet Drink
Overview
Roses are red, violets are blue, and this is probably the most beautiful-looking purple drink for you! Plus the drink tastes as good as it looks. This Violet drink features hibiscus and blackberries flavors, swirled with a nice dose of creamy coconut milk.
| Ingredients: | Ice, Berry Refresher Base, Coconutmilk, Freeze Dried Blackberries | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 90 (Tall) 110 (Grande) 160 (Venti) 220 (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
Did you like our rhyme? Then have some vibrant violet in your day with this beautiful and soothing drink!
13. Star Drink
Overview
The last drink on the list of the most popular Starbucks Refreshers is the Star Drink. The hand-shaken beverage comes with real pieces of kiwi mixed with starfruit juice. The added refreshing coconut milk adds a very nice dimension to this drink.
| Ingredients: | Ice, Kiwi Starfruit Refresher Base, Coconutmilk, Freeze Dried Kiwi | |
| Caffeine: | 35 mg (Tall) 45 mg (Grande) 70 mg (Venti) 90 mg (Trenta) | |
| Calories: | 100 (Tall) 130 (Grande) 190 (Venti) 260 (Trenta) |
Bottom Line
Lots of fruits with creamy coconut milk (and a bit of caffeine) are what you need when you're feeling low.
Some Other Noteworthy Starbucks Refreshers to Try
If you've tried our top 13 Starbucks Refreshers and you're looking for others to try, then check out these noteworthy refreshers. And a couple of them come from the famous TikTok Starbucks drinks craze that's happening right now! Can you guess which ones?! Haha...
- Very Berry Hibiscus Lemonade Refresher
- Kiwi Starfruit Lemonade Refresher
- The TikTok Sunset Drink
- The TikTok Pink Drink
What are Starbucks Refreshers?
Starbucks refreshers are hand-shaken iced drinks. These drinks are made with real refreshers fruit juice, green coffee extract, and pieces of freeze-dried fruit, called inclusions.
These drinks are best for people who want to have a caffeine drink but don't particularly want a Starbucks Iced Coffee or the high caffeine punch from the new Starbucks BAYA energy drink.
These fruity beverages are most popular during the summertime but they are also available during winter.
Starbucks refreshers are available in 4 varieties. Remember that all the drinks are pre-sweetened and caffeinated!
The Main Starbucks Refresher Flavors
The main flavors of a Starbucks refresher drink are:
- Pineapple Passionfruit
- Mango Dragonfruit
- Strawberry Açaí
- Very Berry Hibiscus (currently not available)
- Kiwi Starfruit (currently not available)
The 3 Main Starbucks Refresher Drink Bases
You can order your Starbucks refreshers with 3 different bases:
- Regular: All the Starbucks refreshers are good as it is. The fruity base of the drink is delightful by itself and also includes green coffee bean extract.
- With lemonade: If you are a person who loves citrusy drinks, like me, then try a refresher shaken with lemonade.
- Coconutmilk: Go with coconut milk if you want a refresher that has a tropical vibe.
Refresher Inclusions
These are scoops of freeze-dried fruit. They include:
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Blackberries
- Starfruit
- Dragonfruit
Do Starbucks Refreshers have more Caffeine than Starbucks Iced Coffees?
This is a question you might be wondering since you recently learned that the Starbucks Refreshers are made from green coffee bean extract.
The answer is no! The Starbucks iced coffee drinks will have more caffeine than the Starbucks Refreshers. However, the Starbucks Refreshers will have more caffeine than most Starbucks iced tea drinks.
So make sure you pick your drink wisely! And if you're searching for caffeine free Starbucks drinks, then check out this article.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are There Caffeine Free Starbucks Refreshers?
All Starbucks Refreshers have caffeine. The refreshers are made with green coffee extracts. The coffee extracts are pre-mixed into the flavors of all the refreshers.
2. What are Inclusions, and how many options are there?
Inclusions in the Starbucks refreshers refer to the freeze-dried fruit pieces. You can ask for 1-2 scoops of inclusions, depending on the size of your drink. There are current three options for inclusions plus previous ones:
- Strawberries
- Pineapples
- Dragonfruit
- Blackberries (previously available)
- Starfruit (previously available)
3. Are Starbucks refreshers healthy?
All Starbucks Refreshers contain sugar and about 90 calories (grande size). In addition, the refreshers also contain 14-20 grams of sugar. So they are not healthy per se, drink in moderation!
4. Can you get Sugar Free or Unsweetened Refreshers?
No, unfortunately, it is not possible to order a refresher that is sugar-free or unsweetened. If you are looking for a sugar-free or unsweetened option, then try having one of the Starbucks Iced Teas, either plain or with sugar-free syrup.
I'm obsessed with their Iced London Fog, which can be made with sugar-free vanilla!
Bottom Line
This is all that you need to know about the most popular Starbucks Refreshers. Now that you know about these drinks, I hope that you will try them the next time you visit Starbucks. I hope you enjoyed reading the article!
Get your cup of refresher and let us know if your favorite Starbucks Refreshers beverage!
