Coffee lovers, Frappuccino addicts, and refresher fanatics all come together to one place that has it all: Starbucks. With exclusive seasonal drinks and food, how can you know which ones are the best? I’ll tell you which drinks were worth it this year, so you can be prepared for next year’s beverage rollouts.
By Jayne Turner – Staff Writer
Spring
Best: Blackberry Sage Lemonade Refresher
Worst: Iced Cherry Chai
Spring 2025 brought fun, floral beverages to the front. Aside from the best and worst listed above, lavender was another beloved featured flavor for the season.
However, the Blackberry Sage Refresher, specifically the lemonade version, reigns supreme. This Starbucks refresher is less sweet than others, making it more refreshing than the super-sweet Strawberry Acai refresher.
The worst on the menu? Cherry Chai. Maybe it’s just not my palate, but combining a spicy black tea concentrate with astringent, floral cold foam isn’t my thing. The cherry is not syrupy like a snow cone; it’s worse. It tastes like cherry medicine, and the cherry topping is no better. Go ahead and skip this one if it returns in 2026.
Summer
Best: Summer Berry Refresher
Worst: The Strato Frappuccinos
When summer rolls around, we can count on Starbucks for a refreshing summer pick-me-up. Aside from the obvious iced coffees, you can count on Starbucks getting creative.
The drink that made the biggest splash was the Summer Berry Refresher. Featuring a blue raspberry flavor that reminds me of the blue Dum-Dum lollipop and raspberry popping pearls, this drink is sure to bring poolside vibes wherever you are. Though I’d skip the coconut milk version, the Summer Skies Drink. The coconut milk doesn’t play well with the sweet popsicle-like flavor of the refresher base.
The worst of the summer was the Strato Frappuccinos. These beverages are available in three flavors. First, the Salted Caramel Mocha features a mocha Frappuccino with salted caramel cream cold foam and caramel drizzle. Second, the Strawberry Matcha, which is a matcha crème Frappuccino with strawberry cream cold foam. Finally, the Brown Sugar, which is a coffee Frappuccino (plain, tastes like coffee) with a brown sugar cream cold foam and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It’s not that these drinks are bad in taste; they’re just bad in practice. Why suffer an upcharge for cold foam when free whipped cream is the same thing?
Not to mention, the release of the Strato Frappuccinos comes after a menu simplification by new CEO Brian Niccol, which removed fan favorites such as the Java Chip and Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccinos. Just bring back the old ones!
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Fall
Best: Pumpkin Cream Chai
Worst: Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Fall is the best season at Starbucks for one reason: pumpkin spice! Though the always popular pumpkin spice latte is great, Starbucks came up with something better.
The Pumpkin Cream Chai is a regular chai latte topped with pumpkin cream cold foam and a sprinkle of pumpkin topping. This is fall bliss in a cup. I don’t even know what else to say about it other than you need to try one.
Fall flop? The Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. Unfortunately, this drink doesn’t hit the spot. I wanted to love it, since shaken espressos are usually so good, but the apple crisp syrup is like a Yankee Candle melted down. It is no match for the similar-but-better Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso. If you want a fall shaken espresso, go for that Brown Sugar version and add two pumps of pumpkin. Thank me later.
Starbucks drinks can be packed with sugar? If you’re on a health journey, check out this article on some habits to ditch for your health.
Winter
Best: Iced Sugar Cookie Latte
Worst: Peppermint Mocha
I know that I said fall is the best season at Starbucks, but winter is a close second. After all, who doesn’t love to sip a warm winter beverage while looking at Christmas lights?
The best holiday beverage at Starbucks is the Iced Sugar Cookie Latte. It’s best with oat milk, and definitely iced. In fact, I would say that the hot version is one of their worst holiday drinks. However, the iced version is holiday bliss. Picture a freshly iced Christmas cookie.
The worst? Iced Peppermint Mocha! I can get down with a peppermint mocha, but did you know that the iced version has six pumps of each syrup? That is 12 pumps total and with whipped cream, it’s just way too sweet. If you get this drink, I’d suggest hot and ask for half the pumps, unless you’re looking to get a massive sugar rush. Cold night and not in the mood for coffee? Grab a Peppermint Hot Chocolate! Just make sure to request half of the pumps.
Pro tip! Peppermint is available year-round at Starbucks. They just don’t get the chocolate curl topping until the holidays roll around. And the first round of holiday drinks are available on November 6th!
No matter the season, Starbucks is a convenient choice for coffee drinkers. From plain black coffee to Vanilla Bean Frappuccinos, Starbucks has the drink for you. Don’t be afraid to ask your barista for recommendations! They should be happy to help.
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Author: Jayne Turner is a freelance writer from Orange, California. She has a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with an emphasis on language and cognition. She has ten years of musical theatre experience and a lifelong love of reading. Utterly excited by the brain, she brings a fresh Gen Z perspective to the topics that intrigue us most.
