Coffee shops are a hub of activity and a great place to hang out with friends and family.
Who doesn’t love watching the world go by from a comfortable chair with a delicious cup of coffee?
Many parents might avoid taking their children to coffee shops as they often don’t have anything suitable for little ones.
However, a trip to Starbucks doesn’t mean that the kids have to go without, there are a surprising number of items on their menu that are suitable for children as they have low amounts or no caffeine at all.
With a range of hot and cold beverages, there is something to keep everyone happy.
In this article, we have included 14 Starbucks drink orders that are perfect for kids (see also ‘18 Divine Frappuccino’s To Enjoy At Starbucks‘). What will your little ones choose?
1. Steamed Apple Juice
A relatively new addition to the Starbucks menu is steamed apple juice.
Kids will love this freshly steamed apple juice; the warming goodness of the drink with the beloved apple flavor will soothe their throats and warm their bodies on a cold day.
Depending on the age of your kids, you can get a kids size which comes in an 8-ounce cup.
Apple juice is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These promote cardiovascular health as well as help to maintain a healthy immune system.
If your little one is feeling under the weather or just needs a nice warming treat on a cold day, steamed apple juice is sure to make them smile.
2. Pumpkin Spice Creme
How do you know when fall is coming? Starbucks released their Pumpkin Spice drinks!
A combination of steamed milk with pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove flavors creates this fall-inspired drink.
It’s topped off with some delicious whipped cream to make a delicious winter warmer that is free from caffeine.
They’ll feel like they’re having a grown-up drink with this hot beverage, leaving them with a warm and cozy excitement ready for the holiday season.
If you’d prefer your child to have less sugar in the drink, you can ask for half the pumps of Pumpkin Sauce.
3. White Hot Chocolate
Who doesn’t love hot chocolate?
Starbucks white hot chocolate is a caffeine-free beverage that is made with a white chocolate sauce, steamed milk, and whipped cream on top.
Obviously, it tastes amazing year-round, but there is something special about saving it until it starts to get cold.
This deliciously sweet treat is flavored with the White Chocolate Mocha Sauce, which can be reduced if you’d like less sugar in the drink.
It is quite a sugary drink, containing 28g of sugar in the kid’s 8-ounce serving.
As regular Starbucks hot chocolate contains a small amount of caffeine, this is a great alternative.
If your child still wants that typical chocolate flavor, ask for the cup to be lined with mocha or caramel sauce!
4. Caramel Apple Spice
A caramel apple spice is like a fancy version of steamed apple juice.
Cinnamon syrup, whipped cream, and their caramel sauce drizzle set this drink apart from the plain apple counterpart.
Perfect for a blustery fall day, this hot drink will make your kids feel like they are drinking something very special.
It’s easy to control how much sugar goes into a caramel apple spice by selecting the kind of caramel drizzle that goes on the top.
Choose from normal, light, or no caramel sauce when ordering the drink.
Creating a blend of sweet treats and healthy drinks can be done with this drink to please parents and children.
5. Blended Strawberry Lemonade
What kid doesn’t like lemonade on a hot summer’s day?
Whilst you sip on your favorite iced coffee, your child can enjoy a blended strawberry lemonade.
The blend includes fizzy lemonade and juicy strawberry puree sauce to add a fruity sensation to normally zingy lemonade.
Light and refreshing, your child will feel cool and satisfied with a cup of this.
Cold drinks don’t actually come in a kid-sized version, but a ‘tall’ 12-ounce order is just about the right size to keep them happy and to avoid any wastage.
Sometimes getting two straws and getting the kids to share is a great way to solve this issue too.
6. Lemonade
Not everyone is a fan of strawberries and that’s okay!
If your child would prefer a slightly less sweet drink, a plain lemonade whilst waiting for you to decide on your coffee order, Starbucks have them covered.
Full of blended ice, the standard lemonade is cool and refreshing. Starbucks doesn’t use a branded lemonade mixture, they actually created their own.
Made from water, lemon juice, lemon oil, and sugar this simple mixture has a homemade feel.
The tangy flavors from the lemon will awaken the senses and give them a little boost.
7. Strawberry Creme Frappuccino Blended Beverage
Luckily, not all Frappuccinos contain caffeine. Have you ever had a Frappuccino around your kid and they ask to try some?
We don’t blame them, they look like delicious creamy milkshakes covered in rich caramel sauce!
Next time you go to Starbucks, you can treat your kids to their very own Frappuccino without worrying about their caffeine intake.
The Strawberry Creme blend is a summer drink that is bound to satisfy their sugar cravings as well as keep them nice and cool.
A blend of ice, milk, and strawberry puree syrup is topped off with a layer of vanilla whipped cream to make the perfect enticing drink on a hot day.
8. Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino Blended Beverage
Another drink in the Frappuccino that is suitable for kids is the Pumpkin Spice Creme.
The perfect blend of fall spice flavors is mixed with milk and ice to create a smooth and silky drink.
Topped off with some whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, you’ll know fall is here as soon as you take a sip. No caffeine is in sight with this drink!
The Pumpkin Spice topping is made with a blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves to give you the classic aromatic sensation of pumpkin during the fall season.
Although the drink is cold, the warming spice blends will give you the perfect balance of winter warmer and iced refreshment.
9. Caramel Ribbon Crunch Creme Frappuccino Blended Beverage
The Caramel Ribbon Crunch Creme is an indulgent treat that will make you the hero of the day until you start to have a few sips that are too big of course.
Smooth and buttery caramel syrup is blended with ice and milk to create a refreshingly cool iced drink.
As with all other Frappuccinos, it’s topped with whipped cream.
To carry on with the caramel theme, a layer of dark caramel sauce, caramel drizzle, and a crunchy caramel sugar topping finish off the drink perfectly. Is your mouth watering yet?
Creamy, sweet, and caffeine-free, this Frap is basically a dessert in a cup.
To reduce the sugar content you can reduce the amount of syrup that goes into the drink as well as ask for ‘light’ toppings to still get that indulgent goodness without the hefty sugar price tag.
Sometimes these can contain caffeine, so be sure to double-check with your barista and ask for a decaf version.
10. Apple Crisp Oat Milk Creme Frappuccino Blended Beverage
Dairy-free kids, as well as adults, will enjoy this creamy, sugary oat drink that contains delicious flavors of apple and cinnamon.
Apple and cinnamon are such a perfect combination.
The drink is made with a blend of ice and oat milk with a pump of Apple Brown Sugar syrup to sweeten the base.
Topped with a classic whipped cream layer, Spiced Apple Drizzle sauce is swirled around the top to finish off the drink.
Although it doesn’t taste exactly like an apple crisp, the inspired flavors will leave a taste of fall in your mouth.
11. Hot Chocolate
Sometimes we just fancy a deliciously rich hot chocolate on a cold day.
Sheltering in a nearby Starbucks from the wind and rain is the perfect excuse to treat the kids to a hot chocolate.
Steamed milk is infused with vanilla and combined with chocolate-flavored syrups to create the perfect blend of rich silky smooth chocolate and creamy milk.
Whipped cream and a Mocha Drizzle sauce are added to the top of this timeless classic for a sweet and indulgent treat.
Ask for the hot chocolate to come plain, without the cream and drizzle to reduce the sugar intake.
Hot chocolates come in an 8-ounce size perfect for children. Why not get a bigger size and share between you?
Please note that the Starbucks hot chocolate recipe contains 15 mg of caffeine, so for those that can’t have caffeine or parents that prefer their children not to consume it will need to adjust their orders accordingly.
12. Steamed Milk
Steamed milk may not sound too exciting for adults, but add some flavored syrups and you have the perfect Starbucks order for little ones.
Warm milk is often associated with making us sleepy, so ordering one of these on a long car journey may help your little ones drift off in the car or warm them up on a cold day.
The warm cup of milk contains 2% as standard, topped with a little milk foam.Any alternative can be used to suit your individual needs.
If you’re looking to make things more exciting, add a pump of your children’s favorite syrup from the huge range that Starbucks has to offer.
13. Vanilla Creme
The smooth taste of vanilla has a somewhat relaxing effect, don’t you think?
The aroma that comes from a hot drink flavored with vanilla is unmatched which is exactly what you get when you order a Vanilla Creme.
If the sound of a white hot chocolate doesn’t sound appealing, then a Vanilla Creme is a great alternative.
A luxuriously smooth drink made from steamed 2% milk and a couple of pumps of vanilla syrup is topped with whipped cream.
Everyone will be left feeling calm and full after finishing one of these. This kid-friendly drink is available in an 8-ounce cup.
Don’t forget that you can make this a non-dairy drink if needed.
14. Babyccino
Babyccinos aren’t actually on the Starbucks menu, but they can still be ordered as all Starbucks baristas should know what they are.
They are cappuccinos minus the espresso, so basically just some frothy steamed milk in an espresso cup.
This is a great order if you’re looking to please the kids with a ‘grown up’ treat, and also works well with really little kids.
You can ask for this to come with a sprinkle of Pumpkin Spice or cinnamon for a little extra punch of flavor.
No matter the dietary requirements, you can ask for a babyccino to come with any type of milk.
Dairy-Free Choices
Dairy isn’t for everyone but lactose-intolerant and vegan diets don’t have to worry when they visit a Starbucks coffee house (see also ‘18 Amazing Keto Coffee Drinks You Need To Try‘).
Starbucks offers a wide variety of dairy-free milk and whole milk alternatives.
Dairy-free options include coconut, oat, soy, and almond milk. Instead of whole milk, you can also ask for 2% milk, nonfat milk, or a range of creams.
Tips For Ordering For Kids
Order The Children’s Size
If you haven’t purchased a kid’s size drink before, you may not have even realized they exist.
Starbucks has created a small 8-ounce cup size for hot drinks that are perfect for children, which is ideal for smaller children and appetites.
When ordering a cold drink, these come in the ‘tall’ size which is a standard 12 ounces.
Watch The Caffeine
As previously mentioned, some of the Starbucks hot drinks contain caffeine even though they aren’t coffee-based.
Hot chocolates and other chocolate drinks can contain as much as 15 mg of caffeine, which is a small amount but for some children consuming caffeine isn’t recommended or suitable.
Refreshers are another category of drinks that contain caffeine.
The majority of the tall drinks contain about 35 mg of caffeine, double-check the ingredients of the drinks if you are unsure.
Starbucks baristas will also be able to help you with this, ask them for any advice on how to reduce the caffeine in your kids drinks or find an alternative.
Split The Drink
If you’re ordering a drink for yourself that is suitable for your child to drink, you may prefer to split a larger order between you.
Although baristas can’t split the drink for you, they can give you an empty cup for you to do yourself. Not only does this avoid waste, but it can also save you a couple of bucks!
Tell The Barista It’s A Kid’s Drink
Letting the barista know that the drink is for your child and not you means they can adjust accordingly.
Starbucks is great at accommodating children so don’t worry about making that clear.
Once they are aware the drink is for a child, they may reduce the temperature of a hot drink from 160℉ to 130℉.
We all know kids don’t always have a lot of patience and self-restraint when it comes to leaving hot food or drinks, because hey, it looks great.
Reducing the temperature helps to make it cooler for little mouths.
Another great reason for telling the barista that the drink is for a child is that they may be able to provide you with tips and suggestions that are perfect to suit your child’s needs.
Final Thoughts
A trip to Starbucks can be a fun and satisfying experience for the whole family. The large selection of kid-friendly drinks means there is something for everyone.
Here we’ve listed 14 of the best orders for kids but there are many more available in-store.
We hope you found this article helpful and interesting, giving you a better idea of what to order for your little ones when going to your local Starbucks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Starbucks Have A Kid’s Size?
Yes, Starbucks does have a kid’s size. When ordering a hot drink, you can order the smallest cup which is 8 ounces for the perfect kid-sized drink.
This isn’t just limited to kids, any adult that wants a little taste of something but doesn’t fancy a ‘tall’ order, then they can also order a kid’s drink.
When it comes to cold drinks, an 8-ounce cup isn’t available.
The next size up is the 12-ounce or ‘tall’ cup which is the smallest size cup from the main menu.
As many of the cold drinks are full of ice, you don’t have to worry too much about there being a lot of liquid.
Does Starbucks Have A Kids Menu?
No, Starbucks doesn’t have a specific menu for kids.
However, they make accommodations for children really easily and there are many child-friendly options for them to choose from.
If you’re ever stuck on what to order, simply ask a barista and they can help you out with great tips and suggestions.
Can Kids Drink Pink Drink?
Kids can drink Pink Drink, however, it does contain caffeine.
The Pink Drink at Starbucks is a strawberry acai beverage that contains hints of passionfruit and is blended with creamy coconut milk.
Topped with strawberries it is a light and refreshing drink that is sweet and delicious.
The caffeine content of the drink is around 35 mg in every ‘tall’ cup, therefore it may be more suited to older kids that are allowed to consume some caffeine rather than little kids.
The American Academy of Paediatrics currently suggests that children under the age of 12 shouldn’t consume caffeine.
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