Did you know that hazelnut is the most popular coffee flavor in seven U.S. states? And, while we don’t have the research to back it up, we’re willing to bet that it at least cracks the top five in the rest of the country, maybe even the world!
Most cafés know by now how much their customers love coffee drinks with hazelnut flavor. For example, Dutch Bros. has the hazelnut truffle mocha, Tim Hortons has the hazelnut Iced Capp, and Starbucks has…well, we’ll get to what Starbucks has soon enough.
Why Is Hazelnut So Popular?
You can’t walk down the grocery store creamer aisle without seeing the word “hazelnut” printed on several bottles. The same thing goes for the flavored syrup and coffee beans.
Hazelnut is simply one of the most popular flavors to add to a cup of coffee. Why? Because it tastes and smells good!
Hazelnut’s nutty (obv), earthy tones complement coffee’s bitterness beautifully. Then, there’s the distinctive aroma that pairing the two creates. Even if you aren’t a big java drinker, you must admit how lovely hazelnut coffee drinks smell.
Does Starbucks Have a Hazelnut Drink?
Surprisingly, Starbucks only has one hazelnut beverage on its daily menu, but it’s not even available at all of the franchise’s locations! The drink, called the hazelnut bianco latte, is packed with hazelnut and praline flavoring. However, the recipe calls for Starbucks Reserve espresso. And unfortunately, only select stores offer that to customers.
The good news is that hazelnut syrup is an item Starbucks keeps in stock at all times. Therefore, you can add it to an already-existing menu item, like the caffè latte or cappuccino.
Creative Starbucks customers have even come up with their own hazelnut-flavored caffeinated concoctions that you can find with a quick Google search or by perusing our list of Starbucks’ best hazelnut drinks below.
Roasty Roundup: The Best Hazelnut Drinks at Starbucks
This list of beverages covers the drinks Roasty has deemed the best way to get a taste of hazelnut-flavored goodness from Starbucks Coffee.
From lattes to cappuccinos and flat whites to Frappuccinos, this coffee shop franchise offers plenty of opportunities for customers to down a drink with hazelnut flavoring!
Starbucks Reserve Hazelnut Bianco Latte
First up on our Starbucks recommendation list is the hazelnut Bianco latte. Baristas make this fancy-sounding drink by combining Starbucks Reserve espresso shots with milk infused with hazelnuts and pralines. Whether served hot or iced, the result is smooth, buttery, nutty, and slightly sweet.
Note that Reserve espresso isn’t available at every Starbucks location. So, before you order, ask a barista if the store has a supply of these beans to brew.
The small batch-roasted Reserve coffee is of higher quality and rarer than regular Starbucks joe, so if you get the chance, try it without hesitation!
Hazelnut Latte
You’d think that with hazelnut-flavored syrups and creamers being so beloved by coffee drinkers, a hazelnut latte would occupy a permanent spot on the Starbucks daily menu. But alas, it’s a secret menu drink ordered by asking for a plain caffè latte with a few pumps of hazelnut syrup.
Sip it as-is or continue customizing by experimenting with different kinds of milk. Switch the Starbucks signature espresso shots with blonde-roasted ones for a less intense twist.
The resulting drink, a blonde hazelnut latte, is still delicious. However, it’s lighter and more mellow.
Hazelnut Cappuccino
The cappuccino’s recipe leaves plenty of room for playing around with flavored add-ins like — you guessed it — hazelnut syrup.
Adding a few pumps of the stuff to your tall, grande, or venti cup gives the combination of rich espresso, thick foam, and steamed milk a pleasant nutty taste that’s good to the last drop.
Hazelnut Iced Coffee
Iced coffee is another of Starbucks’s easily customizable drink options. It’s also inexpensive compared to the franchise’s other offerings, another strike in the “Pros” column.
The standard iced coffee from Starbucks contains a few pumps of classic syrup. However, you can exchange that for hazelnut syrup and sweeten your cup with an added nutty flavor.
Hazelnut Mocha
Few things beat the hazelnut-chocolate combo, but don’t take our word for it. Ask the good folks at Nutella, and they’ll tell you how this pairing has kept them in business for over 50 years.
The Starbucks hazelnut mocha is similar to the beloved spread in that it boasts the same chocolatey, nutty flavor profile, thanks to mocha sauce and hazelnut syrup.
Milk — steamed for a hot drink and cold for the iced version — makes it creamy. And since it’s a coffee beverage, you’ll taste espresso notes in the hazelnut mocha, too; the flavorful duo becomes a delightful trio you’ll want to work into your regular drink rotation.
Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
Starbucks Coffee’s hazelnut hot chocolate is a must-try for hazelnut enthusiasts. Its sugar levels are high enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.
And, since it doesn’t contain caffeine, the kids can order it on your family Starbucks outing, or you can enjoy it when you don’t want any extra pep in your step.
Starbucks makes its hot chocolate by blending mocha sauce into the steamed milk of your choice. And while that recipe is good, bringing in a few hazelnut syrup pumps improves it.
Iced Hazelnut Shaken Espresso
Variations of the iced shaken espresso have become among some of Starbucks’s most popular iced drinks in recent years, and the hazelnut version is no exception.
Try this beverage by asking your barista to shake two espresso shots (choose between signature or blonde-roasted coffee, depending on your preferences) and pour them over ice with a splash of your favorite milk.
Next, have your barista add a few pumps of hazelnut syrup for flavor. There you have it — the iced hazelnut shaken espresso!
Hazelnut Flat White
While quite similar, the hazelnut latte and flat white are not the same drink. Yes, the barista makes both from the same components: espresso, steamed milk, and hazelnut syrup. However, the difference lies in how they prepare the milk.
Hazelnut flat whites get crowned with a smaller layer of milk foam and contain less milk overall, allowing the taste of the espresso and the hazelnut-flavored syrup to be more prominent.
Hazelnut Macchiato
Like the flat white, the macchiato is another of Starbucks’ beverages that can easily be mistaken for a classic latte.
However, macchiatos are more espresso-forward, as they have a different coffee-to-milk ratio and lower milk foam content than the caffè latte.
That said, Starbucks hazelnut macchiatos are our recommendation for coffee drinkers who enjoy hazelnutty goodness but don’t want to miss any of their brew’s natural flavors.
Hazelnut Coconut Mocha Macchiato
This beverage provides coffee lovers with a lovely dose of hazelnut, courtesy of flavored syrup, and the milk required for this recipe gives the flavor a delicious twist: notes of coconut!
The hazelnut coconut mocha macchiato appeared on the Starbucks menu in 2018 but disappeared soon after. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still order one.
Start by asking for a caramel macchiato made with hazelnut syrup instead of vanilla, steamed coconut milk (cold, if you’re getting an iced drink), and mocha drizzle topping.
Not only will your taste buds appreciate the tropical feel the coconut milk brings, but they’ll also enjoy the caramel sweetness, the rich flavor of Starbucks’s espresso, and the nuttiness hazelnut drinks are known for.
Nutella Cold Brew
Nutella cold brew is another popular hazelnut drink from the Starbucks secret menu. Thanks to its cold brew base, it packs a noticeable caffeine boost, making it a solid choice for pushing you through your mid-afternoon slump.
Mocha sauce gives the cold brew a chocolatey sweetness, and the nutty flavor of hazelnut syrup complements the tasting notes in Starbucks’s coffee beautifully.
When the barista adds a splash of cream (or your favorite non-dairy milk alternative), the drink gets a smooth, creamy texture. When you order this cold brew, don’t forget to ask for a layer of vanilla sweet cream cold foam and mocha cookie crumble on top. Those extra bits of sweetness go a long way.
Hazelnut Malt Frappuccino
The hazelnut malt Frappuccino is a secret menu gem, best sipped when lounging on a hot summer day.
Order this blended coffee-free cup by asking for a vanilla bean Frappuccino with an extra scoop of vanilla bean powder, hazelnut syrup, and a shake or two of nutmeg powder.
When blended with ice cubes, those ingredients give a yummy dose of hazelnut in a smooth, creamy package.
Nutella Frappuccino
There are already two other Nutella-like drinks on this list: the hazelnut mocha and the hazelnut hot chocolate. But we felt it only right to introduce you to a third – meet the Nutella Frappuccino.
Admit it – sometimes, the temptation to eat Nutella right from the jar is real. We feel it, too. Rather than giving in to that temptation, get a blended Starbucks drink inspired by the chocolate and hazelnut spread.
Made by adding mocha syrup, hazelnut syrup, and whipped cream to a coffee Frappuccino, the Nutella Frapp is downright delicious!
Betty White Frappuccino
The Betty White Frappuccino is a tribute to the late and great Golden Girls actress. But you probably already knew that — the name is a dead giveaway.
Order this drink at your nearest Starbucks by asking for a white chocolate Frappuccino with hazelnut and vanilla syrups topped with whipped cream and caramel crunch topping.
French Toast Frappuccino
What’s your favorite way to enjoy French toast? With powdered sugar? With a scoop of fresh blueberries and strawberries on top? What about the reliable choice – a drizzle of maple syrup on top? Perhaps Frappuccino form would be a nice change.
Thanks to the Starbucks secret menu item, French Toast Frappuccino, you and your fellow Frapp fanatics can enjoy the flavors of the signature breakfast food in a creamy-textured drink.
Ask for a vanilla bean crème Frappuccino with hazelnut and cinnamon dolce syrup. Afterward, simply sip it and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make Starbucks Hazelnut Drinks at Home?
Yes! Countless Starbucks dupe recipes float around the internet — the Starbucks At Home website has plenty to follow, and you’ll find quite a few here, too. So, find a step-by-step guide, grab some ingredients, and start honing your home barista skills.
Your homemade hazelnut creation won’t taste exactly like a store-bought one unless you use the same ingredients Starbucks does. If an identical-tasting drink is your goal, buy a bag of Starbucks’s whole or ground coffee beans and a bottle of the brand’s hazelnut syrup to use.
But if you’ll be satisfied with “close enough,” as long as there’s hazelnut involved, use coffee and flavoring from whichever brands you like.
Do Starbucks Hazelnut Drinks Have Sugar?
Only Starbucks’ cinnamon dolce and vanilla syrups are available in sugar-free form. All other flavors, including hazelnut, contain sugar. So, any beverage the coffeehouse makes with hazelnut syrup is sugary.
If you’re concerned about your Starbucks order’s sugar content but still want a hazelnut fix, add a splash of low-sugar milk, such as almond milk.
Does Starbucks Sell Hazelnut Syrup?
Starbucks sells its branded hazelnut syrup at select franchise locations and retailers like Walmart or Amazon. Picking up a bottle is your best bet for brewing a morning cup that tastes exactly like the one you buy on your daily Starbucks run.
Sample Starbucks’ Hazelnut Drinks
When it comes to hazelnut-flavored items, Starbucks Coffee has a variety of options to choose from.
There are iced and hot beverages, drinks made with regular and dairy-free milk, super-sweet and mildly sugary — with possibilities so plenty, you’ll have no problem finding something that suits you!
Request hazelnut syrup in your drink on your next Starbucks run. After the first sip, when you see how well the tree nut’s sweetness blends with the coffee’s intensity, you’ll understand why the world has so many hazelnut coffee fans.
Happy Caffeinating!
