Have you ever met a spice more versatile than cinnamon? It makes a wonderful addition to many recipes, from desserts to savory dishes to — you guessed it! — coffee drinks!
Starbucks Coffee, a coffee industry leader and probably the most well-known java chain in the world, knows how well cinnamon can elevate your morning (or afternoon!) caffeine hit. That’s why the company offers customers a multitude of cinnamon drinks.
We’re highlighting 16 of them, including items from the store’s regular, seasonal, and secret menus. The list below is diverse. So, regardless of your usual preferences, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a new favorite beverage.
How To Add Cinnamon to Starbucks Drinks
Starbucks customers have several options for spiking their cups with cozy cinnamon flavors. It’s already blended into some of the store’s tea infusions and concentrates. But a barista will use one of three items if they have to add it to the drink themselves.
- Powdered Topping. The simplest way to add the spice to a drink is to top it with a dusting of cinnamon powder. Try it the next time you order a classic latte; you might be surprised at the difference such a little change can make. Cinnamon is also part of other powdered drink toppings, like pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon dolce topping.
- Flavored Syrup. Cinnamon dolce syrup offers customers another easy way to bring the flavors of cinnamon into their orders. The sweet and spicy cinnamon-flavored syrup blends smoothly into hot and iced drinks.
- Cold Foam. Cinnamon sweet cream cold foam is Starbucks’s newest avenue for adding spice to cold beverages and a fantastic choice for anyone whose chosen drink is cold brew. For an even more generous helping of cinnamon flavor, ask the barista to top the flavored foam with cinnamon powder — yum!
All but a few of the beverages below are made with either a few pumps of syrup, cold foam, or a dusting of powder. If it doesn’t contain at least one of the three, cinnamon is blended into one of its other ingredients.
Roasty Roundup: 16 Starbucks Cinnamon Drinks To Sip and Enjoy
Try a Starbucks cinnamon drink the next time you visit one of the Seattle-born store’s franchise locations. Starbucks has a wide range of items made with the warm spice. Whether your regular order is a cup of coffee or tea, a warm beverage, or an icy and refreshing drink, we don’t think you’ll struggle to find a cinnamon beverage you fancy.
Cinnamon Dolce Latte (Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte)
First is probably the most popular cinnamon drink at Starbucks: the Cinnamon Dolce Latte. You can enjoy the mix of espresso, your choice of milk, and cinnamon dolce syrup as a hot or cold drink. Whatever temperature you choose, it adds a touch of sweetness to your routine. Don’t forget the whipped cream and cinnamon dolce sprinkles on top; those pull the delightful treat together!
If you like the Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte but want to curb your cinnamon cravings at home, try Roasty’s Copycat Cinnamon Dolce Latte recipe. The resulting beverage doesn’t taste exactly like the one from Starbies, but it provides the same spicy-sweet goodness.
Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
Cold coffee drink fans must add the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso to their Starbucks must-try list. Baristas make the drink by mixing blonde-roasted espresso with brown sugar syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon powder in a shaker. Then, they pour the frothy coffee blend over oat milk and ice cubes.
This permanent menu item gives customers a dose of cinnamon spice and a decent caffeine kick. Plus, the recipe contains no dairy — shout out to oat milk for blending with espresso shots beautifully; that makes it appealing to a larger crowd of java drinkers.
Cinnamon Caramel Cream Cold Brew
Starbucks Cinnamon Caramel Cream Cold Brews are made for hot, sunshiny days. Combining cold brew, a few pumps of cinnamon caramel syrup, and a fluffy layer of cinnamon caramel-infused cold foam creates a refreshing beverage sure to help you beat the heat and put some extra pep in your step.
You can also order this drink with nitrogen-infused cold brew. Nitro cold brew has a frothier texture and slightly more bitter flavor than regular cold brew. Those characteristics make it a perfect choice for Cinnamon Caramel Cold Brew fans who like what’s in their cup but want to try something subtly different. Plus, its caffeine content is slightly higher; try it when you need something to re-energize you after a particularly productive morning.
Cinnamon Dolce Crème
The Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Crème is the first non-coffee drink here, but don’t worry; it won’t be the last.
As it has no coffee — only freshly steamed milk, cinnamon dolce syrup, whipped cream, and cinnamon dolce topping — the Cinnamon Dolce Crème’s only function is to be a sweet treat. The creamy drink is perfect for after-dinner sipping as it tastes like dessert and won’t disturb your sleep.
Chai Tea
Starbucks offers freshly brewed Chai year-round, but to us, the warm and comforting beverage gives all the fall vibes.
Steeping black tea leaves infused with cinnamon, clove, ginger, and cardamom creates a bold-tasting beverage that’s a popular choice for keeping warm in the chilly autumn weather. Treat yourself to this beautiful blend of spices and tea the next time you visit Starbucks. You can sip it plain or with a splash of your milk of choice.
Chai Tea Latte (Iced Chai Tea Latte)
Countless Starbucks customers call the Chai Tea Latte their favorite drink. Whether served hot or iced, it delivers a subtle yet noticeable hint of cinnamon.
Starbucks makes these tea lattes with its branded Chai concentrate, made of black tea and a mix of cinnamon, clove, ginger, and other warming spices. When combined with cold or hot milk, depending on customer preferences, the Chai concentrate creates a creamy, smooth treat.
A Starbucks Chai Tea Latte can stand alone; no add-ins are necessary. But a splash of vanilla or cinnamon dolce syrup can take it to the next level. But don’t take our word for it. Order one on your next drink run and play with customization options until you create your ideal latte.
Chai Créme Frappuccino
The Chai Créme Frappuccino is next on our Starbucks cinnamon drink roundup. Since it’s one of the international chain’s creme-based Frappuccinos, the blended beverage is coffee-free. It’s basically a Chai-flavored milkshake.
Its ingredients include milk of your choice, creme Frappuccino syrup, and Chai concentrate, all tossed into a blender with ice cubes and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon for garnish.
Caramel Apple Spice
Another Starbucks drink boasting lots of cinnamon flavor is the Caramel Apple Spice. Much like the caramel-coated fruit after which it is named, the Caramel Apple Spice is an autumn staple (though you can order it all year long).
The combination of apple juice and caramel dolce syrup wears a crown of caramel drizzle-topped whipped cream for extra sweetness — so good! It’s also worth noting that there’s no caffeine in this cup. So, it’s safe for the kiddos to have one when they join you at Starbucks.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte needs no introduction, as it’s been the star of the coffeehouse’s autumn menu since its 2003 debut. But we’ll introduce it anyway, just in case you haven’t heard of this sweet beverage.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte — the PSL, as its friends call it — contains the following ingredients: a shot of espresso (sub in blonde espresso for a more mellow-tasting drink), milk, pumpkin spice sauce, whipped cream, and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice.
FYI, pumpkin pie spice is a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger. So, the topping is responsible for the hints of cinnamon you taste while downing a PSL.
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Starbucks Coffee’s Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew offers customers another way to bring a touch of cinnamon into their days. Much like the iconic PSL, this fall menu item brings cinnamon by way of pumpkin pie spice (a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger).
Adding a sprinkling of pumpkin pie spice is the last step a barista takes to make a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. Before that, they blend cold brew coffee with vanilla syrup and pour a layer of pumpkin cream cold foam on top.
Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte
Meet one of Starbucks’s newest seasonal beverages: the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte. Customers have enjoyed the delightful drink on unseasonably warm fall days for years now. However, Starbucks didn’t give the beloved secret menu drink an official spot on the menu until 2023.
The chilly seasonal pick-me-up is a blend of milk, pumpkin cream cold foam, Chai concentrate, and pumpkin spice topping served over ice. Compared to the company’s other pumpkin drinks, an Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai offers extra cinnamon flavor, as the stuff is a classic Chai spice and a key component of pumpkin pie spice.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Frappuccino
The Cinnamon Toast Crunch Frappuccino is for Starbucks fans who spent their childhoods pouring bowls of the cinnamon-sugar General Mills cereal while watching Saturday morning cartoons…or anyone who wants to enjoy a cup filled with spicy cinnamon taste.
The creamy secret menu drink has a sweet flavor — courtesy of its White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino base, cinnamon dolce syrup, hazelnut syrup, and cinnamon sugar granules — that will no doubt remind you of your childhood.
Cinnamon Roll Latte
Everyone loves an oven-fresh cinnamon roll, don’t they? Unfortunately, there isn’t always time to do any breakfast baking. That’s why one creative Starbucks customer created the Cinnamon Roll Latte. The secret menu item gives you all the goodness of a yummy cinnamon roll in one caffeinated package.
Order this delicious drink by asking for a Cinnamon Dolce Latte with white mocha sauce, and have the barista steam the milk with vanilla bean powder. The tasty blend of ingredients will remind you of your favorite ooey-gooey breakfast food; we’re sure of it!
Cinnamon Almondmilk Macchiato
Starbucks Coffee introduced the Cinnamon Almondmilk Macchiato in 2017. The drink, which was available hot or iced, was inspired by horchata. Baristas made this drink by blending espresso with almond milk, cinnamon dolce syrup, caramel sauce, and cinnamon dolce topping.
Unfortunately, this coffee beverage has since been discontinued. However, Starbucks customers can get a similar dose of cinnamon goodness by ordering a Caramel Macchiato with no vanilla syrup and adding cinnamon dolce syrup and almond milk.
Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato
The Apple Crisp Macchiato is a Starbucks seasonal drink designed to taste like the crumbly autumn dessert, appeal to non-dairy milk drinkers, and give customers a break from pumpkin. The blend of oat milk, espresso, apple brown sugar syrup, and spiced apple drizzle (which provides a lovely kick of cinnamon) is available hot or iced.
Iced Passion Tango Tea
Did you know the Starbucks Iced Passion Tango Tea (and the Iced Passion Tango Tea Lemonade) has a light cinnamon flavor? You might not have even known the warming spice was there, as the flavor it lends to the drink is subtle. However, since cinnamon is listed as an ingredient in Starbucks’s Passion Tango Tea infusion, we felt it necessary to include the caffeine-free herbal tea on our list of the café’s cinnamon drinks.
Why Is cinnamon So popular?
People like cinnamon. If they didn’t, neither Starbucks nor the world’s countless other coffee shops would offer beverages made with it. But why is it such a popular pick? We’ve chalked it up to three reasons, though we know there are more.
It’s Legendary.
Cinnamon was one of the world’s first known spices. Some believe it may have even been the first. That means we’ve been able to know and love cinnamon longer than its other spicy counterparts.
What’s more is that thousands of years ago, spice traders shared mythological stories about cinnamon and its origins to increase interest in their product. These tales boosted their sales and began the spice’s long-held reputation for being desirable.
It’s Versatile.
You’ve probably followed recipes that called for a dash of cinnamon. Maybe you used it to make a cake or a pie, or perhaps you used a blend of spices, including cinnamon, to make a rub for a beef roast. You can use it in a wide variety of dishes and drinks, and for that reason, many folks make sure to keep a jar of the reddish-brown stuff in their kitchen cabinets at all times.
Cinnamon’s usefulness isn’t just limited to foodstuffs. People also use it to make insect repellant, gum, mouthwash, hair oils, perfumes, and more.
It’s Good for You.
The last but certainly not least of our characteristics of cinnamon is its long list of health benefits. We could go on and on about the good cinnamon can do for your body, but we’ll limit ourselves to sharing the 10 evidence-based benefits Healthline published in 2022.
- Powerful medicinal properties
- Plenty of antioxidants
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Protection against heart disease
- Improvement of insulin sensitivity
- Lowers blood sugar levels
- Has positive effects on neurodegenerative diseases (i.e., Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases)
- Protection against cancer
- Prevents bacterial and fungal infections
- Anti-viral properties
You’ll have to do independent research to learn more about cinnamon’s positive attributes, but we hope this list gets you thinking about adding spice to your diet.
Why Are Cinnamon Beverages Associated With Fall and Winter?
No law limits your consumption of a cinnamon latte to the “-ber months” only — that’s September through December if you were wondering. But you are more likely to find foods, drinks, and household goods laced with cinnamon during the fall and winter than in summer.
That’s because, according to Ayurvedic tradition, cinnamon is a warming spice. Substances like it, cloves, and ginger have a touch of heat that helps the body stay warm in colder temperatures. Hence, the name “warming spice.” Spice sellers used to share this information with their buyers, who continued passing it down until cinnamon became a cold-weather staple.
We have to say that we wholeheartedly agree with the Ayurvedic tradition here. There’s something about the undeniable warmth of cinnamon. Even just smelling it in cold temperatures makes us feel warm and cozy inside, and we’re sure many of you agree.
Additionally, cinnamon and other spices were expensive once upon a time. So, people only pulled them out during times of big celebration, like Christmas, which, as we know, falls in the most cinnamon-filled time of year.
Fortunately, cinnamon is affordable and accessible nowadays, and we can rely on things like fluffy coats and electric heaters to keep warm. So, there’s no need to limit your use of the spice to special occasions or chilly weather. You can add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top of your latte’s milk foam or stir sweet cinnamon syrup into your drip brew whenever you want.
FAQs
What Brand of Cinnamon Does Starbucks Use?
Most U.S. Starbucks stores use Kortinje ground cinnamon. This cinnamon comes from Indonesia, and according to Spice Rally, it’s one of the most commonly used cinnamons in the States.
Does Starbucks Have Cinnamon Syrup?
Starbucks Coffee uses syrups to add flavor and a hint of sweetness to many of its beverages. Fortunately for cinnamon lovers, one of them is inspired by and made with their favorite warming spice.
The company’s cinnamon dolce syrup debuted in the winter of 2006. The blend of sugar and cinnamon has been a must-add ingredient for anyone craving a cinnamon-flavored cup since its introduction. Adding a few pumps to a coffee or tea drink is a surefire way to satisfy a sweet tooth and a cinnamon craving.
What Does Cinnamon Dolce Mean?
“Dolce” means “sweet” in Italian. So, cinnamon dolce translates to “sweet cinnamon.” That makes sense given that the syrup’s primary ingredients are cinnamon and sugar. The stuff lives up to its name; each pump has a perfect blend of sweet and spicy flavors.
Is Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Seasonal?
While Starbucks introduced the Cinnamon Dolce Latte and cinnamon dolce syrup as wintertime-only items in the early 2000s, the company has since given them both permanent spots on the menu. That means you can enjoy a combination of bold espresso, creamy milk, and spicy-sweet cinnamon dolce syrup all year.
Happy Caffeinating!
