Chances are you have certainly overheard Starbucks’ mythical items mumbled among the staff members behind the store counter. Or perhaps, you have witnessed them crop up on social media throughout the years.
With its swirling pink tint, one of the most well-known looked so tempting and appealing. This menu is dubbed as the Starbucks pink drink. It began as a secret item before becoming an official Starbucks beverage on the cold drinks menu during 2017.
Indeed, Starbucks Pink Drink was formerly featured in its secret menu, but after so many customers photobombed the beverage, it has been added to Starbucks’ standard menu ever since.
Thanks to its overwhelming demand, we all now can order a well-known Starbucks pink drink everywhere throughout its coffee shop chain.
Fascinating Fact of Starbuck Pink Drink
In the beginning, Starbucks chose not to put too much work into creating a concept for its Pink Drink. Surprisingly, it has been a top-order since its initial presence.
Unlike the continual influx of occasional specialty menus, the pink drink remained extremely favorable over time.
The truth is after Starbucks drinkers kept ordering and nagging the baristas for this beautiful beverage they saw online, the company ended up giving in by claiming the drink credit and streamlining the formula so that all staff knew how and when to prepare for its customers.
Because of its incredible fame, many consumers wonder how baristas use it to make this special drink and does it have caffeine?
The answer is there are quite a few exciting ingredients required in this beverage, which we will describe below. On top of that, caffeine is included in the Starbucks pink drink. It is not from espresso or regular coffee, however!
It may amaze you to learn that the caffeine in this beverage originates from an extraordinary source which you will know in this article.
To order the pink drink like a pro the next time you go to Starbucks, here is what you should know in advance.
Is The Pink Drink Worth Buying?
The flavor in this drink seemed to replicate the strawberry milkshake but much more invigorating because it is not as rich and frothy as it sounds. A group of independent drink testers revealed that this strawberry is more appetizing than a power-boosting drink with the faintest trace of cream.
Although many testers confessed that it was not one they would regularly have, they all admitted that the beverage was a refreshing beverage for the summertime.
But if you are not a pink lover, don’t panic; you surely have the options. Starbucks also incorporates green, violet, gold, and even a dragon drink that appears reddish-pink. Therefore, you could choose the drink color that perfectly complements your mood. On the other hand, the Blue drink has not yet been invented by Starbucks.
What Are The Ingredients In Pink Drink?
Starbucks’ pink drink, which is made with strawberry acai base, has a trace amount of caffeine due to the addition of green coffee extract.
Rather than using water, it is combined with coconut milk to get the vibrant tint of pink that makes it so photogenic for social media. Sliced fresh strawberries and blueberries are sprinkled on top, enhancing the delicious taste and presence.
Although the Starbucks pink drink is famous for its vivid hue, it is not made with any food coloring. The drink base consists of freeze-dried strawberries, sugar, filtered water, fruit concentrate, vegetable juice, and natural flavors, including green coffee taste and sweetened coconut milk.
Does The Pink Drink Have Caffeine?
Starbucks’ pink drink has caffeine. The following caffeine amounts are for the grande (16 oz) size:
- Tall: 35 mg
- Grande: 45 mg
- Venti: 70 mg
- Trenta: 90 mg
Despite this caffeine content, it is still far less than a cup of casual brewed coffee which has up to 310 mg of caffeine in the same cup size. And there is approximately 75mg of caffeine found in a Starbucks espresso.
The pink drink has caffeine because Starbucks infuses a particular ingredient, also known as “natural green coffee flavor,” to the beverage, making an aftertaste of coffee emerge. This green coffee flavor is made by saturating and boiling the unroasted green coffee beans. With this method, it has less caffeine than conventionally brewed coffee.
Is It Possible To Prepare A Pink Drink Without Caffeine Content?
For real, it is possible. You can exclude the caffeine level if you prepare this menu at home. Simply put, eliminate the green coffee flavor or use decaffeinated coffee that is friendly to drink for your family members, including pregnant children and pregnant women.
Although you might be missing out on some taste of green coffee’s sweet, floral, and earthy mouthfeel, your pink drink is still delightful.
To make a perfect homemade pink drink, you can use coconut milk, strawberries, grape juice, herbal tea, and a tiny amount of green coffee essence if nobody at your home is allergic to coffee.
Want to taste this tasty beverage without visiting your local coffee shop? We have got the seamless recipe for you.
Let’s learn How To Make a Delicious Starbucks Pink Drink Recipe (Homemade Version)
Here’s how you make a basic but perfect Starbucks pink drink of homemade version, including brewing instructions and some modifications.
Equipment And Ingredient
- Coffee mug
- Serving glass
- Filtered water
- Some freshly sliced strawberries
- Half cup of white grape juice
- Some ice
- 1 cup of green coffee beans
- 1 berry or passion tea bag
- 2 tbsp of coconut milk
- 1 tbsp of honey or simple syrup (optional)
Step-By-Step Instruction To Follow
- Steep the green coffee beans with water in a container overnight.
- Bring coffee beans with water to boil for around 15 minutes, cool them down, and then drain the green coffee bean extract.
- Boil another cup of water, pour over a teabag, let it soak in a coffee mug until the water turns to room temperature.
- Mix grape juice to the tea concentrate and stir carefully.
- Add ice to the serving glass.
- Pour coconut milk and green coffee extract into the glass. You can also add honey or syrup if you need extra sweetness. In addition, combine everything to get an even pink tint.
- Garnish the drink with freshly sliced strawberries
- Serve and enjoy your pleasant homemade pink drink.
Starbucks Pink Drink Recipes Variation: Make Your Own at Home
If you are interested in learning more about the various components in the pink drink, check it out here.
Green Coffee Concentrate Contains Caffeine.
It is the one component that may come as a complete blow to you. But, where did the term “green coffee concentrate” come from, and how do we use it in the pink drinks?
In a general sense, green coffee is always bitter because it was prepared from raw green coffee beans with a deep and earthy flavor. It includes a little caffeine level and has a distinctive green bean taste bud. Due to the unique flavor and slight caffeine content, many people utilize it to make various pink cocktails for drinkers.
On the other hand, Starbucks uses natural green coffee flavor for its pink drink, and it is pretty straightforward to recreate it at home. You can also find the green coffee extract at the mall, as simple as that.
Various Types of Tea
Starbucks’ pink beverages are made with a strawberry acai foundation. Nevertheless, if you don’t have this particular extract on hand, herbal tea is the quickest and most straightforward substitute. Make sure to get a herbal tea that goes pink when it is steeped. You don’t want to be stuck with a pink drink that isn’t really pink!
Preferable Sweeteners
How much sweetness do you prefer in your beverage? Typically, sugar and sweetened coconut milk have been added to the Starbucks version, making it rather relatively sweet. However, when you create your drink at home, you can control the sweetener level.
For instance, if you use sweetened coconut milk, the beverage might already be quite sweet without the addition of additional sugar.
If you use unsweetened coconut milk, you should add a teaspoon of honey. And don’t forget to taste the drink after a few minutes. Make use of your preferred sweetener and alter the sweetness to your liking!
Strawberries Or Berries of Choice
You will get freeze-dried strawberry slices in your precious pink drink at Starbucks. You can use freeze-dried strawberries that are on sale at your local supermarket or a web-based store. However, you can use freshly sliced strawberries for the most delicate flavor.
Alternatively, you can use other kinds of berries available for you, such as blackberries, raspberries, or blueberries. They are all good to go.
The Bottom Line
Now you are equipped with all sets to order Starbucks pink drink with grace. Otherwise, you can make your homemade version with ease. The Pink drink recipe may seem to have many stages and alternatives, but the end product is going to be supremely worthwhile. So, let’s cherish this drink and consider adding it to your next velvety homemade recipe.