Starbucks is known for its wide variety of coffee drinks, many of which can be customized to each customer’s liking. One of the most common customizations offered is the addition of flavored syrups to drinks like lattes,Frappuccinos, and more. But does Starbucks actually sell their syrup flavors separately for customers to take home? Let’s take a closer look at what syrups Starbucks offers and the ways customers can purchase them.
Types of Syrups at Starbucks
Starbucks uses a variety of flavored syrups to customize their drinks, including:
- Vanilla syrup
- Caramel syrup
- Cinnamon Dolce syrup
- Hazelnut syrup
- White chocolate mocha syrup
- Toffee nut syrup
- Raspberry syrup
- Peppermint syrup
- Mocha syrup
- Pumpkin spice syrup
These sweet syrups allow customers to add flavors like vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut to their coffee, espresso drinks, teas, and blended creations. The syrups help complement the natural flavors of the coffee and milk.
Do They Sell Bottles of Syrups for Home Use?
Starbucks does not sell their pre-made syrup flavors directly to customers for home use. The syrups are proprietary blends made specifically for Starbucks, so they do not offer them for sale in retail stores or online.
However, there are a few ways customers can still enjoy Starbucks syrup flavors at home:
Syrups in Packaged Drinks
While Starbucks does not bottle their syrups for individual sale, some of their pre-packaged drinks do contain the flavored syrups. For example, bottled Frappuccinos and Starbucks Refreshers beverages contain syrup flavors like mocha, caramel, and vanilla. So purchasing these drinks allows you to enjoy Starbucks syrups at home.
Recreating Syrups at Home
Many homemade syrup recipes aim to mimic the flavors of popular Starbucks syrups. For example, you can find recipes online for copycat versions of hazelnut, vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon dolce syrups. These DIY syrups use ingredients like flavored extracts, sugar, spices, and more to recreate the taste. While not exactly the same, homemade syrups can allow you to approximate Starbucks flavors.
Buying Similar Syrups
Some specialty coffee brands sell their own versions of flavored coffee syrups that are intended to taste similar to popular Starbucks flavors. For example, Torani and Monin are two brands that produce syrups in flavors like French vanilla, salted caramel, and pumpkin spice. While not the actual Starbucks-branded syrups, these can provide a comparable taste experience.
Ordering Syrups Online
There are a few online specialty retailers that claim to sell Starbucks-branded syrup bottles. However, the authenticity is questionable, as Starbucks does not authorize these sellers. The syrups may be expired, tampered with, or simply mislabeled without actually being from Starbucks. Purchasing syrups in this way can be risky.
Reasons Why Starbucks Doesn’t Sell Syrups
Starbucks likely chooses not to bottle and sell their proprietary syrup flavors directly for a few key reasons:
Maintain Exclusivity
The flavors are designed specifically for Starbucks menu items and to create a unique Starbucks experience. If sold widely, they would lose this exclusivity.
Quality Control
It would be difficult for Starbucks to maintain quality and freshness if the syrups were bottled and sold in various retailers.
Prevent Imitations
Selling the syrups could make it easier for imitations to be made, undercutting Starbucks’ business. Keeping the flavors proprietary helps prevent duplication.
Food Safety
Bottling syrups for retail sale would require significant food safety processes and compliance oversight. Starbucks likely wishes to avoid this complex process.
Focus on Core Business
Selling bottled syrups would be a distraction from Starbucks’ core cafe business. So they keep the focus on in-store beverage sales.
How Much Syrup Does Starbucks Use?
Starbucks stores go through significant amounts of syrup to meet customer customization demands. Some estimates on Starbucks’ syrup usage include:
- Over 1,000 gallons of vanilla syrup per week
- Over 2.8 million gallons of caramel syrup per year
- Around 30-40 bottles of white mocha sauce per store per week
Exact syrup usage can vary by location and season. But Starbucks overall uses millions of gallons per year of its most popular syrups like vanilla and caramel.
The syrups must be frequently restocked so busy locations don’t run out, especially during busy seasonal periods. Having enough syrup is critical for providing consistent customized beverages.
Most Popular Starbucks Syrup Flavors
While Starbucks offers dozens of different syrup flavors, surveys of customers and baristas reveal the most popular choices:
- Vanilla syrup
- Caramel syrup
- Cinnamon Dolce syrup
- White chocolate mocha syrup
- Pumpkin spice syrup
- Hazelnut syrup
Classics like vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut rank high. Seasonal favorites like pumpkin spice and holiday flavors also see spikes in popularity when on the menu. But overall, vanilla and caramel reign supreme as Starbucks’ most used syrups.
Nutrition Facts for Starbucks Syrups
Since Starbucks doesn’t sell their syrups in bottles for home use, they don’t provide full nutrition facts for the syrups on their own. However, we can estimate based on the nutrition information for Starbucks drinks that contain syrups:
| Syrup | Serving Size | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla | 1 tbsp | 50 | 12g |
| Caramel | 1 tbsp | 55 | 14g |
| White Chocolate Mocha | 1 tbsp | 60 | 15g |
| Cinnamon Dolce | 1 tbsp | 40 | 10g |
As you can see, the syrups are high in sugar to provide their sweet flavor. A couple tablespoons can add over 10 grams of sugar to a drink. So those looking to cut down on sugar may want to ask for less syrup or sugar-free versions.
Making Your Own Starbucks-Style Syrups
While not exactly the same, you can come close to recreating some favorite Starbucks syrup flavors at home. Here are a few DIY recipe ideas:
Homemade Vanilla Syrup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Heat water and sugar together in a small saucepan until sugar dissolves.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Store in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Homemade Caramel Syrup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Instructions:
- Heat sugar and water over medium heat until golden brown.
- Slowly whisk in cream and salt until smooth.
- Bring to a simmer then remove from heat.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Homemade Mocha Syrup
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Whisk cocoa powder and sugar together.
- Heat water to a simmer then pour over cocoa mixture, whisking continuously until combined and dissolved.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Allow to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Store for up to 2 weeks.
Getting the consistency and flavor balance right can take some trial and error. But these recipes can provide a tasty homemade approximation of Starbucks’ sweet syrups to enjoy in your own coffee drinks!
Can You Buy Discontinued Starbucks Syrups?
Like any menu, Starbucks rotates certain syrup flavors in and out depending on seasonality and popularity over time. Some syrups they have discontinued or no longer carry include:
- Coconut syrup
- Mint syrup
- Orange syrup
- Concord grape syrup
- Blackberry syrup
- Gingerbread syrup
- Marshmallow syrup
Since Starbucks does not directly sell bottled syrups, you cannot buy bottled versions of these retired flavors. And Starbucks stores do not sell or hold onto expired syrups after discontinuing them.
However, some people try to replicate these flavors at home to recreate discontinued Starbucks drinks. So you may find homemade recipes for things like coconut, orange, or grape syrup online to approximate the taste of Starbucks’ previous offerings. But you won’t find the actual original syrups bottled up for sale.
Other Ways to Enjoy Starbucks Syrup Flavors
While buying Starbucks’ in-house syrup flavors directly is not an option, you can still incorporate their flavors into home-made treats through other creative methods:
Starbucks Syrup-Flavored Sauces
Make homemade caramel, mocha, or vanilla sauces flavored with Starbucks syrups purchased from their in-store drinks. Use to top desserts, pancakes, ice cream, and more.
Syrup-Swirled Coffee Creamer
Add a swirl of Starbucks caramel, mocha, or pumpkin spice sauce into your coffee creamer to give a hint of flavor.
Flavored Whipped Cream
Make homemade whipped cream sweetened with vanilla syrup or other Starbucks syrups for a sweet topping.
Syrup-Infused Milk
Heat milk on the stove and add in a few pumps of Starbucks syrup to infuse the flavor, then use for making lattes or hot chocolate.
So while you may not be able to buy the bottled syrups directly, you can still find creative ways to enjoy your favorite Starbucks flavors at home.
Conclusion
Starbucks pumpkins out millions of gallons worth of delicious flavored coffee syrups each year to customize their caf?? beverages. However, they do not directly sell or authorize the sale of their proprietary syrups in bottles for home or retail use. This allows them to maintain quality control and the uniqueness of their in-store experience. Some online shops may claim to sell Starbucks syrups, but the authenticity is highly questionable. Thankfully, you can approximate the flavors with homemade DIY syrup recipes. And you can also add a splash of flavor to your homemade coffeehouse drinks through Starbucks bottled beverages or by requestting pumps of syrup in your in-store orders. So while not sold directly, Starbucks syrup magic can still be a part of your at-home coffee routine.
