What Kind of Almond Milk Does Starbucks Use?

Starbucks is the land of options and customizations, which means this coffee chain giant is sure to carry a selection of different milk options. If you’re the type who prefers almond milk in your go-to coffee creation, then you’re in luck – because pretty much any Starbucks you walk into is guaranteed to offer it as an option on the menu.

But if you’re a frequent almond milk drinker, you probably know that not all brands and varieties are created equal. So whether you’re vegan, dairy-free, lactose intolerant, or simply like the taste of almond milk in your pumpkin spice latte, you might be interested to know what kind of almond milk Starbucks uses in their drinks. 

Although the popular chain has almond milk, it’s important to remember an important caveat: Starbucks is a franchise, so the specific brands that each store carries may vary. But throughout the US, the common go-to almond milk that you’ll find at most Starbucks locations is currently Califia Farms Barista Blend Almond Milk. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

What is almond milk?

The types of milk available today seem endless, so the first question to address is: what exactly is almond milk, anyway? It’s a plant-based milk that’s made from the pulpy liquid that results after almonds are soaked and ground in filtered water. Pure almond milk is neutral in flavor with a light consistency and slightly creamy texture, and it’s naturally low in calories and sugar and rich in nutrients like magnesium and Vitamin E. 

However, many store-bought products contain either natural or artificial flavoring, added sugars, and thickeners like oils and gums to enhance the overall flavor, texture, and shelf life of the almond milk. Most brands also fortify their non-dairy milks with additional nutrients like Vitamin A and Vitamin D.

Califia Farms Barista Blend Almond Milk, in particular, is a shelf stable recipe that’s designed for the purpose of crafting and adding to coffee drinks – which means this variety of almond milk is slightly creamier, and tends to steam well and froth better than most.

Califia Farms Barista Blend Almond Milk: ingredients and nutrition

Califia Farms Barista Blend Almond Milk is vegan, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, kosher, BPA-free, and non-GMO. It’s also free of carrageenan, a seaweed-derived additive found in many dairy-free milks which has been proven to be a problematic ingredient. 

Overall, Califia Farms uses similar ingredients to many other almond milk brands in their Barista Blend product. According to the nutrition label, the complete list of ingredients is as follows:

• Almondmilk (Water, Almonds)
• Cane Sugar
• Calcium Carbonate
• Sunflower Lecithin
• Sea Salt
• Guar Gum
• Natural Flavor
• Gellan Gum
• Potassium Citrate

As you can see, a handful of other additives are included in the ingredient list, such as gums and natural flavors. These are often found in almond milk products, as well as other non-dairy products, to help emulsify and thicken the overall texture of the milk. 

So how does this brand of almond milk stack up nutritionally? In one serving of Califia Farms Barista Blend Almond Milk, which is an 8-ounce cup, you’ll find the following nutritional breakdown:

• Calories: 70
• Fat: 4.5g
• Carbs: 6g
• Sugars: 5g
• Protein: 2g

While this almond milk isn’t a great source of protein or fiber, it’s a good choice for those who are looking for a milk alternative that’s lower in calories or carbohydrates. Almond milk contains healthy fats, with zero saturated fats or trans fats. As far as nutrients, this particular brand contains 30% of the daily value of calcium per serving but no other notable vitamin and mineral content.

Is Starbucks almond milk sweetened or unsweetened?

On their website, Starbucks lists sugar as an ingredient in the “almondmilk” found in some of their menu items. For this reason, whether a particular franchise uses Califia Farms or another brand, we can assume that Starbucks generally uses the sweetened versions of these products, which contain added sugar.

Califia Farms adds cane sugar to their Barista Blend, which ultimately accounts for 5 grams of added sugar per 8-ounce serving.

Starbucks drinks that use almond milk

While you can customize any drink by adding or substituting almond milk, Starbucks has several drink items on the menu that intentionally include this particular milk alternative in the recipe – whether it’s a seasonal drink that’s available for a limited time, or a more regular menu item that’s likely to be available year-round. 

Here are your options if you’re looking for an almond milk based drink on the current Starbucks menu:

• Honey Almondmilk Flat White [Hot or Iced]
• Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte, Iced Latte, or Frappuccino [Seasonal / Limited Availability]

Recap: Starbucks almond milk

Lastly, here’s a helpful chart to help sum of all of the information about the most-used brand of almond milk across Starbucks locations.

Starbucks Almond Milk Brand	Califia Farms Barista Blend Almond Milk
Brand Claims	Vegan Gluten Free Kosher Soy Free BPA Free Carrageenan Free NonGMO Verified
Ingredients List	Almondmilk (Water, Almonds) Cane Sugar Calcium Carbonate Sunflower Lecithin Sea Salt Guar Gum Natural Flavor Gellan Gum Potassium Citrate
Nutritional Facts	Calories: 70 Fat: 4.5g Carbs: 6g Sugars: 5g Protein: 2g
Sweetened?	Yes [Cane Sugar]

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