We, like many other coffee drinkers, have been fascinated by cold foam drinks since Starbucks introduced them in 2018. Since then, we’ve tried many a coffee beverage topped with cold foam, and today, we’re sharing 13 of our favorites below.
You might be surprised how many options you have in the cold foam drink department and how many flavor combinations you can create. From cold brews to lattes to teas, there’s no limit to the goodness you can create with a satisfying cold foam topping.
Key Takeaways
- Starbucks Coffee introduced cold foam with Nitro Cold Brew in 2016. Since then, it’s become a sought-after drink add-in, thanks to its creamy texture and subtle sweetness.
- Cold foam flavors like Chocolate Cream and Salted Caramel are wonderful. However, Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam is the biggest crowd-pleaser. It’s compatible with virtually any drink.
- Customization is king at Starbucks. Customers can add any available cold foam flavor to their drink via the Starbucks app or in-store, though it might incur a small additional charge.
What is a cold foam drink?
At Starbucks, a cold foam drink is a beverage topped with a foamy layer of whipped nonfat milk and flavored syrup. These are usually cold brews or iced coffee or tea drinks, but a few hot beverages pair beautifully with the foamy topping, too.
What Flavor Cold Foam Does Starbucks Have?
Starbucks has a variety of cold foam flavors that are perfect for any drink you choose. Some have a milder and more subtle flavor, while others are the star of the show. Starbucks’s available cold foam flavors are below.
| Regular Menu Cold Foam Flavors | Seasonal Cold Foam Flavors |
|---|---|
| Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam | Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam |
| Salted Caramel Cream Cold Foam | Caramel Brulee Cream Cold Foam |
| Chocolate Cream Cold Foam | Chestnut Praline Cream Cold Foam |
| Cinnamon Sweet Cream Cold Foam | Sugar Cookie Cream Cold Foam |
| Matcha Cream Cold Foam | Peppermint Chocolate Cream Cold Foam |
Roasty Roundup: The 13 Best Starbucks Cold Foam Drinks
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Probably one of the most popular cold foam beverages at Starbucks, Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew is a drink we recommend everyone try at least once. It’s a simple drink — the recipe is just cold brew coffee and vanilla-flavored sweet cream cold foam — but it’s amazing how much flavor and subtle sweetness it contains.
The best part about this iced coffee drink is how customizable it is. Want it sweeter? Add a flavored syrup or sweetener to your cup. Want a little extra flair? Add Cinnamon Dolce sprinkles on top of the cold foam.
Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Vanilla Sweet Cream
Whether you buy the iced or hot version, the Cinnamon Dolce Latte is perfect. The only thing that could make it better is subbing the usual whipped cream topping with a layer of vanilla cold foam instead.
The latte’s sweet, spicy flavors blend beautifully with the rich, creamy foam, which complements the cold coffee beautifully.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew
If the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew is one of your favorite cold beverages, you’ll love its nitrogen-infused sibling.
What we love about Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew is that it’s got a hint of vanilla sweetness without being too sugary or rich. Anyone who isn’t crazy about super sweet drinks will love this modern take on a classic coffee with cream.
Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
If you’re on the hunt for a sweet, salty, and rich iced drink, the Salted Caramel Cold Brew is for you. Made with Starbucks’s signature cold brew coffee, a touch of caramel syrup, and a layer of salted caramel cold foam, the drink is the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
Iced Mocha With Cold Foam
While it’s not an official menu item, you can easily order an Iced Mocha with Cold Foam through the Starbucks app or in person.
We love this drink because the cold foam gives the drink a smoother, more enjoyable texture. Plus, it’s not as sugary sweet as whipped cream. Make sure you ask for chocolate drizzle on top, because no mocha, hot or iced, is complete without it!
Iced London Fog Tea Latte With Cold Foam
The London Fog is a latte-style drink made of Earl Grey black tea, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup. Make it extra delicious and decadent with a bit of cold foam on top. The resulting drink is smooth, creamy, and not too sweet. It also has less caffeine than a latte made with espresso — a plus if you’re trying to keep your caffeine intake low.
Iced Matcha Tea Latte With Cold Foam
We love an Iced Matcha Tea Latte, and why wouldn’t we? It highlights matcha’s unique flavor, has a perfectly balanced sweetness, and is refreshing on a hot day. The only thing that makes it better is adding cold foam — specifically Starbucks’s signature Vanilla Sweet Cream cold foam — on top.
Pink Drink With Cold Foam
The Pink Drink has been a fan favorite since it joined the Starbucks menu a few years ago (it used to be a secret menu selection). The blend of Strawberry Acai Refresher base, coconut milk, and strawberry pieces is delicious on its own and topped with cold foam.
Choosing Vanilla Sweet Cream cold foam adds a light vanilla flavor to your cup, which complements the delicious strawberry and acai flavors perfectly. Think of it like a strawberries and cream drink with caffeine added!
Salted Caramel Nitro Cold Brew
Like the regular Salted Caramel Cold Brew drink, the nitrogen-infused version is simple, sophisticated, and downright delicious. It’s subtly sweet, and the salted caramel flavor plays perfectly with the taste of the cold brew.
Iced White Chocolate Mocha
The Iced White Chocolate Mocha is already a crowd-pleaser, but adding a healthy serving of cold foam on top only takes it to the next level. White chocolate is an excellent base flavor for other add-ins, so try it with almost any one of Starbucks’s flavored cold foams.
We’d recommend adding either Chocolate or Matcha Cream cold foams. Don’t knock the matcha flavor until you try it; you’d be surprised how well matcha goes with white chocolate!
Matcha Cold Foam Iced Americano
A matcha cold foam-topped Americano might not seem as if it would work, but it does! The drink became a hit at Starbucks in Malaysia, and quickly took the internet by storm. The green foam might throw you off at first but be brave and push through; this is a drink you should try at least once. Feel free to add a pump or two of liquid cane sugar to sweeten it up a bit.
Iced Chai Latte With Pumpkin Cold Foam
It’s always a good day when festive flavors like pumpkin return to Starbucks, especially when in the form of cold foam! Pumpkin-flavored cold foam and your favorite regular menu Iced Chai Latte are a match made in heaven, creating a spicy drink that’s everything you need to celebrate the fall season.
Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte With Cold Foam
It’s hard to improve upon the already fantastic classic Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte, but a dollop of cold foam gets the job done. Try adding any of Starbucks’s flavored cold foams to your vanilla latte, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Starbucks’s Cold Foam Made Of?
Starbucks cold foam consists of heavy cream, low-fat milk, and flavoring. Those ingredients go into a cold foam blender, and the result is that light, fluffy cold foam that we and countless other Starbucks fans can’t get enough of.
Are Sweet Cream and Sweet Cream Cold Foam the Same Thing?
Let’s set the record straight. Starbucks sweet cream is a blend of reduced-fat milk, heavy cream, and vanilla syrup. Sweet cream cold foam is made of the same ingredients, but it spends time in a blender before making its way to your cup.
Sweet cream cold foam is a light, fluffy topping, while sweet cream is smooth and runny like a creamer.
Does Starbucks Charge Extra for Cold Foam?
Unfortunately, yes. If you’d like to add cold foam to a menu item that doesn’t typically include it, you’ll be charged a few extra cents.
What Drinks Are Good With Vanilla Cold Foam?
Vanilla sweet cream cold foam is incredibly versatile, but we think it tastes best on cold brew, an iced latte, iced coffee, or a hot Chai or London Fog tea latte.
Can You Add Sweet Cream Cold Foam to Any Drink?
Most people prefer adding cold foam to cold drinks — and we’re inclined to agree that cold foam plus cold drinks is the best combination — but you can top just about any Starbucks drink with it. If you’re not sure if adding cold foam is an available customization for your favorite drink, ask a barista or check in the Starbucks app.
How Do You Order Cold Foam on the Starbucks App?
To add cold foam to your drink while placing an app order, select your desired drink, then go to the customization tab. Click on “Toppings” and scroll until you see the options to add cold foam.
From there, you’ll need to choose one of the available cold foam options. Generally, you’ll see things like Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam, Chocolate Cream Cold Foam, and Salted Caramel Cream Cold Foam. However, if you’re ordering a drink during the fall or winter, you might see Pumpkin Cream and Sugar Cookie Cream Cold Foams, too.
Get Creative With Cold Foam
You’ve got plenty of options for ordering a cold foam drink. With a little creativity and knowledge of the Starbucks menu, you can create something that tastes great and satisfies your cravings.
Happy Caffeinating!
