Starbucks Secret Menu: Limeade Refresher (Taste, Ingredients, Caffeine, Calories, Copycat Recipe & More information)
We can always count on Starbucks Limeade Refresher for some zesty hydration. But what else does this fantastic beverage entail?
The Starbucks Cool Lime refresher is my go-to when I need a slight caffeine kick on a hot day. So when I got word that there was a new variation of the drink on the secret menu, I couldn’t wait to try it out.
It’s safe to say that I knew I would enjoy it even before sipping it since I’ve always loved lemonade. One of my favorite refreshers with the inclusion of lemonade? What’s not to love? I also went on a mission to develop a DIY recipe for the refresher. Read on to get a glimpse of that but first, let’s go through some important facts about the beverage.
Table of Contents
Brief History of the drink
I love knowing the origins of things, and my favorite foods and drinks are no exception. It just makes me appreciate things better. I did a little research on the limeade refresher, and I was directed back to the Starbucks refreshers’ debut on July 9th, 2012.
Starbucks aimed to create beverages that provide its consumers with hydration and energy boost while maintaining optimum flavor. One of the first refreshers the company created was the Cool Lime refresher. The Limeade is simply a variation of the Cool Lime refresher that Starbucks released after a while but was put on the secret menu. We can always count on Starbucks to offer versatility, right?
Starbucks Limeade Refresher Overview
What’s in a Starbucks Limeade Refresher- Ingredients
The Starbucks Limeade refresher is one of the simplest Starbucks drinks. Let’s talk about each ingredient used to prepare it.
- Lime juice- The first and most apparent ingredient is lime juice, simply a blend of water, limes, sugar syrup, and citric acid.
- Lemonade– Starbucks uses its lemonade which consists of water, lemon juice, lemon oil, and sugar.
- Green coffee extract– The limeade refresher contains some caffeine extracted from the green coffee extract. It is made from unroasted 100% Arabica beans, which gives the beverage a mild and fresh flavor.
- Cool lime wedges– Who wouldn’t love a garnished drink? The cool lime wedges are incorporated to make the drink look beautiful and add some flavor to it.
- Natural sweetener– Starbucks uses Stevia natural sweetener in the refresher. It is made from monk fruit extracts and is completely natural with no artificial ingredients.
Starbucks Limeade Refresher: Sizes, nutrition, Caffeine & Calories
What sizes are available
All Starbucks refreshers come in four sizes, including the ones on the secret menu. You can have the limeade refresher in a Tall sized cup (12 fl oz), Grande (16 fl oz), Venti (24 fl oz), and Trenta (30 fl oz).
Nutritional facts
As much as we love Starbucks, the company can be notorious for not-so-healthy beverages containing a ton of sugar and calories. However, they’ve proven they can develop healthy drinks by serving this refresher to their consumers. The drink contains only 70 calories in a Grande, containing the lowest calories of all the refreshers. Not to mention it also contains pieces of lime that are high in Vitamin C and antioxidants.
Below is a table with more nutritional facts (Serving Grande 16 fl oz)
Calories 70 | Calories from fat 0 |
Nutritional value | 0% daily value |
Total Fat
Saturated Fat 0 g Trans Fat 0 mg | 0%
0% 0% |
Cholesterol 0 mg | 0% |
Protein 0 g | 0% |
Total Carbohydrates 15g
Dietary Fiber 0.4g Sugars 17.5g | 5% |
Sodium 10mg | 0% |
Caffeine 45mg | – |
Caffeine information
It’s easy to think that the limeade refresher is caffeine free due to its juice-like nature. However, the refresher contains 45 mg of caffeine from the green coffee extract. The caffeine content is pretty light compared to other Starbucks drinks.
So what does Starbucks Limeade Refresher taste like?
If you are a fan of lemonade, you will enjoy the Limeade refresher. Because limes are sweeter and more bitter than their tart lemon counterparts, the difference results in an entirely different citrus flavor. This drink graces you with a slightly sweet hint of lime flavor and a tangy lemonade taste.
Ways to customize a Limeade Refresher at Starbucks
One thing that draws people to Starbucks and keeps them coming back for more is how much fun you can have with your drinks. As you order, you can request extra lime slices if you want a stronger lime flavor. Different fruit inclusions, such as kiwi, could also work well with this beverage. If you want to make your drink sweeter, ask the barista for extra pumps of sweetener.
How to make Starbucks Limeade Refresher at home – Starbucks Limeade Refresher Copycat Recipe
Starbucks Limeade Refresher Copycat Recipe
Equipment
- Pitcher
- Glass
- strainer
Ingredients
- 3 cups of lemonade juice
- 2 cups of lime juice
- Limes
- ¾ cup sugar
- Chopped cucumber
- Green coffee extract
Instructions
- Pour the lemonade and chopped cucumber into a pitcher and allow the mixture to sit for 15 minutes.
- Strain the mixture to remove all the cucumber.
- Add the green coffee extract, sugar, and lime juice and stir.
- Pour the mixture into a glass filled with ice cubes and add limes to garnish.
Notes
- Instead of sugar, I often use a sweetener such as Truvia to reduce calories.
- You can add mint leaves to the drink for extra flavor.
Informative Section
How do you order Limeade Refresher from the Starbucks app?
Simply click on the Starbucks app and locate the Cool Lime Refresher on the cold drink menu. From there, tap “customize” and request the drink with lemonade instead of water.
Is the Starbucks Limeade Refresher still available?
No, the Starbucks Limeade refresher was discontinued.
Does Starbucks have Limeade Refresher all year round?
No, the Limeade Refresher is not available all year round.
Is the Starbucks Limeade Refresher healthy?
The drink is relatively healthy since it has few calories and limes that contain antioxidants.
How much is the Starbucks Limeade Refresher?
The Tall costs $3.99, the Grande costs $4.49, the Venti costs $4.99, and the Trenta costs $5.29.
Is Starbucks Limeade Refresher good?
Yes, the Starbucks Limeade Refresher is good, thanks to its citrus and lime flavor blend.