What is French vanilla coffee? (What is in it, how to make it, how to order it? + More information)

Do you know Starbucks offers different variations of vanilla coffee called French vanilla coffee? What is French vanilla coffee?

Starbucks French vanilla coffee is simply a blend of espresso, milk, hazelnut syrup, and vanilla syrup garnished with caramel drizzles. However, though Starbucks offers this drink, expect not to find it on the menu as it is a secret item drink. I discovered this drink just a few months ago when my friends came for a sleepover. One of my friends is a vanilla lover, and she ordered the French version of vanilla coffee. Upon tasting it, I really liked it, and I am now a big fan of the drink. Read on if you want to know more about this drink and how to order it.

What is in Starbucks French vanilla coffee? (Ingredients)

Many people may not be familiarized with the French vanilla coffee offered at Starbucks since it is a secret menu drink. Additionally, some automatically assume that Starbucks uses a French vanilla syrup to make this drink hence its uniquely sweet taste. However, this is not the case, as Starbucks does not have French vanilla syrup.

However, to achieve something close to French vanilla syrup, Starbucks combines hazelnut syrup and vanilla syrup, giving this beverage a sweet, creamy, and nutty profile. The first thing you notice when you taste this drink is the overall sweet taste and a perfect balance of a subtle coffee taste and a caramel-like taste due to caramel drizzles added to the drink.

Other than the hazelnut and vanilla syrup, other ingredients used to make this drink include steamed milk, fresh espresso shots, and garnished caramel drizzles. If you want the iced version of this drink, ask your barista to include ice while preparing this drink for you.

Compared to other French vanilla coffees offered at other restaurants, the Starbucks one is fresh and pricier. Additionally, as other restaurants use vanilla bean coffee, Starbucks just uses espresso shots hence the difference and uniqueness in taste across these drinks.

How to make Starbucks French vanilla coffee (recipe)

The standard recipe for making French vanilla coffee is quite straightforward as the baristas mix a couple of ingredients to come up with the drink that will meet your preferences. As mentioned above, the Starbucks French vanilla recipe is simply a blend of fresh espresso shots, steamed milk, hazelnut syrup, vanilla syrup, toppings of caramel drizzles, and any other ingredient you will want to be added to your beverage.

Starbucks uses a combination of vanilla and hazelnut syrup to get something close to a French vanilla syrup since they do not have a French vanilla syrup. Therefore, to make your French vanilla coffee, the baristas simply mix the above ingredients depending on the size of the drink you want and how you want it customized.

What is the nutritional information of Starbucks French vanilla coffee?

An average serving of the Starbucks French vanilla coffee has 190 calories, 39 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fat, and 6 grams of protein. The same serving will give you 30 grams of sugar, 110 mg of sodium, and 12 mg of cholesterol. Therefore, if you are trying to maintain your sugar and calorie intake low, this drink is probably not for you.

How to order Starbucks French vanilla coffee?

Since the Starbucks French vanilla coffee is a secret menu drink, there is no standard way of ordering it. Additionally, you will not be able to order this drink on the Starbucks mobile app or website, but you can do so in-store. Therefore, to order the Starbucks French vanilla coffee, ask the barista for fresh espresso shots, 1 to 2 pumps of vanilla syrup and hazelnut syrup, depending on the drink size, and some caramel drizzles to garnish your drink. You can go ahead and customize your drink to your specifications.

It is, however, important to note that you do not have to tell your barista that you need a French vanilla coffee. All you need to do is request the ingredients, and your barista will mix them for you to suit your preferences best.

How to make Starbucks French vanilla coffee at home?

There are several ways you can play around with different ingredients to make your French vanilla drink at home. First, you can prepare espresso shots using a Starbucks espresso machine or just use intense coffee. Additionally, you can buy vanilla beans coffee as a substitute for this. You can also make your own hazelnut and vanilla syrup at home or order it online or in grocery stores. Another ingredient you need is a vanilla coffee creamer or milk and some caramel drizzles to garnish your drink or your preferred toppings. Additionally, if you want your drink cold, you can make it using cold milk and add ice to your ingredient list.

To make your French vanilla coffee, mix your espresso or strongly brewed coffee with either steamed or cold milk depending on whether you want the drink cold or warm. Additionally, measuring your ingredients depends on the amount of coffee you have, but generally, you need one part of milk and two parts of coffee. After stirring well, add vanilla and hazelnut syrup and stir well. Serve your drink garnished with your favorite toppings, and enjoy.

What does Starbucks’ French vanilla coffee taste like?

The taste of French vanilla coffee is a perfect balance of a warm, nutty flavor with a rich vanilla profile. The nutty flavor comes with a creamy texture due to the hazelnut syrup used as an ingredient in this drink; the syrup is both creamy and nutty. Therefore, the drink gets its rich vanilla flavor from the obvious vanilla syrup and the nutty, creamy taste and texture from the hazelnut syrup. Basically, French vanilla coffee has a richer taste and smoother consistency compared to basic vanilla coffee.

The baristas at Starbucks blend these two syrups so well that none overshadows the other. The combination is a sweet drink and has a mild coffee taste. However, if you do not have a sweet tooth, you can easily customize this beverage by asking your barista to reduce the number of syrup pumps used to make this drink.

What Roast level is Starbucks French vanilla coffee?

Generally, Starbucks uses coffee beans that have been light to medium roasted to make its vanilla drinks. Therefore, if you prefer lightly roasted coffee, then you will love the French vanilla coffee offered by Starbucks. While other restaurants add vanilla and other natural flavors to their coffee during roasting, Starbucks just uses freshly prepared espresso, hazelnut, and vanilla syrup to prepare its French vanilla coffee.

Final thoughts

Though you have never seen the Starbucks French vanilla coffee on the coffee chain’s menu, this is a secret menu drink that you can easily ask for from your barista when purchasing in-store. This drink will suit you well if you love your coffee lightly roasted, sweet, and with hints of vanilla, caramel, and nutty taste.

FAQ Section

Is Starbucks French vanilla coffee good?

Yes, if you love your coffee with a sweet, nutty, caramel-like taste, you will find the Starbucks French vanilla coffee great.

How much is Starbucks French vanilla coffee?

Since it’s a secret menu item, the barista will determine the price of French vanilla coffee based on the serving size and how you customize your drink.

Is Starbucks French vanilla coffee strong?

Yes, the strong vanilla coffee is strong as it has high caffeine content.

Is Starbucks French vanilla coffee sweet?

Yes, the combination of the hazelnut syrup and the vanilla syrup used to make this drink gives it a sweet, creamy, and nutty profile.