Let’s be honest: Starbucks is a treat, but those treat adds up fast. That $6 iced drink? Multiply it by 3 times a week and suddenly you’re looking at over $900 a year. But what if you could make your favorite Starbucks drinks at home—for a buck or two each—with ingredients you probably already have? That’s the magic of copycat recipes. I’m spilling the tea on 15 Starbucks-inspired drinks you can make in your own kitchen.
Note: The prices I’m using are for a Grande size in my town in northern California, and are accurate as of April 2025.
1. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Why we love it: This cult favorite has a cozy cinnamon kick and a smooth oatmilk finish—like fall in a cup, shaken not stirred.
Ingredients: 2 shots espresso, 1 Tbsp brown sugar syrup, 3/4 cup oat milk, ice, cinnamon
At-Home Cost: ~$1.25 | Starbucks: $5.95 | Savings: $4.70
Issue When I Made It: The first time I made this, I didn’t shake it enough and it came out flat and kinda sad—definitely not giving “Starbucks energy”. Don’t be afraid to shake the hell out of it.
PRO TIP: SANS SHAKER?
Don’t have a cocktail shaker? Who cares. Grab a mason jar or literally any jar with a lid that won’t leak. Throw your ingredients and ice in there, screw it shut, and shake like you’re trying to wake up your last brain cell.
It’s not fancy, but it works—and it makes you feel like you’re doing something impressive. Pour it out through the lid or strain it if you’re feeling classy. No need for bar gear when you’ve got a jar.
See Also: Starbucks Menu Hacks That’ll Save You Bigly
2. Mocha Frappuccino
Why we love it: It’s dessert in a cup. Creamy, chocolatey, and ice-cold—basically a caffeinated milkshake with a mission.
Ingredients: 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup strong coffee, 1.5 Tbsp chocolate syrup, 1.5 cups ice, whipped cream
At-Home Cost: ~$0.95 | Starbucks: $5.75 | Savings: $4.80
Issues The First Time I Made It: I got a little heavy-handed with the ice and ended up with a sad, slushy milk cube situation.
PRO TIP: MAKE IT CREAMY
Trying to get that thick, creamy Starbucks texture at home? Toss in a pinch—like 1/8 teaspoon—of xanthan gum.
Don’t have that? A spoonful of instant pudding mix works weirdly well. It smooths everything out and gives your drink that fancy, blended vibe without turning into weird, watery soup. No barista skills required. Just dump, blend, and sip like you paid $6 for it.
3. Iced Matcha Latte
Why we love it: Earthy and slightly sweet, this one makes you feel like you’re doing something healthy—even if you’re sipping it in your pajamas.
Ingredients: 1 tsp matcha powder, 2 Tbsp hot water, 3/4 cup milk, 1 tsp honey or simple syrup, ice
At-Home Cost: ~$1.10 | Starbucks: $5.75 | Savings: $4.65
Not a fan of Matcha so haven’t made this one yet, let me know in the comments if you’ve tried it.
PRO TIP: FROTH IT BABY
Look, if you’re gonna make a matcha, at least do it right. Grab that $10 milk frother you impulse-bought and put it to work.
It whips everything into a silky, no-clump situation in like five seconds. Your matcha deserves better than a sad swirl of green at the bottom of the cup. Froth it like you mean it. Bonus points if you pretend you’re on a cooking show.
4. Pink Drink
Why we love it: Instagram made it famous, but we love it for the light coconut flavor and fruity tea base. It’s basically summer in a cup.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Passion Tea, 1/2 cup white grape juice, 1/2 cup coconut milk, strawberries, ice
At-Home Cost: ~$1.25 | Starbucks: $5.95 | Savings: $4.70
The First Time I Made It: I didn’t chill the tea before mixing, and the whole thing tasted like lukewarm regret. Also, I used the wrong coconut milk—the kind from a can—and it separated. Stick with the carton kind (the one by the almond milk).
PRO TIP: PLAN AHEAD
Make the tea when you’re already in the kitchen—just throw a few bags in hot water and stick it in the fridge.
That way you’re not standing around later, annoyed that you have to wait for it to cool. Cold Passion Tea = pink drink ready whenever. No thinking, no drama, just pour and go.
5. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Why we love it: Smooth, strong coffee with a sweet and creamy finish. It’s your morning coffee “leveled up” and dressed for success of some sort.
Ingredients: 3/4 cup cold brew, 2 Tbsp vanilla syrup, 1/4 cup sweet cream (half & half + vanilla syrup), ice
At-Home Cost: ~$0.90 | Starbucks: $5.45 | Savings: $4.55
Issues When I Made It: I was out of half & half and so I used regular milk and it was sad and thin.
PRO TIP: CREAM IT YOURSELF
Mix up a jar of sweet cream and keep it in the fridge. It’s literally just cream, milk, and whatever sweetener you like.
Shake it once and you’re set for the week. No need to mess with measuring every morning or opening a million tiny containers. Just grab it, pour it, done.
See Also: Outside the Box Ways to Save Money at Starbucks
6. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Why we love it: PSL’s chill cousin. You get the fall flavor without the sugary overload—plus cold brew keeps it punchy.
Ingredients: 3/4 cup cold brew, 1 Tbsp vanilla syrup, pumpkin cold foam (cream + pumpkin purée + spice + syrup), ice
At-Home Cost: ~$1.50 | Starbucks: $5.95 | Savings: $4.45
When I Made It: This one comes from longtime blog reader Roxanne when she made it. “The pumpkin foam actually foamed (shoutout to my milk frother), and it floated on top just like the real thing. My husband took one sip, raised an eyebrow, and said, “Wait, you made this?” I said “damn right I did!”
PRO TIP: FREEZE YOUR OWN PUMPKIN
Got extra pumpkin purée? Don’t let it die in the back of the fridge. Scoop it into an ice cube tray and freeze it. Pop out a cube whenever you want to make a fall drink without opening a whole new can.
One cube = one cozy drink. No waste, no weird science experiment growing in the Tupperware.
7. Honey Citrus Mint Tea (aka Medicine Ball)
Why we love it: It’s cozy, it’s comforting, and somehow always hits the spot when you’re feeling like crap.
Ingredients: Teavana Jade Citrus Mint + Peach Tranquility tea bags, 3/4 cup hot water, 1/4 cup lemonade, 1 Tbsp honey
At-Home Cost: ~$0.95 | Starbucks: $4.75 | Savings: $3.80
When I First Made It: I used whatever random green tea I had in the pantry—big mistake. It tasted like hot lemon grass clippings.
8. Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
Why we love it: This one is not subtle. It’s sweet, crunchy, creamy—a full-on dessert disguised as a drink.
Ingredients: 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup coffee, 1.5 Tbsp caramel syrup, 1.5 cups ice, whipped cream, crushed candy for crunch
At-Home Cost: ~$1.25 | Starbucks: $6.25 | Savings: $5.00
When I First Made It: Be sure to blend just enough to get it thick and frosty, then layer it like Starbucks does—caramel drizzle, whipped cream, more drizzle, then your candy crunch on top.
PRO TIP: GET YOUR CRUSH ON
Don’t overpay at the drive-thru. That Teavana tea they’re using? You can buy the same stuff online or grab it at Target for way less.
Same brand, same flavor—just without the $6 price tag and someone misspelling your name on a cup. Stock up once, and you’re set for weeks of DIY drinks.
9. Hot Chocolate
Why we love it: It’s simple, nostalgic, and kid-approved. Just don’t order it “kids” temperature or your kid will chug it and ask for more.
Ingredients: 1 cup milk, 2 Tbsp cocoa powder, 1 Tbsp sugar, splash of vanilla, whipped cream
At-Home Cost: ~$0.70 | Starbucks: $3.95 | Savings: $3.25
PRO TIP: POLAR EXPRESS SPECIAL
Making hot cocoa? Toss in a chunk of dark chocolate while it’s heating like your Tim Hanks in The Polar Express. That’s it.
It melts down and suddenly your basic mix tastes like it came from some fancy café with jazz music and tiny spoons. No one has to know it started with a packet.
10. Chestnut Praline Latte
Why we love it: A holiday favorite with nutty warmth and sugary spice. It tastes like December.
Ingredients: 1 cup milk, 1 shot espresso, 1 Tbsp brown sugar syrup, dash hazelnut extract, candied nuts
At-Home Cost: ~$1.10 | Starbucks: $5.75 | Savings: $4.65
When I First Made It: I couldn’t find hazelnut extract, so I tried to fake it with almond… which was a bold and very wrong choice. I’ve since been able to track down the right extract and it’s a game-changer.
PRO TIP: FIRE UP YOUR OVEN
Got some pecans lying around? Throw ’em on a pan with a bit of sugar and cinnamon, then toast them. That’s it.
Crunchy, sweet, and way fancier than it has any right to be. Sprinkle on your latte or just eat them by the handful. No need to spend $7 on a seasonal drink when you’ve got snacks and a hot oven.
See Also: Tips to Get Free Starbucks on the Regular
11. Strawberry Açaí Refresher
Why we love it: Tart, fruity, and lightly caffeinated. It’s the afternoon pick-me-up that doesn’t taste like crap.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup white grape juice, 1/2 cup green tea, 1 tsp açaí powder (optional), strawberries, ice
At-Home Cost: ~$1.10 | Starbucks: $4.95 | Savings: $3.85
When I First Made It: I tried skipping the açaí powder because I thought “how much could it matter?” — spoiler: a lot. Without it, the drink just tasted like grape tea with floating berries.
PRO TIP: BE SMART WITH THE ICE
If you toss ice in too early, your drink’s just gonna sit there getting weak and weird.
Make it without the ice, stick it in the fridge, and pour it over ice when you’re actually ready to sip. Trust me—no one likes a watered-down drink. Cold and strong beats sad and slushy every time.
12. London Fog Latte
Why we love it: It’s the tea drink for people who want coffee vibes. Smooth, creamy, and a little fancy.
Ingredients: 1 Earl Grey tea bag, 1/2 cup hot water, 1/2 cup steamed milk, 1 tsp vanilla syrup
At-Home Cost: ~$0.75 | Starbucks: $4.65 | Savings: $3.90
When I First Made It: I steeped the tea WAY too long and it got bitter. The fix is to steep the Earl Grey for exactly 3–4 minutes, heat the milk first, then froth it. And DO NOT skip the vanilla syrup—it’s what takes this bad-boy to a whole new level.
13. Cookie Butter Latte
Why we love it: A secret menu hit that tastes like a Biscoff cookie melted into a hug.
Ingredients: 1 cup milk, 1 shot espresso, 1 Tbsp Biscoff spread, dash cinnamon & nutmeg
At-Home Cost: ~$1.15 | Starbucks: $5.75 | Savings: $4.60
When I First Made It: Not knowing what the hell I was doing, I just tossed the Biscoff in cold and tried to stir—big mistake. It just clumped at the bottom and was kinda gross. See pro tip below…
PRO TIP: USE YOUR MICROWAVE
Don’t just throw a Biscoff into cold milk and hope for the best.
Nuke that sucker with a splash of milk for like 20 seconds. It melts down smooth and creamy—no weird chunks floating around. Stir it up, pour it in, and thank your microwave for doing the heavy lifting.
14. Iced Americano with Cream
Why we love it: It’s bold and basic (in a good way). Cream takes the edge off and makes it totally sip-worthy.
Ingredients: 2 shots espresso, 3/4 cup cold water, 2 Tbsp cream, ice
At-Home Cost: ~$0.60 | Starbucks: $3.75 | Savings: $3.15
When I First Made It: This is my go-to drink now. But when I first made it, I poured the hot espresso straight over the ice, and it was way too watered-down. Then I added too much cream and it was basically milky water. Now I let the espresso cool, add the cold water first, then pour it over ice. Perfection!
PRO TIP: ICE CUBE TRAY HACK
Got leftover coffee? Don’t toss it—just pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze it.
Next time you make iced coffee, use those instead of regular ice so it doesn’t taste like sad, brown water. It’s one of those little things that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together… even if you don’t.
15. Cinnamon Dolce Latte
Why we love it: Sweet, spicy, and full of cozy cafe vibes. It’s like a snickerdoodle with caffeine.
Ingredients: 1 cup milk, 1 shot espresso, 1 Tbsp cinnamon dolce syrup (or brown sugar + cinnamon + vanilla), whipped cream
At-Home Cost: ~$1.00 | Starbucks: $5.25 | Savings: $4.25
When I First Made It: I tried to shortcut the syrup with just cinnamon and sugar, turns out that’s how you make gritty milk. Now I make the full syrup (it’s easy, promise) and don’t skimp on the whipped cream. It’s called dolce for a reason—go sweet or go home.
PRO TIP: DIY THE SYRUP
Make your own syrup: simmer 1/2 cup water + 1/2 cup brown sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon until dissolved.
That’s your syrup. Pour it in your coffee, your tea, whatever. Smells amazing, tastes even better—and takes like five minutes to make.
Final Sip:
If you made all 15 drinks at Starbucks, you’d spend around $85. Make ’em at home? Under $20. That’s a latte savings (sorry couldn’t resist).
Pick your favorites and batch your ingredients—your wallet (and your taste buds) will thank you.
Ask the Reader: Let me know what Starbucks copycats I should add to my article. Please include exactly how you make it, thanks!
By Kyle James
I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)
Source: Rather-Be-Shopping Blog | Shopping Hacks, Return Policies and Coupons – www.rather-be-shopping.com
