What Almond Milk Does Starbucks Use?

✔ Updated October 20, 2026 · Brand, ingredients, cost and at-home swaps

I get asked this a lot, usually by someone trying to make their almond milk latte taste like the café one at home. Here's what Starbucks pours, and what I reach for in my own kitchen.

What Kind of Almond Milk Does Starbucks Use?

Starbucks added almond milk to US stores in 2016, and it uses a Starbucks-branded almondmilk made specifically for its cafés. You won't find that exact carton in the dairy aisle.

You may have read that stores use whichever local brand is handy. That isn't how it works at company-run US stores, which use the chain's own almondmilk. Licensed stores (in airports, grocery stores and some campuses) and stores outside the US can differ, so if it matters to you, just ask the barista. They're usually happy to tell you.

Starbucks Almond Milk Ingredients

Published ingredient lists for Starbucks almondmilk include filtered water, almonds, sugar, added calcium, sea salt, a couple of thickeners and emulsifiers (such as gums and sunflower lecithin) and vitamins A and D. The exact formula has changed over the years, so treat this as a guide and check the Starbucks app or website nutrition info for the current list.

Those thickeners matter more than you'd think. They help the milk steam into a smooth foam instead of separating, which is exactly what plain carton almond milk struggles with at home.

Is Starbucks Almond Milk Sweetened?

Lightly, yes. Sugar is in the ingredient list, but it's a small amount: when it launched, Starbucks quoted about 3 g of sugar per 8 oz serving. That's far less than regular dairy milk, which has about 12 g of natural milk sugar per cup.

So why does an almond milk caramel macchiato taste so sweet? The syrups and sauces. Most of the sugar in a flavored drink comes from the pumps of syrup, not the milk. Ask for fewer pumps if you want it less sweet.

Does Almond Milk Cost Extra at Starbucks?

Not anymore in most US stores. Starbucks dropped its extra charge for nondairy milks (almond, oat, soy and coconut) at company-operated stores in the US and Canada on November 7, 2024. Before that, the swap added roughly 70 to 80 cents.

Licensed stores and other countries set their own policies, so the price you see can vary. The Starbucks app shows the price for your store before you order.

Can You Buy Starbucks Almond Milk?

Not as a plain carton in grocery stores. Starbucks sells bottled drinks and flavored nondairy creamers in supermarkets, but those are sweetened creamers, not the almondmilk baristas steam. You can always ask a barista, but stores generally aren't set up to sell it by the carton.

Best Almond Milk for Coffee at Home

If you want that silky café texture, buy a barista-style almond milk. These are made with a little added fat and stabilizers so they foam and don't split in hot coffee. Several big almond milk brands sell a barista version; look for the word barista on the carton.

My trick: heat the milk to about 140 to 150°F, no hotter. Almond milk scorches and loses its foam fast if it boils, and the taste turns flat. I froth it with a handheld wand and pour it over the espresso slowly so it sits in a soft cap on top.

• Barista almond milk: best foam, closest to the café drink.
• Regular unsweetened: fine for iced drinks, weak foam.
• Sweetened vanilla almond milk: skip the syrup, it's already sweet.
• Homemade almond milk: lovely taste, but it rarely foams well.

Starbucks Drinks to Copy at Home With Almond Milk

These are my copycat versions, and every one works with almond milk swapped in. I keep a carton of barista almond milk in the fridge just for these.

My Almond Milk Notes

Almond milk goes off faster than you'd expect once it's open, usually within 7 to 10 days in the fridge, so I buy the smaller cartons. More on that in does almond milk go bad, and you'll find every drink above in my copycat Starbucks recipes collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What brand of almond milk does Starbucks use?

In US stores, Starbucks uses its own Starbucks-branded almondmilk, made for the chain. It isn't a supermarket brand you can buy by the carton. Licensed stores and stores in other countries may differ, so ask your barista if you need to know for your store.

Is Starbucks almond milk sweetened?

Lightly. Sugar appears in its ingredient list, and at launch Starbucks quoted about 3 g of sugar per 8 oz. Most of the sweetness in flavored almond milk drinks comes from the syrups and sauces, so ask for fewer pumps if you want less sugar.

Does Starbucks charge extra for almond milk?

Starbucks removed the extra charge for nondairy milks, including almond milk, at company-operated stores in the US and Canada on November 7, 2024. Licensed stores and other countries can set their own prices, so check the app for your store.

What are the ingredients in Starbucks almond milk?

Published lists include filtered water, almonds, sugar, added calcium, sea salt, thickeners and emulsifiers such as gums and sunflower lecithin, plus vitamins A and D. The formula can change, so check the Starbucks app or website nutrition info for the current list.

What almond milk is best for lattes at home?

A barista-style almond milk. It has a little extra fat and stabilizers, so it foams smoothly and doesn't split in hot coffee. Heat it to about 140 to 150°F and froth it; boiling almond milk ruins the foam and flattens the flavor.