10 Cheapest Coffees at Starbucks + Order Tips to Save Cash

I’ve always wondered what the cheapest coffee in Starbucks is. We all know that Starbucks drinks don’t come cheap, so I looked into it and was surprised at how affordable some of their options are. I wish I had known about this sooner!

As a fan of the coffee chain, I admit that I regularly spend a lot of money on Starbucks coffee. But after discovering the most budget-friendly options on the menu, I made sure to order those more to cut down on my expenses. 

I want to help you save money, too – so in this blog post, I’ll be sharing with you the top ten cheapest coffee options in Starbucks. I also listed down some tips and tricks to help make your Starbucks order more budget-friendly. Shall we get started? 

Cheapest Coffee in the Starbucks Menu

Like I said, I am a huge fan of Starbucks. If you’ve been following my blog, then you know I’ve written quite a few articles about it.

I made a compilation of the most mind-blowing Starbucks drinks, the best Starbucks green tea drinks to try, the most popular Starbucks secret menu items, and a complete list of Starbucks tea drinks. I even shared a copycat recipe of their pumpkin and cream cheese muffins!

This time, I compiled the cheapest coffees in Starbucks, all of which are delicious and satisfying despite their budget-friendly price tag.

Espresso

I drink espresso when I need a morning energy boost. A double shot of espresso contains almost twice the amount of caffeine in regular coffee, so it’s a great way to get that caffeine kick, but about 60 percent less the price.

Starbucks Espresso is made with high-quality roasted Arabica beans, giving the shot a smooth texture with a rich and intense flavor. It has a bold flavor profile that features notes of caramel sweetness, nuttiness, and dark chocolate.

Espresso and shot options at Starbucks include the Signature Espresso Roast, Blonde Espresso Roast, and Decaf Espresso Roast. Size options include Solo (1 shot, 0.75 fl oz of espresso), Doppio (2 shots, 1.5 fl oz of espresso), Triple (3 shots, 2.25 fl oz of espresso), and Quad (4 shots, 3 fl oz of espresso).

Solo is priced at $2.45, Doppio at $2.65, Triple at $2.95, and Quad at only $3.25. Get an espresso shot (demitasse) if you want to save further, as it’s priced at only $1.95 for 2.

Iced Espresso

I drink iced coffee more often than I do hot, so if I’m in the mood for an espresso, I usually order the Starbucks Iced Espresso. It is basically the regular espresso, but poured over ice. It has the same rich and robust flavor profile with a hint of sweetness that tastes like a mix of caramel and dark chocolate. It also contains only five calories (for a Solo), zero sugar, and zero fat. 

Like its hot counterpart, you can order a Starbucks Iced Espresso with solo, doppio, triple, or quad shots in a tall, grande, or venti cup size. It is also available in Signature, Blonde, or Decaf roast. 

A doppio iced espresso has about the same amount of caffeine as the iced lattes in Starbucks that are made with two shots. An iced espresso costs about $2.45 for Solo, $2.65 for Doppio, $2.95 for Triple, and only $3.25 for Quad.

Espresso Macchiato

Another one of the cheapest drinks in Starbucks is the Espresso Macchiato. This European-style classic is made with a rich espresso shot topped with a dollop of steamed milk and foam. It’s a great beverage option if you need an instant pick-me-up in the middle of the day.

The Starbucks Espresso Macchiato comes in Solo (1 shot, 0.8 fl oz of espresso), Doppio (2 shots, 1.6 fl oz of espresso), Triple (3 shots, 2.3 fl oz of espresso), and Quad (4 shots, 3.1 fl oz of espresso) sizes and is also available in Signature, Blonde, or Decaf espresso roast. It uses 2% milk and milk foam.

This delicious drink contains only ten calories (for a solo) and has zero sugar and fat. You can order the Solo for $2.55, the Doppio for $2.75, the Triple for $3.05, and the Quad for only $3.35.

Espresso Con Panna

Another espresso entry that is delightfully energizing! I recently ordered the Starbucks Espresso Con Panna and I regret not trying it sooner. This delicious drink is one of the best and cheapest Starbucks beverages, made with rich and flavorful espresso shots topped with some sweetened vanilla-flavored whipped cream.

It’s basically like a regular espresso, just topped with a dollop of whipped cream to enhance the sweet notes of the coffee. The Espresso Con Panna comes in Solo, Doppio, Triple, and Quad sizes and its espresso and shot options also include the Signature, Blonde, and Decaf roasts. The solo is priced at $2.55, the Doppio at $2.75, the Triple at $3.05, and the Quad at $3.35.

Hot Brewed Coffee

If you like your coffee hot, you can try one of the hot brewed coffees at Starbucks which are made with their famous Pike Place Roast. They boast of a smooth and well-rounded blend with subtle rich flavors of chocolate and toasted nuts. Starbucks offers freshly brewed coffee (brewed every thirty minutes for freshness) in Pike Place Blonde Roast, Dark Roast, Medium Roast, and Decaf.

Starbucks Hot Brewed Coffees are priced at $2.85 for Short, $2.85 for Tall, $3.45 for Grande, and $3.85 for a Venti size. If you’re a Starbucks Rewards member, you can get a free coffee refill on the same visit, making your purchase even more budget-friendly.

Caffè Misto

Another one of the cheapest Starbucks drinks is Caffè Misto. I personally love this offering because I’m into frothy and milky coffees. It’s a one-to-one combination of freshly-brewed coffee and steamed milk, creating a creamy and comforting drink that’s perfect for those who enjoy a balanced blend of milk and coffee.

If you often order a latte from Starbucks, Caffè Misto is a great alternative because it’s only 80 calories (for a Tall) and is significantly cheaper. 2% is the standard milk used in this drink, but you can switch it to non-dairy or whole milk at no extra cost. 

Caffè Misto is available in 4 sizes – Short which is priced at $3.65, Tall at $3.75, Grande at $4.25, and Venti at $4.65.

Caffè Americano

If you need that extra caffeine kick then the Starbucks Caffè Americano is for you. This rich cup of coffee is basically espresso shots topped with hot water to create a deliciously bold flavor profile. A grande Americano contains 3 shots of espresso, unlike other grande options at Starbucks, which only contain 2 shots.

Caffè Americano is available in Signature, Blonde, and Decaf Espresso Roasts and comes in Short (1 shot of espresso), Tall (2 shots of espresso), Grande (3 shots of espresso), and Venti (4 shots of espresso). The Short size is priced at $3.85, Tall at $3.95, Grande at $4.25, and Venti at $4.75.

Iced Caffè Americano

The Iced Caffè Americano is just the cold version of the Caffè Americano. It is espresso shots topped with cold water then served over ice – refreshing and energizing, yet one of the cheapest coffees in Starbucks. If you’re looking for a cold decaf coffee from Starbucks, the Iced Caffè Americano is the perfect choice since the Starbucks Brewed Iced Coffee is caffeinated.

You can get this coffee in Tall (2 shots of espresso), Grande (3 shots of espresso), and Venti (4 shots of espresso). Just like the hot Caffè Americano, the iced version is priced at $3.95 for a Tall cup, $4.25 for a Grande, and $4.75 for a Venti.

Iced Coffee

The Starbucks Iced Coffee is perfect for a hot day or when the weather is warm. This refreshing, freshly-brewed coffee is served chilled and sweetened over ice. You can choose to enjoy it black or with a splash of milk. The iced coffees are available in Tall, Grande, Venti, or Trenta sizes.

Both the Starbucks Iced Coffee and Iced Coffee with Milk are priced at $4.25 for Tall, $4.45 for Grande, $4.75 for Venti, and $4.95 for Trenta. If you want to customize your drink, you can use/add any standard milk or sweetener at no extra charge. 

Cold Brew

Last but not the least is the Starbucks Cold Brew. Created from Starbucks’ custom blend of beans, this super smooth coffee is brewed in small batches daily, slow-steeped for 20 hours in cold water without any form of heat, producing a bold, delicious, and flavorful coffee option. 

Starbucks offers quite a few Cold Brew Coffees including:

• Pistachio Cream Cold Brew
• Cinnamon Caramel Cream Cold Brew
• Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
• Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
• Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
• Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee with Milk

However, to keep your drink budget-friendly, order just the regular Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee. It comes in Tall which is priced at $4.45, in Grande which is priced at $4.75, Venti which is priced at $5.25, and Trenta which is priced at $5.45.

Tips and Tricks To Make Your Starbucks Order Even More Affordable

Now that you know the cheapest coffees in Starbucks, it’s time to take it further and save even more money. As a regular Starbucks customer, I picked up a few tips and tricks throughout the years on how to order your favorite drinks at Starbucks without breaking the bank. Let’s go through them one by one.

Download the Starbucks App

If you purchase from Starbucks regularly, then you’ll benefit from downloading the Starbucks app and signing up for their rewards program. Having the app makes ordering online simple and you also earn points for any item that you purchase. When you order your drinks using the Starbucks app, you get a star for every order. You can redeem a free drink or food item for every 12 stars you collect – it can be your favorite drink in Venti size or a delicious sandwich of your choice.

Additionally, registered Starbucks card holders or rewards program members can enjoy plenty of additional deals and incentives through the app, including free refills on brewed coffees. That alone is a win!

Bring Your Own Tumbler

This is probably the first money-saving tip I tried in my quest to find the cheapest coffee in Starbucks. If you’re a regular customer like me, bringing your own reusable cup, mug, or tumbler will give you a $0.10 cup discount per order. There many types of mugs or cups you can use, but a travel mug or tumbler is best so you can bring it to go.

Filling my 16-ounce tumbler with coffee usually costs me just a little over $2, but I pay even less than that because of the discount. 10 cents may not sound much, but you’ll be surprised at how quickly those dimes add up if you’re often at Starbucks.

Using your own tumbler for a Starbucks order is a greener way to drink coffee, too – it’s better than having to throw away paper or plastic cups every time. Plus, your coffee will stay warmer or colder for longer!

Order a Short

The menu doesn’t always display it, but most Starbucks drinks come in a short size, just ask your barista about it. The short size is typically 8 ounces – the perfect size to satisfy your coffee craving and save you some cash. The prices may vary depending on where you are, but the short definitely costs less than the tall size.

PRO TIP:Order a short brewed coffee using your registered Starbucks card or app to get a star. Bring your own mug or tumbler for a discount, then get a refill, which will cut down the price you paid for in half.

Consider Ordering Larger Sizes

While ordering the smallest size for a quick caffeine fix can save you money, so can ordering larger sizes if you’re an avid coffee drinker. If you’re the type to drink your coffee slowly and take it home, you’ll cut costs by getting a Venti or a Trenta size – you’ll get a bigger amount of drink with a minimal increase in price. 

Don’t worry if you don’t finish it, you can always take it home and save it for the next day. Just remove the ice before putting it in the fridge!

Ask For Light Ice

Like I mentioned, I order iced beverages in Starbucks more often than not. If you observe closely, baristas will fill your cup with ice before filling it with coffee, giving you a drink that’s half ice, half coffee. Ask for light ice whenever you order an iced coffee which will leave more drink in your cup – it won’t save you money but you get to maximize what you paid for.

If you’re ordering to go, you can even order ice on the side. Stick in the fridge for a few minutes at home or add ice as you please.

Split a Venti or a Trenta

The Trenta size, which is 30 ounces, is the largest drink size at Starbucks followed by the Venti which is 20 ounces. If you’re having coffee with a friend, you can order either one Trenta or Venti drink and split it between the two of you. You’ll save money doing this instead of buying two Grande drinks.

Here’s an example: If you order a Trenta Iced Coffee (30 ounces, priced at $4.95) and split it with your friend, you each get 15 ounces and pay only around $2.50 each, instead of getting two Grande Iced Coffees which is 16 ounces per cup and priced at $4.45 each.

Grab a Refill

If you have a registered Starbucks card, take advantage of free refills which are available for all brewed coffee, either hot, iced coffee, or cold brew, hot tea, and iced tea. If you don’t have a registered Starbucks card, you can still get a refill for your coffee or tea for a discounted price. The free refills only last while you’re at Starbucks, and they’re not available for to-go and drive-thru orders.

Make Your Own Iced Latte

I like visiting different Starbucks locations as much as I can. I’ve noticed that many Strabucks branches leave out a cream and milk carafe in the condiments station. If you want to make the cheapest coffee in Starbucks, try making your own iced latte – just order a Grande or Venti Iced Espresso, then add as much free milk as you like. 

Wrapping Up

If you’re on the quest to find the cheapest coffee in Starbucks, you can choose any of the affordable options I listed above, from Espresso to Cold Brew. However, you can make any Starbucks order even more affordable by following some hacks, from signing up to the Starbucks rewards program to making your own version of Iced Latte in a Starbucks store.

Enjoying a delicious and high-quality cup of Starbucks coffee doesn’t have to break the bank, you just need to know what to order and implement some effective tips! If you enjoyed reading this blog post, pin it in your bookmarks or share it with your fellow coffee lovers and Starbucks fans!