Drinks & Food
What the Starbucks Refresher?
You might’ve noticed the What the Refresher thread on Reddit getting some traction lately. But even if you haven’t, you might still be wondering, what exactly is a Refresher?
Well, your timing couldn’t be better, because Refreshers are summer’s ultimate thirst-quencher, and the new Blood Orange Cranberry is a flavour you’ll want to know about.
Let’s dive in!
What is a Starbucks Refresher?
Beyond being everyone’s favourite summer staple, a Starbucks Refresher is a chilled blend, featuring real fruit pieces and green coffee extract. It’s the kind of ice-cool sip that instantly hits the spot.
It’s served frosty-cold and can be made with either lemonade or MILKLAB coconut milk (more on that shortly).
What types of Starbucks Refreshers are available?
There are four main Starbucks Refreshers that you’ll find on our menu. But, we’re also known to release limited-edition flavours from time to time, so keep your eyes peeled for those special drinks.
Strawberry Açaí Refresher with Coconut Milk (AKA: Pink Drink)
Known among friends as the Starbucks Acai Refresher, this vibrant drink is a delicious blend of strawberry and acai flavours with a MILKLAB coconut milk base. The freeze-dried strawberry pieces and ice keep it oh-so-cool, while the green coffee extract is a subtle hit of caffeine.
Strawberry Açaí Refresher with Lemonade
If you’re a fan of acai, get a sip of this. Blended with strawberry flavours, green coffee extract, real freeze-dried strawberry pieces, ice and our house lemonade, it’s a perfect cool-down on those warm summer days.
Mango Dragonfruit Refresher with Coconut Milk (AKA: Dragon Drink)
A flavour combo you simply must try is mango and dragonfruit. Together, they make for a delicious beverage packed with freeze-dried pieces of each – plus ice, MILKLAB coconut milk and green coffee extract for a little kick of caffeine.
Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
This playfully named favourite is the sister of the Dragon Drink. A bright blend of mango and dragonfruit flavours, it’s layered with freeze-dried fruit, green coffee extract, ice, and our signature lemonade.
Coconut milk or lemonade?
If you’ve got an eye for detail, you might’ve noticed the Refreshers above are pretty similar except for one difference: some have coconut milk as the base, while others feature our house lemonade.
So, which one should you choose?
How does a Refresher work?
At Starbucks Australia, we LOVE letting you make your drink your own. We believe half the fun is picking what goes in it!
That’s why our Refreshers come with your choice of MILKLAB coconut milk or lemonade. But which one should you go for?
If you’re after something creamy and a little more indulgent, MILKLAB coconut milk is your go-to. We use Milklab, our trusted milk partner, to make every sip silky-smooth.
Craving something bright and zesty instead? Our house-made lemonade delivers a sweet, tangy lift for a lighter zing.
A brand new Refresher is hitting the menu
When the seasons change, you know you can count on an absolutely epic menu switch-up at Starbucks Australia.
And this summer is no different. Let us introduce you to the latest newbie on our Refresher rotation…
Meet the Blood Orange Cranberry Refresher
Blood Orange Cranberry Refresher
Just like our other Refreshers, this icy drink contains the green coffee extract and ice that you’ve come to know and love. But the bold flavours of blood orange and cranberry will blow you away. Let’s not forget the real cranberries on top, and of course, your choice of coconut milk or lemonade.
Coffee, coffee, coffee
Starbucks Australia is your neighbourhood coffee house and roastery, so it’s a given that most of our drinks contain at least a little bit of caffeine.
Our Refreshers contain a small burst too… just not as much as our other beverages.
Each Refresher is lightly infused with green coffee extract, made from the raw, unroasted seeds of coffee cherries. It gives you a gentle lift without the full intensity of a standard coffee.
How much caffeine is in a refresher at Starbucks?
While Refreshers do provide a hint of caffeine, it’s less than what you’ll find in most of our other drinks. Check out the table below to see how they compare:
Caffeine content in mg (approximate):
| Tall | Grande | Venti | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pink Drink / Strawberry Acai Refresher | 28 | 38 | 47 |
| Dragon Drink / Mango Dragonfruit Refresher | 31 | 41 | 52 |
| Flat White | 150 | 225 | 300 |
| Cold Brew | 155 | 207 | 250 |
Not a fan of tables? No problem. Simply put, Refreshers pack just a small fraction of the caffeine found in your regular coffee drinks. In most cases, it’s less than half!
Now you’re an expert on all things Refreshers, it’s time to treat yourself to one! Order up for summer, grab some for your friends and make sure to try every flavour to find your fave.