The order that works everywhere is size, then milk, then shots or syrup. "Grande latte, oat, extra shot" gives a barista everything in one line, and naming the size first matters more than anything else: leave it out and you get a Grande, which is the most common way of spending more than you meant to.
The rest is knowing what can be changed. Almost every drink on the 128-item menu can be adjusted on size, milk, shot count, syrup pumps, sauce, topping and ice level.
- Say this first The size or you get a Grande by default
- Free swap Any milk oat, soya, coconut, no charge
- No cream ~80 cal saved on a Grande blended drink
- Menu size 128 items across nine categories
What You Can Change on Any Drink
| Part of the order | Options | Extra charge |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Short, Tall, Grande, Venti | Yes, by size |
| Milk | Dairy, oat, soya, coconut | No |
| Espresso shots | Add or remove | Yes, per shot |
| Syrup pumps | More, fewer, or none | Yes, if added |
| Whipped cream | On or off | No |
| Ice | Light, standard, extra | No |
Prices and Calories at a Glance
| Item | Price | Calories | Caffeine | Sugar | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filter Coffee | £2.75 | 31 | 254.6mg | 0.4g | 1.3g |
| Butter Croissant | £3.30 | 414 | 5.4g | 7.8g | |
| Caffè Latte | £4.60 | 151 | 89.1mg | 14.2g | 10.9g |
| Mocha Frappuccino Blended Beverage | £5.80 | 330 | 30mg | 37.6g | 5.8g |
Prices from Starbucks UK delivery partners. In store prices are usually lower and vary by location. Updated 04 July 2026.
The Order That Works
Size, milk, then anything else. A barista builds a drink in that sequence and hearing it in that sequence saves the extra questions that hold up a queue.
Short is the size nobody mentions and it exists in every UK store, holding 236ml against a Tall's 354ml. It is not on the board and it is available on 20 hot drinks, including the Caffè Latte, so anyone who finds a Tall too much can simply ask.
The milk needs naming early, because steaming happens before anything else and a milk changed halfway through means starting over.
The Changes Worth Knowing
Whipped cream comes off at no cost and is worth around 80 calories on a Grande blended drink. On a Mocha Frappuccino that takes it from 330 to near 250.
Syrup pumps are adjustable and a Grande takes four as standard. Two pumps instead halves the added sugar and changes nothing else about the drink.
Milk alternatives are free on every drink in UK stores, which is not true in every market. Oat is the most ordered, and it holds better against ice than skimmed dairy does.
Two things do not change. The mocha and caramel sauces contain dairy, and whipped cream has no plant based version, so a fully vegan build rules those out rather than substituting them.
Ordering Food
Hot food is warmed to order and takes a few minutes, which is worth knowing when a queue is moving. The signature toasties and paninis are the items that need the oven; everything in the chilled cabinet is handed over as it is.
Anything from the bakery case can be warmed on request, and a croissant is noticeably better for it. Ask when you order rather than after, since it goes through the same oven queue.
The One Habit That Saves Most
Say the size. Every other tip on this page is worth less than that one, because a Grande when you wanted a Tall is money spent on milk you did not ask for, and it happens on every visit until you change the habit.
After that, carry a cup. The reusable cup discount applies to every hot drink on every visit, which across a regular habit is worth more than any promotion Starbucks runs.
Comments on This Guide
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