What milk does Starbucks use for lattes?

Q: What kind of milk do you use for a latte?

Ask any barista at any cafe, and theyre likely to tell you that whole milk makes the best lattes. When steamed, whole milk becomes sweet and soothing, with a creamy consistency that allows it to froth well and create beautiful latte art.

May 30, 2007 • 2 min read

Table of Contents Show

1. Whole Milk
2. Nonfat Milk
3. 2 Percent Milk
4. Soy Milk
5. Almond Milk
6. Coconut Milk
What kind of milk does Starbucks use in their lattes?
What kind of milk do they have at Starbucks?
What kind of milk do you use for a latte?
How does Starbucks make their latte?

Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq:SBUX) today announced plans to adopt a new dairy standard for all espresso-based drinks, switching from whole to reduced fat (2%) milk in all Starbucks stores in the United States and Canada by the end of 2007. At the same time, Starbucks is assessing options for conversion to lower fat dairy in the 39 markets we operate in outside of North America.

Today, when Starbucks customers order a beverage such as a Vanilla Latte, it is made with whole milk unless otherwise requested. This new conversion will establish reduced fat milk, also known as 2% milk, as the standard dairy in all beverages served in our North American coffeehouses. As always, customers can continue to customize their beverages to their liking by requesting it be made with whole, skim, soy or, in the U.S., even organic milk.

“Choice has always been at the heart of what we offer,” said Denny Marie Post, senior vice president of Global Food and Beverage, Starbucks Coffee Company. “The move to reduced fat milk as our core dairy offering comes directly from our customers’ requests, and while they will still have the option to customize their drinks, our standard beverages will now come with fewer calories and less fat.”

Based on increased consumer requests for reduced fat milk in our stores, and increasing purchases of lower fat milk in U.S. consumers’ homes, Starbucks tested 2% milk in four North American markets earlier this year: Jacksonville, Fla.; Orange County, Calif.; the state of Oregon; and London, Ontario in Canada. In the test markets, the response from customers was overwhelmingly positive, with universally high marks for the quality and taste of beverages made with reduced fat milk. In addition, our partners (employees) have embraced the change in these markets, voicing unanimous support for a switch to reduced fat milk as our core dairy offering.

“By moving to a 2% milk standard, Starbucks is keeping all the nutritional goodness of milk while taking out some of what does not add nutritional value,” said Janet King, professor of nutrition at both the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at Davis.

A Grande Latte made with reduced fat milk contains 32% of the protein, 40% of the calcium, 40% of the vitamin D, 15% of the vitamin A, 17% of the potassium and 10% of the magnesium it is recommended people consume daily(1), and all at only 190 calories.

The conversion to reduced fat milk will take place in all Starbucks North American company-owned and licensed stores by the end of 2007, with New York City being the first market to convert on June 5. The four markets where 2% milk was tested will also be officially converted. Outside of North America, Starbucks is assessing the opportunities, and anticipates that similar conversions will occur in markets where reduced fat milk is relevant to local customers and where an appropriate supply is available.

Product nutrition information is available online at www.starbucks.com.

You visit your local Starbucks so often, you should know the offerings like the back of your hand…and yet, you still feel like you’re swimming in a vast sea of choices every time you step up to the counter. We won’t take a crack at the entire menu, but for now let’s start with Starbucks milk options. Read on to learn more about the dairy and plant-based stuff available so you can order with confidence.

1. Whole Milk

Whole milk is the purest form of commercially available cow’s milk and was initially the only kind used at Starbucks. This type of milk is pasteurized and homogenized to meet food safety standards, but otherwise untouched. For this reason, whole milk has the highest fat content (roughly 3.5 percent) of the dairy-based options at Starbucks, and a particularly rich and creamy taste as a result. Needless to say, it’s not the best choice for anyone who’s counting calories, but it is seriously delicious.

2. Nonfat Milk

Nonfat milk is whole milk’s leaner cousin—namely because this type of cow’s milk is skimmed to remove all the fat (i.e., cream). The resulting milk is thin, watery and favored by folks who are willing to sacrifice flavor to avoid adding an inch to their waistline. If you want your Starbucks drink to be made with nonfat milk, just use the word ‘skinny’ in your order and they’ll know what to do.

3. 2 Percent Milk

It might surprise you to learn that 2 percent milk, not whole milk, is the default milk for Starbucks drinks. In other words, it’s what you’re drinking unless you specify otherwise. But what is 2 percent milk exactly? Sometimes referred to as ‘reduced fat milk,’ this type of milk has the fat skimmed in the same fashion as nonfat milk—just not as thoroughly. In fact, the 2 percent indicates the total fat content of the product, so while whole milk has 3.5 percent fat and nonfat milk has none, 2 percent milk is the Goldilocks of milks that’s right in the middle.

4. Soy Milk

Soy milk is a popular plant-based milk, and the first to find its way onto the Starbucks menu. This dairy alternative contains nearly as much protein as cow’s milk (seven grams and eight grams per serving, respectively) and is a go-to choice for people who suffer from dairy, nut and gluten allergies. Best of all, soy milk is a complete protein that provides all the essential amino acids found in the dairy-based stuff, and it’s low in saturated fat, cholesterol and calories, to boot. Bottom line: if you’re looking for a creamy, flavorful and nutritious dairy alternative for your favorite Starbucks drink, soy milk fits the bill.

5. Almond Milk

When it comes to dairy milk substitutes available at Starbucks, almond milk and soy milk are among the most popular choices; they’re also neck and neck in terms of pros and cons. Almond milk is a safe choice for the lactose-intolerant that has fewer calories and a flavor that many prefer to soy milk. That said, almond milk can’t hold a candle to soy milk when it comes to heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats and protein content, and the texture of almond milk isn’t nearly as rich. In other words, the almond vs. soy milk battle is basically a stalemate.

6. Coconut Milk

Another plant-based dairy alternative on offer at Starbucks is coconut milk—a thick, creamy type of milk that’s made from the meaty flesh of (you guessed it) the coconut. This vegan milk is safe for vegans and folks with nut or soy allergies. That said, it has only a fraction of the calcium found in regular milk—3 percent DV compared to 21 percent DV per cup—and it won’t do much to meet your protein needs. On the plus side, research has shown that, despite its relatively high calorie and fat content, coconut milk can help lower cholesterol and aid weight loss, which sounds like a pretty good deal to us.

What kind of milk does Starbucks use in their lattes?

2 Percent Milk It might surprise you to learn that 2 percent milk, not whole milk, is the default milk for Starbucks drinks. In other words, it's what you're drinking unless you specify otherwise.

What kind of milk do they have at Starbucks?

In addition to our dairy options, we offer almondmilk, coconutmilk, soymilk and oatmilk. See more information here.

What kind of milk do you use for a latte?

Ask any barista at any cafe, and they're likely to tell you that whole milk makes the best lattes. When steamed, whole milk becomes sweet and soothing, with a creamy consistency that allows it to froth well and create beautiful latte art.

How does Starbucks make their latte?

A Starbucks barista makes a latte by pouring shots of espresso directly into the cup. Then they pour in the steamed milk and finally top it off with a spoonful of foam. The espresso and the steamed milk completely mix together and the foam adorns the top. An iced latte isn't terribly different.