The Ultimate Ranking Of Starbucks International Drinks

Starbucks is more than an American coffee chain. Its international presence is strong, with more than 32,000 stores located in about 80 different countries. That diverse portfolio comes with different menus, and different menu items, that are specific to each nation. While there are some recognizable international drinks — such as lattes, Frappuccinos, or macchiatos — that you'll find everywhere, the specific flavors available worldwide can vary. But this turns out to be anything but disappointing. Visiting a Starbucks abroad allows one to try something not available on your local menu.

The idiosyncrasies of international Starbucks drinks make them fascinating, as they are sometimes inspired by the native cuisine or local flavors of a certain country. In places like Japan — where melon is a popular flavoring — you'll find melon Frappuccinos. In the United Kingdom — where candies like butterscotch were invented — you can order a butterscotch latte. In China — where desserts are often made with red adzuki beans — there are menu offerings that let ingredients such as this shine. In this way, visiting an international Starbucks location allows you to sample the regional food culture.

When creating our ranking, we chose international Starbucks drinks with these things in mind. We selected drinks based on their reviews, their uniqueness, and their ability to represent flavors from their home country. Drinks that didn't meet these criteria did more poorly, whereas beverages that had no problem with it excelled. Read on to learn our ultimate ranking of the best Starbucks international drinks.

The Ghost Frappuccino is a spooky drink offered on the Starbucks Australia menu. According to the Starbucks Australia Instagram page, this beverage was placed on the menu (at least temporarily) in early 2022. In a post, the account said the drink consisted of blended ice with zero flavoring. This recipe (or lack thereof) is what constitutes the Ghost Frappuccino's spookiness. It's not a normal Frappuccino at all — just a cup of processed ice. Sometimes, you'll also see this drink topped with whipped cream.

There are a few people who seem like it. One person described it as "Yummy, creamy water." Another person said on Facebook, "It is so refreshing and so chill." But mostly, this strange drink inspired intense hatred. The Ghost Frappuccino has been described as "Chaotic evil," "Sugar. Water," and "milk barf."

Bad reviews aren't all that earned this drink a spot in last place. The recipe helped with that, too. It offers nothing but hydration to Starbucks customers. If there is whipped cream added, the drink becomes worse. Why would you ever want to drink water mixed with cream? On top of that, the Ghost Frappuccino has nothing to do with Australia. Many Australians don't even celebrate Halloween (usually), so it doesn't work as a seasonal drink, either.

The Ristretto Bianco is a Starbucks drink you can order in the Philippines. It's very similar to a Flat White, which you can get in the United States and other countries. Both drinks are made with two ristretto shots, steamed milk, and latte art. Per Starbucks, a ristretto is a type of espresso shot. It's cut short, producing a smaller amount of coffee that's made with less water and tastes more intense.

Flat Whites and Ristretto Biancos differ in at least one way when served at Starbucks. According to the chain, the Ristretto Bianco is "steamed to microfoam" whereas the Flat White is simply made with steamed milk.

Starbucks customers in the Philippines — such as the blogger LivingMarjorney — appear to like this drink. They complement the richness of the coffee, which combines with the smooth taste of steamed milk. However, this drink is much too similar to a Flat White to be placed higher in this ranking. Furthermore, there's not much about this drink that celebrates the Philippines or the food there.

In Indonesia, there is a Starbucks drink called the Salted Caramel Mocha Crumble (via Twitter). According to BeanWalk, it can be ordered as a hot latte, an iced latte, or a Frappuccino. By cross-referencing the information shared by BeanWalk with that of the American Starbucks website, we know there are a lot of similarities between the Salted Caramel Mocha Crumble and several beverages sold in the U.S.

This beverage is similar to the American Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino. Like this drink, the Indonesian version is made with mocha sauce and toffee nut sauce and is topped with caramel syrup. However, there are also similarities to Starbucks' Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino, which is sold in the U.S. Both drinks are finished with a cookie crumble topping. The lack of rare qualities makes this drink a bit boring on the international front.

Crumbled cookie bits are the only thing that helps this drink stand out. While this may be unique for a hot version of this drink — which was promoted on the Starbucks Indonesia Instagram — it's still pretty unoriginal. We need a little more authenticity and creativity from our Starbucks international drinks.

The Punch Graffiti Blended is a Starbucks drink sold in South Korea. According to the international coffee chain, this drink contains an abundance of tropical flavors. It's made with pink guava, mango, apple, and pineapple flavorings and has red and pink ribbons of color that are meant to mimic graffiti patterns.

As the blog Coffee With Raina pointed out, the graffiti theme within this drink seems like an odd way for Starbucks to appeal to Korean street culture. Graffiti is also a relatively new art form in South Korea. According to the Korea Times, it has gotten more popular in recent decades, but remains fairly new. By comparison, graffiti has been around in the United States since the 1960s, per PBS.

Starbucks may be trying to pick up on the rising popularity of graffiti in South Korea by decorating its drink this way. We still think it's a little strange. However, the flavors of the Punch Graffiti Blended are something we can get behind. The combination of various fruits in a blended drink is unlike anything you can get at Starbucks in the United States. Although this drink doesn't necessarily reflect Korea, it's a little interesting.

Dolce Misto is a Starbucks drink offered in Vietnam. According to reports, it was made to provide a drink that would be familiar to Vietnamese Starbucks customers and use recognizable flavors. As a typically cold drink, we think it's meant to mimic Vietnamese iced coffee, a beverage that's known for being sweet and creamy, as it's made from sweetened condensed milk and sugar.

This beverage is an improvement upon the lower-ranked international drinks we've discussed so far. It's attempting to appeal to Vietnamese audiences, which seems to be good. However, it isn't specific enough to suit our tastes. If we knew for sure that it was made with sweetened condensed milk, as is traditional for Vietnamese iced coffee, we'd be tempted to rank it higher. But instead, this drink appears to be much not more interesting than an iced latte with syrup. It's not the best international Starbucks drink out there, but it's not the worst, either.

The Summer Berry Panna Cotta Frappuccino is a Starbucks drink introduced to Singapore in 2015 (per TrendHunter). It is a Frappuccino made of three layers. Starting from the bottom, there is a layer of actual panna cotta pudding, an Italian, gelatin-based dessert. Next up is a layer of Summer Berry-flavored Frappuccino. Finally, the drink is topped with whipped cream. That whipped cream is decorated with a matching sweet berry drizzle, according to Singapore Promotions.

As Brand Eating points out, this drink is made without gelatin, an animal product and thickening agent sometimes used to make panna cotta. Since this Starbucks beverage is not vegan — there is dairy in the whipped cream and other ingredients — we don't think this substitution is meant to accommodate plant-based dieters. Instead, the removal of gelatin (which is sometimes made from pigs) might make the drink more accessible to patrons who are Muslim, a religion that eschews the eating of pork. According to HiveLife, Islam is one of the more popular religions in Singapore. We appreciate the fact that Starbucks made this substitution, as it benefits these customers.

However, this still isn't the best Starbucks international drink. Its flavors don't necessarily reflect the local cuisine, as it's inspired by an Italian dessert. To make matters worse, some customers found it difficult to drink, due to there being pudding in this beverage.

On Starbucks' Thailand menu, there is a drink called the Orange Honeycomb Crunch Crème Frappuccino. Since Starbucks no longer sells fruity blended beverages such as smoothies, this drink stands out as something unique. This already makes us impressed.

The Orange Honeycomb Crunch Crème Frappuccino consists of a crème Frappuccino that's blended with orange sauce to give it a refreshing, tropical flavor (via FoodBeast). Then, the drink is topped with whipped cream decorated with an orange swirl, per Starbucks. Finally, the cream is sprinkled with a crunchy honeycomb topping. According to Brand Eating, the honeycomb resembles real honeycomb candy and tastes like honey. The kind used for this Thai drink is supposedly similar to the kind used for the British candy bars called Crunchie.

We think it somewhat reflects the flavors of the region. With the focus on orange — a tropical taste — it gives you a sense of Thailand. The climate of Thailand is tropical. Oranges are native to the region. Although the honeycomb element is less a reflection of this drink's country, we think it's interesting. Both of these components help the Starbucks beverage to receive a higher ranking.

If you ever visit a Starbucks location in China, you'll be able to try the Red Bean Green Tea Frappuccino. This beverage uses a green tea Frappuccino for its base. This is very similar — if not identical — to a menu item called the Matcha Crème Frappuccino, which is sold in the U.S. However, the Red Bean Green Tea Frappuccino comes topped with a healthy scoop of whole red beans, making it more interesting (via FoodBeast).

Red beans, also called adzuki beans, are a popular ingredient across different Asian cuisines. They are eaten in both sweet and savory Chinese dishes, according to China Daily. Green tea, as well, is a popular beverage in China (via Born Tea). Due to both components of this Starbucks drink having a place in China's food culture, we think it's one of the better menu items. Also, these components work great together. Foodology complimented the way the beans were not too sweet, helping them to pair with the sweetness of the green tea Frappuccino.

In the United Kingdom, there is a drink called the Butterscotch Brûlée Latte. According to the Starbucks UK Facebook, it's made from combination of espresso, steamed milk, butterscotch sauce, and brûlée-style topping. People tend to like it. On Tripadvisor, one customer called the drink especially delicious. We kind of like it, due to a few of the ingredients.

For one, it's made with butterscotch flavoring. It's true, you can get Butterscotch Lattes at American locations of Starbucks. However, butterscotch was invented in the United Kingdom. It came into being during the 1800s in England. We think this makes it especially fitting for the British menu. The touch of brûlée-style topping makes it even better, as this ingredient references crème brûlée, a dessert often associated with France. Both butterscotch and brûlée are quintessentially European ingredients, making this drink a good representation of where it's sold. But it's not the most unique drink on our list.

The Maple Macchiato is a Starbucks drink sold in Canada. According to FoodBeast, it's made with espresso, steamed milk, vanilla, and maple syrup. Per the Starbucks Canada Facebook page, the maple syrup comes from the Beauce-Appalache region. As Cabane À Pierre explains, the area is also referred to as "the Beauce" or "Maple Country," as about 20% of the world's maple syrup is made in this part of Canada. We appreciate the fact that Starbucks is using beloved Canadian flavors while supporting local producers at the same time.

Per Foodology, this is a tasty and sweet drink. Some people may even find it too sweet since it is sometimes made with caramel as well as maple syrup. If this is the case for you, you can ask the Starbucks baristas to make it half-sweet. While this eliminates a potential problem, we wish this drink was less intensely sugary on its own. A great international drink shouldn't need modifications.

If you ever find yourself in South America with a Starbucks craving, get the Dulce de Leche Créme Frappuccino. According to a Starbucks Instagram page, this drink is sold in Argentina. Per Moscú Agencia, the drink consists of a Frappuccino made from a combination of dulce de leche and ice. On top of that comes a splash of caramel, then whipped cream, then additional caramel sauce.

Dulce de leche is an extremely fitting flavor for Argentina. According to The Culture Trip, this treat likely originated in South America, where it remains one of the most popular desserts. It's similar to caramel, but with a twist. Dulce de leche is made with sweetened condensed milk, creating a creamier taste and thicker texture than caramel (via Yummy). However, to be ranked higher, this Starbucks drink would need to utilize dulce de leche in more than one component. Since multiple ingredients are made from caramel, they distract from the dulce de leche flavor.

The Brigadeiro Frappuccino is a drink sold at Starbucks stores in Brazil. According to the chain, the base ingredient is Frappuccino roast, a coffee powder that's used to make many of Starbucks' blended drinks (via Fluent In Coffee). The Frappuccino roast is then mixed with mocha sauce, white mocha sauce, milk, classic syrup, and ice. It's all placed in a cup that has been previously coated with Brigadeiro sauce. Finally, the whole thing is topped with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.

This beverage uses one of the most iconic and beloved treats in Brazil: brigadeiros. These chocolate balls are made of condensed milk and cocoa powder. After chilling to set, individual Brigadeiros get coated in chocolate sprinkles. Sometimes, flavors of ginger, sea salt, and almond are added. It's great that Starbucks uses one of Brazil's favorite candies in this Brazilian menu item. We especially loved that there is a unique syrup created for this beverage, rather than an existing combination of Starbucks ingredients. But ultimately, it's more chocolate than Brigadeiro.

Peruvian Starbucks shops feature a drink called the Algarrobina Latte, per the chain. According to a translation of Peru's menu, the drink is made with espresso, steamed milk, and mocha. All of that is mixed with Algarrobina, then finished with a carob topping. The last of these two ingredients are popular food products in Peru.

Per Peruchos Food, Algarrobina is a syrup made from carob trees. It is a common baking ingredient used as a sweetener or a substitute for chocolate. In addition to treats, it's not uncommon to find this ingredient used in cocktails. Due to the fact that the carob topping comes from the same tree as Algarrobina syrup, we bet that it will have a similar flavor as well. The combination of the two seems like a good idea to us. The harmonious nature of this authentically Peruvian Starbucks drink makes it one of the best international beverages around.

Ponche Navideño or Ponche De Frutas is a type of Mexican beverage served during the holidays, especially Christmas. It's a party punch that can also be mixed with tequila or mezcal. But the star of this recipe is the fruit. Its base of pears, golden apples, prunes, and tangerines combine to make something extra refreshing. With the addition of flavoring agents such as guava paste, cinnamon sticks, and tamarind, the drink becomes even more delicious.

Starbucks Mexico has its version of this drink on the menu (via Twitter). Per the company, the drink is made with hibiscus tea, with flavors of apple, guava, cinnamon, and brown sugar added in. This drink is pretty true to the original Mexican recipe. It's also a tea drink, which seems to stand out as something different from popular American Starbucks items. As far as international drinks go, this one is nearly the best. However, there is one item we'd be even more excited to taste.

If you ask us, the No. 1 Starbucks international drink out there is The Melon of Melon Frappuccino in Japan. According to Tokyo Treat, this is one melon-packed drink, with the fruity flavor incorporated into every component of this Starbucks beverage. It starts with a bottom layer of orange melon pulp sauce. Next comes the melon-flavored Frappuccino. Then, there's melon-flavored whipped cream topping, which is decorated with a drizzle of melon syrup. There are even fresh melon chunks throughout.

Not only is real melon fully incorporated into this drink, but the flavor is also beloved in Japan, where Starbucks offered this particular beverage. Per Bokksu, melon is often found in Japanese treats and sodas. What helps solidify this drink as our top choice is that it comes highly recommended by those who have tasted it. SoraNews24 called it unforgettable, due to the uniqueness of the melon flavor as well as the balance of refreshing melon and rich whipped cream. Entabe called the fresh melon pieces especially enjoyable, due to their sweetness. The Melon of Melon Frappuccino in Japan checks all of our boxes to become Starbucks' top international drink.