Choosing a Hazelnut Drink at Starbucks: A Nutty & Malty Guide

The most dependable hazelnut drinks at Starbucks are customised espresso drinks with hazelnut syrup added. A hazelnut latte is the classic choice. For a lighter, sweeter coffee, try a hazelnut latte with Blonde espresso. Iced or cold brew with hazelnut and a splash of milk is the refreshing option. Hazelnut added to a mocha or hot chocolate makes a dessert-style drink. For the fullest nutty and malty character, pair hazelnut with oat milk and a darker espresso, and ask for less syrup so the roasted notes still come through.

Starbucks menus differ by country and season. Hazelnut syrup, plant milks and limited-edition hazelnut drinks are not available everywhere all year. The guidance below is built on drink customisation, so it works with whatever your local store stocks.

What makes a hazelnut drink taste nutty and malty?

A drink tastes nutty and malty when toasted, roasted flavours lead and sweetness supports them. Typical notes are hazelnut, toasted grain, biscuit, caramel and light cocoa. In Starbucks drinks, the hazelnut flavour comes from a sweetened syrup. The roasted and grainy depth comes from the coffee and the milk.

• Hazelnut flavour: sweet and toasty, with a buttery, praline-like edge. It suits coffee because espresso already has roasted, nutty notes.
• Malty notes: a warm, cereal-like richness similar to malted milk or toasted bread. At Starbucks you get close to this with oat milk, which has a grainy taste, or with caramel-leaning flavours alongside hazelnut.
• Balance: too much syrup hides the toasted character and makes the drink taste only sweet. Fewer pumps usually make a hazelnut drink taste nuttier, not weaker.

Which hazelnut drinks at Starbucks are worth ordering?

Good hazelnut drinks at Starbucks fall into five styles: milky and mellow, coffee-forward, iced and refreshing, dessert-like, and caffeine-free. Each style is built by adding hazelnut syrup to a standard menu drink.

Hazelnut latte: the all-rounder

A hazelnut latte is espresso, steamed milk and hazelnut syrup, with a thin layer of foam. It is mellow, creamy and easy to share as a recommendation with friends who are new to flavoured coffee. Ask for it hot or iced.

Hazelnut with Blonde espresso: lighter and sweeter

Blonde espresso is Starbucks' lighter-roasted espresso. It tastes softer and sweeter than the standard Signature espresso, which is darker and more caramel-roasted. Blonde lets the hazelnut syrup taste brighter. Signature espresso gives a deeper, toastier, more malty result.

Hazelnut cappuccino or flat white: more coffee, less milk

A cappuccino has more foam and less milk than a latte, so the espresso and hazelnut taste stronger. A flat white uses ristretto shots, which are shorter espresso pulls that taste sweeter and less bitter, with velvety milk. Both suit people who want hazelnut as an accent rather than the main flavour.

Iced coffee or cold brew with hazelnut: refreshing and roasty

Cold brew is coffee steeped in cold water for a long time. It tastes smooth and low in acidity, and it carries nutty flavours well. Add one or two pumps of hazelnut and a splash of milk, or ask for cold foam, which is frothed cold milk spooned on top. This works well for warm-weather gatherings and walks.

Hazelnut mocha or hazelnut hot chocolate: dessert in a cup

Chocolate and hazelnut together taste like a chocolate-hazelnut spread. A mocha is espresso, chocolate sauce and milk. A hot chocolate leaves out the coffee. Both are rich, so a smaller size or fewer syrup pumps keeps them pleasant to the last sip.

Hazelnut steamer or decaf options: caffeine-free choices

A steamer, sometimes called a crème, is steamed milk with syrup and no coffee. A hazelnut steamer with oat milk is a cosy, malty drink for children, evenings or anyone avoiding caffeine. Most espresso drinks can also be made with decaf espresso where available.

How do the main hazelnut options compare?

The best hazelnut drink depends on how strong, sweet and cold you want it. The table compares the most common custom builds.

How do you order a custom hazelnut drink at Starbucks?

To order a custom hazelnut drink, choose a base drink and then specify the syrup, milk, espresso and sweetness. Starbucks measures syrup in pumps, so adjusting the number of pumps is the simplest way to control sweetness.

1. Pick the base: latte, cappuccino, flat white, cold brew, iced coffee, mocha, hot chocolate or steamer.
2. Choose hot or iced and your size.
3. Add hazelnut syrup and say how many pumps you want. Ask for fewer than standard if you prefer a nuttier, less sugary taste. A sugar-free hazelnut syrup is offered in some markets, so ask whether your store has it.
4. Choose the milk: oat milk for the most malty, grainy result. Whole milk gives a creamy result. Almond milk adds extra nuttiness with a lighter body.
5. Choose the espresso: Signature for toasty depth, Blonde for a lighter, sweeter cup, or decaf for later in the day.
6. Finish if you like: a drizzle of caramel or a cold foam topping adds a caramel-malt note. These toppings also add sweetness.

If you have a nut allergy, ask staff about the ingredients and allergen information for the specific syrup and milk before ordering. Some hazelnut syrups are flavourings rather than nut products, but shared equipment and recipes vary.

Which hazelnut drink suits which occasion?

Match the drink to the setting: lighter and iced for daytime, richer and caffeine-free for evenings.

• Weekend brunch with friends: Blonde hazelnut lattes are a crowd-pleaser and are sweet enough to sit beside pastries.
• Study or work session: a hazelnut cappuccino or cold brew keeps the coffee flavour clear without heavy sweetness.
• Afternoon walk or picnic: iced hazelnut drinks or cold brew travel well and stay refreshing.
• Cosy winter evening: a hazelnut steamer, hazelnut hot chocolate or a decaf oat milk hazelnut latte.
• Group order for a mixed crowd: combine one coffee-forward option, one milky option and one caffeine-free option so everyone has something that suits them.

What food pairs well with hazelnut drinks?

Hazelnut drinks pair best with buttery, chocolatey or toasted foods that echo their nutty and malty notes.

• Croissants and butter pastries: they match the buttery side of hazelnut and suit lattes and flat whites.
• Chocolate brownies or chocolate cake: they suit a cappuccino or cold brew. A mocha with chocolate food can become very sweet.
• Banana bread or oat-based bakes: they bring out the malty, cereal-like notes in oat milk hazelnut drinks.
• Almond biscotti or shortbread: they are crisp, toasty and good for dipping into hot drinks.
• Savoury options: a cheese toastie or egg sandwich balances a sweet hazelnut latte at brunch.

How can you bring Starbucks-style hazelnut drinks to a get-together at home?

A simple hazelnut coffee bar recreates the experience at home: brewed coffee or espresso, hazelnut syrup, a choice of milks and a few toppings. Guests can then customise their drinks the way they would in store.

1. Brew the base: make a pot of medium-to-dark roast coffee, espresso, or cold brew made the day before for iced drinks.
2. Set out flavourings: hazelnut syrup, caramel sauce and cocoa powder.
3. Offer milks: dairy milk plus oat milk, which gives the most malty finish, and one other plant milk for guests who avoid dairy.
4. Add toppings: a milk frother for foam, chopped toasted hazelnuts and grated chocolate.
5. Label everything, especially nut ingredients, so guests with allergies can choose safely.

Glassware and serving

Serve hot lattes and cappuccinos in wide ceramic cups so the foam and aroma show. Glass mugs suit layered drinks, such as espresso poured over milk, because guests can see the layers. Serve iced drinks in tall tumblers with plenty of ice, and offer reusable straws or long spoons for stirring in syrup.

Alcohol-free and grown-up variations

Hazelnut coffee drinks are naturally alcohol-free, which makes them easy to serve to everyone. For an evening treat without alcohol, try a decaf hazelnut affogato, which is a scoop of vanilla ice cream with hot decaf espresso and a little hazelnut syrup poured over it. Iced hazelnut cold brew topped with oat milk foam is another option. If adults would like an after-dinner version at home, a small measure of hazelnut liqueur in one coffee is plenty. Always keep alcohol-free versions available, and offer decaf so late drinks do not disrupt anyone's sleep.

How do you choose the right hazelnut drink for you?

Start from your preferred coffee strength and sweetness, then use milk and espresso to steer towards nutty and malty. Want it gentle and creamy? Order a hazelnut latte. Want the coffee to lead? Choose a cappuccino, flat white or cold brew with fewer pumps. Want the most toasty, malty flavour? Use oat milk with Signature espresso. Want a treat? Go for a hazelnut mocha. For a caffeine-free choice, order a hazelnut steamer. With these building blocks, you can order confidently at any Starbucks and plan a get-together where every guest finds a drink they enjoy.