With tens of thousands of stores in around 80 countries, Starbucks is the most known coffeehouse chain. If we’re not regulars by now, we have all stumbled into Starbucks at least once or twice before.
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Like Costa and Caffe Nero, Starbucks also serves some simple bites, as appropriate for any coffee shop. For vegans, the food options are relatively mild.
Does Starbucks have vegan food?
When it comes to coffee drinks, Starbucks is a heaven for vegans. Pretty much any drink offered by the coffee chain is either vegan or can be made vegan with some slight modifications. Swap the cow milk with a dairy-free alternative such as soy, almond, or coconut milk. Leave out the whipped cream and caramel sauce, and you are good to go.
But how vegan-friendly is the vast corporation when it comes to food? Grabbing a bite next to your tea or latte at Starbucks is absolutely doable, but your options are relatively restricted. Here is your vegan guide to follow.
Starbucks vegan food – breakfast
Breakfast menu items offered at Starbucks include sandwiches, wraps, and egg bites. Ordering vegan is unfortunately not possible when it comes to breakfast.
When I first heard of their Impossible Breakfast Sandwich, I was thrilled as I automatically assumed it would be plant-based. I was wrong. While the Impossible patty is plant-based, the fried egg and cheese that come along are not. Please note that all the sandwiches come pre-packaged and prepared, so you cannot ask the staff to leave the non-vegan ingredients out.
Starbucks vegan food – bakery
Brownies, croissants, cake pops, bagels, and muffins are just a few of the many items you can find at your local Starbucks. As a vegan, you might wonder if any of those are free from animal-derived components and, therefore, safe for you to consume. The answer is yes, but be aware that your options are limited to bagels.
- Plain bagel – Starbucks plain bagels are fitting for vegan folks. I don’t know about you, but I am not a big fan of plain bread, so I always get some avocado spread on the side. The bagel on its own is soft and chewy, but the combo is so much more satisfying.
- Cinnamon Raisin Bagel – This one is hands down my favorite, and I frequently order it with my morning cup of cold brew.
- Everything Bagel – Thick New-York style bagel topped with onion, garlic, salt, poppy, and sesame seeds.
This is not listed on their website, but some locations have hazelnut and almond butter available – both suitable for vegans. Check with the staff at your local coffee shop.
Starbucks vegan food – lunch
Starbucks’ lunch menu features several hot sandwiches and protein boxes – 5 sandwiches and 8 protein boxes, to be exact. Unfortunately for us vegans, the options are limited, to say the least. You’ll want to walk straight past the sandwiches, and only one of the protein boxes is vegan-friendly.
- Chickpea Bites & Avocado Protein Box – In this box, you will find falafel-inspired chickpea bites, a serving of avocado spread, a side of mini carrots, and a blend of dried cranberries, almonds, pepitas, and sunflower seeds. The chickpea bites go really well with the avocado spread – I have to give them that.
Starbucks vegan food – snacks & sweets
Sometimes we’re in a rush and don’t have time for a proper meal or just need a little energy boost to get us through the day. Starbucks has a wide range of snacks to grab on the go – with many of them being vegan-friendly. So, the next time you’re waiting in line to order yourself a hot chocolate or iced coffee and feel like you need a quick bite, you can choose from the following list.
- Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- Squirrel Brand Fruit & Nut Blend
- Squirrel Brand Classic Almonds
- Peter Rabbit Organics Apple & Grape
- Peter Rabbit Organics Strawberry & Banana
- Spearmint Gum
- Starbucks BBQ Potato Chips
- Hippeas White Cheddar
- Salt & Vinegar Kettle Potato Chips
- Simply Salted Kettle Potato Chips
- Sweet Potato Kettle Potato Chips
- That’s It, Apple & Blueberry Bar
- That’s It, Mango Bar
Starbucks vegan food – oatmeal & yogurt
What better way to start your day than with a hot cup of coffee and a tasty serving of oatmeal. I was thrilled to discover that the vast majority of menu items in this category are fit for vegans! You can only see four different options listed, with the following three being plant-based.
- Rolled & Steel-Cut Oatmeal with Blueberries – This hearty blueberry oatmeal is made from a blend of rolled and whole grain steel-cut oats. Comes topped with fresh blueberries, sliced almonds, pecans, and almonds. Agave syrup adds the finishing touch.
- Rolled & Steel-Cut Oatmeal – A blend of rolled and whole grain steel-cut oats. The oatmeal is topped with raisins, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, pecans, walnuts, and a touch of brown sugar.
- Strawberry Overnight Grains – A delicious combination of steel-cut oats, quinoa, chia seeds, coconut milk, and strawberries. Almonds and shaved coconut are used as toppings.
I was slightly confused to see that both of the available Rolled & Steel-Cut Oatmeal options are marked vegetarian and not vegan on Starbucks’ website. After reading through the ingredient lists several times, there are no animal-based ingredients found there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Starbucks have any vegan food?
Yes! Although a big part of Starbucks’ food menu is unfit for people following a vegan diet, you can find some plant-based options available for vegans. For example, the Plain bagel, Cinnamon Raising Bagel, Everything Bagel, Cickpea Bites & Avocado Protein Box, Rolled & Steel-Cut Oatmeal are all vegan. For the full list, check out our article!
Is Starbucks oatmeal vegan?
As a vegan, you can enjoy a filling serving of oatmeal at Starbucks. The coffeehouse offers three vegan-friendly oatmeal options: their classic rolled & steel-cut oatmeal, rolled & steel-cut oatmeal with blueberries, and strawberry overnight grains.
Are Starbucks bagels vegan?
Most of the bagels available at Starbucks are suitable for vegans. Those bagels are their plain bagel, cinnamon raisin bagel, and everything bagel. As a vegan, avoid their everything & cheddar bagel, as that one contains cheese.
