Blue Drink Starbucks: What It Is, How to Order It, and Why Everyone's Obsessed

You’ve seen it: on TikTok, in your feed, maybe even in someone’s hand at your local Starbucks—the icy-cool, impossibly vibrant blue drink that’s turning heads all over again this summer. Yes, it’s real. Yes, it’s on the menu (kind of). But depending on where you are, it might still feel like a mystery. 

Now that summer’s heating up, it’s back and blowing up again. But this time, we’re breaking it down. What’s actually in it? How do you order it right? And can you hack it to taste even better?

This is your full, no-fluff guide to the viral Starbucks blue drink—what it is, how to get it, and how to remix it for next-level flavor. Plus, we asked real baristas what’s really going on behind the counter when this summer favorite takes over again. 💖

So… What Is the Blue Drink at Starbucks? 👀

Let’s clear up the mystery. The blue drink at Starbucks is a seasonal drink. You can either order a regular menu item; the Summer-Berry (Lemonade) Refresher or a Summer Skies Drink. However, there are many ✨secret menu✨ variations going around that are even better (and prettier) than these standard menu items!

One of our favorite secret menu variations is the Summer-Berry Frappuccino, created by one of the baristas we work together with. Here’s what’s in it:

• Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino with Whipped Cream 

• Raspberry Flavored Pearlss

• Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam instead of Milk and the Summer-Berry Refresher Base mixed in. 

So despite the name, there’s no "blue" tea or blue syrup involved. The bright hue comes from the Summer-Berry Refresher base. The result? A dreamy, Instagrammable lavender-to-blue shade. 💭🩵✨ If you’re looking for a twist on the refresher, you can find more on that below.

“Sometimes people just say ‘blue drink’ and expect us to read their mind,” says Adam, a Seattle-based barista. “It helps a lot if you give us the ingredients.”

Does Starbucks Have a Blue Drink?

Kind of. But officially it’s not simply called ‘The Blue Drink’. You can either order a standard menu item or go for a more trendy, tasty and pretty secret menu drink! 

Why Is It Trending Again Right Now? 🆒

It’s simple: it’s too pretty not to post! The Starbucks ‘blue drink’ is made to be seen. With its swirling pastel tones and refreshing texture, it's perfect for summer and your Instagram story.☀️

But there’s more to the trend than just aesthetics. The seasonal craving is real: each year when temperatures rise, so does demand for iced refreshers, new flavors, and some new eye-candy to show off on your socials. 

“We’ve seen a wave of blue drinks lately. It’s always the same in summer,” Kelly, a Southern California based barista told us. “It starts on social media, and within a week, everyone’s ordering it.”

How to Order the Blue Drink at Starbucks 🌟

If all of the above has piqued your interest, another delicious and gorgeous secret menu blue drink refresher you MUST try (which got over a million views on our TikTok page), is the viral Cotton Candy Cloud Refresher💭🩵. Here’s exactly what to say when you order:

“Hi! Can I get a Summer Skies Refresher with 2 pumps Vanilla Syrup and Lavender Cold Foam?” 

Variations:

• Opt for the Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup if you want to cut calories

• Add Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam instead of Lavender Cold Foam if lavender is not your thing

“The more specific, the better. We’re not mind readers,” says another barista. “Don’t just say 'blue drink' and hope we get it right.”

The SSMP Remix: Better Ingredients, Bigger Flavor ☕️

Another barista we work with took the viral Starbucks blue drink refresher and gave it a summer-ready glow-up 💦. She created the Firework Refresher. 

In the app you’ll find this exclusive remix version:

• Summer Skies Drink

• Strawberry Purée added to the sides of the cup

• Whipped Cream

• More Strawberry Purée added on top 

Of course we had to test this drink for ourselves, and it was a team favorite for the month of July! Especially since it was the perfect drink to order and show off on your socials on Independence Day. 🎉

Questions We Asked Real Baristas (And What They Told Us) 🤫

We asked real Starbucks baristas what they really think about the blue drink at Starbucks. Here’s what they told us:

Q: What do you actually put in it when someone asks for the blue drink?

"It depends if they order the Summer Skies Refresher, the Summer-Berry (Lemonade) Refresher or a secret menu item. So we use either of those as a base and make any modifications if the customer asks for it!"

Q: What’s the weirdest version you’ve had to make?

"Someone once asked to add Caramel Syrup, which doesn’t really make sense with the rest of the flavors."

Q: Do you like the blue drink?

"Honestly? It’s been my go to this whole summer. I love the seasonal summer refreshers!”

Q: What should go viral instead? 

“I honestly really loved the viral Cotton Candy Cloud Refresher with lavender cold foam!"

Pro-tips from behind the counter 🫶

After we’ve spoken to several barista’s, we have some of the most important insider tips straight from the source. Here’s what they told us:

• “If you order a secret menu recipe, ALWAYS give your barista the recipe. The SSMP app actually makes it really easy; you just have to show your barista the recipe. This makes it super easy for us to make the drinks and you don’t have to memorize anything difficult.”

• “Don’t simply give us a secret menu name and expect us to know what you mean, that’s not how it works.”

• “Feel free to ask us to come up with a fun drink for you, we love that!”

Remix It Yourself & Share Your Own Version 🪩

It’s your turn now; download the app and customize your own trending drink!

Come up with your own version of the blue drink. Add syrups, cold foams, toppings or more raspberry pearls: whatever you like!

• Think of tasty and pretty drink, remix it in the SSMP app

• Name it and give it your own spin!

Post your version of the blue drink and tag us @ssmprecipes and #bluedrink for a chance to be featured on our socials and maybe even in the app!

TL;DR 🎀

• The blue drink at Starbucks base is a Summer-Berry Refresher or a Summer Skies Drink and you can customize it whichever way you please or take a look at our extensive secret menu app that we always keep up to date.
  
  

• If you want to order a secret menu item, give your barista the recipe!
  
  

• It’s trending every summer thanks to its insta-worthy looks that make these drinks go viral and the super fresh new flavors.
  
  

• You can get the best version of the blue drink inside the SSMP App.

FAQs 💡🩵

Q: What is the blue drink at Starbucks?
A: The base is always the Summer-Berry Refresher or the Summer Skies drink. Whatever else you’d like to add, you can! 

Q: Does Starbucks have a blue drink?
A: It’s not officially called ‘the blue drink’ at Starbucks, so you can’t simply order that. 

Q: Is the blue drink available all year round?
A: No, it’s a seasonal drink.

Q: Is there caffeine in the blue drink?
A: Yes, both the Summer Skies Drink and the Summer‑Berry Lemonade Refresher contain about 50 mg of caffeine for a Grande —thanks to Starbucks’ use of green coffee extract in their Refresher bases. 

Q: What is the Starbucks blue drink called?
A: Summer-Berry (Lemonade) Refresher or Summer Skies Drink, if you want to go for the regular menu items. We suggest you spice it up with one of many secret menu variations!

Q: What is the blue boba drink at Starbucks called?
A: The Summer-Berry (Lemonade) Refresher and Summer Skies Drink have Raspberry Pearls already included!