Do you want to know if Starbucks sells French Vanilla coffee? I put together an article to help you understand your options and order the right French Vanilla you’re craving.
To most people’s surprise, French Vanilla coffee is something completely different in Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Tim Hortons.
Traditionally, French Vanilla coffee is black coffee with a soothing vanilla aroma and flavor.
Tim Hortons French Vanilla changed the game. They offer a creamy and sweet cappuccino-type beverage rich in coffee and vanilla flavors. This drink has a creamy yellowish and brownish hue instead of the traditional coffee black color.
So, which French Vanilla are you looking for? Let me show you how to order the correct French Vanilla coffee you want.
Does Starbucks Sell French Vanilla Coffee?
A common question amoungst frequent coffee drinkers is, does Starbucks offer French Vanilla coffee.
Yes, Starbucks sells French Vanilla coffee, although you won’t find it on the menu. To order a Tim-Hortons-styled French Vanilla from Starbucks, ask your barista for a Grande Vanilla Latte with 2 pumps each of vanilla and hazelnut syrup.
Now, you know how to get the Tim Hortons version of the French Vanilla from your favorite coffee shop, but it’s not the only type Starbucks has to offer.
Let’s go over the different styles and how to order them.
French Vanilla Drinks at Starbucks and How to Order Them?
You won’t find these drinks on the Starbucks menu but every barista will be happy to make them for you if you ask for the right thing.
Tim Hortons Styled French Vanilla
A cappuccino-styled sweet and creamy coffee. A grande serving(16 fl oz) of this cup of joy has 330 calories and 170 mg of caffeine.
Ask Your Barista For:
A grande Vanilla Latte with 2 pumps of both vanilla and hazelnut syrups.
French Vanilla Frappuccino
A cold drink is ideal for sipping on a warm summer day. In case you’ve never had a Starbucks frappuccino, this is a fantastic starting place. One serving has 400 calories and 0 mg of caffeine.
Ask Your Barista For:
A grande Vanilla Bean frappuccino with 1.5 pumps of hazelnut syrup. Then line the cup, and top with caramel drizzle.
Vanilla Coffee
A traditional black coffee with a vanilla aroma and flavor. Each serving from Starbucks has 25 calories and 310 mg of caffiene.
Ask Your Barista For:
A grande Pike Place black coffee with 1 pump of vanilla syrup.
Difference Between Starbucks and Tim Hortons French Vanilla Coffee
It’s important to know that Tim Hortons French Vanilla isn’t a traditional coffee. It’s brewed from a pre-packaged mix of powdered ingredients like coffee, milk, vanilla flavoring, sugar, and water.
Starbucks French Vanilla is different in the sense that it’s actually coffee. Your barista will mix a fresh espresso, freshly steamed, and vanilla and hazelnut flavored syrups to make your creamy drink.
While the basic flavors of the drinks are quite similar, they still vary in some ways, most noticeably quality.
Without saying, Starbucks offers the fresher version of the two, but also the pricier one. You may also notice a stronger coffee taste in the Starbucks French Vanilla while the Tim Hortons version tends to be sweeter.
The average-sized Starbucks drink has 330 calories with 170 mg of caffeine while Tim Hortons French Vanilla has 310 calories and 80 mg of caffeine.
If you’re looking for something sweet to warm you up on a cold day reach for a Tim Hortons French Vanilla. If you want a real pick-me-up with authentic espresso and vanilla flavors, Starbucks is a better option.
What is the Difference Between French Vanilla and Vanilla?
Originally the term French Vanilla is used for a style of French vanilla ice cream. They used egg yolks to give their ice cream a richer consistency.
Vanilla is a world-famous spice that grows in specific climates. Vanillin is the compound that gives this spice its familiar flavor.
When it comes to coffee, French Vanilla can mean 1 of 2 things.
French Vanilla can be a powdered mixture used by Tim Hortons to make a creamy and sweet beverage popular for its pale white chocolate appearance, or it can refer to a style of coffee roasting used to infuse coffee beans with a hint of vanilla flavor.
To do this, coffee roasters mix vanilla and coffee beans together during roasting to give their coffee a slight vanilla aroma and flavor.
Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Tim Hortons all have their own spin on French Vanilla coffee.
Summary
As you can see, French Vanilla coffee can be something different in all your favorite coffee shops.
Starbucks offers French Vanilla both as a drink and as a coffee roast.
Dunkin Donuts has sells French Vanilla roast coffee beans in their stores and online.
Tim Hortons created their own style of French Vanilla, a powdered cappuccino-type beverage.
Try them as you wish and let me know what you think. I personally enjoy Tims’s version when I’m in the mood for a caffeinated hot chocolate and the Starbucks options when I’m looking for something with a little more pick-me-up.
I’ve always seen coffee as a way of bringing people together. Everywhere I go people seem to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee and that’s what drives my passion. There’s always a new brew to master, and there’s always a new face to enjoy it with. Hitch a ride with me on a coffee-fueled adventure to find a perfect cup.