If you’re a fan of Starbucks you may have wondered how they make such sweet and tasty coffee drinks without all the lumps of sugar floating around on top. The answer is their classic syrup. This syrup combines sugar and water to make it dissolve easier. It is a flavorless sweetener that, without a doubt, we’d miss if it wasn’t in our iced coffees or lemonades when we order. But did you know, instead of asking your barista to sell you a bottle of classic syrup, you can make your own? It’s true! Check out our easy-to-follow recipe so you can make yourself a bottle of classic syrup for your kitchen.
How to Make Starbucks Classic Syrup
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- Saucepan
- Measuring cups
- Mixing spoons
- Storage container for syrup
- Pump to attach to the container for use
1. Gather all ingredients and equipment.
Life is simply easier when you have everything ready. Gather all the necessary ingredients and tools so you aren’t left rummaging around the kitchen searching for them while making your syrup.
2. Measure your ingredients.
Take the time to properly measure your ingredients. Many classic syrup recipes call for equal amounts of sugar and water, but for the Starbucks taste, that isn’t the case.
3. Add ingredients to your saucepan.
Using medium heat, place your saucepan on the stove and add the ingredients.
4. Dissolve the sugar in the water.
Consistently stir the mixture to allow the sugar to dissolve into the water. This process normally takes 2 to 3 minutes. For a smooth syrup, ensure the sugar doesn’t stick to the sides of your saucepan and avoid boiling. Boiling causes a thicker syrup. However, if that’s the texture you prefer, feel free to thicken it up.
5. Cool and refrigerate.
Once your mixture is thoroughly dissolved, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool. When cool, you can store it in your chosen container and add the pump for easy use. This syrup should be refrigerated once cooled and ready to be stored. This syrup is safe to store in your fridge for several weeks.
How Much Classic Syrup Do I Use?
The goal when making your own classic syrup like that used at Starbucks is to recreate the taste you get when visiting your local store. Of course, everyone’s taste buds are different. You may like things a bit sweeter. Here’s a quick guide to help you understand how much classic syrup Starbucks uses for their sizes to help you decide how much syrup to start with when you make your own beverages.
| Starbucks Sizes | Hot Drinks | Cold Drinks |
| Short | 2 pumps of classic syrup | No short size for cold drinks |
| Tall | 3 pumps of classic syrup | 3 pumps of classic syrup |
| Grande | 4 pumps of classic syrup | 4 pumps of classic syrup |
| Venti | 5 pumps of classic syrup | 6 pumps of classic syrup |
| Trenta | No Trenta size for hot drinks | 7 pumps of classic syrup |
Calories and Serving Sizes
When doing things at home, servings and calories may be slightly off. At Starbucks, one pump of classic syrup is equal to ½ tablespoon in serving size. Each pump also has 20 calories. That makes life a bit easier for those who want to be a barista at home. If you add 2 pumps of syrup to your iced coffee, then you’re consuming 40 calories, and so on. If you add other additions like flavoring or garnishes, you’ll need to account for those calories separately.
Simple Starbucks Classic Syrup Recipe
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Measuring cups
- Mixing spoons
- Syrup container
- Pump for container
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients before you start for a better cooking experience.
- Measure out 1 ½ cups of granulated sugar and 1 cup of water.
- Place the saucepan on the stove. Set to medium heat then add ingredients.
- Consistently stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves. This takes 2 to 3 minutes. Avoid allowing the sugar to stick to the sides of your saucepan or to come to a boil as it thickens the syrup.
- When finished, remove from heat and allow to cool. When cool, place in your chosen container, add the pump and place in the fridge for several weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
Conclusion
As you can see, this Starbucks Classic Syrup recipe is one of the easiest around. With minimal ingredients, a few minutes of your time, and a good storage container with a pump you can be making coffee beverages at home that rival those of your favorite baristas at your local store. This liquid sugar can last for several weeks in your fridge but if you’re anything like other coffee lovers around the world, you’ll be making your own classic syrup more often than that.
