When does the Starbucks summer menu come out?
I explain the two-phase Starbucks summer menu drop, the early May Refresher launch and the late June Frappuccino wave, plus what each drop typically features.
Quick Answer
The Starbucks summer menu drops in two phases: Summer Phase 1 in early May (Refreshers and iced tea launches) and Summer Phase 2 in late June (Frappuccinos and blended drinks).
Recent Phase 1 launches: May 2, 2023; May 7, 2024; May 6, 2025.
Why summer gets two launches
Starbucks handles the spring-to-summer transition differently than any other season. Instead of one big drop, corporate splits summer into two waves for a few reasons:
- Summer is the longest season on the menu calendar, running roughly May through late August. One launch cannot carry three months.
- Cold drink consumption peaks in July, so pushing Frappuccinos and blended items into late June sets them up for the hottest weeks.
- Two launches means two social media events, two rounds of press coverage, and two chances to drive summer store traffic.
Summer Phase 1: early May
Phase 1 lands on a Tuesday in the first or second week of May. The focus is:
- Refreshers. New fruit-forward flavor combinations join the permanent Refresher lineup. Recent launches have included Summer-Berry, Frozen Pineapple Passionfruit, Golden Kiwi Star Fruit, and Bumblebee.
- Popping juice pearls. Starbucks introduced boba-style flavored pearls in 2024 as an add-on to Refreshers. These come back in Phase 1 each May.
- Iced Shaken Espresso variations. New flavor pairings on the existing Shaken Espresso platform.
- Iced tea lemonades. Lightly reformulated tea and lemonade combinations.
The theme is bright, tart, and hydrating. Nothing indulgent, nothing dessert-heavy. Phase 1 drinks are designed to be consumed poolside, on a hot commute, or during a break at work.
Summer Phase 2: late June
Phase 2 lands on a Tuesday in the last week of June, always positioned right before the July 4 holiday weekend. The focus flips entirely:
- New Frappuccinos. Limited-time blended ice drinks with cookie crumbles, waffle cone drizzles, marshmallow whipped cream, and other high-indulgence toppings.
- Cold foam variations. New cold foam flavors like Toasted Vanilla Sweet Cream, Salted Cookies and Cream, or fruit foams.
- Premium bakery items. Summer-themed bakery arrivals like the Strawberry Cake Pop or Berry Trio Parfait.
Phase 2 is dessert-forward. Corporate uses it to keep customers coming in during the hottest weeks of the year when hot coffee sales dip and blended drink demand peaks.
Historical Phase 2 launches
- 2022 Phase 2: June 28
- 2023 Phase 2: June 27
- 2024 Phase 2: June 25
- 2025 Phase 2: June 24
The permanent summer menu items
Some drinks are technically year-round but get their heaviest marketing in summer:
- Mango Dragonfruit Refresher / Lemonade
- Strawberry Açaí Refresher / Lemonade (the "Pink Drink" when made with coconut milk)
- Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher / Lemonade
- Paradise Drink (Pineapple Passionfruit with coconut milk)
- Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Cold Brew and Nitro Cold Brew
These stay on the menu after the summer menu ends, so if you find a summer favorite in this list, you can keep ordering it in September and October.
When the summer menu ends
Both summer phases end together in late August when the fall menu launches (typically the fourth Tuesday of August). All limited Frappuccinos and limited Refresher flavors come off the boards at the same time to make room for the Pumpkin Spice Latte and the rest of the fall lineup.
Ordering strategy
Phase 1 launches are a good time to try Refresher variations because the drinks are simple to build and the bar can move fast even on launch morning. Phase 2 launches, on the other hand, are notoriously slow because Frappuccinos take multiple steps to build. Skip Phase 2 launch day drive-thrus and use mobile order for pickup instead.
How the summer calendar developed
Through the mid-2010s, Starbucks ran a single spring/summer menu that launched in late April and ran through August. The two-phase split emerged around 2018 when corporate realized that Refresher drinks were pulling in a different customer than Frappuccinos and both categories deserved dedicated launch attention.
The two-phase model has held since. It gives corporate two full press cycles per summer, which is roughly twice the news coverage a single launch would generate.
The Refresher franchise
Refreshers launched in 2012 as a lower-caffeine, fruit-forward alternative to coffee. The line has become one of the most commercially successful drink categories in Starbucks history. Today, Refreshers account for a meaningful share of afternoon transactions and are the primary driver of summer store traffic among customers under 25.
The base Refresher recipe uses green coffee extract (a lightly-caffeinated ingredient) mixed with a fruit juice concentrate and served over ice. The drink can be built with water (standard), lemonade (sweeter), or coconut milk (creamier). The coconut milk build is the famous "Pink Drink" and "Paradise Drink" combinations.
Frappuccino strategy in Phase 2
The Frappuccino has been the summer indulgence flagship since it launched in 1995. Phase 2 launches typically bring back at least one legacy Frappuccino (Caramel Ribbon Crunch, Java Chip, Mocha Cookie Crumble) alongside 2 to 3 limited-time new flavors.
Frappuccino launches are the most operationally complex days of the summer at any store. Building a single Frappuccino requires 6 to 8 steps and takes 90 to 120 seconds compared to 45 seconds for a standard latte. Phase 2 launch morning drive-thru waits routinely stretch to 20 or 30 minutes.
The permanent summer add-ons
Phase 1 typically extends the permanent Refresher menu with new build combinations rather than entirely new flavors. Popping juice pearls (launched 2024) are now a permanent add-on option that customers can add to any Refresher for a small upcharge. Cold foam variants continue to expand each summer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a summer Frappuccino in September?
Rarely. Limited-time summer Frappuccinos usually come off the boards when the fall menu launches in late August. Permanent Frappuccinos stay year-round.
What is the difference between the Pink Drink and a Strawberry Açaí Refresher?
The Pink Drink is a Strawberry Açaí Refresher made with coconut milk instead of water. Same base, creamier finish.
Are popping juice pearls available year-round?
Yes, they became a permanent add-on in 2025 after their 2024 summer debut.
When does the summer menu officially end?
The fourth Tuesday of August, when the fall menu launches and displaces the summer limited-time drinks.
Bottom line
The Starbucks summer menu comes out in two waves: Phase 1 in early May for the Refreshers and iced tea launches, and Phase 2 in late June for the new Frappuccinos and blended drinks. Mark both Tuesdays on your calendar if you want to catch every summer drop, and use mobile order on Phase 2 launch morning to skip the Frappuccino line.