Starbucks Just Announced Plans to Stop Charging Extra for Nondairy Milk

When it comes to coffee preferences, we like what we like. Unfortunately, if you prefer soy milk or oat milk instead of dairy milk in your Starbucks drink, the cost of customizing your beverage can add up. In some markets, the swap to nondairy milk costs up to 90 cents!

Now, Starbucks plans to change how it charges customers.

When will Starbucks stop charging for nondairy milk?

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Starting on November 7, company-owned and operated Starbucks stores across the U.S. and Canada will stop charging extra for nondairy customizations.

This is a big win for people whose regular coffee orders involve more than a regular ol’ Pike Place roast. The milk alternatives at Starbucks include soy, oat, almond and coconut milks. With the popularity of all these options, it’s not surprising that Starbucks is making this change. In fact, making nondairy swaps in handcrafted coffee drinks is the second most-requested modification, according to a Starbucks spokesperson. (The first most-requested change is adding a shot of espresso.)

While some drinks, like the new Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte start with nondairy milk, plenty of other menu items need to be customized in order to make them dairy-free. This is particularly important for folks who are lactose-intolerant or follow a plant-based diet. Personally, I like the flavor of oat milk—my favorite espresso-based drink is the Pistachio Latte, which I always order with an oat milk substitution.

If you love the seasonal drinks at Starbucks, I have more good news. Starbucks plans to stop charging extra for nondairy milk before its holiday drink menu launches!