Starbucks Kiwi Starfruit Refresher

During a scorching summer day last year, I walked into Starbucks desperately seeking something refreshing that wasn’t loaded with sugar or artificial flavors. The barista recommended their Kiwi Starfruit Refresher, describing it as their lightest, most naturally flavored drink. One sip of that perfectly balanced sweet-tart combination with real fruit pieces, and I was hooked. After countless Starbucks visits, I finally decided to recreate this refreshing masterpiece at home using fresh fruit instead of their freeze-dried version.

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Why This Starbucks Copycat Refreshers Recipe Works

This homemade version surpasses the original by using fresh kiwi and starfruit instead of freeze-dried pieces, resulting in superior flavor and texture—the secret lies in the thick simple syrup, which provides the perfect sweetness level without being cloying. The white grape juice adds natural fruit sweetness while maintaining the drink’s light, refreshing character. The optional green coffee extract provides a subtle earthy note that balances the fruit’s brightness without overpowering the delicate tropical flavors.

What Does the Starbucks Kiwi Starfruit Refresher Taste Like?

This simple syrup perfectly balances the unsweetened white grape juice and fresh fruit for a slightly sour beverage that is not overly sweet.

What Makes This Recipe the Best Starbucks Kiwi Starfruit Refresher

This homemade copycat Kiwi Starfruit Refresher recipe is 100% natural and contains fresh fruit, unlike Starbucks’ dried fruit. The tropical combination of starfruit and fresh kiwi makes for a drink you will want to reach for again and again.

The fresh fruit provides an extra kick of tartness that is perfect for quenching your thirst on even the hottest days.

Starbucks Kiwi Starfruit Refresher Ingredients

For the Thick Simple Syrup:

• Sugar – Creates the signature thick sweetness that balances the tart fruit flavors
• Water – Dissolves sugar to create a smooth, pourable syrup base

For the Refresher:

• Kiwi – Provides bright, tangy flavor and natural sweetness with beautiful green color
• Starfruit – Adds a unique tropical flavor and creates the signature star-shaped garnish pieces
• White grape juice – Contributes natural fruit sweetness without overpowering the tropical flavors
• Green coffee extract powder (optional) – Delivers subtle earthy notes and light caffeine content
• Water – Dilutes the drink to perfect refreshing consistency
• Ice – Essential for creating the cold, refreshing temperature and texture

How to Make Starbucks Kiwi Starfruit Refresher

Before you make the refresher, you’ll need to make some simple syrup that you’ll use to sweeten it. This simple syrup is much thicker than store-bought and is better for sweetening beverages. This should be done in advance so it has time to cool in the fridge before using it.

How to Make Thick Simple Syrup

1. Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Cook and stir slowly until the sugar dissolves entirely.

3. Cool the syrup to room temperature.
4. Pour the syrup into a squeeze bottle and place the bottle in the refrigerator.

Steps for Making a Starbucks Kiwi Starfruit Drink

1. Dice the starfruit and kiwi into small pieces. See the tip below if you don’t know how to peel a starfruit.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine a cup of ice, one ounce of simple syrup, the pieces of starfruit and kiwi, grape juice, green coffee extract powder (if using), and water.
3. Shake well and pour directly into the serving glass without straining.
4. Garnish with a starfruit wedge if desired.

Alternate Recipe Steps

Using a cocktail shaker creates a foamy head on the drink, but it’s OK to stir the ingredients together in a serving glass if you don’t have one. If so, here are the steps:

1. Place ice, simple syrup, kiwi, starfruit, white grape juice, green coffee powder (if using), and water in a glass.

3. Stir and enjoy!
4. Garnish with a starfruit wedge if desired.

CopyKat Tip: The simplest method to peel a starfruit is to cut off both ends, then cut across the fruit into star-shaped slices. Use your fingers to peel off the skin from each piece before dicing.

About this Copycat Recipe

My preference is to make this drink without the green coffee extract. I feel like the natural flavors of the white grape juice, and other fruits overpower the flavor you get from the green coffee extract. Green coffee extract is pretty expensive. I have purchased small bags of it for about 20 dollars, and you will have 100s of servings from the bag.

Starbucks starts with a kiwi starfruit refreshers base complete with natural green coffee flavor. They also use freeze-dried kiwi and star fruit. For this recipe, you will use fresh, real kiwi and starfruit. I think the combination of ingredients in this recipe makes a good substitute. The real kiwi pieces really add a lot to the flavor of this drink.

Substitutions and Variations

The simple syrup used in this recipe contains double the typical amount of sugar, resulting in a drink that’s much more syrupy and closer to what you get at Starbucks. If you prefer, you can use standard simple syrup, but please note that it will not have the same consistency and sweetness.

Green coffee extract powder is optional, but it adds a pleasant, earthy taste to this drink. You can find green coffee extract in the vitamin aisle of the supermarket, as many people use it as a health supplement.

If you don’t plan on using the extract, you can get a similar flavor by substituting an equal amount of brewed green tea (matcha is excellent) for the water in the recipe.

Kiwis are delicious, but they’re not inexpensive, and they tend to spoil quickly. Sliced strawberries with a few drops of lime juice make a good substitution for kiwis.

Some people like to add an ounce or two of sweetened coconut milk, oat milk, or even almond milk for additional flavor.

How to Store Simple Syrup

Store the simple syrup in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a month.

More Copycat Starbucks Drink Recipes

• Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Caramel Apple Spice
• Caramel Macchiato
• Iced White Chocolate Mocha
• London Fog Tea
• Paradise Drink
• Pink Drink
• S’mores Frappuccino
• Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
• Vanilla Bean Frappuccino
• Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher

Favorite Refreshing Fast Food Drinks

• Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee
• McDonald’s Frozen Strawberry Lemonade
• Sonic Ocean Water

Check out more of my easy drink recipes and the best Starbucks recipes here on CopyKat!