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How to Make A Strawberry Acai Refresher (Starbucks Copycat)

This Strawberry Acai Refresher copycat recipe is simple, cheaper than driving to Starbucks and waiting in line, and is absolutely delicious!

Looking for something to drink on those hot, humid summer days? Something to quench that annoying thirst? Something to give you a boost of energy? Well, look no further! This Strawberry Acai Refresher recipe is the ultimate thirst quencher!

Refreshing, slightly tart yet slightly sweet, this Strawberry Acai Refresher recipe is loaded with thirst-quenching goodness, a touch of energy and promises to not disappoint. 

If you just can’t get enough of the Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher then this Starbucks copycat Strawberry Acai refresher recipe must be added to your drink repertoire. This simple-to-make recipe delivers a mouthful of fruitiness, a kick of caffeine, and loads of refreshment.

Looking for more cold drinks? I’ve got you covered with quite a few options! Check out Pink Drink (coming soon- this strawberry acai refresher base recipe and coconut milk), Purple Rain Drink or these 36 Mason Jar Lemonade Recipes and Drinks

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A jar of Strawberry Acai Refresher.

💕 Why You’ll Love this Strawberry Acai Refresher

  • Ready in a jiff
  • A super fun refreshing drink
  • Energizing
  • The perfect balance of tartness and sweetness
  • Cheaper than buying at Starbucks (one of my favorite reasons for making homemade versions of Starbucks drinks)
  • Faster than waiting in the at the Local Starbucks drive-thru but just as tasty as the real thing
  • Easy to double or triple this recipe and serve it in a large pitcher to friends and family

This Starbucks copycat Acai Refresher can be customized to your personal taste preferences. Feel free to add in fresh or frozen fruit, mint leaves, or be daring and add a splash of wine!

Looking down on a jar of a pink strawberry drink.

🍓 Strawberry Acai Refresher Ingredients

You’ll need just a few fresh simple ingredients to make your own strawberry acai refresher, while the balance can be kept on hand for months so they are ready when the craving hits. Get more information on all of these ingredients in the recipe card below.

  • strawberries– fresh strawberries are preferred over frozen ones.
  • acai powder– we used Slo Food Group 100% pure acai powder but you can use whatever brand you can find
  • sugar– white granulated sugar
  • green coffee bean extract– this is optional and is what gives this drink caffeine. If you want a decaf version, leave this out.
  • white grape juice- in your juice aisle, make sure to grab 100% juice, preferably not cocktail
  • water
  • passionfruit juice– this can typically be found in your juice aisle at the grocery store
  • Ice
Ingredients needed to make strawberry acai refresher.

🥤 Tools Needed for the Best Strawberry Acai Refresher Recipe

Measuring cups and spoons

Mason jars for storing or serving

BHL JARS Regular Mouth Mason Jars 16 oz Bundle with Non Slip Jar Opener brand Set of 6-16 Ounce Size Mason Jars with Regular Mouth - Canning Glass Jars with Lids, Heritage Collection
  • 6 PACK – This Mason Jar bundle comes with (6) 16 oz Regular Mouth jars. The jar's sides end with “12 oz” and the rest of the space between the end of the marking scale and the lid amounts to 4 oz , thus this means that altogether the capacity of the jar is 16 OZ.

Mixing spoons or Whisk

COOK WITH COLOR Silicone Whisks for Cooking, Stainless Steel Wire Whisk Set of Two - 10” and 12”, Heat Resistant Kitchen Whisks, Balloon Whisk for Nonstick Cookware - Rose Gold and Mint Green
  • SET INCLUDES– One 10" small whisk and one 12” large whisk for beating, stirring and mixing. A great addition to your kitchen that is just what you need to get the job done!

📝 How to Make The Strawberry Acai Refresher

Get everything ready on the counter before you start mixing your Starbucks Refreshers.

  1. Using a mortar and pestle or a spoon and a bowl, mash 4 strawberries until they give juice. Add in sugar and acai powder and stir. If using green coffee bean powder, stir that in now too.
  2. Add white grape juice, passionfruit juice, and water to a cocktail shaker. Add the strawberry mixture from the bowl to the shaker and shake well.
  3. Add glass into your mason jar and pour drink mixture in. Garnish with sliced strawberries and a strawberry on the rim if desired.
  4. Serve and enjoy.
Strawberries being mashed in a mixing bowl.

☑️ All About the Starbucks Refresher Line

In 2012, Starbucks added the refreshers beverages to their beverage lineup. The refreshers were positioned as low-calorie energy drinks.

As we would expect, the refresher’s popularity increased with the rising temperatures as they are a great way to quench your thirst on those hot summer days and nights.

Today the refreshers line offers many different options. My personal fave is the original Starbucks Strawberry Acai refresher, of course. Acai is a great antioxidant really takes this drink up a notch and it’s quite the popular refresher flavor. I am sure you will agree.

A bag of Acai Powder.

🔥 Variations of the Strawberry Refresher

This is your first time making this drink as it just sticking to the recipe first and the next time you go to make the drink then you can change it up.

Change up the freeze dried fruit – use a different freeze dried fruit powder like raspberry or grape. Or you can add some fresh strawberries.

Substitute for a different fruit juice -try purple grape juice, apple juice or lemonade instead of white grape juice

Instead of flat water – pour in sparkling water instead of flat, regular water.

Change up the fruit puree – use mango, raspberry, pineapple or your favorite fruit

Pour into popsicle molds – pour the drink into popsicle molds for an absolutely delicious and refreshing frozen treat

A strawberry on the rim of a Starbucks copycat Acai refresher.

👉 Copycat Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher Tips and Tricks

  • Chill Mason jars or serving cups before using so the refresher is nice and cold and will stay cold longer.
  • For best results, pre-chill the water and grape juice so the drink is cold and ready to serve.
  • Add crushed ice to make it nice and thick.
  • Make a batch and pour into ice cube trays and then use ice cubes for other drinks.
  • Use the refresher as a base for a morning smoothie.
  • Add a splash or vodka for a refreshing alcoholic beverage.
  • I don’t recommend adding a simple syrup as it will become an even sweeter drink.

🍴FAQ

What is in a strawberry acai refresher?

The Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher has ice, Strawberry Acai Base [Water, Sugar, White Grape Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Natural Green Coffee Flavor, Fruit And Vegetable Juice, Rebaudioside a (sweetener) a], Freeze-dried Strawberries.

Does the Strawberry Acai Refresher have caffeine?

Yes, the Strawberry Acai Refresher contains caffeine due to the instant green tea coffee powder. Green tea contains caffeine though not as much as coffee.

Green tea is thought to provide a more stable and sustained level of energy than coffee. If you’re looking for a caffeine-free drink, these refresher drinks are not for you.

Looking down on a Strawberry Acai Refresher on a striped napkin.

🍹 How to Store the Strawberry Acai Refresher

The Strawberry Acai Refresher drink will keep for a few days in the fridge. Alternatively, you can make a big batch of this fantastic. drink and freeze it for several months.

🤤 Other Starbucks Copycat Drinks and Recipes

  • Apple Crisp Syrup -This caramel and apple spice flavored Apple Crisp Syrup Recipe does NOT disappoint. It is a great Apple Brown Sugar Syrup to use year round on ice cream, cake or baked fruit.
  • Iced Peppermint Mocha Loaded with that sweet minty flavor that we all love and crave with the boost of added caffeine!
  • Hot Chocolate Latte -This creamy, rich chocolate-y, Hot Chocolate Latte is a delicious cup of your favorite hot chocolate but caffeinated and super-charged.

Watch for a few more Starbucks copycat recipes I have in the works; a Java Frappuccino, a S’mores Frappuccino, and a Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino. You don’t want to miss these or various kinds of other delicious drinks! Come back and let us know your thoughts on this popular Starbucks refresher beverage in the comments below!

Strawberry Acai Refresher in a Mason JAr.

Strawberry Acai Refresher

Mason Jar Recipe
This Strawberry Acai Refresher copycat recipe is simple, cheaper than driving to Starbucks and waiting in line, and is absolutely delicious!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 serving

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 6 strawberries
  • ¼ teaspoon acai powder
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon green coffee bean extract optional for caffeine
  • cup white grape juice
  • ½ cup water
  • cup passionfruit juice
  • Ice

Instructions
 

  • Using a mortar and pestel or a spoon and a bowl, mash 4 strawberries until they give juice. Add in sugar and acai powder and stir. If using green coffee bean powder, stir that in now too.
  • Add white grape juice, passionfruit juice, and water to a cocktail shaker. Add the strawberry mixture from the bowl to the shaker and shake well.
  • Add glass into your mason jar and pour drink mixture in. Garnish with sliced strawberries and a strawberry on the rim if desired.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Tips and Tricks

  • Chill Mason jars or serving cups before using so the refresher is nice and cold and will stay cold longer.
  • For best results, pre-chill the water and grape juice so the drink is cold and ready to serve.
  • Add crushed ice to make it nice and thick.
  • Make a batch and pour into ice cube trays and then use ice cubes for other drinks.
  • Use the refresher as a base for a morning smoothie.
  • Add a splash or vodka for a refreshing alcoholic beverage.
  • I don’t recommend adding a simple syrup as it will become an even sweeter drink.
Keyword Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher
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