How to Make a Strawberry Acai Refresher (Easy Starbucks Copycat Recipe)

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Learn how to make Strawberry Acai Refresher at home! This easy Starbucks copycat recipe uses simple ingredients for a refreshing, budget-friendly drink.

If you’re a fan of Starbucks, you’ve probably tried their popular refresher flavor: the Strawberry Acai Refresher. It’s one of the most popular drinks on the menu for good reason, with sweet strawberry flavors, vibrant colors and a light, fruity taste that feels like summer in a cup.

But did you know you can learn how to make a Strawberry Acai Refresher at home with just a few simple ingredients?

This copycat Strawberry Acai Refresher recipe is the perfect homemade version of your favorite drink, made with real fruit and easy swaps you can find at your local grocery store or online. It’s an easy recipe that comes together in minutes, tastes just like the real thing, and costs a fraction of what you’d pay at your local Starbucks.

Whether you want a caffeine-free drink for the kids, a lighter homemade lemonade version, or the creamy pink drink made with coconut milk, I’ll walk you through the easy steps in this Starbucks copycat recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Strawberry Acai Refresher Recipe

• Beginner-friendly: Just a few simple steps with no special equipment required.
• Budget-friendly: Skip the additional cost of daily Starbucks drinks.
• Customizable: Adjust sweetness with simple syrup, honey, or monk fruit.
• Versatile: Make it a strawberry acai lemonade refresher or creamy pink drink with coconut milk.
• Perfect for summer: Refreshing, hydrating, and bursting with sweet strawberry flavors—the best part of a hot summer day.

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Ingredients You’ll Need for a Homemade Strawberry Acai Refresher

Here’s the base recipe for a homemade strawberry acai refresher. Measurements are included in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

• Cold water – The liquid base of the drink
• Acai powder (or acai berry powder) – The main ingredient for that signature fruity flavor. You can also use acai berries blended with water and strained through a fine mesh sieve.
• Green coffee bean powder (or green coffee extract powder) – This is what gives the refresher its subtle boost without the jitters. For a caffeine-free drink, you can skip this.
• Strawberry powder – Intensifies the strawberry flavor. You can also use blended fresh strawberries strained through a fine mesh strainer for a more natural flavor.
• Simple syrup – Sweetens the drink. Swap with monk fruit for a healthier option or make your own by dissolving sugar in a cup water over the stove.
• Lemon juice – Adds brightness and balances sweetness.
• Citric acid – Optional, but helps replicate the tang from the strawberry acai refresher base Starbucks uses.
• Freeze-dried strawberries or real strawberries – For garnish and flavor.
• White grape juice concentrate or passion fruit juice – Adds natural flavors and vibrant colors to the strawberry refresher.

Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make a Strawberry Acai Refresher

This recipe nails the taste preferences of the original. The combination of acai berry powder, strawberry powder, and green coffee bean extract creates the natural green coffee flavor and tang you expect from the Starbucks copycat recipe. Add in a little sweetness from simple syrup and you’ve got the delicious drink that’s one of the most popular Starbucks drinks of all time.

Step 1: Make the Base

In a large mason jar or small bowl, combine acai powder, strawberry powder, and green coffee bean powder (or green coffee extract powder). Add cup water and whisk until fully dissolved.

Step 2: Sweeten and Flavor

Stir in simple syrup, lemon juice, citric acid, and white grape juice concentrate. Mix well. This is your strawberry acai base. Store extra base in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Step 3: Assemble the Refresher

Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour in ½ cup of the strawberry acai refresher base and top with ½ cup cold water. Stir gently.

Step 4: Add Garnishes

Drop in a handful of freeze-dried strawberries or sliced fresh fruit for the classic look you see in Starbucks refreshers. Serve in a large pitcher for gatherings or a tall glass just for you.

Tips for the Best Results

• Always strain blended fruit through a fine mesh sieve or fine mesh strainer for a smooth drink with no pulp.
• Use real strawberries or fresh fruit for a more natural flavor, or stick with powders for convenience.
• Keep the strawberry acai refresher base chilled in an airtight container—it’s the best way to prep ahead for holiday parties, BBQs, or whenever you crave a refreshing drink.
• Experiment with different ways of sweetening: monk fruit, honey, or even strawberry syrup.

Variations on the Homemade Strawberry Acai Refresher

• Pink Drink: Replace the water with chilled coconut milk for a creamy, Instagram-worthy version. This is one of the most popular Starbucks copycat drinks on TikTok – make it at home and you’ll see why!
• Strawberry Acai Lemonade Refresher: Swap water for homemade lemonade for a tangier, sweeter drink that’s super refreshing on a hot day.
• Caffeine-Free Drink: Leave out the green coffee beans or green coffee powder for a kid-friendly refresher.
• Different Flavors: Add passion fruit puree, mix in mango for a mango dragon fruit refresher recipe, or swirl in vegetable juice for more natural flavors.
• Want a healthier option? Use monk fruit or skip the syrup.
• Need a boost? Add an extra pinch of green coffee extract powder.
• Prefer creamy? Stir in sweet cream or coconut milk for a Starbucks pink drink.

The best part is how easy it is—just a few minutes and you’re sipping your homemade strawberry acai refresher on a hot summer day!

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Final Thoughts on this Easy Copycat Strawberry Acai Refresher

Learning how to make Strawberry Acai Refresher at home is a game-changer. With a few simple ingredients and some easy steps, you can enjoy your favorite drink anytime—without leaving the house.

It’s budget-friendly, customizable, and one of those easy drink recipes that you’ll make again and again. Whether you prefer the classic refresher, the tangy lemonade version, or the creamy pink drink, this copycat Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher recipe is guaranteed to become one of your favorite recipes for cold drinks on a hot summer day.

So grab a large mason jar, whip up the strawberry acai refresher base, and pour yourself a delicious recipe that tastes just like the real thing.

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