Starbucks is the world’s largest coffee chain and the go-to spot for many Americans when it comes to caffeine. But how much caffeine is actually in your favorite Starbucks drinks?
We’ve put together a handy guide to help you figure out exactly how much of a rush you’ll get from each and every one of your favorite Starbucks beverages, so you can make sure to get your fix without going overboard.
Overview of Starbucks Caffeine Content
The first thing you’ll need to know about Starbucks’ caffeine content is that it varies depending on what type of drink you’re ordering.
Most espresso drinks contain about 75 milligrams of caffeine per ounce, while brewed coffee and some iced coffee drinks contain 65 milligrams per ounce.
However, brewed tea has just 45 milligrams per ounce, while hot chocolate has just 35 milligrams per ounce.
Starbucks cold brew coffee has just 15 milligrams per ounce (though we’d argue that this is still plenty).
Coffeehouse classics like lattes and mochas fall somewhere in between at around 55-65 milligrams per ounce.
Iced coffee drinks contain less caffeine amounts than hot Starbucks coffee drinks because iced coffee has less room for air (which reduces oxygen exposure in iced coffee) than when brewing hot coffee.
What Type of Starbucks Drinks Have the Most Caffeine?
The following chart shows the caffeine content in milligrams (mg) for popular Starbucks drinks:
| Beverage | Short (8 fl oz)/236ml) | Tall (12 fl oz)/254ml) | Grande (16 fl oz)/473ml) | Venti (20 fl oz)/591ml) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Chocolate | 15 mg | 20 mg | 25 mg | 30 mg |
| Hot Cappuccino or Iced Cappuccino | 75 mg | 75 mg | 150 mg | 150 mg |
| Hot Mocha or Iced Mocha | 90 mg | 95 mg | 150 mg | 185 mg |
| Hot Latte or Iced Latte | 75 mg | 75 mg | 150 mg | 225 mg |
| Iced Caramel Macchiato or Hot Caramel Macchiato | 75 mg | 75 mg | 150 mg | 225 mg |
| Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte | 75 mg | 75 mg | 150 mg | 150 mg |
| Iced Caffè Americano or Hot Caffè Americano | 75 mg | 150 mg | 225 mg | 300 mg |
| Frappuccino | 95 mg | 175 mg | 185 mg | |
| Matcha Latte (Hot or Iced) | 30 mg | 55 mg | 80 mg | 110 mg |
| Iced Chai Tea Latte or Hot Chai Tea Latte | 46 mg | 75 mg | 95 mg | 145 mg |
| Iced Teas | 20 mg | 25 mg | 40 mg | |
| Starbucks Refresher | 30-45 mg | 45-55 mg | 70-85 mg | |
| Iced Shaken Espresso | 150 mg | 225 mg | 300 mg | |
| Cold Brew | 155 mg | 205 mg | 310 mg | |
| Nitro Cold Brew | 215 mg | 280 mg | ||
| Starbucks Iced Coffee | 120 mg | 165 mg | 235 mg | 285 mg |
| Pica Place Coffee | 155 mg | 235 mg | 310 mg | 410 mg |
| Verdana Blend Coffee | 270 mg | 360 mg | 475 mg | |
| Flat White | 130 mg | 130 mg | 195 mg | 195 mg |
| Iced Coffee Flat White | 90 mg | 130 mg | 175 mg | |
| Starbucks Dark Roast Coffee | 130 mg | 195 mg | 260 mg | 340 mg |
| Starbucks Blonde Roast (Starbucks Brewed Coffee) | 180 mg | 270 mg | 360 mg | 475 mg |
| Iced Clover Reserve (Clover Brewed Coffee) | 280 mg | 380 mg | 470 mg | |
| Decaf Coffee | 15 mg | 20 mg | 25 mg | 30 mg |
As you can see, there’s a lot of variation among these beverages. Espresso shot drinks are the highest level in Starbucks caffeine, followed by coffee and tea.
Please bear in mind that the above information is USA-based.
Due to variations in the brewing, roasting, and extraction process, the caffeine content in Starbucks drinks may vary by region.
You can use this chart as a starting point when creating your own custom Starbucks latte or mocha drink—just keep in mind that individual factors like size, blend, brew and preparation may affect the final amount of caffeine in each cup.
See how much caffeine is in Starbucks instant coffee here
How to Customize Your Starbucks Drinks to Have the Right Amount of Caffeine
1. Understand the Content of Caffeine in Starbucks Drinks
Every Starbucks beverage has a different amount of caffeine, so it’s important to know which drinks contain more or less coffee caffeine.
The best way to find out how much caffeine is in a Starbucks coffee is to ask the barista who made it or to look up the specific drink on the internet.
Starbucks’ website is chock-full of informative articles and ingredient lists for their beverages, so you won’t have any trouble figuring it out.
2. Choose the Right Size Cup
Choosing a larger cup size doesn’t necessarily mean more caffeine content.
You can customize your Starbucks drinks to have the right amount of caffeine by choosing the right size for the drink you’re ordering.
A tall-sized brewed coffee, for instance, has 260mg of caffeine, while a Venti-sized brewed coffee has 415mg.
3. Make Modifications
You can customize your Starbucks drinks by making modifications to the drink. For instance, adding an extra shot of espresso to your latte will give you an extra jolt of caffeine.
4. Ask for Decaf Starbucks
If you want to reduce the amount of caffeine in your Starbucks drinks, ask for decaf. This will reduce the amount of caffeine in your drink to just a fraction of what it would normally be.
5. Choose an Alternative Starbucks Drink
If you want to reduce the amount of caffeine in your Starbucks drinks, you can choose alternative drinks.
Starbucks cold brew coffee, for instance, has less caffeine than traditionally brewed coffee.
Final Thoughts
The following is the caffeine content from Starbucks.
Most people look for their favorite drink in order to get their caffeine fix, but they may not know how much they’re really consuming.
To conclude, it’s important to know how much caffeine you’re ingesting, especially if you’re pregnant or experiencing any health issues that could be exacerbated by caffeine consumption.
FAQs
How Much Caffeine Should I Consume in a Day?
The average cup of drip coffee has about 200 milligrams of caffeine, while an espresso shot averages around 65 milligrams per serving. That means that if you order two shots with your coffee, you’ve already met the daily recommended amount for adults (400 mg).
How Much Caffeine is in Starbucks Coffees?
The amount of caffeine in Starbucks drinks varies by coffee and related drink type. The most caffeinated coffee at Starbucks is their Clover Brewed Gold Coast Blend, which has 380 mg of caffeine.
How Do I Calculate How Much Caffeine I’m Consuming?
The best way to calculate how much caffeine you consume is to look up the amount of caffeine in each product, then add up the total amount of caffeine in each beverage you are consuming to get an estimate of how much caffeine you are consuming.
