Healthy Options at Starbucks, Part 2: Drinks
May 03, 2010, Updated Dec 23, 2016
Last week’s entry was about Starbucks’ healthier food options, and here’s the follow up with the beverages.ย Between the various sizes, substitution options, and myriad of sweeteners, there are literally thousands of possible combinations.ย I’ve tried to pick the best representations in each category.
If you’re going to add that splash of milk, go with the Nonfat (2 ounces adds 22 calories), or maybe the Soymilk (25 cal) orย 2% Milk (30 cal).ย Avoid adding Whole Milk (37 cal) or Half & Half (78 cal) — It might not seem like a lot, but if you cut out 78 calories a day, that can have a big cumulative effect.
All nutrition info below is based on the “Grande” 16 ounce size.ย Get a 12 ounce “Tall” instead and you can reduce everything by 25%.ย You may also want to check out their list of “Delicious Drinks Under 200 Calories” (Note:ย Everything on that list is Tall, not Grande).
Okay, one final thought before we get to it:ย If it comes with whipped cream, it’s not coffee — it’s dessert.
Brewed Black Coffee or Tea – Best Choice Overall
The basic cup of Starbucks joe has 5 calories (and a whopping 330mg of caffeine).
Hot Tea — without milk, sugar, or honey — is zero (yup, zero) calories.
Hot Espresso Beverages – Better Choices
Regular Espresso (1 ounce shot) or Espresso Macchiato (adds steamed nonfat milk foam)
5 calories, 75mg caffeine
Cappuccino with Nonfat Milk
80 cal, no fat, 90mg sodium, 10g sugar, 8g protein, 150mg caffeine
Caffรจ Latte with Nonfat Milk
130 calories, no fat, 150mg sodium, 18g sugar, 13g protein, 150mg caffeine
Hot Espresso Beverages – Worst Choices
The info below is with nonfat milk and no whipped cream.ย Getting them with 2% milk and whipped cream adds 12g of fat and 110 calories.
Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
430 cal, 5g sat fat, 7g total fat, 230mg sodium, 75g sugar, 14g protein, 150mg caffeine
White Chocolate Mocha
350 cal, 4.5g sat fat, 6g total fat, 240mg sodium, 58g sugar, 15g protein, 150mg caffeine
Peppermint Mocha
280 cal, 0.5g sat fat, 3g total fat, 120mg sodium, 49g sugar, 12g protein, 175mg caffeine
Dark Cherry Mocha
270 cal, 1.5g sat fat, 2.5g total fat, 115mg sodium, 49g sugar, 12g protein, 175mg caffeine
Frappuccinoยฎ Blended Beverages – Better Choices
Coffee Frappuccinoยฎ Light Blended Beverage
130cal, 0.5g total fat, 230mg sodium, 16g sugar, 5g protein, 95mg caffeine
Cinnamon Dolce Frappuccinoยฎ Light Blended Beverage
140cal, 0.5g total fat, 230mg sodium, 21g sugar, 5g protein, 95mg caffeine
Mocha Light Frappuccinoยฎ Blended Beverage
140cal, 1g total fat, 230mg sodium, 19g sugar, 6g protein, 95mg caffeine
Frappuccinoยฎ Blended Beverages – Worst choices
Of the 21 Frappuccino varieties, fifteen are 200 calories or more.ย Theย two at the bottom of the list are:
Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccinoยฎ Blended Beverage – without whipped cream
400 cal, 4g sat fat, 8g total fat, 290mg sodium, 57g sugar, 13g protein, 25mg caffeine
White Chocolate Crรจme Frappuccinoยฎ Blended Beverage – without whipped cream
480 cal, 4g sat fat, no total fat [huh??], 410mg sodium (!), 77g sugar, 15g protein, 110mg caffeine
Add whipped cream to any of the above and tack on another 110 calories.
Vivannoโข Smoothies – Better Choices
At first glance I shunned these smoothies because they’re fairly high in sugar.ย However, it’s mostly natural sugars (from fruit), so they’re actually pretty good. The website says that each one is made with four ingredients — including a whole banana, whey protein/fiber powder, and ice.ย The fourth ingredient is either orange-mango juice, strawberry puree, or “mocha flavored sauce,” depending on which you get.
The difference between the “Better” and “Worst” choices is marginal, so don’t stress over this one.
Orange Mango with Nonfat Milk
260 cal, 0g sat fat, 1g total fat, 110mg sodium, 5g fiber, 34g sugar, 15g protein, no caffeine
Chocolate with Nonfat Milk
250 cal, 0.5g sat fat, 2g total fat, 140mg sodium, 6g fiber, 30g sugar, 18g protein, 15mg caffeine
Vivannoโข Smoothies – Worst Choice
Strawberry with 2% Milk
280 cal, 1g sat fat, 1.5g total fat, 110mg sodium, 41g sugar, 7g fiber, 15g protein, no caffeine
Hot Chocolate Beverages – Better Choice
Okay, there really isn’t a healthy choice in this category, but if you’re going to splurge, at least get the:
Hot Chocolate with Nonfat Milk — and skip the whipped-cream
240 cal, 0.5g sat fat, 2.5g total fat, 140mg sodium, 40g sugar, 14g protein, 25mg caffeine
Hot Chocolate Beverages – Worst Choices
White Hot Chocolate with 2% Milk and Whipped Cream
490 cal,ย 13g sat fat, 19g total fat, 260mg sodium, 62g sugar, 16g protein, no caffeine
White Hot Chocolate with Nonfat milk, no Whipped Cream
360 cal, 4.5g sat fat, 6g fat, 260mg sodium, 61g sugar, 16g protein, no caffeine
Hot Chocolate with 2% Milk and Whipped Cream
370 cal, 9g sat fat, 16g total fat, 150mg sodium, 40g sugar, 14g protein, 25mg caffeine
—
Menu Mondays areย myย recommendations for the most healthful options at chain restaurants. Although it may be tough to find โperfectโ options when eating out, itโs important to choose โbetterโ whenever possible, and I hope these guides will help make that easier for you.
Starbucksย Nutrition Info for All Beverages
Photo by Orangeya.
See Also: Healthy Food Options at Starbucks.
is almond milk a good choice as a healthy option?
Hi Tehara! Not all almond milks are created equal. I haven’t seen the ingredients for the one that Starbucks uses, but I’d bet it’s got extra sweeteners, thickeners, and probably “natural” flavors – but that’s just a guess, based on the ingredients of most almond milks I’ve seen. This post about beverages may be helpful: https://eatingrules.com/unprocessed-faq-beverages/
It amuses me that this article is named ‘healthy options’ yet only talks about calories. Coke zero has 0 calories and 0 sugar but you will get very sick drinking it. Basically everything sold by starbucks is rubbish and will make you ill if you regularly drink it long term. Don’t count calories, count the terrible chemicals you’re putting into your body.
However, to go along with the point of this article, prehaps black coffee or tea is the best option if you really want to be serious about health.
A frappachino is of course not going to hurt you once in a while but if you’re going to go for it, go for it; Fat-free options will also make you sick. The more they tamper with it the worse it becomes for your body.
Hi Alice,
Thanks for your comment. I actually agree with you! I wrote this post quite a few years ago — and back then, I was focusing primarily on calories. I had also just lost about 30 pounds by tracking my calories… and from a weight management/loss perspective, calorie counting is still a great tool for many people.
Since then, I’ve shifted my focus to unprocessed, real foods. Even so, I stand by my “best choices” at the top (black coffee or tea!). I also wrote a post on what type of milk to drink — and that explains my logic as to why skim milk at Starbucks would be a better choice than whole milk.
Best,
Andrew
Sorry, I replied to your first comment before reading your second. Just to reiterate — the “processing” difference between most “commercial” skim milk and whole milk (like what Starbucks serves) may not be what you think: For both types, the fat has been removed via centrifuge, and for whole milk, the fat is then added back in to the desired percentage. So their “whole milk” isn’t actually whole anymore, sadly.
Well…I used to be a barista at Starbucks and gained lots of weight when I worked there…nobody’s fault by own, though, for partaking in so many of the high sugar drinks and pastries! About 2 yrs ago, I began a weight-loss journey and have been maintaining my nearly 90-lb weight loss for nearly the last year. I drink a brewed coffee every morning, whether I brew my own at home or stop by Starbucks. No longer do I add any sugar, but I don’t usually drink a lot of milk, either. I add a little splash of cream…not much but just enough. If I decide to order a latte or cappuccino (maybe once a week), I go with 2% milk because I find it to be more satisfying than non-fat and not quite as fattening as whole milk. But, the doctor at my weight loss clinic made it very clear… Read more ยป