The Starbucks Sugar-Free Iced Latte That Surpassed Our Taste Test Expectations

When Starbucks unveiled its new line of protein drinks, many customers wondered if sugar-free options would still be available. Fortunately, the coffee chain quickly announced a lineup including a Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha and a Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte. We learned long ago that cutting sugar out of one's diet doesn't have to mean sacrificing good flavor, just as adding protein doesn't have to come at the expense of good taste. Although sugar-free drink options often get a bad rap, we found that Starbucks' Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Iced Latte far surpassed our expectations.

When Tasting Table tried and ranked every Starbucks iced latte we never expected the Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Iced Latte to end up so high up the list, but it landed at number four. Right off the bat, we found that the vanilla flavoring was more discernable in this drink than in the regular Vanilla Protein Latte. The whey protein used to make this latte protein-centered definitely dilutes it, but the drink still has a stronger kick of vanilla from the sugar-free syrup regardless. This latte is by no means sickeningly sweet, but it's still more noticeable both on the tongue and in the aftertaste, which isn't that surprising since sucralose is the sweetener you'll find in Starbucks' sugar-free syrups. In terms of a nice balance between milky whey protein and vanilla, this sugar-free option takes the cake.

Coming in at 29 grams of protein, 200 calories, and 9 grams of sugar for an iced grande, customers not only gush about how this latte helps them fulfil their protein goals, but also that the taste of the whey is subtle enough to be nearly hidden, much like these ingredients with way more protein than you realize. "I thought it was going to taste very protein-y or healthy, and it just tastes like a regular iced latte [...] It's super good," one TikToker shared, mirroring our sentiment. Another TikTok review had an impressed customer comparing the flavor to vanilla pudding cups, which she rounded out by enthusing that the drink tasted "so bomb." There seems to be a lot of expectation riding on this particular iced latte, as several customers pointed out that the grande is around $7-$9 after tax. 

What reportedly makes the comparatively pricey drink worth it is that the Starbucks' Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte tastes more complex than simply dumping a protein shake into a cup of iced coffee would. As one Instagram user put it, "[It] definitely has a creamy, vanilla, subtle kind of protein flavor, not as much as if you poured your vanilla protein shake in [...] [It's] more subtle than that." They added that the latte is "very milky [and] very smooth." Remarking on its subtle but still effective sweetness, another TikTok user concluded, "If you're like 'Hey, I want to try to get some protein in, but I don't want to give up a sugary drink,' you're fine to do [the Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Iced Latte]."