Healthy Starbucks Drinks That Are Also Delicious
Starbucks is different from other coffee shops across the US, and the world, in that it is highly accessible. With over 32,000 locations around the world as of the first quarter of 2021, per Knoema, you truly find a Starbucks shop just about anywhere. Because it is a massive chain restaurant, you can trust that the products will be the same across the country. This allows you to get your caffeine fix no matter where you are without sacrificing on taste. You know that whatever you get will be high quality and enjoyable. Whether you are in the airport waiting for a flight, picking up your kids from school, on your way to work, or driving across the country, you can count on Starbucks to have a drink for you.
We aren't ashamed to admit it: We love trying all of the new Starbucks drinks. Have you discovered the Starbucks secret menu? Yes, that's a thing. Alright, alright, you can call us basic. We know! But honestly, we love their innovation. Starbucks is constantly trying to reinvent the wheel and provide unique coffee drinks for us all to love. While many of these drinks are ridiculously high in sugar and fat, not all of them will gobble up your total calories for the day. It takes some research, but that's what we are here for. We've reviewed their menu to fill you in on the healthy Starbucks drinks that are actually delicious.
Iced Peach Green Tea
There is truly nothing better than an Iced Peach Green Tea on a hot summer afternoon. We've all been there. It's boiling outside, and you need to power through the rest of your workday with a pep in your step. The best solution for this situation is the Starbucks Iced Peach Green Tea.
This drink has a touch of caffeine, only 25 milligrams, meaning that it will give you a nice little energy boost without making you bounce off the walls. Also, the caffeine is so light that it likely won't interfere with your sleep if you are enjoying it in the afternoon. With only 60 calories and 12 grams of sugar in the grande size option, per Starbucks, this one is flavorful without breaking the caloric bank. Not only that, it is also packed full of antioxidants from green tea, which have been shown to improve brain function, according to Healthline.
Iced Matcha Tea Lemonade
Here's the thing: We love lemonade, but often, we find that there is too much sugar in a glass of lemonade by itself to enjoy on a healthy diet. This Iced Matcha Tea Lemonade is the perfect solution. This drink has a touch of caffeine from the matcha tea, but the bitter taste is swallowed up by the lemonade. And, the lemonade adds enough sweetness to the drink that you won't need to add additional sugar.
According to Starbucks, a grande size of this beverage has 120 calories, 27 grams of sugar, and 80 milligrams of caffeine. While calorie counting isn't everything when it comes to following a healthy diet, studies show that matcha tea may be beneficial for heart health and promote weight loss, per VeryWell Fit. And Healthline notes that matcha tea may even help to protect your liver and reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Iced Passion Tango Tea
The Starbucks Iced Passion Tango Tea is one of our ultimate favorites. This drink may be an unsweetened herbal tea, but that doesn't mean it's lacking in flavor. This tea is made from hibiscus flowers, which has been shown to have some pretty significant health benefits, including reducing inflammation and lowering blood pressure, according to VeryWell Fit.
According to the Starbucks, a grande iced passion tango tea has zero calories and zero grams of sugar. What's not to love? Since this is an herbal tea, this drink has no caffeine. This is a great option for a sweet treat later in the day when you are nervous caffeine may interact with your sleep, or even a great option for those trying to cut back on their caffeine intake. However, if you are pregnant, don't start drinking gallons of this stuff before talking to your doctor. Per Healthline, hibiscus tea was found to cause delayed puberty and miscarriage in pregnant rats, which is why pregnant humans are also advised to avoid it.
Cafe Misto
The Cafe Misto is our drink of choice for most mornings. It is a beverage containing a one-to-one ratio of drip coffee and milk, making it the perfect blend of flavors. It is unsweetened, which makes it the most classic of choices. It's not a super unique or festive drink, but it sure is tasty. Not to mention it gets the job done of supplying caffeine to your body; an essential feat for most mornings. You can add more sweetener to this drink if you think that a Starbucks drink isn't complete without an extra pump of classic syrup or a packet of your favorite sugar.
With 110 calories, 10 grams of sugar, and 150 milligrams of caffeine in a grande, per Starbucks, this option certainly gives a regular coffee a run for its money. After all, the average cup of joe has just 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine, via Medical News Today.
Honey Almond Milk Flat White
The Starbucks Honey Almond Milk Flat White, whether hot or iced, provides a delicious hint of sweetness without going overboard with your sugar intake. This drink contains blonde roast espresso, almond milk, and a touch of honey. The Mayo Clinic notes that honey has many impressive health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and antidepressant and anti-anxiety benefits.
According to Starbucks, a grande size of the Honey Almond Milk Flat White contains 120 calories, 18 grams of sugar, and 150 milligrams of caffeine. The honey provides a delightful bit of sweetness here, without being cloyingly sweet. We love this drink for when we want something a little extra, without having to order the over the top Frappuccino or other drinks that are going to burst the calorie count for the day. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults should limit their intake of added sugars to less than 200 calories, or 12 teaspoons.
Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte
With a name like that, you are likely doubting its healthiness. We get it! This drink is definitely one of the more indulgent drinks on our list, but it is still surprisingly healthy based on the nutrition facts. A grande Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte, according to the Starbucks, comes to 180 calories, 27 grams of sugar, and 170 milligrams of caffeine.
This drink contains blonde espresso, almond milk, sugar cookie flavored syrup (Yep, That glorious syrup exists), and red and green sprinkles. Alright, alright, so it doesn't sound too healthy, but hear us out. The grande size contains 27 grams of sugar, which is much, much lower than some of the other Starbucks drinks. For example, a Toasted White Hot Chocolate has over double that amount, with 57 grams of sugar. And, when it comes to calories, it also has over double with 430.
Espresso Macchiato
The 1.6-ounce Starbucks Espresso Macchiato contains two shots of espresso topped with a dollop of foamed milk. This frothy concoction contains 15 calories, zero sugar, and 150 milligrams of caffeine, according to Starbucks. While completely unsweetened, because of the velvety espresso and the foamed milk, this simple drink is delicious.
Per Roasty Coffee, the term macchiato means "stained" in Italian. This term, at least as it pertains to this drink, refers to the fact that the espresso is stained with a touch of milk. You may be wondering what the difference is between an espresso macchiato and a cappuccino. Roasty Coffee explains that an espresso macchiato contains a bit of milk, where a cappuccino usually will contain a more balanced proportion between milk and espresso.
If you prefer your drinks unsweetened, this one may be for you. The caffeine content in the espresso macchiato is slightly more than the average cup of coffee, making it a delicious go-to morning cuppa.
Iced Coffee Breve
The Starbucks Iced Coffee with milk is a classic for a reason. Coffee, sugar, and milk make the perfect trio. We love to order this one during summer mornings. A grande sized Starbucks Iced Coffee with Milk contains 110 calories, 23 grams of sugar, and 125 milligrams of caffeine, per Starbucks. It comes sweetened with classic syrup, which is why it totals 23 grams of sugar. Of course, you could always order this one without sweetener, if you are cutting back on sugar intake. Both are delicious, we promise!
According to Insider, in Starbucks lingo, breve refers to half and half instead of milk. Our go-to is ordering this iced coffee drink with half and half instead of milk, making it an iced coffee breve. Keep in mind, when substituting half and half for the milk in this drink, you will add both fat grams and calories.
Irish Cream Cold Brew
Starbucks offers many types of cold brew flavors. Their Irish Cream Cold Brew is prepared by swirling in Irish cream syrup to a glass of cold brew coffee as well as topping it with vanilla sweet cream cold foam. Think of all the flavors of sweet Irish cream, like whiskey, hazelnut, and almonds, without any of the alcohol, making it safe for work.
Per Starbucks, this drink has 200 calories, 185 milligrams of caffeine, and 24 grams of sugar in a grande. Out of the Starbucks cold brew varieties, this one is higher in calorie count, but contains the best balance of flavors in our opinion. We love that it is decadent tasting without being outrageously high in calories, as other beverages can be. Again, this one is on the more indulgent side, so be mindful of your added sugar intake for the rest of the day, if you are watching your diet.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Another flavor of cold brew that Starbucks offers is the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew. This drink is exactly the same as the Irish Cream Cold Brew, containing the topping of vanilla sweet cream cold foam, but instead of the Irish Cream syrup stirred into the cold brew, this one substitutes vanilla syrup.
It's still a sweeter drink but without the added sugar and calories found in the Irish cream syrup. According to Starbucks, this drink, in grande size, contains 110 calories, 185 milligrams caffeine, and 14 grams of sugar, making it more reasonable in terms of added sugar. We don't feel any guilt grabbing this one on a typical day. Just don't forget that the Starbucks cold brew is rather strong in terms of caffeine, so don't order this one without being prepared for an energy jolt — or if it's late and you're looking to get to sleep quickly.
Cold Brew with Milk
Now, if you want a cold brew with milk that is unsweetened and unflavored, the Cold Brew with Milk should be your order. This one contains 35 calories, 3 grams of sugar, a whopping 205 milligrams of caffeine in a grande. This one has the best calories to caffeine ratio without being tasteless. Even though it is unsweetened, it tastes rich due to the strong cold brew and the creamy milk.
You may be wondering what the difference between an iced coffee with milk and a cold brew with milk is. According to Starbucks, iced coffee is brewed coffee that has been cooled, where cold brew is ground coffee that has been steeped in cold water until brewed. These two methods of preparation result in vastly different products. The cold brew is naturally sweet and full bodied, where the iced coffee is medium bodied with notes of caramel and cola.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew
Now, if you still can't get enough cold brew, you've got to try the Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew varieties. The Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew makes our list for being a healthy option. A grande of this drink contains only 70 calories, 4 grams of sugar, and a whopping 265 milligrams caffeine, per Starbucks. If you want a massive caffeine hit for limited calories and minimal grams of sugar, this is the drink for you. Interestingly, the Nitro cold brew is served from the tap, helping to create an ultra-velvety texture. Then it is topped with a float of vanilla sweet cream cold foam.
You may be thinking, wait this one doesn't have the syrup, does it still taste good? Yes, we promise you that you won't even miss the syrup here. Because of the textural complexities from the Nitro cold brew, you will not need the added sugar.
Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Starbucks recently released their shaken espresso varieties. These drinks, while similar to lattes, are made by shaking the espresso with flavoring, then topping it off with milk. In this case, the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is made by shaking the espresso with brown sugar and cinnamon. Then the espresso is topped with oatmilk and ice for a delicious cold coffee drink.
Per Starbucks, with 120 calories, 13 grams of sugar, and 255 milligrams of caffeine, in a grande size, this one packs a killer caffeine punch without a huge amount of sugar. This sugar to calorie ratio is remarkable, especially considering how sweet the iced brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso tastes. To be honest, this one tastes much sweeter than the uber-sweet, but beloved winter 2022 menu item, the Starbucks Pistachio Latte. That one comes in with a shocking 40 grams of sugar (via Starbucks).
Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso
Along the same lines, the Starbucks Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso is made by shaking the blonde roast espresso with flavorings before being topped with milk and ice. This time the espresso is shaken with cocoa and malt powder and then topped with almond milk instead of oatmilk.
This iced drink, per Starbucks, contains 110 calories, 16 grams of sugar, and 255 milligrams of caffeine in grande size. We think if you are looking for a mocha, this is the best bang for your caloric buck. Most Starbucks mochas are considerably higher in calories, grams of sugar, and grams of fat. For example, the Iced Caffe Mocha contains 350 calories, 17 grams of fat, and 30 grams of sugar. So, if you're looking for that mocha flavor but are concerned about your diet, the Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso is a healthy alternative.
Iced Shaken Espresso
If you aren't interested in chocolate or brown sugar flavoring, but want to try their shaken espressos, the Starbucks Iced Shaken Espresso is a good alternative for you. While this one has about the same amount of grams of sugar as the chocolate and brown sugar versions, this drink is sweetened with the Starbucks classic syrup, providing a flavor-free way to enjoy the shaken espresso beverage.
A grande size of this drink contains 100 calories, 14 grams of sugar, and 225 milligrams of caffeine, per Starbucks. It's made by shaking espresso, this time without flavorings, then topping it with classic sugar syrup, dairy milk, and ice. Because this one lacks additional flavors, we find that it makes a great daily coffee drink. It's sweetened, but without the flavors of a dessert. We get it! Sometimes you don't want the added flavors, but instead want a sweet coffee drink.
Black Coffee
We'd be remiss if we didn't mention a simple black coffee on this list. Alright so this one isn't necessarily flashy or unique, but it's still a dang good cup of joe. The grande size of Starbucks' Veranda roast offers a whopping 360 milligrams of caffeine for only 5 calories, according to Starbucks. If you are in need of a serious jolt, this a cup of black coffee is the quickest way to get an energy boost. Starbucks has many varieties of coffee beans, always rotating out their samples. We looked at the Veranda because it is a medium light roast and is a more typical cup.
Like all black coffee, it is a blank canvas, meaning you can add sweeteners and milks of your choosing. However, keep in mind that the calories and grams of sugar increase with each addition. If you are wanting to keep this one low calories and remotely healthy, take it easy on the add-ins.