The Complete Guide to Starbucks Caffeine
After years of waiting, Starbucks have finally begun to list caffeine amounts along with their regular nutrition information.
The info is listed on some of the newer leaflets and also buried in the Starbucks site. We have compiled a more complete table, along with info from other independent laboratory tests.
The caffeine database here at Energy Fiend contains a few of the drinks – but this table is far more comprehensive. How does Starbucks compare with Caribou Coffee or Tim Hortons?
| Beverage | Caffeine (mg) | |||
| Short (8 oz) |
Tall (12 oz) |
Grande (16 oz) |
Venti (20-24 oz) |
|
| Brewed Coffee* |
180
|
260
|
330
|
415
|
| Brewed Decaf Coffee** |
15
|
20
|
25
|
30
|
| Caffè Americano |
75
|
150
|
225
|
300
|
| Caffè Latte (also Cinnamon Dolce Latte) |
75
|
75
|
150
|
150
|
| Caffè Mocha (also flavored Mocha’s) |
90
|
95
|
175
|
180
|
| Cappucino |
75
|
75
|
150
|
150
|
| Caramel Macchiato |
75
|
75
|
150
|
150
|
| Chocolate Milk |
-
|
20
|
25
|
40
|
| Espresso |
75 (solo)
|
150 (doppio)
|
- | - |
| Espresso Macchiato (also Espresso con Panna) |
75 (solo)
|
150 (doppio)
|
- | - |
| Frappuccino Blended Coffee (multiple flavors) | - |
85-90
|
110-115
|
155-160
|
| Frappuccino Light Blended Coffee (multiple flavors) | - |
70-75
|
95-100
|
125-140
|
| Hot Chocolate |
15
|
20
|
25
|
30
|
| Tazo Black Tea Latte |
50
|
75
|
100
|
125
|
| Tazo Chai Tea Latte |
50
|
75
|
100
|
120
|
| Tazo Green Tea Latte |
30
|
55
|
80
|
110
|
| Tazo Red Tea Latte |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| White Hot Chocolate |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Iced Caffe Americano |
-
|
150
|
225
|
300
|
| Iced Doubleshot + Energy |
-
|
150 | 225 | 375 |
| Iced Caffe Latte |
-
|
75 | 150 | 225 |
What about straight Tazo Tea?
Starbucks state that it “varies” and provide no guidelines on caffeine amounts. This is strange given they list caffeine amounts for the Tazo Latte’s (tea + milk).
What? Only a single shot?
The caffeine amounts of the espresso based drinks show that a Tall Latte (and Cappucino) has just a single shot of coffee. For a 12 oz cup size – that is one very weak coffee drink. Any conscientious coffee vendor will, by default, serve at least a double-shot in drinks over 8 ounces. Some even provide double-shots (by default) in regular takeaway cups. This is because many takeaway cups tend to have more volume than their china or crockery counterparts.
How accurate is this?
Starbucks make it clear that “Caffeine information is approximate and is based on limited analytical data.” and also that “Values can vary greatly based on the variety of the coffee and the brewing equipment used.”
This is completely true; caffeine amounts in coffee-based drinks can vary wildly.
* A recent laboratory test sampled a series of Starbucks Breakfast Blend brewed coffees. The caffeine dose varied from 299.5mg right up to a massive 564.4mg per 16oz cup! What’s astonishing is that the 6 samples were obtained from the same outlet on 6 consecutive days.
What’s up with all the caffeine in the Decaf?
Decaffeinated isn’t the same thing as caffeine-free.
** Another independent lab test of Starbucks coffee showed the following:
- Decaf Brewed Coffee – 12.0–13.4 mg/16-oz serving (Starbucks have decided to list considerably more caffeine than this – 25mg per 16 oz).
- Decaf Espresso – 3.0–15.8 mg/shot.
Sources
- McCusker R.R.; Goldberger B.A.; Cone E.J., Caffeine Content of Specialty Coffees, Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Vol. 27, October 2003, pp 520-522. (link)
- McCusker R.R.; Goldberger B.A.; Cone E.J., Caffeine Content of Decaffeinated Coffee, Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Vol. 30, October 2006, pp 611-613.
- Starbucks Nutrition calculator.
62 Comments
Starbucks – biggest ripoff in all of ‘Coffee-Land’
Tall latte = 1 shot of espresso
Grande latte = 2 shots of espresso
Venti latte = 2 shots of espresso
So we pay extra for what? Milk baby, Milk.
FK Starbucks.
going to no caffeine can be difficult, but it can be done. my recommendation is to wean youself off over a week or so. since you regularly take in so much caffeine, maybe start with a regular latte for 2 days and no sodas, then a half caff latte for 2 days w/no sodas, then a 12 oz pepsi for a day or two, then try the mini cans with only 6 oz for a few days, then off… over this period of time, i would recommend increasing your water intake and eating more fiber via vegetables. You may need to pop an advil for the first couple of days to ward off head aches, but see how you do. this worked well for me when I did it, and I’m caffeine free now (for health reasons, and I SO miss it). Also, if you like the flavor of coffee and are looking for a caffeine free substitute, try Postum or Orzo. This is only if you can’t even tolerate decaf – it’s an acquired taste, but does serve as a good psychological substitute. GOOD LUCK!
This web page states that “…a Grande Latte (and Cappucino) has just a single shot of coffee. For a 12 oz cup size – that is one very weak coffee drink.” While you’re correct in identifying the larger single-shot drink as 12 oz, it’s NOT the Grande, which is 16 oz; the 12 oz drink is Tall! [look up on your own caffeine chart]
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Hey if you want to keep giving your money to these big companies making them rich and paying for their luxurious cars, houses, and vacations then don’t try to break your addiction. If you want to better yourself, break your addiction to caffeine, sleep better, increase your sex drive, slow down the aging process[especially your skin], and increase your lifespan by reducing the workload on your body. Caffeine is not the answer to unhappiness in your life and the choices you’ve made, change is.
“In the 18th century there were coffee houses in London that were like crack houses now. They were places you would not want your child to go.”
Its not the caffiene you should be worried about in energy drinks– the corn syrup is poison. We are a country of corn syrup fed pigs.
Energy drinks are not bad. They just get a bad rap from the media. Mostly what you hear is the crash you get after because of the amount of sugar. I hate the taste of coffee. It annoys me when I have a huge monster energy drink in front of me at work and co-workers come by and say you are going to be wired…
really really glad that some1 put up the amount of caffiene in starbucks’ drinks. i havent had one since i got pregnant last august.. that stuff is like legalized crack!
…wow maybeh I should switch to Starbucks…
..And maybeh not. MONSTER/SPIKE = mah heroes!!
stop paying 5 dollars on sbux lattes or fraps buy regular coffee for a dollar! it has more caffeine. Make it at home and stop being lazy. I work for sbux and think the prices and wages the employees Make are absolutely ridiculous. im glad they are being shutdown FK sbux!!!
also switching to just caffeine isnt going to give the same effect as energy drinks cause they contain other stimulants and chemicals that energize you. seriously if you worked at sbux youd hate them too, if you love sbux and stull work there your brainwashed or have been there less than 2 years so shut up. FK sbux!!!
You folks who are screaming fk starbucks are all idiots. They make a good product and many people enjoy it. If YOU don’t like it, don’t buy it and stfu about it. I like starbucks and will keep buying my 4 dollar frappochinos because they’re delicious.
I’ve been drinking regular coffee since I was old enough to make coffee for my mom at age 7. I would still drink it once in awhile until I made the mistake of trying a starbucks double shot 5 days ago. I’ve had one every day since then. I should stop though, seeing as caffeine dries out your voice and I am currently in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’. I think I’m getting addicted.
Coffee has good and bad points – good in that it contains antioxidants that can have health benefits but bad in that it’s an addictive stimulant. I love it but know that it has bad effects on me so I limit it to a maximum of one around one shot of espresso a day (as Americano – although I really need to keep the levels at about 3 shots per weeek. Like anything, I think its the excesses that are particularly bad for you although some people, like me can be sensitive to even small amounts. Incidentally, it was the first thing couldn’t have when pregnant – made me really sick, even the smell of it all way through. Maybe my body was telling me something.
im prescribed 65mg of methadone daily and find mass quantities of espresso to stay awake and productive a lot safer and lighter on my wallet than taking shots of coke all day. shooting cocaine almost killed me caffiene is WAY safer.
I always wanted to know how much caffeine was in a double shot espress0 soy latte. I can drink those by the gallon
dj fullthrottle: duh! good for you for getting off that stuff – good luck man 
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I recently found out that I have iron deficient anemia. One of the main causes of this is coffee, tea, carbonated colas, and chocolate. I drink a quad latte every day and also diet Pepsi and LOVE them, however, I also love having oxygen carrying capability in my blood so am going to try to give up the caffeine—any advice on how to do it. In the past when I’ve had to go without coffee I’ve ended up with raging headaches.