One of the main reasons we often choose Starbucks for a coffee is to get a caffeine hit. But how much caffeine is in the beverages you buy at the coffee shop chain?
In this article, there are tables detailing the amount of caffeine in each type of Starbucks drink. The amount of caffeine differs depending on several factors, including the serving size, the nature of the coffee bean, and how it is brewed and roasted.
This article will give you all you need to know about the caffeine content of your favorite Starbucks drink, whether it is hot, iced, or foamy. There is also a list of the shop’s 10 most caffeinated coffees, so you can better understand which drink to purchase depending on how caffeinated you want it.
Also Read: 18 Caffeine-Free Starbucks Drinks
Understanding The Caffeine Content In Drinks From Starbucks
One of the quickest ways to determine how much caffeine a Starbucks drink has is to look at the basic ingredient in a huge number of their coffees: espresso.
Virtually every espresso-based drink Starbucks sells uses the same recipe: One espresso shot for Short and Tall coffees, two shots for Grande and Venti. This rule isn’t always the case. For example, drinks including flat white and latte Macchiato have Doppio for the short cup.
Espresso is the caffeine source in those beverages, and extra ingredients like whipped cream, milk, and sugar don’t dilute the caffeine content. This means that as long as you know how much caffeine is in a shot of espresso, you’ll know what the caffeine content is of each espresso-based drink.
Caffeine Content In Espresso
| Size | Servings (fl. Oz) | Servings (ml) | Shots | Caffeine (mg) | Used In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | 0.75 | 22 | 1 | 75 | Short or Tall |
| Doppio | 1.25 | 36 | 2 | 150 | Grande or Venti |
| Triple | 2.25 | 60 | 3 | 225 | Serve as request |
| Quad | 3 | 88 | 4 | 300 | Serve as request |
Roast Level
The amount of caffeine each drink has alters mainly depending on the roast type of the coffee beans. Dark roasts have stronger flavors, but this doesn’t necessarily make them a “strong coffee.” Counterintuitively, lighter roasts usually contain more caffeine. That’s because the caffeine breaks down in the roasting process. So, for example, Starbucks’ Blonde roast is more highly caffeinated than its dark roast coffees.
Starbucks Cup Sizes
To start with, Starbucks’ cup sizes can seem confusing, so let’s break it down:
Starbucks has special naming conventions for the rest, including Short for 8fl.oz (236 ml), Tall for 12 fl. oz (354 ml), Grande for 16 fl. oz (473 ml), Trenta for 30 fl. oz (887 ml).
However, there are also two Venti sizes depending on the type of coffee – 20 fl. oz (591 ml) or 24 fl. 0z (709ml). The smaller of the two is used in hot drinks, while the larger size is used in iced beverages. This is because ice uses up more cup space.
Solo (0.75 fl. oz, 22ml), Doppio (1.25 fl. oz, 36ml), Triple (2.25 fl. oz, 60ml), and Quad (3 fl. oz, 88ml) are served sizes for espresso.
Starbucks Cup Sizes
| Cup Sizes | Fl. Oz | Ml |
|---|---|---|
| Short | 8 | 136 |
| Tall | 12 | 354 |
| Grande | 16 | 473 |
| Venti for hot drinks | 20 | 591 |
| Venti for iced drinks | 24 | 709 |
| Trenta | 30 | 887 |
Top 10 Strongest Coffee At Starbucks
Now you have an overview of the elements that decide the caffeine content in drinks from Starbucks. We have selected the 10 strongest coffees (with variations) you can buy at Starbucks and noted their caffeine content. Therefore, if you’re looking for a drink for a caffeine hit, you can select one from our list.
Notes:
- These coffees are more than likely not for sale in a local Starbucks shop.
- We have collected the caffeine levels from the starbucks.com
- To make for the easiest comparison, we use Grande as the size from which we rank the beverages.
1. Clover® Brewed Coffee (340-380mg Caffeine Per Grande)
Starbucks’ Clover® brewing system makes one coffee in one go. The freshly ground coffee steeps in the water, then the liquid is vacuumed and filtered through the device. The brew time and water temperature vary depending on the type of bean and roast, meaning it brews coffee with perfect flavor, balance, and aroma.
You may not be able to buy Clover® Brewed Coffee in your local Starbucks. However, if you find it, it’s well worth trying. This method using immersion and vacuum leads to more caffeine reaching the cup, making it Starbucks’ strongest coffee and the go-to beverage for a rapid energy level boost. If you would rather have cold coffee with a high caffeine content, try the Iced Clover® Brewed Coffee.
The following list has a large number of roasts and beans, and they all contain between 340 and 380 milligrams of caffeine per Grande cup, depending on the roast type. Keep in mind that this will push you over the FDA’s daily recommended caffeine content of 400mg if you opt for Venti.
Caffeine Content In Clover Brewed Coffee (mg)
| Drink | Short | Tall | Grande | Venti |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clover® Brewed Coffee – Dark Roast | 190 | 280 | 380 | 470 |
| Clover® Brewed Coffee – Medium Roast | 170 | 280 | 375 | 445 |
| Clover® Brewed Coffee – Light Roast | 155 | 255 | 340 | 425 |
Dark Roast Short
- Clover Brewed® Pike Place® Roast
- French Roast Clover®
- Italian Roast Clover®
- Espresso Roast Clover®
- Komodo Dragon Clover®
- Clover Brewed® Gold Coast Blend
- Sumatra Clover®
Medium Roast
- Organic Yukon Blend® Clover®
- Clover Brewed® Breakfast Blend
- Kenya Clover®
- Ehiopia Clover®
Light Roast
- Veranda Blend® Clover®
- Clover Brewed® Starbucks Willow Blend
Starbucks Reserve beans
You can also choose the Starbucks Reserve beans from famous regions around the world, including:
- Ecuador Loja Clover®
- Sun-Dried Papua New Guinea Ulya Clover®
- Brazil Isidro Pereira Estate Clover®
- Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Chelelektu Clover®
- Guatemala Heuehuetenango Clover®
- Jamaica Blue mountain Clover®
2. Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee (185-205mg Caffeine Per Grande)
Is cold brew coffee overrated, or is there something amazing about it? We believe the latter, and in the case of Starbucks’ cold brew coffee, we think that’s particularly true.
For one thing, cold brew and iced coffee use entirely different brewing methods. Iced coffee, for example, is basically hot coffee made twice as strong and poured over ice.
When it comes to cold brew, a more nuanced approach is needed. Starbucks lets its coffee ground blend cool in filtered water, which then steeps for 20 hours. Starbucks’ description of its cold brew is that it contains “the right balance of sweetness with citrusy and chocolate notes.”
If you were in any doubt, Starbucks’ iced espresso-based coffees don’t employ the cold brew process. They’re brewed by pouring shots of espresso over water and ice or cold milk. Cold brew, on the other hand, is entirely different.
There is a range of cold brew coffees to choose from at Starbucks that will offer enough of a caffeine rush. Taken with cream, the amount of caffeine you will get is slightly less, working out at around 320mg for a Trenta. This reduction in caffeine is because with cream taking up some of the cup space, there is naturally less room for the coffee.
Caffeine Content In Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee (mg)
| Starbucks Cold Brew Drinks | Tall | Grande | Venti | Trenta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Starbucks Cold Brew | 155 | 205 | 310 | 360 |
| Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew | 155 | 205 | 310 | 360 |
| Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew | 140 | 185 | 275 | 320 |
| Starbucks Reserve Cold Brew | 150 | 200 | 300 | Not available |
| Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew | 145 | 185 | 275 | 320 |
| Cold Brew Coffee With Milk | 155 | 205 | 310 | 360 |
3. Nitro Cold Brew (265-290mg Caffeine Per Grande)
If you thought the revelation that Starbucks steeps its cold brew for 20 hours was extreme, the store’s Nitro Cold Brew raises it another notch.
This drink adds a twist to the store’s standard cold brew by infusing the beverage with nitrogen bubbles. Nitro Cold Brew doesn’t require ice as it is cold enough. It also has a foamy head, similar to a glass of beer, and you don’t need sugar, milk, or a straw.
Starbucks’ Nitro Cold Brew is extremely popular, with Thrillist ranking it number one of Starbucks’ beverages. However, if you’re a lover of big coffee sizes, this won’t be for you. Nitro Cold Brew is only available in Tall and Grande sizes. However, there is a legitimate reason: if it were served in any larger sizes, the signature foamy head and bubbles would be lost. Aside from that, there is more than enough caffeine in a Tall or Grande serving.
Caffeine Content In Nitro Cold Brew (Read this guide to find more info about Starbucks nitro cold brew caffeine)
| Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Drinks | Tall | Grande |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Nitro Cold Brew | 215 | 280 |
| Honey Almondmilk Nitro Cold Brew | 210 | 265 |
| Salted Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew | 200 | 270 |
| Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew | 200 | 265 |
4. Plain Brewed Coffee (260-360mg Caffeine Per Grande)
If you like plain brewed coffee, Starbucks’ offerings are more caffeinated than the rest of its hot drinks menu, apart from Clover® Brewed.
Generally, Starbucks has three coffees brewing in its busy times. These are Blonde Roast, Dark Roast, and Pike Place.
The Pike Place is a Starbucks-created blend, which is available all day. It has 235mg of caffeine in a Tall serving, 310mg in Grande, and 410mg in Venti.
Starbucks Blonde Roast coffee uses light roast beans, and it is popular with people who like sugar and milk in their coffee. As we explained earlier, light roasted beans have more caffeine than others, and the Venti serving of Blonde Roast contains a huge 475 mg of caffeine.
Starbucks Dark Roast coffee tastes bold and is usually consumed with sugar or cream. However, its caffeine content is only 195mg in a Tall serving, 260mg in Grande, and 340mg in Venti.
Caffeine Content In Starbucks Brewed Coffee (mg)
| Brewed Coffee Drinks | Short | Tall | Grande | Venti |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blonde Roast Brewed Coffee | 180 | 270 | 360 | 475 |
| Dark Roast Brewed Coffee | 130 | 195 | 260 | 340 |
| Pike Place Brewed Coffee | 155 | 235 | 310 | 410 |
5. Caffè Americano (225mg Caffeine Per Grande)
Caffè Americano is brewed by diluting a shot of espresso with hot water to lessen the intensity of the flavor for those who don’t like espresso on its own. We detailed how to make Americano and exactly what it is in another guide.
At Starbucks, a single espresso shot goes into a Short cup, leaving 75 mg of caffeine, a doppio shot in a Tall serving for 150mg, triple shots in Grande for 225mg, and a quad shot in Venti servings, leaving 300 mg of caffeine.
If you’d rather order a cold coffee, there is also an Iced Caffè Americano, which has the same caffeine content as the hot coffee. However, there isn’t a Short cup size for the iced coffee.
Caffeine Content In Caffe Americano (mg)
| Starbucks Caffe Americano | Short | Tall | Grande | Venti |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Caffe Americano | 75 | 150 | 225 | 300 |
| Iced Caffè Americano | N/A | 150 | 225 | 300 |
6. Iced Shaken Espresso (225mg Caffeine Per Grande)
Starbucks’ Iced Shaken Espresso uses robust espresso shots and is then shaken, left to chill, and then has a little sweetness and milk added, making for a tasty drink to enjoy on the move. There is also an Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso with Blonde espresso, chocolate malt, and Almondmilk.
Caffeine Content In Iced Shaken Espresso (mg)
| Shaken Espresso | Tall | Grande | Venti |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iced Shaken Espresso | 150 | 225 | 300 |
| Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso | 170 | 255 | 340 |
7. Iced Caffe Mocha (175mg Caffeine Per Grande)
This coffee drink combined espresso with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate-flavored syrup. If you buy a Venti size, there will be a triple espresso shot in it, meaning 265 mg of caffeine. However, there is significantly less in a Venti hot mocha, at just 185mg. Meanwhile, both hot and iced mochas have the same caffeine content in Tall and Grande servings, at 95mg and 175mg, respectively.
8. Macchiato (150-225mg Caffeine Per Grande)
Macchiato is a coffee brewed with espresso and has frothy steamed milk on top. Starbucks has different types of Macchiato, and the caffeine content depends on the number of shots of espresso used in each.
The most well-loved Macchiato drinks include:
Latte Macchiato (150/225/225mg)
Most Macchiatos available at Starbucks differ significantly from this standard iteration of the coffee. A Venti serving has triple espresso shots, making for 225 mg of caffeine.
Iced Caramel Macchiato (75/150/225mg)
Vanilla-flavored syrup, espresso, milk, and ice finished with caramel drizzle is used to brew this sweet and delicious coffee. One espresso shot is used for Tall, two for Grande, and three for Venti.
Espresso Macchiato (75-300mg)
This classic coffee is inspired by Europe, containing a robust espresso topped with steamed milk and foam. Starbucks offers Solo, Doppio, Triple, and Quad servings. The latter has four espresso shots for 300 mg of caffeine.
The Espresso Macchiato is one of the strongest coffees on Starbucks’ menus and has one of the fewest calorie counts. Therefore, it is well worth considering if you would like an energy boost without adding to your waistline.
Caffeine Content In Starbucks Macchiato (mg)
| Drink | Tall | Grande | Venti | |
| Latte Macchiato | 150 | 225 | 225 | |
| Caramel Macchiato | 75 | 150 | 150 | |
| Iced Caramel Macchiato | 75 | 150 | 225 | |
| Solo | Doppio | Triple | Quad | |
| Espresso Macchiato | 75 | 150 | 225 | 300 |
9. Latte (150-170mg Caffeine Per Grande)
Whether you order a Short or Tall Starbucks Caffe Latte, your coffee will contain one shot of espresso. Grande and Venti (591ml) have two shots. Meanwhile, Iced Caffe Latte comes in the Venti size of 24 fl. oz (709ml) and has three shots of espresso. This all means that a hot Venti Latte contains 150 mg of caffeine, while there is 225 mg of caffeine in the Iced Latte serving.
Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte contains the same caffeine level, while Iced Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte has 170mg for a Grande serving and 255mg for a Venti owing to the highly caffeinated light roast beans it uses.
Caffeine Content In Starbucks Latte Drinks (mg)
| Starbucks Latte Drinks | Tall | Grande | Venti |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffè Latte | 75 | 150 | 150 |
| Iced Caffè Latte | 75 | 150 | 225 |
| Cinnamon Dolce Latte | 75 | 150 | 150 |
| Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte | 75 | 150 | 225 |
| Starbucks Reserve® Latte | 135 | 135 | 265 |
| Starbucks Reserve® Hazelnut Bianco Latte | 135 | 135 | 200 |
| Starbucks® Blonde Vanilla Latte | 85 | 170 | 170 |
| Iced Starbucks® Blonde Vanilla Latte | 85 | 170 | 255 |
10. Flat White (150-170mg Caffeine Per Grande)
Flat White first came to prominence in New Zealand and Australia, and it is now widely available in most Starbucks outlets. This smooth coffee is brewed using ristretto espresso shots and steamed whole milk.
The hot flat white is more caffeinated than the iced alternative. The former has 195mg of caffeine in a Grande serving, while the latter contains 130mg of caffeine.
Hot Almondmilk Flat White has 225mg of caffeine in a Venti and Grande size and 150mg in Short and Tall sizes. Meanwhile, the iced alternative has 300mg of caffeine in the Venti, 225mg in the Grande, and 150mg in the Tall sizes.
Nitro Flat White is available in two sizes – Tall, which has 130mg of caffeine, and Grande, which has 195mg.
Caffeine Content In Starbucks Flat White (mg)
| Starbucks Flat White Drinks | Tall | Grande | Venti |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat White | 130 | 195 | 195 |
| iced Flat White | 90 | 130 | 175 |
| Honey Almondmilk Flat White | 150 | 225 | 225 |
| iced Honey Almondmilk Flat White | 150 | 225 | 300 |
| Nitro Flat White | 130 | 195 | Not available |
Starbucks Drinks Types
Starbucks’ menu has hundreds of drinks. We can simplify this into categories to give you a general overview of what’s on offer.
Coffee
Most of Starbucks’ strongest drinks are caffeinated coffee beverages.
If you buy a coffee and milk beverage, it will usually contain whole, non-fat, 2%, soy, or coconut milk, but this has no bearing on caffeine levels. Whether it’s hot or cold also doesn’t change the caffeine content.
Decaffeinated coffee also has between 15 and 30 milligrams of caffeine, depending on the serving size. For example, Starbucks’ Decaf Pike Place® Roast.
Caffeinated Coffee Drinks (Caffeine Content)
- Short servings between 75mg and 190mg
- Tall servings between 75mg and 280mg
- Grande servings between 125mg and 380mg
- Venti servings between 150mg and 475mg
Frappuccino
The Frappuccino is one of Starbucks’ most popular coffees. Whole milk is mixed with coffee, milk, and ice, producing a creamy cold beverage with a beautiful texture. There are as many as 20 caffeinated and decaffeinated Starbucks Frappuccino options. Sizes are Tall, Grande, and Venti.
Every variety of Frappuccino uses a single espresso shot, except for Espresso Frappuccino, which uses two espresso shots.
Caffeine Content In Frappuccino (mg)
| Frappuccino | Tall | Grande | Venti |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso Frappuccino | 130 | 165 | 185 |
| Other Frappuccino | 65-75 | 95-110 | 125-145 |
Tea
While Starbucks is best known for its huge variety of coffees, it sells tea as well. Tea has caffeine too, and the Iced Chai Tea Latte in a Venti size has a caffeine content of 145mg.
Green Tea Latte has 110mg per Venti serving, while Chai Tea Latte (hot) has 120mg per Venti.
Starbucks’ other tea options have below 100 milligrams of caffeine in each cup.
Hot Chocolate And Milk
The store’s hot chocolate and milk options are coffee-free. However, chocolate does have caffeine in it, so you can expect around 35mg of caffeine per Venti chocolate drink.
By the way, you can also customize a popular Tiktok Starbucks drink when ordering. Check out the top selection and how to order in our guide.
Final Thoughts
The coffee options at Starbucks are vast, and it took us a while to look into and work out the amount of caffeine in each drink and cup size.
As a general rule, if you would like an energy boost, Clover® Brewed Coffee and regular brewed coffee are great. If you prefer espresso-based beverages, be aware of the number of espresso shots used in each size, so you can figure out how much caffeine is in each one. Also, bear in mind that Starbucks’ iced drinks tend to contain more caffeine than hot drinks as they come in Venti cups. Finally, keep in mind that light roast coffees have more caffeine than dark and medium roast coffees, whether at Starbucks or anywhere else.
We hope this article has helped simplify what can be an overwhelming choice so that next time you visit Starbucks, you’ll have a better idea of which drinks are likely to give you the biggest caffeine hit!
