In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleAdded Sugar In BeveragesStarbucks Drinks to Order
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
Added Sugar In Beverages
Starbucks Drinks to Order
Starbucks is known for its over-the-top coffee and tea drinks. Though these beverages are delicious to enjoy every once in a while, some grande-sized drinks can contain over 60 grams of sugar. For those who are worried about added sugar, either for general health or because they have a medical condition like diabetes, ordering these beverages can easily skyrocket your blood sugar levels.
We combed through the menu and found 10 low- and no-sugar options you can enjoy at your local Starbucks.
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Often the most delicious and appealing drinks on the café menus are the ones with the highest levels ofadded sugars. But we all know that while yummy is the upside, the downside is dealing with the energy crash that can come after consuming a super sweet beverage. Not to mention,consuming too much sugarcan be detrimental to our overall health, contributing to unwanted weight gain and increasing the risk of chronic diseases over time.
Starbucks recognizes that just because someone wants to be mindful about sugar doesn’t mean they want to be limited to only ordering blackcoffeeor unsweetenedtea. The beverage company has made sure that its menu includes many wonderful options between 0 and 10 grams of total sugar.
Starbucks doesn’t provide added sugar counts on their menu, just total sugar amounts. Some of the sugar in these drinks may naturally come from milk, but much of it is added sugar from sweeteners and syrups.
The2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americansrecommends that no more than 10% of total daily caloric intake come from added sugar. For a 2,000-calorie diet, that’s no more than 200 calories or about 12 teaspoons of sugar. TheAmerican Heart Associationis a little more strict, recommending no more than 25 grams (about 6 teaspoons) for women and 36 grams (about 9 teaspoons) for men.
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Based on our findings, here are our top 10 no-sugar to low-sugar options for grande-sized drinks (16 ounces) that you can enjoy at your local Starbucks.
10 No- and Low-Sugar Starbucks Drinks
Caffè Americano (0g sugar)
This classic coffee is made with brewed espresso topped with hot water and has no added sugars.
Oleato Cafe Latté with Oatmilk (6g sugar)
This beverage starts with Starbucks Blonde Espresso and infuses it with Partanna extra virgin olive oil steamed with oat milk to produce a smooth, lush flavor and mouthfeel. It has just 6 grams of sugar.
Iced Black Tea (0g sugar)
Chai Tea (0g sugar)
If you tend to avoid chai because most have a ton of sugar, here is the one for you. This bold, distinctive black tea is infused with warm clove, cardamom, cinnamon and ginger notes. This differs from Starbucks' chai tea latte, which is made from a sweetened tea and has 42 grams of sugar in a grande. If you love a chai latte, add some steamed soymilk to your tea, which adds about 9 grams of sugar.
Emperor’s Clouds & Mist Brewed Tea (0g sugar)
Starbucks offers a wide range of tea selections. According to the menu, this green tea offers a gentle smoky, slightly sweet flavor. And the best part is that you will not find a hint of sugar.
Mint Majesty Tea (0g sugar)
Want a caffeine-free drink? Try this blend of mint with a hint of lemon verbena in an herbal tea that needs no added sweetness to satisfy and promises no jitters.
Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee with Milk (3g sugar)
Starbucks handcrafts their cold brews in small batches each day. This brew is finished off with a splash of milk and no sweetener, keeping it low in sugar.
Caffe Misto (10g sugar)
This drink, made with half fresh-brewed coffee and half steamed milk, is a great option for those who want a lower-sugar brew. There’s no sugar added to this drink—all the sugar is from milk, which also gives you some protein, vitamins and minerals.
Flavored Coffee (10g sugar)
Modified London Fog Latte (10g sugar)
If you love Starbucks' London Fog Tea Latte, try this lower-sugar version. Ask your barista to combine one pump of vanilla syrup in an Earl Grey tea with steamed soymilk for a perfect cuppa with only 10 grams of sugar.
The Bottom Line
While many Starbucks menu options are loaded with sugar, there are several that you can enjoy without the sugar buzz and subsequent crash. With that said, a lot of their coffee and tea beverages can also be customized to lower the sugar and calorie content. The best way to see how this can be done is to visit their online menu. It’s helpful to know, too, that each pump of sweetener provides about 5 grams of sugar.
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