Healthy Starbucks Drinks Under 200 Calories
I have a confession: I’m a hardcore Starbucks addict. I’m not proud of it. I don’t even want to talk about the amount of money I’ve squandered through the years purchasing Peppermint Mocha Frappucinos.
When I decided to lose weight last year, I initially wanted to cut out my caffeine intake. Try as I might, I couldn’t resist the delicious aroma of roasted Arabica beans every time I pass by any coffee shop, especially Starbucks. It’s a craving I gave into too easily.
My love for Starbucks Frappucinos is not healthy.
The average American consumer’s love for Starbucks specialty drinks is not healthy.
We know that the vast array of drinks offered in our local Starbucks chains aren’t necessarily good for our waistline.
So what exactly do we order?
With all the frothy whip creams and sugary syrup drizzles, are there really healthy Starbucks drinks?
Of course, there is!
Not only does Starbucks offer a number of low-calorie drinks but by simply changing your milk, asking for sugar-free syrups, or removing whip cream, you can drastically reduce calories from your favorite beverages.
All suggestions are based on a Tall serving (12 fluid ounce/355 ml) and cited from the official Starbucks Nutrition Catalog.
Healthy Starbucks Drinks with 170–190 Calories
23. Nonfat Mocha Frappuccino® Blended Coffee (no whip), 190 Calories
A regular Mocha Frappuccino® made with standard whole milk and whipped cream contains 290 calories.
You can reduce the number of calories by 52% simply by substituting the milk and holding off the whip. A healthier option would be to order a Mocha Light Frappuccino® Blended Coffee.
22. Nonfat Caffè Mocha (no whip), 190 Calories
Among all the hot beverages, Caffè Mocha is my personal favorite. This espresso-based drink is combined with bittersweet mocha sauce and steamed milk to create coffee perfect for your sweet tooth.
Try it with almond milk instead for 170 calories.
21. Coffee Frappuccino Blended Beverage, 180 Calories
A simple blend of coffee, milk, and ice poured into a 12-ounce glass contains 180 calories and 70 milligrams of caffeine.
You can reduce it to 150–160 calories by substituting the standard whole milk for either soy or almond milk.
20. Soy Chai Tea Latte, 180 Calories
No need to debate its redundant name or if Starbucks Chai lattes are authentic enough. We’ll leave that to the internet.
Chai means tea. Latte means milky.
Essentially a Chai latte is tea served with steamed milk.
The Starbucks Chai latte is black tea infused with cinnamon, cloves, and other spices, topped with foam for that creamy, sweet and spicy flavor.
19. Steamed Apple Juice, 170 Calories
Not in the mood for coffee or tea? A nice hot cup of apple juice may just be what you’re looking for.
Starbucks serves freshly steamed 100% pressed apple juice.
It’s the real deal, not the fructose-filled apple concentrate you get from your ciders and jams. Best of all, it’s fat free.
Healthy Starbucks Drinks with 110–140 Calories
18. Nonfat Caramel Macchiato (hot and iced), 140 Calories
Caramel macchiato lovers will be happy to know that their beloved drink contains only 140 calories and 1.5 grams of fat when ordered with nonfat milk.
This famous espresso-based drink is made with vanilla syrup, milk, and ice, then topped with lots of caramel drizzle. The caramel drizzle adds an extra seven grams of sugar to your drink.
If you’re watching your sugar intake, ask your barista to hold off the caramel drizzle and use sugar-free vanilla syrup.
17. Nonfat Iced Vanilla Latte, 120 Calories
An iced vanilla latte is simply espresso, vanilla syrup, and milk served over ice. It’s so simple yet it packs a lot of flavors. It’s the perfect drink on a warm and sunny afternoon when you need a quick cool-down.
16. Mocha Light Frappuccino® Blended Coffee, 110 Calories
What makes this different from a regular mocha Frappuccino, you ask?
Light means non-fat milk, no whip, and “light” base.
Starbucks Frappuccino bases are syrups used to thicken and sweeten your drinks. Similar to liquid sugar and tastes like maple syrup, bases help blend and bind the coffee concoction together.
It’s the vital ingredient missing from most at-home versions which results in it in being chunky and icy.
“Light” base is really just a reduced-calorie version of a regular Starbucks coffee and cream base. It has 33 calories per pump while the regular base contains 55 calories per pump.
Take note that “light” base is not purely sugar-free but is mostly sweetened with Splenda and may change the taste of your beverage drastically.
Ask your barista to hold off the drizzle and use sugar-free mocha syrup for fewer calories.
Healthy Starbucks Drinks with 45–100 Calories
15. Caramel Frappuccino® Light Blended Beverage, 100 Calories
Starbucks Frappuccinos are typically loaded with sugars and fat, but not this one.
A tall Caramel Frappuccino® Light Blended Beverage has the same buttery caramel taste, just with a lot fewer calories. The regular Caramel Frappuccino® contains 300 calories but isn’t fat free like the Light version.
14. Skinny Vanilla Latte, 100 Calories
This is proof that you don’t need to compromise flavor when you’re cutting back on fat. This skinny vanilla latte is made from nonfat milk and sugar-free vanilla syrup.
Go ahead, savor on the sweet vanilla flavor and creamy latte goodness without impending guilt.
13. Caffè Misto, 100 Calories
Try a Caffè Misto for a healthier morning coffee.
Starbucks makes their Caffè Misto using freshly brewed coffee, espresso, steamed milk, and topped with a thin layer of foam. With 115 grams of caffeine, it has the caffeine kick without the added calories of a latte.
12. Iced Coffee (with classic syrup), 90 Calories
Get this if you like your morning coffee cold and bold.
Freshly brewed coffee, whole milk, and classic syrup is chilled and served over ice. Try substituting whole milk with nonfat, coconut, or almond milk for lesser calories.
11. Shaken Sweet Tea, 80 Calories
I imagine James Bond would love his tea shaken.
A barista shakes together double-strength black tea and cane sugar. Why shaken? Can’t they just use the blender like other drinks?
Starbucks believes that shaking adds a handcrafted touch and brings out the authentic flavor of their teas. The drink itself is refreshing and has a hint of pineapple.
It’s a feel-good drink; the kind of drink that reminds you of summer days and Hawaii.
According to Business Insider, Starbucks has been quietly removing Shaken Sweet Teas from its menu since November 2017. Some branches in the South still offer it.
If you live outside the United States, you can order the Iced Shaken Black Tea, the international version of Shaken Sweet Tea, from the Starbucks Iced Teavana™ Tea line.
10. Teavana® Shaken Iced Black Tea Lemonade, 70 Calories
Said to be inspired by the black and yellow stripes of a common bumblebee, this drink is made using lightly sweetened premium black tea, lemonade, and ice.
This is the Starbucks Arnold Palmer and just like “The King”, it’s cool and energizing.
9. Nonfat Doubleshot® on Ice Beverage, 70 Calories
Brewed espresso, nonfat milk, and classic syrup are poured over ice to create this simple yet elegant drink.
The thing that sets this beverage apart is how it's made.
This is the only hand-shaken espresso drink on the menu. The result is a lightly sweetened frothy full-bodied espresso with a smidgeon of milky creaminess.
8. Iced Skinny Flavored Latte, 60 Calories
Tastes exactly like your regular latte, just with fewer calories.
Starbucks uses its signature Espresso Roast to make the rich, full-bodied espresso needed for this drink. They mix that with cold nonfat milk and sugar-free syrup of your choice to finish off this delectable drink.
7. Nonfat Cappuccino, 60 Calories
Italian or not, many people adore their morning cappuccino.
To create a perfectly rich foamy cappuccino is the pinnacle of skill for any barista. At only 60 calories, you won’t feel guilty taking another sip or two.
6. Cool Lime Starbucks Refresher, 45 Calories
This fruity drink looks feels and is made similar to a cocktail.
Fruit juice, mint, and freeze-dried lime slices are shaken together with green coffee extract, then served over ice.
Refreshers tastes similar to the lightly-flavored water you get from your fruit infuser water bottle. It has a primarily minty flavor followed by a subtle note of lime; like a mojito without the alcohol.
Unfortunately, as of July 2018, the drink is discontinued in all US stores. The popularity of the drink even sparked a change.org petition to it back on the menu.
If you’re traveling to Japan, you can get a similar limited-edition drink, Starbucks Cool Lime Refresher Energy Drink, at selected 7–11 convenience stores.
Healthy Starbucks Drinks with 5–20 Calories
5. Nonfat Iced Coffee (unsweetened), 20 Calories
Get this if you like your morning coffee cold and extra bold.
Without the classic syrup, the coffee has a strong and sharp taste. That’s not surprising since a 12-ounce cup contains 110 milligrams of caffeine.
Do yourself a favor and don’t order this drink in Trenta size.
4. Caffè Americano, 10 Calories
Caffè Americano is a style of coffee made by adding hot water to a single or double-shot espresso, giving it comparable strength but different flavor from regular brewed coffee.
Starbucks uses its signature Espresso Roast beans to make rich, caramel-tasting espresso shots then finishes with a light layer of crema (layer of foam) on top.
3. Brewed Coffee, 5 Calories
Brewed coffee is for those who prefer to taste the subtle flavor nuances from particular beans.
Starbucks offers a number of choices for freshly brewed coffee. You have Blonde Roast, a lightly-roasted coffee with mellow flavors and Featured Dark Roast are for those who enjoy full-bodied robust flavors.
Don’t forget to try their famous Pike Place® Roast, a medium-roast coffee offering a balanced and smooth flavor with notes of toasted nuts and cocoa in every cup.
Healthy Starbucks Drinks with 0 Calories
2. Teavana® Shaken Iced Passion Tango™ Tea (unsweetened), 0 Calories
The famous Iced Passion Tango is considered one of the tastiest and healthiest Starbucks drinks.
The drink proudly contains neither calories nor fat.
A sip of this sweet blend of hibiscus, lemongrass, and apple paired with juicy mangoes and papaya will leave you feeling like you’ve just bathed in the tropics.
- Brewed Green Teas (unsweetened), 0 Calories
Nutrition wise, green tea contains a relatively small amount of caffeine, holds zero calories, and is full of antioxidants to help boost your immune system.
A glass of green tea is an extremely healthy Starbucks drink.
There are many perks to drinking this almost magical brew. It helps reduce atherosclerosis and risk of heart disease, lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol levels, and improves bone density and memory.
It also helps speed up your metabolism and suppresses appetite. To make your drink sweeter, add a little honey instead of using sugar packets.
This article was originally written by content writer and digital marketer Catherine Tabuena. To find out more about her, visit www.catherinetabuena.com
