Starbucks can be a calorie counter’s best friend… or worst nightmare. We’re taking the guesswork out of guilt-free coffee trips with our all-new Starbucks Survival Guide! Play it safe by sticking with our picks…
Because this is why we go to Starbucks in the first place…
Coffee 101
Low-cal no-brainers? Brewed coffee (we love the Blonde Roast), iced coffee (the new small-batch Cold Brew Coffee rocks), and straight-up espresso (when we’re feeling really hard-core). But even those drinks can become calorie bombs with the wrong add-ins. Avoid the sugary syrups, whole milk, and packets of sugars. Stick with sugar-free syrup; a splash of nonfat milk, soymilk, or coconut milk; and/or a no-calorie sweetener packet or two. HG tip: Carry packets of your favorite no-cal sweetener with you, just in case the ‘Bucks doesn’t carry your go-to brand.
Caffè Misto
1 Grande with nonfat milk: 70 calories, 0g fat, 0mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g fiber, 10g sugars, 7g protein —PointsPlus® value 2*
This coffee drink consists of brewed coffee mixed with frothy steamed milk… Mmmm! The soymilk version has 100 calories and 3g fat (PointsPlus® value 3*), and the coconut-milk one has 70 calories and 4.5g fat (PointsPlus® value 2*).
Flat White
1 Grande with nonfat milk: 130 calories, 0g fat, 150mg sodium, 19g carbs, 0g fiber, 17g sugars, 12g protein — PointsPlus® value 3*
One of the newest additions to the SB menu, this is steamed milk and ristretto (a.k.a. extra-strong) espresso. Prefer soymilk? That has 190 calories and 5g fat (PointsPlus® value 5*). A Flat White with coconut milk has 130 calories and 8g fat (PointsPlus® value 4*). Pssst… Try it iced too!
Skinny Flavored Latte
1 Grande: 120 calories, 0g fat, 160mg sodium, 18g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars, 12g protein — PointsPlus® value 3*
Let’s be real. Made with nonfat milk and sugar-free syrup, the Skinny Flavored Latte is queen of the calorie-conscious Starbucks drinks. So much yum! If you can’t shake sweet ‘n creamy coffee drinks, this beverage is here for you in a variety of sugar-free flavors, like Cinnamon Dolce and Vanilla. Excellent over ice as well…
Skinny Mocha
1 Grande: 140 calories, 1.5g fat, 140mg sodium, 18g carbs, 4g fiber, 15g sugars, 14g protein — PointsPlus® value 3*
The slimmed-down mocha sauce here helps keep that calorie count down. Because we all need chocolatey coffee now and then. Bonus: The iced option clocks in at just 100 calories (PointsPlus® value 2*).
Coffee Light Frappuccino Blended Coffee
1 Grande: 110 calories, 0g fat, 0mg sodium, 24g carbs, 0g fiber, 23g sugars, 3g protein — PointsPlus® value 3*
Frosty frozen frap? Yes, please! There are many Frappuccino flavors to choose from, but this is the lowest-calorie choice in the bunch.
Scope out the full lineup if you’re looking for something a bit more fancy.
Size Matters… Many of SB’s coffee drinks can be ordered in the little-known 8-oz. Short size and all the way up to the 20-oz. Venti. (There’s even a 30-oz. Trenta option for cold drinks!) We gave you stats for the nicely sized 16-oz. Grande. Feel free to slash the numbers in half by ordering the shortie. But we don’t recommend going Venti or Trenta. Even guilt-free drinks can get out of control when you jumbo-size ’em.