The Coffee Pin

Trying to stay healthy, lose weight, lower your sugar intake but you just can’t quit your morning coffee? You shouldn’t have to! The good news is there are still plenty of low calorie options to choose from and not all of them have to be boring. Whether you love iced coffee, cold brew, or tea, these low calorie Starbucks drinks are perfect for your next order. Don’t miss out on the secret drink order hacks for more low calorie options straight from a barista, ME!

1. Iced Americano

Calories~ 15

How to order: Grande Iced Americano

Why it works:

Just espresso and water! This drink is the pick me up version of a hot or iced coffee, it serves as a great low calorie base to create more low calorie and fun drinks.

2. Cold Brew with Almond Milk

Calories~ 25

How to order: Grande cold brew with a splash of almond milk

Why it works:

Cold brew is naturally smooth and lower in acidity than regular iced coffee. Saying a ‘splash’ of almond milk means 1/4 inch or ‘light’. Adding light milk, especially almond, keeps the calories low. The calorie amount shown is with the splash of almond milk.

3. Iced Coffee with Sugar Free Syrup

Calories~ 5

How to order: Grande iced coffee with sugar free vanilla

Why it works:

A great option for a classic iced coffee with flavor and sweetness. Starbucks just recently introduced sugar free caramel adding to their sugar free lineup already consisting of sugar free vanilla. These sugar free syrups are 0 calories and the perfect addition to any coffee.

4. Iced Passion Tango Tea

Calories~ 0

How to order: Grande iced passion tango tea

Why it works:

This tea is already the lowest drink on the menu and offers a naturally sweet and fruity flavor and a great caffeine free option. Add sugar free vanilla or stevia to sweeten it up more.

5. Nitro Cold Brew

Calories~ 5

How to order: Grande iced cold brew

Why it works:

Nitro cold brew is infused with nitrogen, giving it a creamy and sweet texture without adding milk. Add your favorite milk or sugar free syrup to make it your own. The nitro cold brew comes chilled without ice, ask for this in a bigger cup with ice to make it stay cold.

6. Shaken Espresso (Barista Hack)

Calories~25

How to order: Grande iced shaken espresso sub sugar free vanilla and almond milk

Why it works:

A base grande shaken espresso comes in at 100 calories, by modifying this drink to use sugar free syrups you lower the calories substantially. Swap the milk to almond milk and you have yourself a 25 calorie jolt of energy.

7. Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro

Calories~ 70

How to order: Grande vanilla sweet cream nitro

Why it works:

This menu item takes a classic nitro cold brew and adds a dash of vanilla sweet cream. Add ice to keep it cool for hours.

8. Iced Caramel Macchiato (Barista Hack)

Calories~ 70

How to order: Grande iced caramel macchiato with almond milk sub sugar free vanilla and light caramel drizzle/ Sometimes referred to as a “Skinny Caramel Macchiato”

Why it works:

This order may seem like a mouthful but its a low calorie spin on the classic and very popular caramel macchiato. The sugar free vanilla and almond milk swaps take this drink from 250 to just 70 calories. This drink is built in layers with the milk on the bottom, then ice, then topped with espresso, order this ‘upside down’ for your drink to be fully mixed together.

9. Iced Sugar Free Vanilla Latte

Calories~ 40

How to order: Grande iced sugar free vanilla latte with almond milk/ Sometimes referred to as a “Skinny Sugar Free Vanilla Latte”

Why it works:

Swap out vanilla syrup and 2%milk for sugar free vanilla and almond milk and your got a creamy sweet latte. This is a very commonly ordered drink at every Starbucks location.

10. Sugar Free Vanilla Matcha

Calories~ 60

How to order: Grande iced matcha sub sugar free vanilla with almond milk

Why it works:

There is currently a matcha craze happening and you don’t want to miss out. Turn the classic matcha low calorie with these simple swaps. Add in a pump of raspberry (+20cal) or brown sugar (+20cal) to add a little flavor.

Barista Hacks

Use these hacks to lower your calories and add flavor to any drink!

• Add cinnamon powder
• Swap milk for almond milk
• Use alternative sweeteners (stevia, splenda)
• 1 pump of Starbucks syrup is 20 calories, use syrup then supplement with sugar free options for added sweetness
• Order an americano, iced coffee, or cold brew for a low calorie base as opposed to a latte that uses more milk meaning higher calories
• When getting high calorie add ons like caramel drizzle or cold foam opt for the “light” option

Here is my everyday drink straight from a full time Starbucks barista

Grande Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso One Pump Brown Sugar with Almond Milk and One Stevia Extra Cinnamon

Calories~ 115

This is a play on the classic Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso, normally 150 but I use almond milk instead of oat milk and reduce the syrup pumps by 1. Adding extra cinnamon helps flavor the drink without the added calories. The stevia is just there to replace the sweetness from the missing syrup pump, if you want it extra sweet do 2! Totaling us just over 100.

Next time you visit Starbucks, consider ordering one of these 10 low calorie drinks or using the barista approved cheat sheet to make your favorite drink lower calorie. A great way to enjoy your coffee without going over your calorie goals!