Calories in Coffee – Starbucks

Calories in coffee at Starbucks can range from almost nothing to the equivalent of a good-sized meal. Step into a Starbucks and you’re confronted with an amazing variety of choice. Who can resist the urge to indulge just a little? As Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. at the Mayo Clinic says, “Occasional indulgence is fine. But remember that when it comes to weight loss, all calories count — even calories in liquid form.”

So let’s start counting calories, courtesy of Starbucks. A plain cup of coffee has only 2 calories, as discussed previously in this article about calories in coffee.  It’s not the coffee itself that’s the problem, it’s what you add to it that causes all the grief.

Calories in Coffee – Lower Calorie Choices

If you want something more than a plain coffee, but you’re not looking for a whole meal, then consider one of these cappuccino or iced latte.

A tall (16 ounce) Starbucks cappuccino with nonfat milk has 80 cal. Using 2% will add 40 cal. for a total of 120 calories for the same cappuccino. Substitute whole milk instead and you end up with a 140 cal. cappuccino.

An iced skinny flavored latte has about the same calorie count as a cappuccino. A tall (16 ounce) iced skinny flavored with non-fat milk has 80 calories. Using 2% milk increases the calorie count to 110 calories. Substitute whole milk for your skinny latte and you’ve got yourself with a robust 130 cal., coffee. It’s called skinny because it has sugar-free flavoring syrup to limit the calorie count. Whole milk kind of defeats the purpose of a skinny latte, don’t you think?

If you prefer your Starbucks iced latte with real sugar, it’s going to cost you some extra calories. A tall (16 ounce) iced café latte with non-fat milk has 90 calories, just 10 cal. more than the skinny version. With 2% , calorie intake increases 130 cal. Substitute whole milk, and you’re looking at a sizable 150 cal. of coffee delight.

If you want to cut back on your calorie in-take, order a short (8 ounce) instead of the tall (16 ounce). Sure, it’s half the amount of coffee, but it’s also half the amount of calories.

Calories in Coffee – The More the Merrier

If you’re feeling slightly indulgent in your Starbucks outing, you may prefer a regular latte. No ice and nothing skinny here, but be aware that you are looking at a minimum of 130 cal. for your treat. A tall (16 ounce) café latte with non-fat milk has 130 calories, increasing to 190 cal., with the use of 2%. Those who prefer their latte with whole milk end up with a 220 cal. drink.

A flavored latte increases the calorie count even more. A tall (16 ounce) flavored latte with non-fat milk contains 200 cal. Using 2% instead of the non-fat version puts the total count at 250 cal. Whole milk increases the calorie amount even further, to a total of 280 cal.

Calories in Coffee – Make Mine a Meal

You can end up having a virtual meal in a coffee cup, if you’re not careful. Almost a third of your daily calorie intake can come from just that one little indulgence. A Starbucks Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino® Blended Beverage (16 oz.), with whole milk and whipped cream weighs in at a hefty 450 cal. Not to be out done, the Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino® Blended Beverage (16 oz.) with whipped cream tops out at 640 cal. of pure pleasure.

It looks good and it tastes great. There’s nothing wrong with living a little and adding some excitement to your day. Just remember that too much of a good thing can be bad. So drink these in moderation.