Starbucks Cup Sizes & What They Mean

Set off on a stimulating adventure with us as we solve the riddle of Starbucks cup sizes and learn the meaning of ventis, grandes, and talls. It can be as difficult to navigate the coffee counter as it is to decipher a secret menu, but do not worry—we are here to unravel the great mystery. Every size conveys a story of sips and sizes, from the petite tall to the decadent venti. Join us as we explore the dimensions of your daily brew, from the small joys to the large excursions, and learn why selecting a coffee at Starbucks is a statement of your caffeinated identity rather than just a matter of size. Welcome to a world where the size of your cup tells volumes about your need for coffee and where cup sizes themselves are a language.

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Short (8 oz)

Many people don’t realize that there is actually a size before “tall” at Starbucks. The original Starbucks sizes started as Short, Tall, and Grande. While the short cup has fallen out of popularity, it’s still available! The smallest size at Starbucks, a short is 8 ounces. This is perfect for kids beverages like hot chocolate, or for anyone looking for a small cup of coffee to start their day. If you order a short sized drink at Starbucks, it typically takes 1 shot of espresso for espresso drinks, or 1 tea bag for tea drinks. If you add a flavor, short cups include 2 pumps of your syrup of choice.

Tall (12 oz)

Tall is considered the average “small” at Starbucks, even though there is the smaller option of a short cup. This is the smallest size listed on the standard menu, and it is commonly considered equivalent to a small cup of coffee elsewhere. The tall size at Starbucks is 12 ounces, whether your drink of choice is hot or cold. Tall drinks at Starbucks usually take 1 shot of espresso, but if you order a tall flat white, a tall americano, or a tall iced shaken espresso, there will be 2 shots included. If you’re adding flavor, tall drinks include 3 pumps of flavoring syrup.

Grande (16 oz)

Grande is considered the standard drink size at Starbucks, and equivalent to a medium. “Grande” is Italian for large, which causes some confusion, but it was the original Starbucks large before the venti was added to the menu. A grande Starbucks drink is 16 ounces, whether hot or iced. Grande is the only size offered for smoothies. Grande sized espresso drinks at Starbucks generally contain two shots of espresso. If you order an Americano, a flat white, or an iced shaken espresso however, you get 3 shots of espresso. Grande tea drinks come with 2 tea bags. If you add flavor to your grande sized drink, you’ll get 4 pumps of syrup.

Venti Hot (20 oz)

For the smaller Starbucks sizes, both hot and cold sizes get the same amount. When it comes to a large cup, however, there are two different sizes. A hot venti sized drink is 20 ounces. Why is it called a venti? In Italian, “venti” means “twenty”, which is why this drink is 20 ounces large. The venti is considered Starbucks’ large size coffee. A venti hot espresso drink contains 2 shots, unless you get a flat white or an Americano, which contain 3 shots of espresso. If you add flavor to a venti hot, you’ll get 5 pumps of syrup. Venti hot teas come with 2 tea bags.

Venti Cold (24 oz)

A cold or iced venti drink is a bit larger, at 24 ounces per drink. The venti cold is larger, likely in part to make room for ice. If you order a venti sized iced drink, it will be in the 24 ounce cup. With a venti cold, you get an extra shot of espresso compared to a venti hot. That means that an iced venti espresso drink contains 3 shots of espresso. If you order a venti iced American or a venti iced flat white, you’ll get 4 shots of espresso. Cold venti drinks typically get 6 pumps of syrup if you add a flavor or choose a flavored beverage.

Trenta (30 oz)

If you’re looking for an extra large drink, Starbucks also offers a trenta size. This XL size is only available for iced drinks, including iced coffee, cold brew, Starbucks refreshers, iced teas, and shaken iced tea lemonades. “Trenta” is Italian for “thirty” which is why this Starbucks size is 30 ounces large. While you can only order iced drinks in this cup, not all iced drinks are available in the 30 oz size. Iced espresso beverages are not available in trenta, nor are frappuccinos.