Brian Nagele
Coffee and tea are great pick-me-ups, a fast burst of energy many of us need to get through our workdays. However, many of Starbucks’ coffee drinks are laden with refined sugars.
The chain is famous for it’s coffee drinks, many of which have sugary syrups and other additions. There are, however, some great sugar-free Starbucks drinks as well.
The syrups and additives contain high levels of sweet stuff that many customers may not be comfortable consuming.
Fortunately, the chain offers a wide variety of beverages for those avoiding sugar. Starbucks’ sugar-free drinks provide the same delicious taste and valued energy boost of their sweetened beverages without the added calories.
We’ve studied the store’s menu to tell you about the best Starbucks sugar-free drinks, what they contain, and how to order them.
Iced Coffee
Iced coffee is a summertime favorite that lets you get your daily caffeine kick without enduring the heat of a piping hot cup of joe.
Starbucks knows its way around a coffee bean, so naturally, their iced coffee isn’t to be missed, and there are lots of popular iced drinks.
Starbucks defaults to adding sweetening syrup to their iced coffee. To enjoy the beverage without added sugar, simply request that the barista omit the classic syrup.
The beloved coffee tycoons keep their iced brew simple-just ice and brewed coffee, which explains why the drink contains only 80 calories.
Iced coffee is available in all four Starbucks sizes: tall, grande, venti, and trenta.
Caffè Americano
Sometimes you need a burst of energy without the sugar. Starbucks Caffe Americano provides a hearty dose of caffeine without any sweetness.
Starbucks tops espresso shots with hot water, creating a thin crema layer. The simple beverage warms and energizes everyone who drinks it.
Starbucks serves Caffe Americano hot for chilly autumn mornings or cold for a quick, refreshing shot of summer energy.
The drink comes in four sizes:
- Short: one espresso shot and five calories
- Tall: two espresso shots and ten calories
- Grande: three espresso shots and 15 calories
- Venti: four shots and 15 calories
Though it doesn’t contain sugar, it is full of caffeine, so drink responsibly.
Caffè latte
Caffe lattes, the iconic coffee drinks, originated in Italy but are beloved globally.
The beverages combine espresso, steamed milk, and a thin cream layer into a delicious, hot drink.
Starbucks’ caffe latte sneaks onto this list on a technicality. The franchise doesn’t add any sugar to the brew; however, the milk contains a measure of the sweet stuff.
Customers may opt to add syrups to their orders; however, the original latte only contains the dairy’s sugar.
Starbucks allows customers to modify their lattes with a variety of different kinds of milk and dairy products. Keep in mind that Starbucks’ non-dairy milks may have more sugar in them.
Caffè Misto
Coffee enthusiasts recognize the Caffe Misto by the name cafe au lait. Starbucks changed the name but didn’t alter the recipe.
The caffe misto is equal parts steamed milk and brewed coffee. The milk contains sugar; however, the franchise doesn’t add any to the caffe misto.
Starbucks allows several modifications to the misto formula. Customers can choose their dairy, the amount of foam they prefer, and the milk temperature.
The caffe misto comes in these sizes:
- Short: five grams of sugar
- Tall: eight grams of sugar
- Grande: ten grams of sugar
- Venti: 13 grams of sugar
Customers may choose to add syrups to their caffe misto. However, adding flavors also adds sugar.
Cappuccino
Like many beloved coffee drinks, cappuccino traces its roots back to Italy.
The hot beverage is an international favorite, as popular in coffee houses as in bookstores.
Baristas make cappuccino by adding a thick milk-foam layer to espresso. The milk contains sugar, but Starbucks doesn’t add any to the classic version of the drink.
Starbucks allows customers to modify the dairy used, the foam amount, and the cappuccino’s temperature.
Iced Passion Tango Tea
Nothing is more refreshing on a warm day than a tall glass of iced tea.
Unfortunately, the beverage is often chock full of sugar. Starbucks iced passion tango tea offers a crisp, delicious, sugar-free alternative to sweet teas.
Baristas shake the beverage over ice to ensure it’s properly and thoroughly chilled.
The tea contains:
- Water
- Lemongrass
- Fruit juice extract
- Cinnamon
- Apple
- Hibiscus flowers
- Citric acid
- Natural flavors
- Licorice root
The beverage contains no sugar or calories, making it a great and guilt-free option. Iced passion tango tea only comes in one size, the 16-ounce grande.
Nitro Cold Brew
Nitro Cold Brew is as much a chemistry experiment as a beverage. The beverage infuses Starbucks’ signature cold brew with nitrogen.
The coffee contains no sugar, but the fusion of coffee and nitrogen creates a sweet, creamy foam. Nitro cold brew has a smooth texture and a rich, delicious flavor.
Nitro cold brew contains only five calories. The drink comes in two sizes; tall and grande.
Those hoping to add extra flavor to their coffee can request a few pumps of their favorite syrups to the cold brew. The sugar-free vanilla syrup sweetens the beverage without adding any sugar.
Brewed Coffee
The classics endure for a reason. Starbucks brewed coffees don’t complicate a good thing; they allow the drink to stand alone and shine.
Customers have a few caffeinated and decaffeinated brewed coffee options:
- Veranda blend
- Dark Roast
- Medium Roast
- Decaf Pike Place roast
Each of these beverages has only five calories and zero grams of sugar. Customers can choose to drink the coffees as they come or to mix in one of Starbucks’ signature syrups.
Those hoping to keep the coffee sugar-free should drink it as it comes or add some Splenda for sweetness.
Brewed coffee comes in Starbucks’ four sizes; short, tall, grande, and venti.
Iced Black Tea
Starbucks’ iced black tea adheres to the principle that less is often more. The chain fuses a mix of black tea leaves into the perfect blend.
Even though the drink has no sugar, calories, or fat, it’s full of flavor. Baristas shake the tea over ice to chill it to a perfect, refreshing temperature.
In addition to their classic iced black tea, Starbucks sells:
- Iced black tea lemonade
- Iced Royal English Breakfast tea latte
- Iced London Fog latte
All of these variations include sugar, however. Starbucks allows customers to add syrups and fruit juices to their iced black teas.
Espresso Macchiato
The espresso macchiato is more straightforward than its name suggests.
The drink tops espresso with steamed milk and foam. The European-inspired drink is rich and robust, with a healthy dose of caffeine.
Customers can opt for a different type of dairy, but Starbucks defaults to two percent milk. The beverage comes in the following sizes:
- Solo: .8 ounces, one espresso shot, and ten calories
- Doppio: 1.6 ounces, two espresso shots, and 15 calories
- Triple: 2.3 ounces, three espresso shots, and 20 calories
- Quad: 3.1 ounces, four espresso shots, and 25 calories
The sizes are notably smaller than other Starbucks options, but the drink packs a powerful caffeine punch.
Iced Green Tea
Green tea draws many drinkers in with promises of powerful antioxidants and health benefits.
Science has disproved many claims about green tea’s curative abilities, but the drink is still delicious.
Starbucks shakes the beverage over ice, serving it chilled. The refreshing drink contains no sugar and no calories.
Starbucks allows myriad modifications to the tea. Customers can choose how much water and ice to include in the drink.
Additionally, the chain allows the addition of matcha powder and flavored syrups. Just be cautious if you’re trying to stick to no sugar; many additives include the sweet stuff.
Peach Tranquility Tea
Tea has been soothing frayed nerves for years. The little leaves calm and relax drinkers, providing natural stress relief.
Starbucks’ peach tranquility tea turns the calming effect into a science, creating a delicious, serene experience.
The drink relies on the natural sweetness of the fruit infused in the tea to provide flavor.
Starbucks makes their peach tranquility tea from:
- Chamomile flowers
- Peach
- Water
- Apple
- Rose hips
- Candied pineapple
- Licorice root
- Chamomile pollen
- Natural flavor
- Lemon verbena
Peach tranquility tea has no sugar, but it does have caffeine, so don’t indulge before bed.
Emperor’s Cloud and Mist Tea
Emperor’s Cloud and Mist tea derives its name from the tea leaves‘ unique growing process.
The plant grows 3,500 feet in the air, surrounded by clouds and mist.
The tea combines seemingly disparate tastes into a cohesive, delicious drink. Fans describe the flavor as sweet and a little salty, with hints of spinach and hazelnut.
The beverage has no sugar or calories, but it does contain caffeine.
Starbucks lets customers modify the number of tea bags used if they prefer stronger or weaker brews.
Jade Citrus Mint Tea
Very little is homier and cozier than a steaming cup of tea. Starbucks jade citrus mint tea warms while it calms, without adding sugar to one’s diet.
The organic beverage contains:
- Organic green tea
- Natural flavors
- Organic spearmint
- Organic lemon verbena
- Organic Lemongrass
- Water
The tea chases a burst of lemon with a whiff of menthol, energizing while it relaxes. The zero sugar, zero calories beverage contains a decent hit of caffeine.
The refreshing beverage contains no carbs, just relaxing vapors.
Chai tea
Chai tea originated in India but has achieved global domination.
The drink’s unique blend of spices warms fans from the inside out without adding unwanted sugar to their diet.
Chai tea includes:
- Water
- Cardamom
- Star Anise
- Black tea
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Black pepper
- Cloves
- Cardamom essence
The beverage contains a dose of caffeine and is a delicious alternative to coffee.
Chai tea is calorie-free. Starbucks allows customers to modify their coffee orders by adding flavors or toppings. These alterations may add sugar, however.
Iced caffé latte
Starbucks pours their beloved caffe latte over ice to create a cool, refreshing summer-perfect beverage.
The highly caffeinated drink mixes milk and espresso into a perfect dairy-forward beverage.
Starbucks doesn’t add any sugar to their iced caffe lattes; however, the milk does contain some of the sweet stuff.
Customers can select different dairy products to anchor their iced caffe latte, but Starbucks defaults to two percent milk.
Flat white
Starbucks’ flat white is the perfect drink for those who crave the caffeine kick of espresso but prefer a milder flavor.
The hot coffee drink mixes ristretto espresso shots, which are more concentrated and potent than the traditional preparation, with steamed milk. The resulting beverage is creamy and energizing.
Flat whites contain only the milk’s sugar; the chain doesn’t sweeten the drink.
Customers can substitute the dairy used in their flat white, but Starbucks uses whole milk for the classic version of the drink.
Espresso
Though espresso provides the foundation many espresso-based drinks are built around; many coffee enthusiasts enjoy the beverage on its own.
Espresso is a particularly potent and concentrated form of coffee, using a lower water to grounds ratio than your standard cup of joe.
Espresso contains considerable caffeine, and many hoping for a quick burst of energy appreciate the beverage’s kick.
Starbucks espresso naturally contains no sugar, so if you’re avoiding the sweet stuff, espresso won’t ruin your diet or blood sugar.
Earl Gray Tea
Earl gray tea has a long, nebulous history. The drink’s mysterious origins in no way diminish its enduring popularity.
The beverage warms drinkers with its delicate floral notes and hints of citrus.
Starbucks’ earl gray tea contains:
- Water
- Black Tea
- Bergamot essence
- Lavender flowers
The tea contains a healthy dose of caffeine, making it a good coffee alternative for those who don’t enjoy that beverage.
Earl gray is a naturally sugar-free option, and Starbucks doesn’t add any sweetener to the brew.
