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Sugar Free Starbucks Drinks
A look at the best Starbucks drinks that do not have any sugar and how to reduce your sugar intake.
Published March 17, 2022
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Daniel Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Whether you are on a diet or have some other reasons for reducing your sugar intake, you will find that your morning coffee is a great place to start. If you start your day with a Starbucks coffee, you might be wondering if they have sugar free coffee and what options are available if they do. Keep reading to find out what the best sugar free drinks from Starbucks are.
Sugar Free Syrups and Sweeteners
Before we look at the best sugar-free Starbucks drinks we need to talk about their syrups and sweeteners. So, does Starbucks sell sugar free syrup? It does. You can add some flair to your morning coffee by ordering Stevia in The Raw or sugar free vanilla syrup. These are the only two options available and you can always ski the syrup and sweeteners.
Before using sugar free sweeteners with your coffee, there are a few things you need to understand. First, regular use of these sweeteners changes your taste perception, especially towards sweet foods and drinks. You might notice that things start tasting different after repeated use of these sweeteners.
Next these sweeteners affect gut microbiome, introducing issues that you would rather stay away from.
Sugar free drinks at Starbucks
Can you get sugar free drinks at Starbucks? Yes, it is possible to order sugar free lattes at Starbucks. However, you need to understand that any coffee drink that has milk has some sugar. This sugar comes from milk, although this sugar is a lot better than processed sugar since it is natural. Additionally, milk has lots of proteins that have other health benefits.
With all that out of the way, here is a list of sugar free drinks you can get at Starbucks.
Hot Coffee
Most people associate Starbucks with elaborate coffee drinks, but you can still get hot black coffee at the establishment. This coffee has no sugar at all. It can be bitter and taste roasty for some people, but that can be rectified by adding a dash of sugar free vanilla sweetener or milk. You can also always ask the barista to add some sugar free flavor to your cup of coffee.
Flat White
The flat white has been popular in Europe for a long time now, and it is starting to get famous in the United States too. The flat white is very similar to a latte, but it contains less milk than you would find in a cup of latte and much more foam.
Iced Coffee
Iced coffee is another one of the very popular coffee free Starbucks drinks. It is a very simple cup of coffee that only contains coffee and ice. If you are ordering from the app, you should know that the coffee adds simple syrup, also known as classic syrup, to all their drinks by default. You can remove the option when ordering.
Espresso Shots
The espresso shot is the basis for many of the drinks you could have at Starbucks. Espresso shots are served in small glasses and they are two ounces of pure, concentrated coffee. If you do not want to carry around eight ounces of black coffee, espresso shots are a great option.
Espresso Macchiato
The espresso macchiato is very different from the Caramel Macchiato. An espresso macchiato is also one of the more popular no sugar Starbucks drinks. This beverage contains a shot of espresso, a little milk, and foam. Espresso is one of the coffee drinks you would not add a sweetener or syrup to because that would ruin its flavor.
Cappuccino
The cappuccino is a classic coffee drink that you should be familiar with if you love coffee. The cappuccino is a mix of espresso shots and milk foam. If you search for pictures of Starbucks drinks, you will likely come across the cappuccino because it is that popular.
A cappuccino is also very customizable as you can add some syrup to it or add it to the ice to make an iced cappuccino.
Espresso Con Panna
If you are looking for a sweeter espresso drink you should go for the espresso con Panna. This is a classic espresso drink but contains whipped cream that gives it a sweeter taste. It also contains some vanilla syrup but this syrup does not contain any sugar, making it great for those looking to control their sugar intake.
Nitro Cold Brew
A few establishments sell the nitro cold brew and Starbucks is one of them. The nitro cold brew is a coffee drink that is infused with nitrogen. The nitrogen makes it sweeter, which means there is no need for sugar in this drink. You should be aware that the nitro cold brew contains a lot of caffeine so be wary of taking it in the afternoon, as the high caffeine content can cause sleep issues later.
Americano
The Americano is a straight classic coffee drink. This Starbucks coffee sugar free drink contains a shot of espresso and water with no added sugar. You can also ask the barista to add a dash of milk to your americano if you feel the taste of coffee and water would be too strong. The americano is a great coffee to start the day but it is not so great for the afternoon due to its caffeine content.
Iced Café Americano
The iced Café Americano is a great mid-morning beverage. The only difference between it and its americano cousin is that it contains ice instead of water. It also looks amazing as you can see when you search for Starbucks drinks images.
Hot Tea
Regardless of where you get it, the hot tea from Starbucks contains no sugar. Just ensure you do not order a latte so that you only get a sugar free chai latte Starbucks. For comparison, the chai tea latte contains 42 grams of sugar in every 16ounce coffee and is the Starbucks drink with the most sugar.
Iced Teas
In addition to iced coffees, Starbucks also has a few iced teas. The most common of these is their iced green tea. If you do not add any syrup to your iced green tea, it is a totally sugar free drink.
The iced black tea is another Starbucks iced tea sugar free drink. You should tell the barista not to add any syrup to your iced black tea because many of them assume you would want a sweetener in your drink.
Iced White
This is one of those Starbucks drinks that should be on a Starbucks drink cheat sheet because it is not on the menu but you can order it. The drink starts with a citrus white tea that does not contain any sugar. It also includes milk or heavy cream depending on how you like your coffee. Lastly, you can also request that the barista add some sugar free vanilla syrup to the drink.
Pink Drink
The pink drink is another very popular option for those who love Starbucks drinks. The drink is very sweet due to the acai base and strawberries added to the drink. These ingredients contain sugar, but you can always go off the menu for options that do not.
Start by ordering a passion tango iced cream and then request some vanilla syrup. The last ingredient to complete the drink is frozen strawberries. Ensure that you ask the barista not to add coconut milk to the drink as it contains lots of sugar.
Cutting Sugar at Starbucks
Ordering Starbucks drinks that have no sugar is a great way to cut your sugar intake if you get Starbucks drinks regularly. Also, sugar free sweeteners are a great alternative. Most Starbucks locations have non-nutritive and artificial sweeteners that do not contain any sugar.
Another thing to keep in mind is that not all syrups are sugar free. Most syrups only contain sugar and this is why they have a consistency similar to honey. If you want to order Starbucks without sugar, ask the barista or sugar free vanilla. Most locations also have sugar free mocha sauce that you can use to make your drink sweeter.
You should also not get whipped cream with your coffee. Some people prefer it because it makes the drink sweeter and improves its consistency. Whipped cream contains a lot of sugar and so you should avoid it.
Lastly, ask the type of milk they use. Most Starbucks locations carry sweetened versions of different types of milk. You can get a lot of sugar if the almond soy or coconut milk used in your coffee contains some sugar. Cow’s milk remains the best option because it contains very little sugar.
Cow’s milk contains lactose that has a lot of advantages over processed and refined sugar. However, it can still spike blood sugar levels in some people.
Conclusion
Starbucks has some amazing drinks, but not all of them are right for you if you are looking to cut your sugar intake. With knowledge of their drinks and menu, however, it is possible to order a delicious sugar free drink option.
About the author
Daniel Hedlund
Working with the Era of We initiative and loves knowledge sharing and a really good cup of coffee.
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