13 Starbucks Drinks You Should NEVER Order
Whether you think Starbucks is overrated (and overpriced) or would need twelve extra hands to count how many times you’ve visited the one near you, there’s a pretty good chance you’re familiar. If you fall into that second category, I’m sure you’ve tasted more than a few of their offerings. Maybe you’ve gotten ambitious and tried half the menu…or more! With pumpkin spice season rapidly approaching, you’re probably already planning your next fifteen Starbucks trips.
But here’s the thing.
Liquid calories exist. Some health experts call them “hidden calories”, as they don’t make us feel full like the calories we get from food. But the fact of the matter is, they count toward your daily calorie intake. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 50% of the U.S. population drinks sugary, calorie-packed beverages on any given day, with 25% of this group consuming at least 200 calories worth of these beverages. Moreover, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting your calories from added sugars to less than 10% of your total calories per day (per FDA.gov). Eating (or drinking!) too much sugar can raise your risk for several chronic conditions, including heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease.
So, does that mean that you have to quit Starbucks cold turkey? Of course not! You just need to make healthier choices. Today, I’ve compiled a list of all the drinks at Starbucks you should probably avoid ordering in the future. Here are the most sugar-packed, unhealthy beverages The Bucks offers.
1. Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
If the thought of drinking a frappuccino makes you want to dance in a car to “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” Zoolander style, I’m about to burst your bubble. Sadly, the Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino is one of Starbucks’ unhealthiest offerings, coming in at 480 calories, 24g of fat, and 55g of sugar for a Grande. That’s 16 fl oz of pure, unadulterated sugar, carbs, and heavy whipping cream! For a vegan copycat you can try at home, check out THIS recipe from Dani’s Healthy Eats.
480 calories; 55g sugar.
2. Lavender Crème Frappuccino
Maybe one sip of the Lavender Crème Frappuccino made you want to pull a Taylor Swift and stay in that lavender haze. This purple drink might look harmless, but like the previous entry on my list, it’s packed with calories and sugar. 370 calories and 52g of sugar, to be exact. It’s okay to enjoy this sweet, floral-tinged drink as an occasional treat, but don’t make this your regular order!
370 calories; 52g of sugar.
3. Chai Latte
You might look at the chai latte and think, Black tea! It must be a healthier choice, right? Wrong. This milky, cinnamon-infused drink may have slightly fewer calories, but it still packs in a whopping 42g of sugar per a Grande-sized order. The good news is, you can always ask for almond milk and fewer chai pumps to make your order a little healthier. Just be aware that if you order a chai latte without any modifications, you’ll be drinking a lot of sugar, carbs, and empty calories!
240 calories; 42g of sugar.
4. Matcha Crème Frappuccino
Matcha is basically green tea powder, and green tea is incredibly healthy, so surely this option must be better for you. At least, that’s what you might tell yourself as you stand in line at Starbucks and order this cup of green goodness. As someone who’s tried the Matcha Crème Frappuccino on more than one occasion, I know firsthand how delicious it is. But as you might be able to deduce from the word “frappuccino”, it isn’t as good for you as plain green tea. One Grande-sized Matcha Crème Frappuccino totals a whopping 320 calories and 45g of sugar. You’re better off ordering the Iced Green Tea, which has no sugar or calories.
320 calories; 45g of sugar.
5. Caramel Apple Spice
With fall looming in the not-so-distant future, your palate might be craving some autumnal drinks, like the Caramel Apple Spice. It tastes like fall in a cup: warm, cinnamon-y, and comforting. And while it might make your taste buds happy, your blood sugar might tell a different story. That’s because the Caramel Apple Spice is packed with over 70g of sugar. Did somebody say, “Yikes”? Or was that just me?
380 calories, 70g of sugar.
6. Iced Caramel Macchiato
If you’re an iced coffee fanatic who happens to love caramel, then the Iced Caramel Macchiato is practically made for you! But it’s on my list for a reason…and it’s not because it’s one of the best drinks at Starbucks. Quite the opposite, in fact, as the Iced Caramel Macchiato is packed with over 34g of sugar and 37g of carbohydrates. You can always order this offering with a different kind of milk and sugar-free vanilla syrup. Or you can stay home and channel your inner barista by making THIS healthy dupe.
250 calories; 34g of sugar.
7. Blended Strawberry Lemonade
Lemonade tastes like childhood. At least, one sip of lemonade can transport me right back to hot summer days spent sitting behind a makeshift lemonade stand, shooing gnats away from a pitcher of citrus-based goodness. Maybe you’re like me, and lemonade is nostalgia in a glass. And maybe that’s why you like ordering the Blended Strawberry Lemonade from Starbucks. Sure, it’s yummy and has slightly fewer calories than some of the other entries on my list. But it has over 45g of sugar, making this drink fall into the “okay as an occasional treat” category.
190 calories; 45g of sugar.
8. Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
By now, you probably know the drill. Frappuccino equals a sugar-filled, unhealthy dessert disguised as a drink. Even by frappuccino standards, the Caramel Ribbon Crunch is a pretty egregious offender. A Grande-sized drink totals a staggering 470 calories, 22g of fat, and 60g of sugar. As if that isn’t bad enough, there’s also 14g of saturated fat!
470 calories; 60g of sugar.
9. White Chocolate Mocha
White chocolate is something of a misnomer. It actually doesn’t contain the brown cocoa solids that make chocolate, well, chocolate. In fact, I wrote an article about the health benefits of chocolate, which you can read HERE. Spoiler alert: white chocolate did not make my “healthy chocolate” list. So, as you can probably imagine, the White Chocolate Mocha at Starbucks isn’t exactly healthy. Just 16 fl oz of this drink contains 390 calories, 17g of fat, 47g of carbs, and 46g of sugar. So the next time you go to Starbucks, you might want to think twice about ordering this white chocolate-laced sugar bomb.
390 calories; 46g of sugar.
10. Iced Cherry Chai Latte
This entry doesn’t have “frappuccino” in its name, so it’s probably not as bad for you, yes? Believe it or not, the Iced Cherry Chai Latte actually has more sugar than several of the frappuccinos on my list. This creamy, cherry-infused drink packs over 440 calories and 61g of sugar. Definitely okay in moderation, but not a drink you should order every day.
440 calories; 61g of sugar.
11. Summer-Berry Lemonade Refresher
What’s red and blue and has over 33g of sugar? The Summer-Berry Lemonade Refresher, of course! Don’t assume that because it has “berry” in the title, it might be a healthier offering. Coming in around 150 calories and 37g of carbohydrates, it’s far from the worst offender on our list. But, much like red velvet cake or carne asada fries, you’re better off enjoying the Summer-Berry Lemonade Refresher as an occasional treat!
150 calories; 33g of sugar.
12. Hot Chocolate
Let’s face it. No one orders a hot chocolate because they’re looking for health benefits. By now, both you and I know that hot chocolate is filled with sugar, carbs, and empty calories. The hot chocolate at Starbucks is no exception to that rule. While not as sugary as the McDonald’s version, this drink boasts over 370 calories and 37g of sugar. Diabetics should probably steer clear, while the health-conscious should find a less sugary option. Or maybe make a sugar-free, low-fat version at home, like this offering from Well Plated by Erin!
370 calories; 37g of sugar.
13. Cinnamon Dolce Latte
Dolce means “sweet” in Italian, which should be your first hint that this drink made my list for a reason. As you can probably deduce, the Cinnamon Dolce Latte is a high-sugar, high-fat dessert in a to-go cup. But how much sugar is in this drink? According to Starbucks’ website, the Cinnamon Dolce Latte has 340 calories and 40g of sugar. Like some other drinks on my list, you can swap the 2% milk for a lighter option and ask for no whipped cream and sprinkles to make it a little healthier.
340 calories; 40g of sugar.
What can I order at Starbucks?
If you’re watching your calorie or sugar intake but still have a craving for some Starbucks coffee, don’t despair. You can still visit The Bucks and get your caffeine fix! You just have to be a little strategic about what you order. Some healthier, low-sugar options include:
- Black coffee (5 calories, 0 sugar)
- Iced green tea (0 calories, 0 sugar)
- Cold-brew coffee (5 calories, 0 sugar)
- Earl Grey tea (0 calories, 0 sugar)
- Iced Peach Green Tea (60 calories, 12g sugar)
- Iced Passion Tango Tea (5 calories, 0 sugar)
Always remember that you can make some drinks healthier with a few tweaks! For example, asking for almond or oat milk instead of whole milk can reduce the calorie and fat content. You can also request sugar-free syrup instead of the full-sugar alternative. And remember, it’s okay to indulge in some specialty coffee drinks now and then. However, drinking one every day (or even several times a week) can cause health issues, like obesity and heart disease. No coffee drink, however yummy, is worth your health!
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Originally published August 11, 2025
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