The 10 Best Low-Calorie Starbucks Drinks

By Robert Parsons August 6, 2021

When you think of coffee, almost anyone in their right mind will think of Starbucks. That being said, Starbucks drinks come packed with a lot of calories hidden behind their coffee goodness. However, we have a solution that doesn’t involve saying sayonara to your favorite coffee treat. There are such things as healthy Starbucks drinks.  

These drinks might not be headliners on the menu, but we promise, they carry that flavorful goodness that you are looking for when you drive up to your local Starbucks. So pull out your phone, grab a pen, or turn on your photographic memory and get ready for the 10 best low-calorie Starbuck drinks.

1. Black Coffee

First things first. Standard black coffee or an American comes in at a whopping 5 calories. While this might not be the perfect solution for sugar lovers, it is low calorie and gets your fix without any added sugar. Give it a shot and try getting straight to the caffeine. 

2. Nitro Cold Brew

With the same idea, you can opt for a nitro cold brew which is also only 5 calories. The best part about this option is that the cold brew process helps soften the bitterness and acts as a natural sweetener to the coffee, so if you aren’t a fan of black drip coffee, there is still hope with the Nitro cold brew! It’s also great for those who will die on the hill of iced coffee over a hot coffee. 

3. Iced Coffee with Syrup

If cold brew still isn’t sweet enough for you, you can add syrup to your iced coffee to give it a bit of flavor. This comes out to 60 calories. A significant jump from just 5, but still much better than other sugary drinks Starbucks offers. Opt for a low-calorie syrup to save on calories as well. 

4. Iced Skinny Latte

If espresso is your coffee style of choice, try an iced skinny latte. This is milk, espresso, and a possible syrup made cold. Get your espresso fix without adding all the other calories at only 60 calories total. Take note that the jump from loads of sugar and sweeteners might be a big change, so prepare for a big flavor difference than a typical latte. 

5. Nonfat Cappuccino

The key to this drink is ordering a cappuccino with nonfat milk. Not only does this give you the creamy, milky flavor that so many Starbucks drinkers are searching for, but you save tons of calories making the milk switch. Plus, cappuccinos contain no calories aside from the milk, so it’s a perfect solution and only 60 calories. 

6. Shaken Tazo Iced Black Tea Lemonade

Not looking for coffee? That’s okay. There are healthy tea options as well! While this mixture of tea and lemonade does have some calories, it has less caffeine than coffee drinks which help even out the reasoning of splurging 70 calories for a cup. Mixing the two well-known combos is the perfect option for something light while still getting a small kick of caffeine in. There are other tea options as well such as green tea that are healthy substitutes for coffee. 

7. Cold Brew with Cold Foam

Who else loves cold foam? Newsflash. You can still have your favorite park of a coffee without overdoing it. Try a black cold brew with cold foam. This will give you the milky texture while keeping the sweeteners out of it other than the natural sweetness of a cold foam. This comes out to 80 calories overall. 

8. Skinny Vanilla Latte

Heading back to lattes, grab a hot latte with a splash of vanilla sweetener for only 100 calories. This is a bit more than the ice option, but you get the milky texture of a frothed latte. Ask for less milk added if you would like to keep it as healthy as possible, but overall, a great craving satisfier. 

9. Light Caramel Frappuccino

We’ve all been waiting for it. If you have ever checked the calories on the Starbucks menu, you know that the frappuccinos are known to have some of the highest calories than any other drink. This frozen beverage is a favorite by so many, we couldn’t leave you without a healthier alternative. Next time you head to Starbucks, order a light caramel frappuccino. This includes ice, nonfat milk, coffee, and caramel syrup. You can still have your favorite treat and for only 100 calories. 

10. Nonfat Iced Caramel Macchiato 

Lastly, another staple is a macchiato. Specifically iced macchiatos. Following the nonfat milk, order a nonfat iced caramel macchiato. Pro Tip: this is basically the latte option above without being shaken. If you are ever getting overcharged for a macchiato or latte over the other, know they are almost if not identical in ingredients. This drink comes to 140 calories, so it is a bit more than other options. 

Aside from the drinks above, opting for less sugar or nonfat options will always help lower the calorie count. However, keep in mind calories are not the only thing that matters. The health of a drink is much more complex than simple calorie-counting, but it can help eliminate unhealthy options typically. So run to Starbucks and give one of your new drink options a try!