15 Best Drinks to Order at Starbucks

It seems like every year there is a new trending drink at Starbucks. The pumpkin spice latte, medicine ball, and pink drink are some that come to mind over recent years. While there are plenty of inventive drinks, and your combinations are endless when creating your own beverage, not all Starbucks drinks are created equal when it comes to your health. Yes, there are plenty of healthy Starbucks drinks—even some low-sugar, low-calorie Starbucks drinks—but for every one of these, there are several more coffee and tea drinks packed with sugar and enough calories for an entire meal.

If you have health on your mind on your next Starbucks trip, we put together some tips to consider when ordering off the Starbucks drink menu as well as dietitian-approved options for what to order.

Tips to order healthy Starbucks drinks:

• The size of your drink can make a huge difference in calories and sugar. If you are craving a more indulgent drink, stick with a tall size to keep calories, sugar, and fat in check.
• Another way to check calories, fat and saturated fat grams is to choose skim milk. Two percent is the standard milk for most drinks, and dropping to fat-free can cut calories quite a bit, depending on the size.
• Limit added sugar by reducing the number of syrup pumps or choose sugar-free syrups when available. You could also consider skipping syrups all together and instead opting for a stevia sweetener that is sugar-free and made with fewer chemicals and diet syrups.

1. Cold Brew Coffee with Milk

Per venti (24oz): 60 calories, 2 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 65 mg sodium, 5 g carbs (0 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 4 g protein

This drink packs a caffeine punch, and a dash of 2% milk makes for a creamier texture. This drink has no added sugar and provides a little protein, making it a great option. If you want to reduce calories further, go with skim milk, and try stevia for a healthier zero-calorie sweetener.

2. Iced Caffe Latte

Per venti (24oz): 180 calories, 6 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 160 mg sodium, 18 g carbs (0 g fiber, 15 g sugar), 12 g protein

Although the Iced Caffe Latte has 15 grams of sugar, this is just the sugar that naturally occurs in milk. There is no added sugar in this drink, making it one of the “best” options on our list. Additionally, you’ll find 12 grams of protein, making a more filling option that could suffice for a decent snack. Swap the 2% milk for skim to cut some calories, fat, saturated fat, carb, and sugar.

3. Caffè Misto

Per venti (20 oz): 130 calories, 5 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat), 130 mg sodium, 13 g carbs (0 g fiber, 13 g sugar), 9 g protein

Another drink with no added sugar and a boost of protein from 2% milk, this hot coffee beverage provides a lot of drink for few calories. The caffè misto is made with equal parts brewed coffee and 2% milk, making for a less caffeinated coffee drink than many others on this list. At just under 200 milligrams of caffeine per venti, this drink still packs an energizing punch without the sugar and calories of many other options.

4. Espresso Con Panna

Per triple (2.25oz): 40 calories, 2.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 0 mg sodium, 3 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 1 g protein

If you are looking for a punch of caffeine in a small drink, you will find it in the espresso con panna. Simply made with brewed espresso and whipped cream, this option provides only 40 calories with zero grams of sugar. At over 225 milligrams of caffeine, you’ll feel energized without the sugar crash a few hours later.

5. Cappuccino

Per venti (20 oz): 200 calories, 8 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 180 mg sodium, 20 g carbs (0 g fiber, 19 g sugar), 13 g protein

You can’t go wrong with a simple cappuccino. Made with a combination of espresso and milk, this drink is known for its thick layer of foam on top. Although higher in calories than other “best” options on this list, you can drop that count by swapping 2% milk for skim. Also, consider adding a dash of cinnamon on top for a zero-calorie way to add flavor.

6. Chai Tea

Per venti (20 oz): 0 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg sodium, 0 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 0 g protein

For a flavor-packed drink that provides zero calories, this chai tea is a great option. Made with black tea along with a variety of spices, this tea is known for its distinctive flavor. Add a splash of milk if you prefer a little creaminess, but avoid the latte version of this drink that is loaded with added sugar.

7. Iced Passion Tango® Tea

Per venti (20 oz): 0 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 15 mg sodium, 0 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 0 g protein

For a cold tea drink, the Iced Passion Tango Tea has flavors of apple, lemongrass, and hibiscus. Not only it is a beautiful color, but you’ll get plenty of flavor for no calories. This is also one of the caffeine-free, healthy Starbucks drink offerings, making it perfect for a fun drink any time of day, or for those who generally limit their caffeine consumption.