Starbucks Caramel Iced Coffee is one of the most popular beverages from their menu. It is a delicious, creamy and indulgent drink that can keep you energized throughout the day. But, before you order your next cup, you may want to know exactly how many calories this drink contains.
So, just how many calories are in a Starbucks Caramel Iced Coffee? According to the Starbucks website, a tall (12oz) size contains 110 calories and a grande (16oz) size contains 140 calories.
Many people are surprised to find out that a Starbucks Caramel Iced Coffee has relatively few calories in comparison to other Starbucks drinks. For example, a tall Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino contains 330 calories, while a tall Vanilla Latte contains 200 calories.
It may be natural to assume that, because the Caramel Iced Coffee contains milk, it will have more calories than an identical beverage made with just coffee and syrup, but this is not the case. The milk adds some sweetness and creaminess to the drink but it only adds 20 extra calories to the tall size and 40 extra calories to the grande.
Although Caramel Iced Coffee is one of the lower calorie options on the Starbucks menu, some believe there are other drinks that are even better. For example, the Cold Brew with Sweet Cream contains 90 calories and the Cold Foam Cold Brew with Cascara Cold Foam contains 80 calories. Though these drinks lack the sweetness of the Caramel Iced Coffee, they are a much lower calorie option.
Although the Caramel Iced Coffee is not one of the lowest calorie options on the Starbucks menu, it is still considered relatively low in calories in comparison to other beverages. Health professionals recommend that people should limit the amount of sweet and sugary drinks they consume, which makes the Caramel Iced Coffee a good option for people who are looking for something with a little sweetness.
Nutritional Benefits of the Caramel Iced Coffee
In addition to having relatively few calories, the Caramel Iced Coffee also offers a few key nutritional benefits. This drink contains 12mg of potassium, 20mg of sodium, 21g of carbohydrates and 14g of sugars. It is also fortified with calcium and Vitamin A. These nutritional benefits make the Caramel Iced Coffee an ideal choice for people looking for a refreshing, creamy and nutritious beverage.
However, some people may find that a grande size contains too much sugar and carbohydrates. If you are watching your sugar intake, you may be better off opting for a tall size or an iced latte. A tall size contains 14g of sugar, while a tall iced latte contains 10g.
Healthier Alternatives to the Caramel Iced Coffee
If you’re looking for an even healthier option than the Caramel Iced Coffee, there are a few other drinks you can choose from. A tall Nitro Cold Brew contains 5 calories, while a tall Unsweetened Black Tea contains 0 calories. For those looking for a sweeter, more indulgent option, the Matcha Green Tea Latte contains 70 calories in a grande size.
For those who are looking to cut back on their caffeine intake, the Caffe Misto is a great option. This drink is made with a blend of steamed milk and half of a shot of espresso and it only contains 10 calories in a grande size.
If you’d like to make your favorite Starbucks drink even healthier, you can opt for nonfat or almond milk, or you can ask your barista to make your drink with sugar-free syrup. You can also add a shot of espresso to make your drink taste bolder without adding too many calories.
Conclusion
Most people know that Starbucks Caramel Iced Coffee is a delicious and refreshing drink, but many are surprised to learn that it only contains 110-140 calories in a tall or grande size. Although this is one of the lower calorie options on the menu, there are still healthier alternatives such as the Nitro Cold Brew and Matcha Green Tea Latte. If you’re looking to limit your sugar intake, you can opt for unsweetened drinks or ask for your drink to be made with sugar-free syrup.
Conclusion on Benefits for Health
Although the Caramel Iced Coffee is not the healthiest beverage on the Starbucks menu, it still contains a few key nutritional benefits, including 12 mg of potassium, 20 mg of sodium, and 21g of carbohydrates and 14g of sugar. Therefore, this drink can be an ideal choice for those looking for a nourishing and refreshing treat. Additionally, other beverages such as cold brew and matcha green tea latte offer even greater health benefits.
Health Warnings
Although the Caramel Iced Coffee has relatively few calories compared to other drinks on the Starbucks menu, it still contains a significant amount of sugar and carbohydrates. Therefore, health professionals advise people to limit their intake of sweet and sugary beverages. If you’re someone who is trying to be mindful of your sugar intake, you should choose smaller sizes or drinks that are unsweetened.
Additionally, you should be aware that many of the items on the Starbucks menu contain high amounts of sodium and calories. Therefore, it is important to read the nutritional labels carefully and only consume the recommended serving sizes.
Tips for Reducing Calories
If you’re looking for ways to reduce the calories in your Starbucks order, there are a few simple steps you can take. For example, you can opt for a tall size instead of a grande or you can request that your barista use nonfat or almond milk. Additionally, you can order your drinks with sugar-free syrup or add a shot of espresso instead of extra syrup, which will make your drink taste richer without adding too many calories.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a low calorie drink, you can opt for the Nitro Cold Brew or Unsweetened Black Tea, which both contain 0 or 5 calories.
