How many ounces in a grande Starbucks coffee? On the surface, it seems like a simple question. After all, a grande is the medium size drink at Starbucks. But when we dig deeper, it becomes more complicated. From the number of ounces in a cup of coffee to the importance of espresso shots, various factors come into play when you’re trying to decipher this question.
Let’s start with basics: the espresso shot that is the base of all Starbucks drinks. A “single” espresso shot, as defined by Starbucks, is one ounce of coffee brewed through their espresso machines. Whether in a flat white or a latte, a single espresso shot contains about 1 ounce of coffee. If you’re ordering a grande (medium) drink, it contains two shots of espresso.
In addition to espresso shots, milk or other dairy alternatives are present in almost all coffee drinks. At Starbucks, milk or other dairy adds between 8-12 ounces of liquid to your drink’s grande size. That means that a grande beverage is a total of 12-16 ounces as a final product.
But even these estimates can be wrong. Ultimately, the exact ounce count of your grande drink depends on your baristas and the kind of drink customization you order. For instance, if you order a latte with nonfat milk, that will reduce the total ounce count of your drink by two. Similarly, if you order a latte with vanilla syrup, that will likely reduce the ounce count by two, as well.
In general, the larger the size of your drink, the more ounces of liquid you can expect. The 16-ounce grande is the second largest in the Starbucks lineup, and it is the recommended option for cappuccinos and lattes. For those looking for extra caffeine to get through the day, a venti (20 ounces) or trenta (30 ounces) would be the optimal pick.
Furthermore, any customization of your grande coffee order, further alters the total number of ounces in your beverage. This can include adding shots of espresso, switching from nonfat to soy milk and even altering the type of sweetener in the coffee. In the end, other important factors to consider are how much liquid (milk, soy milk, etc.) is used in the cup and how large the coffee cup is.
Ordering coffee at Starbucks
The process of ordering coffee at Starbucks can also be a factor in understanding how many ounces are in a grande Starbucks coffee. For instance, when a customer orders a latte, they have the option to select the amount of shots they’d like in the coffee. Any extra shots beyond the standard two, is an extra charge.
As mentioned previously, ordering extra shots of espresso can reduce the total number of ounces in the coffee. That’s because a single shot of espresso is one ounce. So the more shots you have, the less ounces of milk or other dairy alternatives you will have.
On the other hand, other customization of your grande drink can increase the total number of ounces in the cup. Adding flavoring syrups to your drink, for instance, is an extra charge. However, these syrups does not reduce the total number of ounces in the cup, as each shot is an additional fluid — not to mention the extra sweetness it adds.
In addition to flavored syrups, customers may also opt for extra shots of espresso. This may be an additional charge, but it does not reduce the amount of ounces in the cup. So no matter what option of customization you decide on, there will still be 16 ounces in your grande cup.
Brewing at Home
No matter how many ounces in a grande Starbucks coffee, most people will opt to brew their own coffee at home. It’s cheaper, faster, and usually better-tasting than Starbucks. It also allows you to control the exact number of ounces in your cup.
Brewing coffee at home can vary depending on the size of the cup, the type of coffee grounds you use, and how much coffee you’re making at one time. But generally speaking, a single ounce of coffee grounds yields about four to five ounces of brewed coffee. That means a full grande cup of 16-ounces of coffee requires about 3-4 ounces of coffee grounds.
As for the actual brewing process, the classic drip machine — the most common for home use — can brew about 10-12 ounces of coffee in one go. That’s what most people mean when they say a “cup” of coffee. All you have to do is fill the machine with 10-ounces of water and 2-2.5 ounces of coffee grounds to get your perfect 16-ounce grande.
If you prefer a stronger cup of coffee, though, adding an extra shot or two of espresso can help you achieve that. To get a stronger, more espresso-tasting cup, add 0.5 or 1 ounce of coffee grounds to a total of 10-ounces of water. That will leave you with a delicious 16-ounce grande cup of coffee, perfect for that afternoon pick-me-up.
Bottom Line
In the end, you can’t really answer the question “How many ounces in a grande Starbucks coffee?” without factoring in customization and other elements. But if you’re looking for a basic answer, the grande drink size at Starbucks holds between 12-16 ounces of liquid. The two shots of espresso plus the dairy add up to the full 16 ounces, but any additional customization alters that equation.
When it comes to crafting your coffee at home, the process is a bit easier to master. A rule of thumb of 4-5 ounces per one ounce of coffee grounds is usually enough to get a grande size 16-ounce cup. Simple as that.
Caffeine Content
Caffeine content is another factor to consider when determining how many ounces in a grande Starbucks coffee. A grande cup of coffee from Starbucks contains 360-480 milligrams of caffeine. That’s about triple the amount of caffeine found in a single, 1-ounce cup of coffee.
Depending on the type of coffee, brew strength and cup size, it’s hard to accurately determine the exact caffeine content of your cup. This is one great benefit of ordering your coffee from a company like Starbucks. The chain boasts a consistent and accurate punch of caffeine that’s perfect for those of us who need a good kick-start in the morning.
Speaking of caffeine, that brings us back to espresso shots. As mentioned before, each single shot of espresso contains one ounce of coffee. That ounce clocks in at about 75 milligrams of caffeine, but adding extra shots can up the caffeine count in your cup.
So the more espresso shots you add to your coffee order, the more total caffeine you’ll have in your glass. That could be good or bad depending on how much you like the effects of caffeine, but it’s important to note that more espresso shots can also take away ounces from the cup. That’s why if you’re looking for a large, caffeine-rich cup of coffee, you might want to opt for a venti size or bigger.
Types of Coffee Drinks
When trying to figure out how many ounces in a grande Starbucks coffee, it’s important to have an understanding of the different types of Starbucks drinks. A latte, for example, has a base of steamed milk and 2 shots of espresso. A cappuccino, on the other hand, has a base of steamed milk, a shot of espresso, and a topping of foamed milk.
Knowing the difference between them can allow you to know the exact number of ounces in your grande cup. A grande latte would contain 12 ounces of liquid (2 shots of espresso plus 10 ounces of steamed milk). A grande cappuccino, however, would contain 14 ounces (1 shot of espresso, 10 ounces of steamed milk and 3 ounces of foam).
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something simpler than a latté or a cappuccino, an Americano or brewed coffee might be the way to go. For a grande Americano or brewed coffee, the total amount of ounces will depend on the coffee-to-water ratio you’re using. In general, a grande cup of brewed coffee clocks in at about 16 ounces, whereas an Americano is slightly less (12 ounces).
Customer Preferences
When it comes to coffee orders, customer preferences are just as important as all the technical and scientific aspects of coffee. A customer’s preference can influence how many ounces are in a grande Starbucks coffee. For instance, many customers might opt to water down their coffee with more milk or a non-dairy alternative. That’s because the more milk, the more creamier and sweeter the coffee will be.
Some customers might also prefer extra espresso shots in their coffee. This is typically seen in a cappuccino or latte, as the extra shots can give the coffee a stronger taste. But as mentioned before, the extra shots of espresso could reduce the total ounces of fluid in the cup, depending on the size of the cup.
On the other side of the spectrum, some customers prefer to add flavorings and sweeteners to their coffee drinks. Adding syrups like vanilla and caramel, or sweeteners like honey, can sweeten the drink up to match a customer’s preference. Such additions do not reduce the total ounces of fluid in the cup.
Nutrition
When deciding how many ounces in a grande Starbucks coffee, it’s important to consider the nutritional aspect of your drink. Most Starbucks coffees are relatively low in calories, ranging from about 80-250 calories for a grande cup. However, the calories can vary drastically depending on the type of milk or dairy substitute you’re using.
Recent studies have found that nondairy milk alternatives such as almond milk, coconut milk and oat milk contain fewer calories than traditional cow’s milk. That means that if you’re looking to reduce the calories in your Starbucks coffee, opting for nondairy milk might be the way to go.
In addition to calories, other important nutritional information to consider include sugar content and fat content. A grande latte with 2% milk, for instance, contains about 12g of sugar and 8g of fat. With that being said, the added components to your grande Starbucks coffee, such as syrups, sweeteners and other flavors, can drastically change the nutritional content of your drink.
