Decaf Drinks at Starbucks With Calories for Each

Starbucks drinks are always a treat. They always deliver the caffeine you need alongside cool flavors, added goodies, or that delicious cold-brew foam cap. Starbucks truly has a lock on great drinks that will keep you going. However, what about the decaf drinks at Starbucks? Sometimes you want a thirst-quencher without the added buzz. Or maybe you just really need some sugar. Other people simply like the taste of good coffee but don’t want the side effects of caffeine. Or maybe they simply want to enjoy their coffee later in the day. Whatever your reason for doing decaf, there are more than enough Starbucks drinks to satisfy. So, let’s get into the goods, what drinks are decaf?

In this post, we’ll learn about the options for decaf drinks at Starbucks. We’ll cover the calorie counts and added ingredients, so you’re quite aware of what you’re drinking. You’ll learn a bit about the history of this coffee chain, which started in Seattle, and has since expanded worldwide. We'll also discuss some of the benefits of drinking decaffeinated options. Stick around we cover the many decaffeinated options on the Starbucks menu, alongside any other useful information that could help you pick your caffeine-free drink. Read on as we get into the many options for decaf drinks at Starbucks coffee chains.

The History of Starbucks

Starbucks started in Seattle, Washington. Pike Place Market, to be exact, is where the first Starbucks opened. It was named for the tale of “Moby Dick,” and the sea-faring traders that brought the first exported coffee beans. Starbucks started to spread across the States by the late 1980s. Soon it was working with international flavors, in areas like Chicago, California, New York, and parts of Canada. In '96 the first store opened in Japan. This was followed by Europe stores in '98, and one in China in '99 (via Starbucks). According to Statista, there are over 35 thousand Starbucks all around the world.

The modern Starbucks is a great place to do work, enjoy a drink by the window counter, or catch up with friends. However, the original Starbucks was intended only for buying roasted coffee beans. This coffee chain went from supplier to all-inclusive drink creator. Now, their menu consists of too many drink combinations to calculate, a secret menu, seasonal rotating drink options, and nearly 300 snacks as well. Starbucks is one of the biggest names in coffee, but let's look a bit more at their caffeine-free options.

The Benefits of Drinking Decaf

Decaffeinated coffee is produced by removing the caffeine from raw coffee beans. Up to 97% of the caffeine content can be removed through a process of washing. This is done with either a solvent, a carbon dioxide solution, or a method called the “Swiss Water Process.” Whatever way coffee roasters choose to de-caffeinate their beans, the process of decaffeination happens before roasting and grinding. This is how decaffeinated coffee can be sold as roasted beans and ground up to be made into all kinds of drinks without the buzz of caffeine.

The process of decaffeination results in a less bitter taste, and sometimes a color change in the final coffee product. As one of the main sources of antioxidants in the U.S., coffee (caffeinated or otherwise), decaf coffee drinking has some great health benefits. It can reduce unhealthy enzyme levels in your liver. It has also been linked to a reduction in the risk of heart disease, or stroke. Essentially, the negatives of caffeinated coffee are eliminated when drinking decaf, while the positives of coffee as a drink are still very much in the mix (via Healthline).

Decaf Drinks At Starbucks

Now, let's get into the decaf drinks at Starbucks:

Decaf Coffee Drinks

We'll start off with decaf coffee drinks, many of which have several variations and flavor options. Calorie counts are based off the available information from the Starbucks website, or fitness calorie calculators.

• Decaf Espresso Roast (10 calories/16 fluid ounces). This Starbucks drink has 10 calories per 16 fluid ounces. Note that this number may change depending on the particular roast, type of bean, or if you have it as anything other than straight black coffee. Adding milk will increase calories.
• Iced Decaf Americano (25 calories/20 fluid ounces). According to My Fitness Pal, 20 fluid ounces of iced decaf Americano has around 25 calories. The size you get at Starbucks will impact the calorie count of the drink overall.
• Flat White (220 calories/16 fluid ounces). With decaffeinated espresso roast, and steamed whole milk, this Starbucks 16-ounce decaf flat white clocks in at around 220 calories per drink.
• Cappuccino (60 calories/12 fluid ounces). A decaf cappuccino will run about 60 calories for 12 fluid ounces of decaffeinated goodness.
• Macchiato (140 calories/16 fluid ounces). A grande decaf skinny caramel macchiato from Starbucks runs about 140 calories for 16 fluid ounces. While this is a specific version of a macchiato, keep in mind that added sweeteners will contribute empty added calories.
• Mocha (370 calories/16 fluid ounces). A Starbucks caffé mocha with steamed 2% milk, and decaffeinated espresso roast clocks in at 370 calories for a grande (16 fluid ounces). The chocolate content of this coffee drink definitely adds to the overall calorie count of this decaf drink.
• Frappuccino (83 calories/24 fluid ounces). A Starbucks decaf nonfat, no-sugar coffee frappuccino has 83 calories per 24 fluid ounces. There are various ways to order this decaf frappuccino and remember that added sugary flavorings will increase the calorie count.

Non-Coffee Decaf Drinks

Moving onto non-coffee decaf drinks. These options already contain zero caffeine content and will deliver all the goodness without any caffeine concerns.

• Hot Chocolate (370 calories/16 fluid ounces). Note that there are several different variations of this particular hot chocolate holiday drink. A 16-fluid-ounce peppermint hot chocolate has 440 calories. Meanwhile, the peppermint white chocolate hot chocolate (16 fluid ounces) clocks in at 520 calories. While the calorie count of all these is much higher than your standard decaf coffee, you can't deny how sweet and lovely a steaming hot chocolate is.
• Iced Passion Tango Tea (0 calories/16 fluid ounces). The Starbucks iced passion tango tea is not only caffeine-free but also has the lowest possible calorie count on this list.
• Lemonade (120 calories/16 fluid ounces). A 16-ounce sweet and tangy Starbucks lemonade clocks in at 120 calories. There are variations on this drink, but watch for the green tea ones which absolutely contain caffeine.
• Caramel Apple Spice (380 calories/16 fluid ounces). A caramel apple spice cider clocks in at 380 calories and consists of apple cider, added caramel, whipped cream, and zero caffeine.
• Milk-Based Steamers (200 calories/16 fluid ounces). Without any added flavors, a milk steamer from Starbucks has 200 calories.

In Summary

At the end of the day, while Starbucks is known for its coffee, it does have an array of great decaf drinks. Between decaffeinated coffee beans that contribute to a range of Americano, cappuccino, macchiato, mocha, and frappuccino drinks. Anything that can be made with the buzz of caffeine-containing coffee beans, can also be made with decaffeinated beans. And, if coffee drinks just won't do, there are at least 5 (and definitely more) non-coffee drinks on the Starbucks menu. Any of the drinks on this list will fit the bill for decaf options while serving the sweet, bitter, or unique Starbucks flavors of your decaf dreams.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Have a nice day Photo/Shutterstock.com.