Ah, caffeine. For those of us who started drinking coffee at age 12 and haven’t looked back, it’s hard to imagine going for one of the low caffeine Starbucks drinks on the menu. It didn’t stunt our growth, Mom. We were born to be five-foot-two!
But caffeine is not for everybody. Maybe you’re switching to little or no caffeine for your health, or you’re just tired of bouncing off the walls. Ask anyone who’s been to one of those trampoline parks: it’s exhausting being this hyped up.
These Starbucks drinks will give you a pick-me-up without the buzz. From teas and lemonades to sweet Frappuccinos and decaf coffee options, we’ve got something on this decaffeinated menu for everyone. If you’re also keeping an eye on how much sugar you’re consuming, we added those counts as well.
P.S. For all the caffeine counts we mention below, we’re talking about grande cup sizes.
14 Starbucks Drinks With No Caffeine
1. Mint Majesty Brewed Tea
Need a little encourage-mint to start your day, but can’t have caffeine? This hot tea is calorie and caffeine free but has a whole lot of flavor thanks to mint and lemon verbena. You know the saying: when life gives you lemons, drive to Starbucks and ask the baristas to turn them into tea.
Sugar: 0 grams
2. Iced Passion Tango Tea
Is there anything more passionate than the tango? Okay, after the tango and our feelings about Pedro Pascal in shorts at the Met Gala? That’s why the Iced Passion Tango Tea just makes sense. The blend of lemongrass, hibiscus, and apple is sure to wake you up, even without the caffeine boost.
If all else fails, just check out some videos of Mr. Pascal. We promise you’ll be perky after that.
Sugar: 0 grams
3. Iced Passion Tango Tea Lemonade
Looking for something a little sweeter? You could watch some puppy videos. Or you could grab a Passion Tango Tea with a lemonade twist. Drink one while enjoying puppy videos for a mind-blowing level of sweetness.
Sugar: 11 grams
4. Peach Tranquility Brewed Tea
How do you find tranquility? For us, it’s turning on a yoga tutorial on YouTube and then eating a donut while watching people stretch in uncomfy ways.
Alternatively, you could drink this Peach Tranquility Brewed Tea, which clocks in with zero caffeine and a lot of zen. Om. We mean, yummm.
Sugar: 0 grams
5. Blended Strawberry Lemonade
It’s berry nice to start your day with a blended lemonade, especially one with a strawberry flavor. And the fact that it’s caffeine free makes it extra sweet. As does the whopping 45 grams of sugar. Anybody else’s teeth hurt? Hey, we didn’t say we were finished.
Sugar: 45 grams
6. Strawberry Créme Frappuccino
We’re taking our sugar rush to the next level with the Strawberry Creme Frappuccino. Hey, if you’re going to ditch one vice, you gotta replace it with an even more delicious one. It’s all the yummy-ness of a milkshake without having to brave the diner crowd. Win-win!
Sugar: 51 grams
7. Vanilla Bean Créme Frappuccino
Vanilla in the bedroom? You do you, boo. Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino? Now that’s more like it.
With a lot of vanilla and a boatload of whipped cream, you’ll start the day off with a delectable, non-caffeinated treat, and a whipped cream mustache. Maybe now is a good time to your Zoom camera off.
Sugar: 52 grams
8. Lemonade
Speaking of things that are a little vanilla, a plain ol’ lemonade also has no caffeine. But, hey, if it’s good enough for Beyoncé, it’s got to be good enough for us.
Sugar: 27 grams
9. Caramel Apple Spice
A pumpkin spice latte? You can keep your pumpkin… and the caffeine. We all know apple is the superior fall flavor, and you can sip on a superior fall beverage with this spiced, steamed apple juice topped with caramel and whipped cream. How do you like them bananas? Er, apples.
Sugar: 70 grams
10. Steamed Apple Juice
Or, you can skip the caramel and go for plain steamed apple juice. Your dentist would be so proud. On the other hand, we’re disappointed, but your therapist did say to stop caring so much what other people think, so your call.
Sugar: 50 grams
11. Steamed Milk (with honey option)
While just a cup of steamed milk sounds…well, kind of dull, it serves its purpose. For instance, if you just don’t like the taste of coffee, but want a hot beverage, ask for the barista to add a few packets of honey to make a Milk and Honey Steamer. Add some cinnamon on top to feel extra fancy.
Or, if your kid is having a meltdown in a Starbucks because they want a vanilla Frappuccino and you’re trying to avoid another sugar-related meltdown later, order this and tell them it’s a vanilla Frappuccino. How would they know? Aren’t they the one who said last night’s popsicle was “spicy”?
Sugar: 19 grams
12. Vanilla Créme
Or you can be slightly more honest and get a steamed milk with actual vanilla in it. It is basically a Frappuccino but hot. Not spicy hot, but temperature hot. And pretty (hot).
Sugar: 43 grams
13. Pistachio Crème
If your digestive system can’t handle just drinking steamed milk, try this option flavored with pistachio and brown butter. It’s a little sweet, a little nutty, and all caffeine free. As long as our drink is being described as “nutty” and not us, we’re cool with it.
Sugar: 47 grams
14. White Hot Chocolate
Our passion for bad puns is white hot, and so is this white hot chocolate. Let’s just choc it up to us entering our Dad Joke era. If Taylor Swift can have her eras, we can have ours.
Sugar: 55 grams
Starbucks Drinks Low In Caffeine
1. Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino
If anyone ever told you that too much chocolate was a thing, you should cease communication with them immediately. But we do love that this super chocolaty Frappuccino comes with just 15 mg of caffeine. We’ll be sleeping easy tonight, mostly thanks to the sugar crash.
Sugar: 47 grams
2. Decaf Pike Place Roast
Today, we learned that decaf doesn’t always mean totally decaffeinated. But if you’re okay with having a midnight Gilmore Girls marathon later, the 25 mg of caffeine in this decaf blend might keep your eyes open for it.
Sugar: 0 grams
3. Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate, hot cocoa, drinking chocolate — call it whatever you want. Just don’t call your ex. Topped with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle, this hot chocolate has just 25 mg of caffeine.
Sugar: 37 grams
4. Chai Créme Frappuccino
Chai, milk, ice, whipped cream, and a dash of cinnamon come together in this classic Frappuccino. Also, Starbucks gets points for not calling this a “Chai Tea Frappuccino,” since that literally means “Tea Tea Frappuccino,” even though that is pretty fun to say.
What does make sense is grabbing this drink for a low-caffeine treat, as it only has 40 mg. Someone tell them about the “Chai Tea” thing regarding their latte version.
Sugar: 45 grams
5. Matcha Créme Frappuccino
Let’s matcha you up with this matcha Frappuccino. With 70 mg of caffeine, it’s on the higher end of this low-caffeine countdown. But it’s still better than grabbing a cup of Joe. Or Steve or Sam or whoever your barista is. Keep your cannibalistic tendencies to yourself.
Sugar: 61 grams
She's also a published short story author who has appeared in anthologies like A Murder of Storytellers and the Abstract Elephant. Jacqueline challenges herself to learn one new skill per year, so you can often find her struggling to master crocheting, knitting, and embroidery when she's not writing.
Connect with her on her website or LinkedIn.
Leave a Comment