Which Are the Strongest Coffees at Starbucks by Type? (+ Chart)

Sometimes we just need a beverage that will get us going as fast as possible.

Many coffee consumers have wondered what is the strongest caffeine drink that one could get at Starbucks.

So I did some digging and found the most caffeinated versions of each Starbucks coffee by type.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for something cold or hot – I made sure to include both iced and warm beverages that will energize you.

So let’s get started.

Which Is the Strongest Coffee Drink at Starbucks?

The strongest hot coffee drink at Starbucks is the Venti Veranda Blend Brewed coffee. It has 475 mg of caffeine per serving.

The most-caffeinated iced coffee drink is the Trenta Cold Brew Coffee, which contains 360 mg of caffeine per serving.

Other highly-caffeinated hot Starbucks drinks are the Featured Medium Roast – Pike Place® Roast brewed coffee (410 mg of caffeine in a Venti cup), and the Featured Starbucks® Dark Roast Coffee (340 mg. of caffeine in a Venti cup).

If you need a strong caffeine kick, you can also order some of the Iced Shaken Espresso Starbucks beverages. Some of them contain over 300 mg of caffeine in a Trenta serving. Similar high caffeine content is present in flavored cold brew drinks, such as the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, and the Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew.

Don’t forget that you can always add an extra espresso shot to your Starbucks drink to increase the amount of caffeine it contains. An espresso shot at Starbucks contains between 75 mg and 85 mg of caffeine.

For more insight, check out the chart of the the strongest coffee beverages at Starbucks to get information on caffeine content and drink characteristics:

As you can see on the table, some of the drinks contain more than 350 mg of caffeine in just a single cup.

You should be aware that according to the FDA a healthy individual shouldn’t consume more than 400 mg of caffeine per day.

So please, even if you’re trying to quickly wake up and get yourself going, make sure you opt for a smaller serving size.

It’s better to stay away from the unpleasant side effects of high caffeine consumption.

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With that being said, let’s get started with the descriptions of some of the most caffeinated coffee drinks at Starbucks.

Cold Brew – 205 mg of caffeine, grande

*You can order a tall, grande, venti, or a trenta cup of Starbucks’ Cold Brew Coffee With Milk, and you’ll get a drink with the same amount of caffeine.

In other words, the addition of milk doesn’t mean that there will be less space for cold brew coffee in your beverage.

This is so, as the drink is prepared by diluting the cold brew concentrate with milk instead of water.

So if you’re not a fan of black coffee, order a cold brew with milk – it will be just as caffeinated.

The milk they usually add is 2%, but you can replace it with a whole, nonfat, breve, or another plant-based alternative.

The Cold Brew coffee at Starbucks is a drink that’s high in caffeine. Hot water isn’t used throughout the process of brewing.

The ground beans are steeped in cold water for 20 hours. The coffee oils and caffeine are slowly extracted, resulting in a smooth yet rich cup of Joe.

The coffee is served over ice, and you can even get a large Trenta cup (30 fl. oz., 887 ml.) that contains the impressive 360 mg of caffeine.

So the Starbucks cold brew drink is definitely one of the best options you have when it comes to boosting your energy levels quickly.

Related Posts:

• Does Cold Brew Coffee Have More Caffeine
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Iced Shaken Espresso – 225 mg of caffeine in a grande serving

The Iced Shaken Espresso is a simple shaken espresso drink, made with esresso shots, sweetened with Starbucks’ classic syrup and a splash of 2% milk.

If you’re a fan of shaken coffee drinks, check may be interested in checking out my Shakerato coffee drink guide.

Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso – 255 mg of caffeine in a grande

The Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso is a very intriguing drink that you should definitely try out, especially if you’re looking to have a strong Starbucks coffee beverage.

It’s is made with espresso shots, almondmilk, and it’s flavored with chocolate malt powder, which has cocoa and malt flavoring in it.

As you might’ve guessed from the name, the espresso and the flavored powder are shaken, which I definitely consider an advantage. After shaking the barista adds a splash of almondmilk (which is sweetened) and ice cubes.

Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew – 185 mg of caffeine in a grande serving

The Vanilla Sweet Cream cold brew is another highly caffeinated iced beverage.

If you order it, you will get a cup of iced cold brew coffee, sweetened with a few pumps of vanilla syrup and a splash of sweetened vanilla-flavored cream.

Caffè Americano – 225 mg of caffeine, grande

The Caffè Americano is made by pulling a shot of espresso and diluting it with hot water to make its taste more bearable to those who aren’t used to the instense flavor.

In a short cup, you get 1 espresso shot, in a tall – two of them, in a grande – 3, and in a venti – 4 shots.

There is also an iced version of this drink, which contains just as much caffeine (you can check out the caffeine content in the table at the beginning of the article).

Suggested Read: Americano vs. Latte – Coffee Drink Comparison

Espresso Macchiato – 225 mg of caffeine, Triple

Most macchiatos, offered at Starbucks, are quite different from the classic version of this espresso-based drink.

Their Espresso Macchiato is the most caffeinated one and it’s also the only one that represents the traditional Italian macchiato.

If you want to find out more about the classic version and how it compares to a Mocha, click this link.

The Starbucks Espresso Macchiato contains espresso shots that are topped off with a splash of foamed milk. This foam softens the bitterness of the espresso and makes the drink naturally sweeter.

In a ‘Solo’ you get one shot of espresso, in a ‘Doppio’ – 2, ‘Triple’ – 3 shots, and in a ‘Quad’ – 4.

Related Post: Solo vs. Doppio (Single vs. Double) Espresso Shots: Differences Explained

The Espresso Macchiato is not only the strongest one of all the Macchiatos offered at Starbucks, but it also contains the least amount of calories. So you should definitely consider ordering it if you are in search of an energy boost drink, that wouldn’t add a lot to your daily calorie intake.

Nitro Cold Brew – 280 mg of caffeine, grande cup

Nitro Cold Brew is a nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee, that has more texture and a creamy mouthfeel.

Your cup will be topped off with a layer of cold foam that makes the experience of drinking this beverage quite unique.

Many beer lovers enjoy having the Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew because it reminds them of their favorite drink.

Others would prefer this cold beverage because the nitrogen infusion adds natural sweetness. This way you can easily avoid adding any sweeteners to your coffee.

Overall the Nitro Cold brew is not only smooth and tasty, but it’s also strong in terms of caffeine.

You can’t get it in a venti cup, but a grande will be sufficient to give you the kick you need.

Clover Brewed Coffee – 195 mg of caffeine per serving

A cup of Joe made with a Clover machine is not only a highly caffeinated Starbucks drink, but it’s also very delicious.

Even if you aren’t a fan of having your coffee plain black, you will most likely enjoy the taste of this type of brew without adding anything to it. This is because of the brewing precision the Clover system provides.

A barista can dial in the optimal temperature and brew time, required for the perfect extraction.

The high-quality coffee beans that are used in this sophisticated maker have unique and complex flavor profiles that a passionate coffee expert will appreciate.

Starbucks offers a variety of specialty coffee beans from Ethiopia, Guatemala, Galàpagos, and other popular coffee-growing regions. You can ask the barista about the flavor notes of the coffee beans that are currently being offered and choose the ones that match your preferences best.

The high caffeine content in Clover coffee is achieved through the higher amount of ground beans that are used. 40 grams (1.4 oz) of coffee grounds are used to make a tall 12 fl. oz. Clover cup at Starbucks. This is double the amount, compared to other coffee drinks made there.

Overall a cup of Clover coffee will definitely give you the needed caffeine kick and instantly wake you up, without you having to ingest extra calories.

Furthermore, there are also iced Clover drinks, so if you want a cold Starbucks beverage with high caffeine content, do not hesitate to try out the flavorful Clover Iced Coffee.

Flat White – 195 mg of caffeine, grande

The Flat White is another espresso-based drink, that is made by diluting espresso shots with whole milk.

Nevertheless, instead of using regular espresso, the barista pulls a double ristretto shot to prepare a tall serving.

These are made by using the same amount of ground coffee, but less water goes through them.

This results in a more concentrated shot that is lower in volume compared to a regular one.

Related Post: Espresso vs. Ristretto vs. Lungo: Comparison Guide

In a short and in a tall cup of Flat White, you get 2 ristretto shots, and if you go for a grande or a venti your drink will consist of 3 ristretto shots.

The Flat White has a more pronounced coffee flavor, compared to a Starbucks Latte and is also stronger in terms of caffeine.

Iced Honey Almondmilk Flat White – 225 mg of caffeine, grande

Unlike the standard Flat White, this one is made with almond milk, a hint of honey and Blonde Roast Starbucks Blend (light roasted coffee).

You can have this drink both iced and hot.

According to the Starbucks website, its cold version has more caffeine compared to the regular iced Flat White.

This one is a bit sweeter, more complex when it comes to ingredients, and, overall, more fun than the classic version.

You can definitely count on it to energize you when you need something to quicky get you going.

Starbucks Reserve Latte – 135 mg of caffeine, grande

This is a classic espresso-based drink made with 2 Starbucks Reserve espresso shots, steamed and frothed whole milk.

If you wonder what ‘Reserve’ actually means – well, your coffee is supposed to be made with the best beans Starbucks can offer.

Anyway, the caffè latte is a classic drink that has just enough strength to wake you up. The good thing is that in a short cup you still get those two espresso shots with the Reserve Latte.

You can also have it iced, so you can refresh yourself with this classic drink even on a hot summer day.

Iced Caffè Mocha – 175 mg of caffeine, grande

Generally, a mocha is an espresso-based drink made with espresso shots, milk and a chocolate component (syrup or powder).

At Starbucks the Mocha is made with their Mocha sauce, which has some cocoa in it.

The cocoa also contains caffeine which adds up to the strength of the drink.

This is why the Caffè Mocha, the Iced Caffè Mocha, and the Starbucks Reserve Dark Chocolate Mocha are all caffeine-rich Starbucks drinks.

They are also sweet and delightful, making them a great pick for those of you who don’t like having their coffee black.

The Caffè Mocha is also topped off with some whipped cream which adds a bit more sweetness to the beverage.

Cappuccino – 150 mg of caffeine, grande

Another one of the Italian classics – thecappuccino.

You probably know what a cappuccino is made of. Well, it contains steamed and frothed whole milk and espresso shots.

In a short and a tall cup you get 1 shot, and in a grande and venti – 2 shots of espresso.

Some might think that this classic drink is a bit boring, but I would say that it’s simply perfect.

There isn’t an iced version, but the Iced Caffè Latte is a perfect cold alternative that contains a decent amount of caffeine.

Espresso Frappuccino – 155 mg of caffeine, grande

The Frappuccino is one of the best-sellers at Starbucks.

It’s made by blending whole milk, coffee, and ice, which results in a creamy nicely-textured cold drink.

The Espresso Frappuccino is the strongest one.

Usually, a Frappuccino is made with something called Frappuccino Roast.

This is basically instant coffee powder that’s been diluted with room temperature water.

Each Frappuccino contains a certain number of Frappuccino Roast pumps.

Nevertheless, the Espresso Frappuccino contains both espresso shots and Frappuccino Roast, which is why it’s the most caffeinated Frappuccino.

The thing is that this one doesn’t have whipped cream on top. If you’re used to having this topping, simply ask the barista to top off your drink.

The Espresso Frappuccino is definitely one of the best sweet cold drinks with high caffeine content at Starbucks.

Java Chip Frappuccino – 105 mg of caffeine, grande

The Java Chip Frappuccino is another iced blended beverage that you can get at Starbucks.

It’s somewhat stronger than its other Frappuccino brothers (except the Espresso Frappuccino), as it has Mocha Sauce and Frappuccino Chips. These ingredients contain cocoa which adds more caffeine to the drink.

A pump of Starbucks dark chocolate mocha sauce contains around 5 to 7 milligrams of caffeine.

That being said, the Java Chip Frappuccino is sweet, and a bit crunchy because of the chocolate chips.

Its well-pronounced chocolate flavor somewhat overshadows the coffee taste.

Nevertheless, it is, in fact, strong in terms of caffeine. So don’t consider it a chocolate milkshake. It will keep you awake for quite a while.

What About the Refreshers – Caffeine Content

These refreshing drinks do contain caffeine as well. But could they be stronger than a coffee beverage?

Here’s how much caffeine there is in the Starbucks Refreshers:
Starbucks Refreshers do contain caffeine but they are less caffeinated than most coffee drinks there.

All refreshers have the same amount of caffeine content – 35 mg in a Tall cup, 45 mg in a Grande cup, 70 mg in a Venti cup, and 110 mg in a Trenta cup.

Even though the refreshers aren’t the strongest drinks offered at Starbucks, they are still capable of energizing you.

Same applies to some Starbucks tea drinks that contain matcha, black tea, or green tea. These coffee-free beverages are still caffeinated. For example, in a Grande Chai Tea serving there are 40 mg of caffeine.

Final Words

Knowing which are the strongest ones among each type of coffee drink at Starbucks will help you make an adequate choice when you need that caffeine kick.

I made sure to include some basic information on most of the beverages so that you can order the one that suits your taste best.

If you want to become a pro at recognizing different types of coffee beverages by solely looking at their names, check out my complete coffee drink guide with pictures and descriptions.

Anyway, I expect you to drop a comment below to share your thoughts and questions if there are any.