24 Low-Calorie Starbucks Drinks To Help With Your Diet

Wondering which healthy Starbucks drinks you can get? Or maybe you just want to treat yourself without feeling too weighed down? No matter the reason, we’ve got you covered with this list of the best-tasting low-calorie Starbucks drinks.

We’ve chosen 24 favorites from the Starbucks menu, spanning a variety of styles. So don’t worry, you won’t be stuck with just black coffee or a cup of tea! Plus, we’ve rounded up the best ordering tips from real Starbucks baristas to help you lower the calories of any drink.

You don’t need to give up your Starbucks habit to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Just use this article to order smart. To give you a quick round-up, here’s a list of healthy Starbucks drinks with less fat and less sugar.

1. Black coffee
2. Americano
3. Non-fat cappuccino
4. Skinny Vanilla Latte
5. Brewed Tea
6. Skinny Chai Tea Latte
7. Skinny Mocha
8. Honey Almondmilk Flat White
9. Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte
10. Iced Coffee
11. Iced Caffè Latte
12. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
13. Cold Brew Coffee with Cold Foam
14. Light Caramel Frappuccino
15. Nitro Cold Brew
16. Shaken Tazo Iced Black Tea Lemonade
17. Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte
18. Iced Teas
19. Iced Skinny Caramel Macchiato
20. Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte
21. Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
22. Strawberry Acai Refresher
23. Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher
24. Dragon Drink
25. Paradise Drink

Low-Calorie Starbucks Hot Drinks

Hot drinks should be soothing and comforting, but that doesn’t mean they have to be unhealthy or high in calories. Here are eight of our favorite Starbucks low calorie hot drinks, ranging from 0-calorie teas to an indulgent cafe mocha. None are over 200 calories, and most are under 100.

1. Black Coffee

A basic brewed coffee has only 5 calories, so you can even afford to add a little cream and sugar if you want.

2. Americano

The Americano has 5 calories per shot of espresso. The espresso adds a naturally sweet and creamy body, so you might not need to add anything.

3. Non-fat Cappuccino

A cappuccino’s froth is mostly air, especially when it’s made with skim milk. This espresso-based treat has only 60 calories and 8 grams of sugar.

4. Skinny Vanilla Latte

This low calorie drink has only 70 calories in a tall size, and that includes 7 g of protein to keep you feeling full.

5. Brewed Teas

Teas are the lowest calorie Starbucks drinks; any Starbucks tea has 0 calories. Three of our favorites are the Emperor’s Clouds & Mist, Peach Tranquility, and Mint Majesty.

6. Skinny Chai Tea Latte

Starbucks doesn’t have a chai flavor sugar free syrup, but ordering this drink skinny swaps in skim milk. Then request it “lightly sweet” to bring the calorie count under 150 for a tall.

7. Skinny Mocha

This chocolate confection tastes like dessert but only has 130 calories in a tall. Even the grande has just 170 calories. 

8. Honey Almondmilk Flat White

No substitutions are needed to indulge in this vegan drink, which has just 120 calories in a 12-ounce serving.

9. Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte

Take advantage of the sugar free cinnamon dolce syrup to enjoy this spicy treat, with 130 calories in a grande and 100 in a tall.

Low-Calorie Starbucks Iced Coffees

In general, the iced Starbucks drinks are lower in calories than their hot equivalents. Ice is very low in calories, after all. So if you still want to enjoy your favorite treat, consider opting for is to be served cold. Here are some of the tastiest cold Starbucks beverages.

1. Iced Coffee

Take hot brewed coffee and add ice, and you’ve got a refreshing 5-calorie drink. Add a pump or two of sugar-free syrup to turn it up a notch.

2. Iced Caffè Latte

The basic iced latte packs only 130 calories in a grande, but you can more than halve that to 60 calories by ordering a skinny tall.

3. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Even with the full serving of brown sugar syrup, this drink only has 90 calories in a tall. Leave out the espresso, and you have one of the best Starbucks drinks for kids.

4. Cold Brew Coffee with Cold Foam

With just 35 calories for a grande size, this cold brew coffee is the perfect summer treat for any diet.

5. Light Caramel Frappuccino

Any frappuccino can be made “light” using a skim milk base. If you also skip the whipped cream, you’re down to 100 calories for this sweet smoothie.

6. Nitro Cold Brew

Thanks to nitrogen gas, the nitro cold brew is naturally sweet and creamy, even when served black with only 5 calories. Or upgrade to the Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew for a 70-calorie treat.

7. Shaken Tazo Iced Black Tea Lemonade.

This fat-free summer refresher has tons of flavor and only 70 calories

8. Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte

This hot-weather classic has 190 calories in a grande without any substitutions, but you can drop that significantly if you ask for it “skinny” to swap in nonfat milk and sugar-free vanilla syrup.

9. Iced Tea

Starbucks iced teas have no calories unless you opt to add pumps of syrup. We love the Iced Green Tea, Iced Passion Tango Tea, and classic Iced Black Tea.

10. Iced Skinny Caramel Macchiato

Sweet and creamy with a perfect espresso punch. By opting for non-fat milk, you can enjoy this treat for just 140 calories.

11. Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte

Enjoy the health benefits of green tea in this low-calorie option. There are only 140 calories in a tall, and you can reduce that further by opting for skim milk

Low-Calorie Starbucks Refreshers

The Starbucks Refreshers are a wonderful addition to the chain’s summer rotation – a hydrating option with bright fruit flavors. All are relatively low in calories and caffeine, relying on green coffee extract for a more mild energy boost. These are our top five.

1. Mango Dragonfruit Refresher

This is the lowest-calorie fresher on the current menu, but it doesn’t skimp on tropical flavor. There are just 90 calories in a grande, and even the venti is only 130 calories.

2. Strawberry Acai Refresher

Hop on the superfood trend and enjoy the Strawberry Acai refresher drink with just 80 calories in a tall.

3. Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher

This sweet option tastes richer than it is, with just 100 calories in a grande.

4. Dragon Drink

You might think this creamy concoction is high in calories, but it can still fit comfortably in your diet with just 110 calories for a tall size.

5. Paradise Drink

The Paradise Drink is made from the Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher with coconut milk added, and it’s the team favorite here at Home Brews Coffee. The coconut milk brings to calorie count up to a still-reasonable 110 in a tall.

How To Order Low-Calorie Starbucks Drinks

Don’t worry if your favorite didn’t make the list. It’s easy to cut calories from any drink on the Starbucks menu using these ordering tips.

• Asking for a drink to be made “skinny” means it will be made with nonfat milk, sugar-free syrup, and no whipped cream.
• Asking for a “light” frappuccino means the barista will use a low-fat, no-sugar base.
• You can swap skim milk for almond milk to cut calories even further.
• Skipping the whipped cream on any drink will drastically reduce calories.
• Starbucks has two sugar-free syrup flavors, cinnamon dolce and vanilla syrup, which you can substitute in any drink.
• Sweeten hot tea or coffee with a packet of artificial sweetener like Splenda or Stevia.
• Starbucks cold drinks usually have less calories than the hot version of the same drink. So consider switching to cold, especially in the hot summer months, to still enjoy your favorite flavors.

If you’re not quite ready to give up all the good stuff, start with simple substitutions. Get half the amount of syrup, or choose milk instead of cream. Opting for a small size is another way to cut calories without sacrificing flavor. You might be surprised to find that tall drink is just as satisfying as a grande.

Which Drinks Have Zero Calories at Starbucks?

The only truly 0 calorie Starbucks drinks are the teas, which you can enjoy hot and cold. You can sweeten them with artificial sweetener to maintain their calorie-free profile. However, if you’re not a tea lover, a brewed coffee or a shot of espresso is only 5 calories. I think you can afford that if it means getting a drink you enjoy!

What is skinny at Starbucks?

Ordering a drink “skinny” at Starbucks means it will be made with non-fat milk, sugar-free syrup (if available), and no whipped cream. Skinny Starbucks drinks can be made even “skinnier” by choosing almond milk over skim milk.

What is Starbucks light vs skinny?

Light usually refers specifically to Frappuccinos. It means the barista will use a light frappuccino base and non-fat milk, cutting 33 calories. You can also request no whip and sugarless syrups to drop the calories further.

Light can also mean less of a certain ingredient. For example, you can ask for “light ice” or “light sweetener” when ordering a drink.

What is the healthiest drink at Starbucks?

Healthy is difficult to define. Are healthy Starbucks drinks the lowest in calories? Are they the richest in micro and macro-nutrients? Are they the lowest in sugar, or maybe the highest in protein? 

Here are some healthy options to meet various definitions:

• Black coffee: Coffee is scientifically proven to have many health benefits, including extending your life (1). Add skim milk for a bit of protein that will keep you feeling full longer. You can reap the same rewards with hot coffee, iced coffee, espresso, Americano, cold brew, or nitro cold brew.
• Tea: Tea has no calories but plenty of nutrients, with demonstrated health benefits like fighting cancer, diabetes, and heart disease (2). Enjoy it hot or iced.
• Refreshers: Starbucks freshers are packed with nutrients thanks to their fruit content, and the green coffee extract is anti-oxidant rich. Just remember that most of the calories come from sugar.

What should I order at Starbucks on a diet?

That depends on your diet. If you’re on a low-calorie diet or the paleo diet, stick to unsweetened tea or black coffee. Unfortunately, none of Starbucks’ non-dairy milks fit the paleo diet, though many are relatively low in calories.

The list of keto drinks at Starbucks is longer and more fun. You can still enjoy lattes, cappuccinos, frappuccinos, and even a mocha – as long as you make the appropriate substitutions.

Does Starbucks have sugar-free drinks?

Yes, Starbucks has many sugar-free drinks. There are plenty of naturally sugarless options, like coffee, tea, and espresso-based drinks. Or you can substitute no-sugar syrup in many other menu items to enjoy sweet low calorie Starbucks drinks.

What is the lowest calorie treat from Starbucks?

Need a healthy snack to go with your low calorie coffee at Starbucks? There are some delicious options. 

• On the breakfast menu, the Egg White & Red Pepper Egg Bites have just 170 calories per serving, along with 12 g of protein. 
• The lowest-calorie bakery item is the Petite Vanilla Bean Scone, with 120 calories.
• At lunch, enjoy the Tomato & Mozzarella sandwich for only 360 calories. Or choose the Egg & Gouda Protein Box, which has 530 calories but a more well-rounded nutrition profile.
•  Most Starbucks stores also have a healthy selection of fruit to choose from.

Final Thoughts

The best low calorie Starbucks drinks are the ones that taste good to you. Sticking to any diet is impossible if you don’t enjoy your food and drinks. Luckily, with the appropriate substitutions, Starbucks light drinks have tons of options to suit every palate. Whether you love hot or cold drinks, tea or coffee, fruit or chocolate flavors, there’s a delicious low-calorie option for you!