The healthiest Starbucks drinks 101! How do you order a lower calorie Starbucks drink that still tastes just as good as the high calorie ones? Here are healthy starbucks drinks that taste amazing and even a quick guide to make them at home, perfect to make in your uni room or college dorm if you have a kettle, or to make in your shared kitchen. This is an amazing idea that is perfect for broke students looking to save money, as money for coffee adds up hugely over time!
The fruity and cool, refreshing drinks are the best way to encourage you to drink more often if you’re not keen on water on its own. They are super healthy with delicious extracts of fruit and green tea – you can even add your favourites to your glow up checklist or integrate them in as part of your college meal prep as you can make them to store in the fridge for later. They are so easy to make too, I have tried to recreate them as exactly as possible!
Ways to Create a Healthier Starbucks Drink
1. SKIP THE SUGARY STUFF
Why not substitute your normal white sugar or syrup with a packet of stevia or a sprinkle of cinnamon, these should be always available at the milk station and are amazing ways to sweeten your drink without adding on lots of calories! Adding honey is another wonderful way to sweeten your drink and brings its own benefits.
2. TRY A DIFFERENT MILK
Starbucks always uses whole milk unless otherwise requested, but did you know that stores also carry 2% milk, nonfat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and almond milk! Swapping full-fat milk for almond milk on a tall latte can save you 80 calories, and almond milk is also the best low carb, low calorie, and low fat milk on the menu, plus carries its own health benefits, plus an amazing and decadent flavour.
3. CUSTOMIZE SYRUP PUMPS
Starbucks offers eight syrups year-round, including crowd favorites like cinnamon dolce and caramel. One pump contains 20 calories, and a standard grande has 4 pumps. Try customizing the number of pumps or asking for a sugar-free syrup.
4. GO WHIPPED CREAM FREE
It’s so tempting to go for whipped cream but if you are looking to reduce calories, it can inadvertantly make your beverage very calorific quickly. The standard whipped cream serving for a tall adds a whopping 82 calories and 8 grams of fat – but if there’s no way you can imagine going without whipped cream, try asking the barista for a lite whip.
5. ORDER A TALL
The best way to enjoy your favourite Starbucks beverage without any low cal substitutions! It will perfectly satisfy your craving and you can trick your brain in to exaggerating its size by sipping it slowly. This means you will still enjoy it as a treat while avoiding the calories found in the grande and venti versions!
6. CHECK THE STARBUCKS MENU FOR CALORIES
All Starbucks stores are now required to list nutritional information for the standard versions of their drinks on the in-store menus. You can also see nutritional info for your favorite coffee drinks in the Starbucks app and find information on all their drinks online too!
BRING A REUSABLE CUP (US ONLY SO FAR)
An amazing trick to try if you are in the US, bringing your own reusable cup will land you $.10 off your drink! This is currently being rolled out in other locations, UK being one of them, so should be arriving soon in a Starbucks near you! It’s such a great scheme that might not seem like much on paper, but if you were to buy a Starbucks 5x/week for one year, you would save $25!
10 Healthy Starbucks Drinks that Taste Amazing
Here are the most delicious drinks that are the best to go for if you are on a healthy eating mission! Although it may be recommended to opt for black coffee, iced coffee (black), cafe mistos, and black caffé americanos as a healthy, lower calorie option, those options can be like a punishment if you don’t enjoy them, they can be bitter, plain, and completely defeat the object of treating yourself!
It’s really fun to find ways of creating healthy lifestyle that are so enjoyable, new options you can enjoy that you fall in love with and never want to go without again! Here are ten of the most healthy most popular Starbucks drinks that are not only low in calories but actually taste incredible. All calorie counts are for the tall versions.
1. Nonfat Cappuccino: 60 calories
This cappuccino is perfect to order when you’re watching calories, a rich shot of espresso combined with thick, frothy foam. To finish, sprinkle a little cinnamon or nutmeg on top to give it a punch.
How to make this Starbucks drink at home
You will need strong brewed hot coffee – instant espresso and decaf coffee work too! – plus any nonfat milk along with granulated sugar or sugar substitute.
First prepare the coffee or espresso, then follow simple directions here to steam/froth the milk in the microwave 3 Simple Steps to Steam/Froth Milk In The Microwave. Finally pour your prepared coffee into a large mug, add sugar. Stir to combine. Add in frothy milk and maybe a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg on top. That’s it!
2. Skinny Vanilla Latte: 100 calories
The traditional latte combines espresso shots with rich milk and a ribbon of vanilla syrup, but this lighter version uses nonfat milk and sugar-free syrup to ease up on the calorie count. It makes for the perfect sweet afternoon pick-me-up and the perfect way to treat yourself!
How to make this Starbucks drink at home
You will need 8oz coffee, 1/4 cup of fat free milk, 1-2tbsp of sugar free vanilla syrup, then add 1-2 drops of sweetener. Next blend these together using any kind of blender, until it is foamy enough for you (the more blending, the more foam!), then pour in to a microwave safe cup and heat until hot enough.
3. Light Frappuccinos: 110-130 calories
Frappuccinos are a perfect choice on a hot day. Blended, creamy, icy goodness can be made healthier with their lightened up line of frapps, which include a Vanilla Bean, Coffee, and Caramel Frappuccino Light.
How to make this Starbucks drink at home
You will need 1/2 cup brewed chilled espresso, 1 tbsp sugar or sugar substitute, 1/2 skim milk/non fat milk and 1 to 2 cups of ice. Simply blend using a blender, then pour in to a glass or cup. The more you blend, the foamier it will be! You can even add a low calorie syrup to add a caramel or vanilla flavour to your drink!
4. Hot or Iced Caramel Macchiato: 140 calories
This is perfect if you are not a strong coffee afficionado, Espresso is combined with unsweetened caramel and vanilla syrup, then topped with nonfat milk and a drizzle of caramel. The iced and hot versions of this creation each have 7 grams of protein if you choose skim milk.
How to make this Starbucks drink at home
You will need 1 1/2 cups of non fat milk, 2 tbsp vanilla syrup, 1/2 cup hot espresso (decaf also works!) and sugar free caramel syrup or caramel sauce to drizzle on top.
First prepare the espresso or coffee. At the same time, steam/froth the milk with these 3 simple steps. Have a nice big mug ready. You could even line the rim of the mug with caramel using a small spoon or butter knife! Next pour in the frothy milk. Pour coffee into a measuring cup or pitcher that can hold hot beverages, add the vanilla syrup to the coffee and stir to combine. Now, stream the coffee over the frothy milk and drizzle the caramel over the top to finish!
5. Blonde Flat White: 100 calories
Blonde espresso has a smoother taste than regular espresso, and it’s mixed with nonfat milk. The difference in a flat white and a latte is that flat whites have a thinner layer of foam on top, so they’re perfect for people who love the thick, creamy steamed milk that sits just underneath the surface.
How to make this Starbucks drink at home
You will need 1/2 cup hot ‘ristretto’ espresso, 11/4 cups of non fat milk and then blend, blend, blend using your blender until it is lovely and foamy and velvety.
6. Skinny Chai Tea Latte: 120 calories
In this classic, black tea is infused with cinnamon, cloves, and other warming goodies. While it is lightly sweetened, a traditional tall contains 42 grams of sugar, so you’re saving yourself more than 20 grams in this lightened up version.
How to make this Starbucks drink at home
You will need 2 chai teabags, 1/2 cup water, 11/2 cup of nonfat milk, 2 tbsp honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon/nutmeg to garnish. If you have a kettle, boil the water and add it with the teabags to your mug or cup, to steep the teabags in the water. If you are using a saucepan, bring the water to a boil and add in the teabags to steep for 7-10 mins.
Next, reduce the heat to medium-low if you are using a saucepan, and stir in the nonfat milk and honey. To create optional foam, pour the mixture in to a blender and blend for a while until desired level of foam, then serve in your mug! To finish, serve with a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon on top for extra spice!
7. Nitro Cold Brew: 5 calories
This ingenious Starbucks creation can be likened to a fresh draft beer on a hot day. It’s dispensed from a tap in-store, served unsweetened without ice, and topped with smooth, cold foam. You can add a dash of sweet cream for between 30 and 70 calories if you choose.
This nitro infused drink requires additional equipment to make at home, so might be a little too tricky/expensive to create yourself unless you have the necessary equipment at home. Without it, this drink will be hard to recreate! Because this recipe is a little too complicated and I don’t trust myself enough to get it right haha, I will not include it for now.
8. Shaken Iced Green Tea: 0 calories
This summertime favorite combines lemongrass, mint, and lemon verbena for those who really want to feel like they’re on a health kick. Just be sure to ask for it unsweetened. Plus, green tea has health benefits that include improved fat burning, antioxidants, brain function, and more.
How to make this Starbucks drink at home
You will need 2 cups of water, 2 mint green tea bags, 1/4 cup sugar substitute, 1 tbsp lemon juice and ice to serve.
If you are using a kettle, boil the water and pour in to a tall glass, then add the green tea bags.
If you are using a small saucepan pour two cups of water then place it on high heat. Bring the water to a boil then add the green tea bags. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the tea to steep for 15 minutes.
While the tea steeps place a second small saucepan on the heat. Into the saucepan add the sugar and ½ cup of water. Bring the saucepan to a boil then simmer for 2 minutes. Store the sugar syrup in a container and allow it to cool.
To complete the Starbucks Iced Green Tea remove the tea bag and pour the tea into a tall glass.
Into the glass add ice, lemon juice, and one tablespoon of sugar syrup, stir to combine then serve!
9. Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher: 50 calories
If you’ve ever seen a raspberry-coloured Starbucks, it’s probably a refresher. These iced options combine Teavana iced tea with fruit juice and other add-ins, like coconut milk, to create a fruity and refreshing sip. For an even lower calorie option, try the Iced Passion Tango Tea (30 calories).
How to make this Starbucks drink at home
This is a slightly trickier drink to recreate as it contains extracts that might be difficult to source – but here are some good substitutes that work really well!
Since this drink contains an uncommon ingredient – green coffee extract – I have substituted it with green and hibiscus tea to flavour my very berry hibiscus refresher. You can purchase both at most grocery stores although you may have to search a bit for the hibiscus tea. These are both super healthy alternatives and green tea especially boasts a whole range of benefits for your body!
You will need two green teabags and two hibiscus teabags, 2 and 1/4 cups of water, 1/4 cup sugar substitute, frozen berries, white grape juice and ice to finish.
Make a simple syrup by combining equal parts of water and sugar in a saucepan. Boil it for 2 minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool to room temperature.
Place the green and hibiscus tea bags in two cups of hot water. Steep the tea for 5 minutes then remove the tea bags. Cool the tea to room temperature.
Pour the tea, 2 tablespoons of simple syrup, and white grape juice into a pitcher or container. Stir to combine.
Pour the mixture into two tall glasses with frozen berries and ice.
10. Nonfat Cafe Mocha: 190 calories
While a rich, chocolate-flavored coffee isn’t perhaps the healthiest option, sometimes true chocolate lovers just need their weekly dose. The trick is to ask for non-fat milk, no whipped cream, and light mocha sauce.
How to make this Starbucks drink at home
You will need 1 cup nonfat milk, 1/2 cup hot espresso or strong coffee, 3 tbsp of chocolate syrup, 1/4 tsp vanilla extract and optional cinnamon to finish.
In a large coffee mug, pour in 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup.
Add coffee or espresso with vanilla extract and stir together.
Then, add steamed milk.
You can stir gently or leave layered.
Top off with 1 tablespoon of syrup and an optional sprinkle of cinnamon!
Definitely also check out these how to glow up tips for more ways to be healthy at college, nourish your body and girlify your lifestyle! Also check out these amazing makeup dupes to save money at college, perfect for broke students, and what to do in the summer ideas for students! What’s your favourite healthy Starbucks drink? Have you made your own at home before? Let me know what you love to order in the comments! ♡
