I am a Starbucks lover and born and raised near Seattle, so Starbucks isn’t really a treat, but a way of life. We live off of our favorite Starbucks order in Seattle. Since moving to Florida, there aren’t as many Starbucks (Dunkin Donuts is more popular), but I have still kept up with my Starbucks way of life. Even in all my weight loss journeys after having 4 kids, Starbucks is something I will never give up just to lose weight. I plan on having a Starbucks almost daily, but I have found some great, lower calorie drinks that taset amazing! I am not a fan of plain black coffee, which is basically like 0 calories, so you won’t see that on this list. I like a sweet, creamy drink, and the smooth coldbrew made in small batches is my favorite coffee. I’ve always been on the lookout for ways to enjoy my favorite treats guilt-free. Summer days bring with them a craving for cool, refreshing drinks, and Starbucks is often my go-to stop. However, navigating the menu for options that won’t derail my health goals can be a challenge, particularly with so many tempting, sugary drinks on offer. That’s why discovering low-calorie iced drinks at Starbucks has been a game-changer for me and many others who are health-conscious but still need that caffeine fix or sweet treat to power through the day. It’s not just about cutting back on sugar or opting for plant-based milk; it’s about smart, tailored choices that align with our health and fitness trends without compromising on taste or satisfaction. 

My favorite customizations to make any Starbucks drink lower-calorie:

You can make any iced Starbucks drink lower calorie with a few simple swaps and customizations! A lot of people think this will change the taste, but many times it tastes even better, and you are drinking your favorite drink for less calories!

– Swap regular milk for non-fat or almond milk: these are the lower calorie options for milk, that can save you a lot of extra fat and calories, but still taste amazing! 

– Reduce flavor pumps/scoops: If you check your drink, you can reduce the number of scoops or pumps of flavoring to reduce the sugar. For example, a white chocolate iced mocha might have 3 scoops of white chocolate, and if you reduce that to 1 scoop, you can save a lot of sugar and calories, but still get the taste!

– Add a few packets of Stevia: If you reduce the flavoring, you can add a few packets of Stevia to keep the sweetness you might be missing. Stevia is one of my favorite sugar substitutes, and it works really well in coffee drinks!

– Skip the whipped cream: Skipping whipped cream all together will save your 50-100 calories and extra fat that can bring your drink from 300 calories to 200 calories! It is such an easy way to reduce caloires

Here are my FAVORITE Low-Calorie Starbucks Iced Drinks for THIS SUMMER!

Venti Cold Brew Coffee With Almond Milk + Cold Foam: 

Starbucks smooth small-batch cold coffee, slow-steeped for 20 hours, has fewer than 5 calories and 0 grams of sugar. I like to get a venti with a splash of almond milk and vanilla sweet cream cold foam on top! All of this is about 100 calories or less! I have tried all the coldfoams with this drink, and I like them ALL!!! This is one of the healthiest starbucks drinks that tastes the best with fewer calories. 

Venti White Chocolate Iced Coffee:  

Made with freshly brewed Starbucks^® Iced Coffee Blend is about 5 calores. Add one scoop of white chocolate, a splash of non-fat milk and 3 Stevia packets! You are under 100 calories, and it tastes soo good! 

Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew: 

Served cold, straight from the tap, the Nitro Cold Brew is topped with a float of house-made vanilla sweet cream. You can do light sweet cream to keep the calories and sugar low, and it tastes so smooth and creamy for about 50 calories!

Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso: 

Starbucks®^® Blonde espresso meets cocoa and notes of malt, shaken together and topped with almondmilk and ice for an invigorating treat. 80 calories, 11 grams of sugar.

Starbucks Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew

With a cloying honey sweetness, it’s hard to believe there are only 50 calories in this grande-sized drink. You can cut the sugar considerably by reducing the amount of honey flavoring, but add a little stevia if you miss the sweetness!

Venti Iced Matcha Almond Milk Latte with Lavender Coldfoam:

I am obsessed with this sweet drink! It isn’t necessarily coffee, but matcha does have some green tea caffeine in it! I do ONE SCOOP of matcha powder, with almond milk and add a couple stevias to keep the sugar count down! Add some lavender coldfoam on top, and it is delicious for around 100-120 calories. Coldfoam is harder to know how many calories, but plan on around 50.  

Ordering Low Calorie Starbucks Drinks

Because I live in FL, I drink iced coffee all year. I am obsessed with it, and I think the hot sun makes it taste so much better. That’s why I have a full list of the iced drinks above (I will do a hot drinks one soon!). I also used to be a barista, so I’ve tried various drinks at various times in my life, always looking for the next best combo of flavor, but still keeping it healthy! I find that at Starbucks, I like the coldbrew and nitro cold brew the best because it is smoother. The espresso at Starbucks is strong, so if you don’t like your coffee too strong, you can do less shots of espresso. From the invigorating Nitro Cold Brew to the tangy and refreshing hibiscus tea, Starbucks offers a wide range of low-calorie iced drinks. Whether you’re cutting down on sugar with sugar-free syrup in your classic iced coffee or opting for a less sugary but equally delicious pink drink, there’s something for everyone. And don’t even get me started on the customization options – swapping in almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk can make your favorite summer sip align perfectly with a plant-based diet without sacrificing flavor. Trust me, navigating the Starbucks menu for low-calorie drinks doesn’t mean compromising on taste; it’s all about making smart choices. 

Customization Is Key

Let me tell you, diving into the world of Starbucks with a health-conscious mindset has been a total game-changer for me. I’ve always been a fan of their iced drinks, especially during the sweltering summer days. However, the usual sugary suspects weren’t aligning with my fitness goals. That’s when I discovered the magic of customization. 

• Choosing non-dairy milks, like almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk, has become my go-to move. Not only do they add a delightful twist to my favorite beverages, but they also significantly lower the calorie count. 
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• Reducing syrup pumps or opting for sugar-free syrups like the pumps sugar-free vanilla, I found, dramatically decrease the sugar content without sacrificing flavor. 
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• Selecting sugar-free alternatives has made all the difference in enjoying a sweet treat without the guilt. It’s these little tweaks that have made my Starbucks orders a guilt-free pleasure, keeping me cool and refreshed all summer long. 

TikTok Hacks for Healthier Drinks

Jumping onto TikTok, I’ve been mesmerized by the sheer creativity of the community, especially when it comes to crafting healthier Starbucks orders. It’s like a goldmine of hacks for those of us looking to keep our summer sips on the lighter side. I couldn’t help but try some of these viral suggestions—substituting almond milk or coconut milk in my cold brew coffee totally changed the game for me. And let’s not forget the magic of asking for pumps of sugar-free vanilla or opting for sugar-free syrup to slash the sugar content without compromising on taste. What truly amazed me was the option to customize with less sugar or even go for a splash of oat milk for that creamy texture without the heavy calorie count. It’s a refreshing revelation that my daily Starbucks coffee indulgence can align with my health goals, all thanks to some epic TikTok hacks and a bit of creativity. 

Starbucks Menu Hidden Gems

Discovering those hidden gems on the Starbucks menu feels like unearthing treasure, especially when they align with my summer health goals. Few things delight me more than finding that perfect, low-calorie iced concoction that cools me down without ramping up my daily sugar intake. On my quest for lighter options, I’ve stumbled upon drinks that taste indulgent but are surprisingly kind to my waistline. From the vibrant Hibiscus Tea with its lively blend of lime to the subtle refreshment of the Iced Caffè Misto customized with almond milk, these selections are my go-to for summer days. Each sip is a testament to the fact that with a little bit of creativity and a willingness to try new recipes or customizations—like swapping out whole milk for oat milk or choosing sugar-free syrup—you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for fitness. The joy of summer sipping comes guilt-free, making every Starbucks visit a new opportunity to indulge smartly. 

Healthy Starbucks Hacks to Remember: 

Choose a Lower-Calorie Milk: 

Almond Milk

Nonfat Milk

Oatmilk

​Choose more coffee, less milk: 

Coldbrew

Nitro Coldbrew

Americano

​Choose less flavoring and add a sugar-free substitute: 

Opt for less scoops or fewer sryup pumps

add packets of a Stevia or other sweetener to compensate

Choosing low-calorie Starbucks drinks or adjusting usual orders really helps cut back on the sugar and calorie count, without sacrificing too much flavor. 

Opting for smaller sizes has been a game-changer for me, significantly reducing those sneaky calorie counts. Saying ‘no’ to whipped cream and opting for non-dairy milks like almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk has also become part of my routine. And let’s not forget those customization hacks! Requesting fewer syrup pumps or choosing sugar-free syrup can turn a potentially sugary drink into a refreshing, guilt-free delight. 

Remember, enjoying Starbucks in a healthier way doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or your morning ritual. It’s about making choices that align with your lifestyle and health goals. So next time, when the barista asks for your order, you’ll know exactly how to keep it tasty yet mindful of those calories.