Red Bull vs Starbucks Doubleshot – A Factual Comparison

In the comparison of Red Bull Vs Starbucks Doubleshot Energy I lay down the important details about both drinks and then compare the flavors, the caffeine content, the ingredients, sugar and the calories before coming up with the answer which is best.

Keep reading for a detailed and honest comparison of the two drinks.

Red Bull Vs Starbucks Doubleshot – What Is Starbucks Doubleshot?

Starbucks Doubleshot Energy is a coffee energy drink hybrid with an elevated caffeine content and aimed to compete with Monster Energy, Red Bull, Rockstar and other high-energy drinks and break with the stereotypical energy drink by providing you with the energy stimulation with a coffee taste.

They come in a number of flavors, including:

• White Chocolate.
• Mocha.
• Coffee.
• Hazelnut.
• Vanilla.

They contain guarana, caffeine, panax ginseng, inositol, taurine and essential vitamins and minerals to aid your energy as good sustained energy comes from nutrients.

All flavors contain the same amount of caffeine, 135 mg per 15 Oz (450 ml) can.

Read: Starbucks energy drink flavors

What Is Red Bull?

Red Bull is the world-famous energy drink from Austria with its origins in Thailand. Clearly with 38% share of the US$10 billion a year market they clearly dominate the market sector.

Their range of products and flavors include:

• Red Bull Sugar Free.
• Red Bull Zero.
• Red Bull Total Zero.
• Red Bull Energy Shot.
• Red Bull Editions (Lime, Blueberry, Cranberry).
• Organics By Red Bull (a series of soft drinks in various flavors, ginger ale, tonic water, bitter lemon, simply cola).

The ingredients in a can of regular Red Bull include taurine, carbonated water, baking soda, simple sugars, Vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12. Citric acid.

Red Bull has 80 mg of caffeine per can.

Read: How much caffeine in Starbucks doubleshot energy?

Caffeine Content: Red Bull Vs Starbucks Doubleshot

For total caffeine content of the two beverages, Starbucks Doubleshot has more. It has 135 mg per 450 ml (15 oz) can, which is considerably more than what a can of Red Bull has, which is 80 mg per 250 ml (8.4 Oz) can.

Starbucks Doubleshot Energy has almost as much as Monster Energy and Rockstar Original, which have 160 mg and 145 mg respectively.

Starbucks Doubleshot Energy Vs Red Bull – Sugar Content

Comparing like with like and the Original regular drinks of Red Bull with Starbucks Double Shot Energy the winner here is Red Bull and only slightly as they have 27 grams of sugar, while Starbucks Double Shot Energy has just two grams more with 29 grams of sugar.

To be fair to Red Bull, they have low sugar options with their sugar-free, zero and zero total which all have reduced sugar levels.

The low, reduced, or zero sugar options are not available at Starbucks with their Doubleshot Energy drinks range.

Read: Starbucks Doubleshot Energy Caffeine

How Many Calories Does Each Drink Have?

Head and shoulders Red Bull win this one with almost half as many calories with 110 calories Vs 210 calories in the Starbucks Drink.

Red Bull win this one hands down as they have options available in their range of drinks that include their Red Bull total zero which is zero sugar and zero calories.

If you are calorie counting and on a diet, Red Bull is your best choice here, by far.

Red Bull Or Starbucks Doubleshot Energy – Which One Is Best?

Which one is best for you will depend on what you are looking for and if the calorie count is important to you. If it is, then by far a can of Red Bull total zero will be your best choice.

You won’t get as much of an energy kick from it with 80 mg of caffeine, which is just a little more than a shot of espresso.

If you really want or really need an energy boost and don’t mind the extra calorie, then the larger 450 ml (15 Oz) can of Starbucks Doubleshot energy will be the better choice. With 135 mg of caffeine, 55 mg more than Red Bull, you will experience more of a stimulation and more of a boost.

In terms of taste, personally, I am a coffee man, and true coffee lover and enthusiasts and prefer the flavor options from Starbucks Doubleshot to the variations from Red Bull.

I’m really not at all into refreshment drinks or sodas at all. Water, fruit juice, tea and certainly coffee. Carbonated drinks, I am not a fan of them at all!

The overall winner, for me personally, is Starbucks Doubleshot Energy as the 100 or so extra calories don’t matter at all to me.

Frequently Asked Questions About Red Bull Vs Starbucks Doubleshot

Is Red Bull Stronger Than Espresso?

Checking the raw caffeine content, Red Bull edges over a shot of single shot of espresso and not by much. Red Bull has 80 milligrams of caffeine while a single shot of espresso at Starbucks has 75 mg of caffeine.

An espresso shot at a regular coffee shop has 65 mg of the stimulant on average.

Is Starbucks Doubleshot Energy An Energy Drink?

Starbucks Doubleshot Energy drink is a coffee energy drink hybrid that is made by the world’s leading gourmet coffee company and has a distribution partnership with PepsiCo.

It is much more than a simple coffee in a can. It has vitamins, minerals, panax ginseng, guarana, caffeine, taurine and more to aid in giving you a holistic energy boost. 

What Is The Healthiest Energy Drink To Drink?

Personally I find Zevia to be the healthiest energy drink due to being sugar-free and non-GMO and having an ample 120 mg of organically sourced caffeine in a single can. Having zero grams of sugar and using a healthy alternative is a definite plus.

What Is Healthier Red Bull Or Coffee?

Coffee is healthier as it has much less sugar than Red Bull. A single can of Red Bull, 8.4 ounces (250 ml), has 27 grams of sugar. With coffee, you have full control over how much sugar you put in it – if any. You can also use an alternative sweetener like honey to add even more nutrients to the ones that are already found in coffee.

There are also a whole host of chemicals in the energy drink, of which the negative effects of them and excess sugar are well established.

Which Is Healthier Coffee Or Energy Drinks?

Clearly, the healthier of the two options above is coffee with the caveat that it depends on how you have your cup of coffee.

If you are going down to Starbucks and ordering liquid cakes loaded with various pumps of syrup and adding sugar and cream toppings then I certainly not consider that type of coffee as healthy – the syrups are loaded with sugar and calories, hence why I call them liquid cakes.

If you are reasonable with your coffee and don’t have it loaded with sugar, most certainly it is healthier than energy drinks due to the nutrients, less sugar and no chemical additives.

You can make your coffee healthy by adding honey as a sweetener which has additional nutrients and adds to the nutrient content that a cup of coffee has.

Starbucks has a coffee energy drink, and perhaps why they made one, to be a healthy alternative to energy drinks. Their Doubleshot Energy has B vitamins, vitamin A, C, and D and minerals, panax ginseng, taurine, guarana and an ample amount of caffeine.

That, in my opinion, is the healthier option of all.

Does Red Bull Have More Caffeine Than Starbucks?

No, a typical can of Red Bull has 80 mg of caffeine while many Starbucks coffee beverages have more, depending on the drink and the drink size. A fine example is a double espresso, which has 150 mg of caffeine. Many of the coffee drinks from Starbucks that are Grande 16 Oz (480 ml) drink size and up have 2 shots of espresso and thus more caffeine than a Red Bull.

What Has More Caffeine Red Bull Or Double Espresso?

A double espresso has 150 mg of caffeine while a can of Red Bull has 80 milligrams of caffeine, thus a double espresso has more caffeine.

Is Starbucks Healthier Than Energy Drinks?

Yes, Starbucks doubleshot energy you just need to look at the sugar content which is 26 grams which compared to the 54 grams of sugar that Monster Energy has and the 60 grams of sugar in a Rockstar.

The American Heart Association considers 25 grams of sugar per day for healthy children aged 2 to 18 and adult women. For men, the limit is 36 grams per day.

Final Thoughts – Red Bull Vs Starbucks Doubleshot

I’ve laid it out for you in the great debate of Red Bull Vs Starbucks Doubleshot. If I have missed something out, or you need additional information, be sure to contact us. 

Join our fun, very friendly and free online coffee community and tell us about your current favorite coffee beans that you are trying out right now. Find us on Facebook/Meta.

Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location