Pink Drink Caffeine, Sugar And Calories Count – Get The Facts!

Learning and knowing the Starbucks Pink Drink Caffeine content will help you to stay well within the suggested limit of 400 mg per day maximum as recommended by the FDA. It will also help you to make that judgement call if you are pregnant, nursing or buying the drink for your children.

I can tell you straight away the Starbucks Pink Drink does have caffeine but not a lot.

By far, the best way of knowing how much caffeine, sugar and calories are in this beverage is by reading this article.

Keep reading for a great table that lays out the amount of caffeine for the different sizes of the Starbucks Pink Drink and the sugar and calorie content.

The Pink Drink Caffeine Content – Let’s Also Talk About The Pink Drink Calories And Sugar Content

A shot of espresso from Starbucks has 75 mg of caffeine on average – this helps us to establish a baseline figure for a proper comparison to help you understand better.

Best way of showing the caffeine content in a Pink Drink is to present you with a table indicating the amount of caffeine for each drink size and how much caffeine the Pink Drink has in comparison to a shot of espresso.

As you can see from the table above the caffeine content in a Tall pink drink is the equivalent of less than half (46%) a shot of espresso while a Grande Pink Drink still has a low caffeine content at just over half (60%) of an espresso shot at the coffee giant.

Be careful of ordering the Trenta pink drink late in the evening as it has slightly more caffeine than a shot of espresso and may keep you awake at night.

Read: Starbucks Pink Drink caffeine content

Pink Drink Calories

There seems to be a reasonable calorie count for the Pink Drink with only 110 calories in a Tall 12 Oz (360 ml) version of the beverage.

As you get to the Trenta (30 Oz) 900 ml the calorie count rises to 270 – keep an eye open for that if you are on a diet. Worth noting is that 80% more or less are from carbs.

Pink Drink Starbucks Sugar Content

This is something to keep an eye on is the sugar content, unfortunately the drink at Starbucks has the reputation as being liquid cakes.

The 19 grams of sugar in the smaller Tall size of this drink may seem fine or tame, but there is a whopping 48 grams of sugar in the Trenta size – and that is a lot! At Latte Love Brew we want you to stay healthy. 

Does Pink Drink Have Dairy?

This Starbucks drink is 100% vegan friendly as no dairy products are used. The milk used is coconut milk. It is the addition of coconut that gives the Starbucks Pink Drink its distinctive color and creamy taste.

Despite being vegan friendly, this Starbucks refresher is not keto friendly.

Why Does Starbucks Pink Drink Have Caffeine?

It is not fully known why the drink intentionally has caffeine or why there is not a caffeine-free pink drink available. My best guess is that people who go to Starbucks are there for a caffeinated drink of some kind be it a coffee, a tea or their popular Pink Drink.

How the caffeine is there, its source is known, the caffeine is from the green coffee extract that is in the Strawberry acai refresher base.

Notably, the beverage does not taste of green coffee as the green coffee beans used are unroasted.

Here Is How To Order A Caffeine Free Skinny Pink Drink

This is not quite the original Pink Drink and is an adaptation of it since it does not have the same Strawberry acai refresher base.

Instead,

the caffeine-free herbal iced tea, the Iced Passion Tango tea, is used. Then request a splash of coconut milk, a shot of sugar-free vanilla syrup and freeze-dried strawberries.

This is a Starbucks secret menu drink and is 100% vegan friendly and due to being sugar-free it is a keto friendly drink and is also good for your waist line as the Venti sized option has only 40 calories.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pink Drink Caffeine

Is There A Lot Of Caffeine In Pink Drink?

In my opinion, the Pink Drink does not have a lot of caffeine as even at the largest size a whopping 900 ml (30 oz) Pink Drink has 85 mg of caffeine.

While this amount is just 10 mg more than a single 1 oz (30 ml) shot of espresso at the same establishment, the drink is considerably larger.

In the smallest drink size, Starbucks Tall 16 Oz (360 ml), the caffeine content is 35 mg, which is just under half a shot of espresso.

What kind Of Caffeine Is In A Pink Drink?

There is caffeine in this beverage, and I am delighted to say that it is a lightly caffeinated beverage. The caffeine is from the green coffee extract and the splash of tea, if you choose to have a splash of tea added to the drink, a common customization.

How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?

The recommended daily amount of caffeine per day by the FDA is 400 milligrams for adults and half this amount for teenagers and pregnant ladies.

Is The Pink Drink A Frappuccino?

No, the Pink Drink is a cold drink that originates from Starbucks secret menu and made its way to becoming a permanent feature.

It is cold and comes with ice cubes but is not a frozen drink like a frappuccino.

Can Starbucks Make A Decaf Pink Drink?

No, unfortunately it is not possible for the Pink Drink to be

decaffeinated. The Strawberry Acai Base has green coffee extract, which means it is impossible for them, the barista, to remove the caffeine.

Can I Order A Pink Drink Without Caffeine?

No, it is not possible to order a pink drink that is caffeine-free. This is due to the presence of the green coffee extract, which makes it impossible for you to order a decaffeinated version.

Can Kids Have Starbucks Pink Drink?

Due to the caffeine content and elevated amount of sugar, it is not advisable to give young children a Starbucks pink drink. The purple drink is a better options as it is 100% caffeine free and has the same visual appeal that kids love. It made with vanilla syrup (optional sugar free vanilla!) soy milk, caffeine freee passion iced tea and blackberries. 

Is A Pink Drink Considered Coffee?

No, there is no coffee in the pink drink other than green coffee extract. The drink has no taste or flavor at all of coffee. It’s a Strawberry Açaí Refresher, with coconut milk. 

Final Thoughts – Pink Drink Caffeine

The Starbucks Pink Drink caffeine content is relatively low and is not so stimulating, with the smaller drink size, Tall, having less than half that of an espresso and a Pink Drink Grande having only 60% of the caffeine that an espresso has.

The only drink size that does have a notable caffeine content is the Trenta, which has 85 mg of caffeine – 10 more than a shot of espresso.

This is something to be aware of if you are drinking it late at night, buy it for your children or, are indeed pregnant.

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