Last updated on January 22nd, 2024 at 13:14
I’ve had a few questions lately in our online coffee community about Cascara latte caffeine content.
Sure there is caffeine in Cascara, the skins of the coffee cherry, and there is caffeine in a latte and thus there is more caffeine in a cascara latte – but not a lot more.
Keep reading to find out how much more caffeine is in a cascara latte.
Cascara Latte Caffeine Content
Table Of Contents
Cascara Latte is not only tasty, tangy and rather lively it has a caffeine kick that is a touch more than a regular latte, only a touch more, not a lot.
The difference is not something that you will notice. This slight difference is due to the small amount of caffeine in the cascara syrup.
Check the following chart for the details:
| Cascara Latte Drink Size | Caffeine Content | Caffeine Content (Regular Latte) | Calories (Whole Fat Milk | Calories (Coconut Milk) |
| Short 8 Oz (240 ml) | 80 mg | 75 mg | 120 | 100 |
| Tall 12 Oz (360 ml) | 80 mg | 75 mg | 190 | 150 |
| Grande 16 Oz (480 ml) | 155 mg | 150 mg | 240 | 190 |
| Venti 20 Oz (600 ml) | 155 mg | 150 mg | 300 | 240 |
Read: Calories in cascara latte
What Is A Cascara Latte?
The Cascara latte at Starbucks is an espresso-based milky coffee beverage with a pump of cascara syrup and sprinkling of cascara sugar. It is an exotically flavored latte, that is enjoyed by coffee lovers and an enjoyable change from regular coffee drink.
While Starbucks garnish with cascara sugar, you can get a little more creative and grind the cascara and make a powder or by making little shavings to garnish your coffee drink with.
Read: Cascara latte ingredients
How To Make A Starbucks Copycat Cascara Latte At Home
Making a copycat cascara latte at home is easy. Much better results are achieved when you have a home espresso machine to make your shots and when you use a strong dark roast like a French or Italian roast.
Some coffee lovers suggest a medium roast, but for me, it helps to get lots of espresso flavor into the beverage and to cut through the creaminess of the milk and thus a dark roast for making your espresso shot is essential.
Start by weighing your coffee beans. Use 20 grams as a coffee to water ratio of 1.5:1 is what will get you a great, strong shot.
I strongly encourage the use of a ceramic conical burr grinder as you will get a much better quality of grind and greater grind consistency.
Grind your beans to a fine, very fine powder-like grind size, most likely the smallest setting on your grinder.
Take care while tamping your grounds and tamp evenly with approximately 30 kg of pressure.
Pulling Your Shot
The pulling of your shot should take 25 seconds with a variance of plus or minus 5 seconds. If your shot is pulled too quickly or too long, your shot of espresso will not taste perfect or as good as it could be.
If the brew time is too quick, it is likely your shot is slightly sour. The first course of action is to check your grind size and make a grind that is slightly smaller to encourage greater contact.
If your brew time is slightly too long, it will taste overtly bitter, and you will likely need to reduce your grind size slightly to encourage a greater flow of the water.
Once you have your perfect shot, steam your milk.
Read: Cascara latte
Steaming Your Milk
Steaming your milk is easy. Use whole fat milk or for extra special taste barista coconut milk.
Half fill your milk jug and start to steam your milk by dipping the nozzle of your milk steaming wand to about an inch below the surface. Watch and listen.
- Watch for a whirling of your milk.
- Listen for a sound similar to the tearing of magazines.
Move the tip of your wand through your milk and when you hear that tearing sound of magazines your milk is almost ready, and it is time to start foaming your milk.
To foam your milk, dip the tip of your wand just half an inch below the surface of your milk to create microfoam. When you have an abundance of foam, turn it into your milk to create a super silky texture and recreate the microfoam.
Add twice as much milk, 2 oz (60 ml) into your shot of espresso. Add a shot of cascara syrup. Spoon on your microfoam and add a sprinkle of cascara sugar.
Viola, you have a perfect, Starbucks copycat cascara latte.
What Does A Cascara Latte Taste Like?
It is much more common for a tasty herbal tea or Italian soda and as a syrup for a fancy cocktail to be made with cascara than a coffee.
As a slight side note, when making a coffee with cascara, the beverage is not brewed with the skin of coffee beans.
The taste is zesty, tangy and is reminiscent of orange zest and hibiscus with notes of dried fruits like apricot and raisins. It livens up a latte and goes well with the rich silky mouthfeel of the steamed milk.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cascara Latte Caffeine
Is Cascara High In Caffeine?
Cascara originates from a coffee plant and the skin of the coffee cherry that surrounds coffee beans. Despite this, the cascara or coffee cherry skins are not high in caffeine. On average, it has one third to one quarter of the caffeine content of a regular cup of coffee.
Studies exist showing that cascara has 25 mg of caffeine compared to 80 mg of cup of coffee.
Does Cascara Syrup Have Caffeine?
Yes, cascara syrup has some caffeine, only a minimum, negligible amount. If you see it on coffee shop menu like Starbucks don’t worry about being hyper or if your almost adult children ask for it.
It has 16 mg of caffeine per 100ml (3.33 Oz). Compared to coca-cola which has 10 milligrams of caffeine per 100 ml (3.33 oz).
The small amount, 1 oz (30 ml) shot added to your latte to make a cascara latte is not going to add a significant amount of caffeine, just an extra 5 milligrams of caffeine per cup.
How Much Caffeine Does Cascara Fizz Have?
Cascara fizz, an Italian style soda, has approximately 25 milligrams of caffeine per serving. Compared to an average coffee which has 80 milligrams of caffeine, it is not a lot.
It is a very refreshing beverage to have if you want or need to cut down on your caffeine consumption.
Is Coffee Fruit Extract A Stimulant?
Yes, the coffee fruit, all parts of it contain some caffeine and thus by definition it is a stimulant, even if the caffeine content is low. The coffee fruit is also considered to be a nootropic.
Is Cascara The Same As Cascara Sagrada?
No,
the cascara used is not the same as cascara sagrada. The coffee cascara is the skin from coffee beans, from the dried skin of coffee cherries to be more precise. It originates from the coffee plant.
Cascara sagrada is the bark of a different shrub, which is then processed and used for medicinal purposes. The two are not the same.
Final Thoughts – Cascara Latte Caffeine
So, you know the cascara latte caffeine content and how to make a excellent Starbucks copycat Cascara latte the only question is….
…Are you going to make it?
I double dare you to share your cascara latte creations with us on our online coffee community 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
