There’s a Starbucks on every corner. But if you’re trying to ween yourself off caffeine, or perhaps it’s late in the afternoon, you’re more interested in a decaf coffee.
The Starbucks coffee menu certainly includes decaf choices, and these choices include drinks from the hot coffee selection, the iced coffees and iced chocolates (and the tea menu).
Does Starbucks Sell Decaf Iced Coffee?
Yes, Starbucks offers decaf iced coffees. You can order many favorites like an Iced Caffe Decaf Americano, Iced Decaf Espresso or Iced Decaf Latte at Starbucks among many others.
So if you enjoy the coffee flavor experience but not the energy buzz, then read on..
This article takes a look at Starbucks decaf drink selection, what they contain and how to order them, and we’ll consider the meaning of “decaf” and what it means for your drink.
Is There Any Caffeine In Starbucks Decaf Coffees?
There are trace amount of caffeine in Starbucks decaf drinks. This is because the decaffeination process still leaves about 3% caffeine in the coffee beans
Coffee beans are decaffeinated in three ways.
- The solvent based process uses chemicals that create a solvent which extracts the caffeine from the beans
- The carbon dioxide process uses carbon dioxide to remove the caffeine. This process is the most expensive
- The Swiss water process is an organic osmosis that extracts the caffeine. This is the most effective process
It is therefore quite natural to expect your Starbucks decaf to be very slightly caffeinated. Your 473ml Starbucks will contain around 25mg of caffeine, compared to a general fully caffeinated coffee which contains around 188mg of caffeine.
The flavour of a decaf coffee is slightly different to the regular coffee because of the de- caffeination process, but experts say the type of coffee bean has more all-round impact on the flavour of any coffee than this process.
What Kind Of Decaf Iced Coffees Are Sold At Starbucks?
The Starbucks decaf iced coffees are made from decaffeinated coffee beans, and the iced coffees made this way include:
- Iced espresso
- Iced Café Americano
- Iced flat white
- Iced shaken espresso
- Iced latte
- Iced Macchiato
- Iced Mocha
Starbucks also allow you to combine decaf and regular coffees.
Does The Starbucks Tea Range Drinks Contain Caffeine?
The teas available at Starbucks include decaf and low caffeine options and also the chai tea range which are very high in caffeine.
The amount of caffeine in your Starbucks tea depends on how you ask for it to be made and the size of the tea you choose.
For example, your Peach Tranquillity tea (hot) will have no caffeine (or traces only) regardless of the size you order, but a Matcha Green Tea Latte will contain a high level of caffeine, and higher still if you have it made with green tea powder.
And if you purchase your Matcha Green Tea Latte in the grande size, you will be consuming even more caffeine.
What Type Of Other Decaf Drinks Sold At Starbucks?
The range of decaf drinks you can purchase at Starbucks includes iced drinks, tea drinks, and milk drinks. You will also find fruit juice drinks and herbal blends that do not contain caffeine.
- Steamed Apple Juice – refreshing and sweet
- Lemonade – made with lemon and ice
- Strawberry Lemonade – luscious and tangy (and with vitamin C)
- Peach Tranquillity Tea – made with peaches, pineapple, chamomile, lemon verbena and rose hips
- Mint Majesty Tea – a herbal tea made with mint and lemon verbena
- White Hot Chocolate – a traditional hot chocolate made with milk, white chocolate sauce and cream
- Vanilla Bean Frappuccino – made with milk, ice, and blended vanilla bean
- Strawberry Crème Frappuccino – made with strawberry puree, milk, ice and cream
Starbucks traditional brewed iced coffee and cold brews are generally not available decaffeinated, and the reason for this is that there is no demand for it.
Starbucks also sell a range of hot decaf coffees as well.
Does Starbucks Have Decaf Cold Brew?
No, unfortunately Starbucks does not offer a Decaf Cold Brew option at this time. A normal Cold Brew at Starbucks has about 205 mg of caffeine, so if you’re trying to cut back, this isn’t the drink for you.
Cold Brew’s have become more and more popular throughout the years as they are sweeter and smoother than a regular coffee, without the cream and sugar.
They are also less acidic than regular coffee, making them quite popular for caffeine-enthusiasts.
How Do I Order A Decaf Iced Coffee At Starbucks?
Any of the Starbucks espresso coffees can be served as a decaf, either hot or iced. This is because Starbucks use a decaffeinated coffee bean to make them.
When you make your order for any one of the espresso options, just remember to specify that you want a decaf.
You can also order a Starbucks iced coffee drink with less caffeine. Starbucks allow you to combine decaf espresso and regular espresso.
Your options in doing this include: ½ decaf, ⅓ decaf, ⅔ decaf and fully decaf.
How Much Caffeine Is In A Starbucks Decaf Iced Coffee?
The among of caffeine in the Starbucks iced coffee range is as follows:
- Short – 15 mg (8 fluid ounces)
- Tall – 20 mg (12 fluid ounces)
- Grande – 25 mg (16 fluid ounces)
- Venti – 30 mg (20 fluid ounces)
And just for comparison, here is the amount of caffeine in the Starbucks regular iced coffees:
- Tall – 120mg (12 fluid ounces)
- Grande – 165mg (16 fluid ounces
- Venti – 235 mg (20 fluid ounces)
- Trenta – 285mg (31 fluid ounces)
Starbucks don’t seem to offer regular iced coffees in the “short” size or decaf iced coffees in the “trenta” size.
Can I Get A Traditional Decaf Iced Coffee At Starbucks?
Fortunately, you can still get a traditional iced coffee, (one made with brewed coffee that’s cold rather than an iced espresso) at Starbucks.
A barista can make this type of decaf iced coffee using the pour over method. It may take a little longer but coffee enthusiasts insist that the rich, smooth coffee is well work it.
The method involves pouring hot water through coffee grounds in a filter. The water drains (or drips) through the coffee and the filter into a mug or glass. This method is also known as hand brewing or manual brewing.
The pour over method is time consuming, and this is why not every store will offer it.
Want to learn more about Starbucks? Check out these posts to learn if Starbucks sells Boba Tea and does Starbucks Chai Tea contain caffeine
Conclusion…
Starbucks sell a dizzying range of hot and cold drinks, and the sheer number of options can make it hard to work out what you want. It’s especially tricky trying to find a decaf version of a really good coffee, and easy to order the wrong thing. Many of the Starbucks drinks look quite innocent of caffeine but can be quite loaded with it.
Fortunately it’s possible to examine their drinks list and work out ways to check, lower, or completely avoid the caffeinated beverages.