Quick Answer
There are a few ways you can order a white chocolate mocha with less calories at Starbucks:
- Ask for nonfat or lowfat milk instead of whole milk
- Ask for sugar free syrup instead of regular syrup
- Ask for less pumps of syrup
- Ask for light or no whipped cream
- Order a Tall size instead of a larger size
The simplest option is to order a Tall nonfat white chocolate mocha with no whipped cream. This cuts around 100 calories compared to a regular Grande white chocolate mocha with whip. You can also ask them to use half the pumps of mocha sauce and white chocolate syrup to further reduce the calories.
How Starbucks Makes Their White Chocolate Mochas
A Starbucks white chocolate mocha is made by combining espresso, steamed milk, white chocolate flavored syrup, and mocha sauce. Whipped cream is added on top to finish it off.
By default, a Grande (16 oz) white chocolate mocha is made with:
- 2 shots of espresso
- Whole milk steamed to 16 oz
- 4 pumps of white chocolate syrup
- 4 pumps of mocha sauce
- Whipped cream
This comes out to about 420 calories for a Grande white chocolate mocha with whipped cream.
The main components that add calories are the milk, syrups, and whipped cream. Let’s take a look at each to see how we can order it healthier:
1. Milk
Starbucks uses whole milk by default to make their lattes and mochas. Here are the calorie differences between milks:
| Whole milk | 150 calories per 8 oz |
| Nonfat milk | 90 calories per 8 oz |
| Soy milk | 100 calories per 8 oz |
| Almond milk | 60 calories per 8 oz |
As you can see, switching from whole milk to nonfat milk can save you 60 calories for a Grande size drink. Opting for soy or almond milk can save you even more calories.
2. Syrups
White chocolate and mocha syrups add sweetness and flavor to the drink. Each pump of syrup contains about 20 calories.
A Grande white mocha comes with 4 pumps each of white chocolate and mocha syrups, totaling 160 calories just from the syrups.
Asking for less pumps of each syrup is an easy way to reduce the calories. Getting only 2 pumps of each would cut around 80 calories. Starbucks allows you to customize the number of pumps, so feel free to ask for half pumps if you really want to minimize calories!
You can also ask them to use sugar free syrups instead of the regular, full sugar versions. The sugar free white chocolate and mocha syrups have minimal calories and will drastically cut the calorie count while still giving you that sweet flavor.
3. Whipped Cream
The swirl of fluffy whipped cream tops off the white chocolate mocha nicely with its airy sweetness. Unfortunately, it comes at a high calorie cost.
| Whipped cream | 50 calories |
Leaving off the whipped cream or asking for light whip will cut 50 calories off your drink. Completely eliminating it will save you the most calories.
4. Espresso
The espresso itself has minimal calories, especially compared to the other ingredients. Each shot of espresso contains about 5 calories.
Ordering more shots of espresso won’t significantly change the calorie count but will give you a stronger coffee flavor.
How to Order a Lower Calorie White Chocolate Mocha
Now that we know what’s in a white chocolate mocha, here are some ways to order it with less calories:
Choose nonfat or lowfat milk
The easiest swap is to ask for nonfat or lowfat milk instead of whole milk. This alone can save you 60-90 calories depending on the size.
For example:
“I’ll take a Grande nonfat white chocolate mocha please.”
Ask for less syrup
Requesting less pumps of the mocha and white chocolate syrups will lower the calories.
For example:
“Can I get a Tall white chocolate mocha with 2 pumps of each syrup instead of the normal 4?”
This will save you about 40 calories.
Ask for sugar free syrup
Ordering sugar free syrup is one of the best ways to cut a significant amount of calories.
For example:
“I’ll have a Grande sugar free white chocolate mocha with nonfat milk please.”
Compared to a regular white chocolate mocha, this can save over 200 calories!
Leave off whipped cream
You can ask them to leave off the whipped cream altogether:
“Can I get a white chocolate mocha without whipped cream?”
Or if you still want a little indulgence, ask for light whip:
“Can I get light whipped cream on my white chocolate mocha?”
This will save you about 50 calories compared to the regular amount of whipped cream.
Choose a smaller size
The Starbucks white chocolate mocha comes in four sizes:
| Tall (12 oz) | 140 calories |
| Grande (16 oz) | 180 calories |
| Venti (20 oz) | 260 calories |
Ordering the smallest size possible will automatically reduce the calorie count since it contains less milk and syrup. Choosing a Tall size can save you 70+ calories compared to a Grande.
Try adding coffee
Another trick is to ask for an extra shot of espresso in your white chocolate mocha:
“Can I get a Tall white chocolate mocha with an extra shot?”
This adds coffee flavor while reducing the milky sweetness, cutting some calories in the process.
Sample Orders for a Lower Calorie White Chocolate Mocha
Here are some examples of how to order a white chocolate mocha with less calories:
“Tall nonfat white chocolate mocha with no whip”
By choosing the smallest size with nonfat milk and no whipped cream, this cuts around 100 calories compared to a regular Grande white chocolate mocha.
Estimated calories: 140
“Grande sugar free white chocolate mocha with almond milk and light whip”
Opting for the sugar free syrup, lower calorie milk, and light whip can slash around 250 calories!
Estimated calories: 170
“Venti white chocolate mocha with 2 pumps mocha, 2 pumps white chocolate, nonfat milk, no whip, and an extra shot”
Ordering a larger size but minimizing the syrup pumps, eliminating whip, and adding coffee lowers the calories for a more indulgent drink.
Estimated calories: 200
“Tall white chocolate mocha, single shot, almond milk, no syrups, extra hot”
Getting the smallest size with lower calorie milk, no syrup, and a single espresso shot makes a skinny minimalist white mocha.
Estimated calories: 45
Tips for Further Customization
Here are some other helpful tips for ordering a customized lower calorie white chocolate mocha:
– Ask them to leave room at the top for less milk
– Request an extra hot temperature so it melts the syrup faster
– Add a dash of cinnamon or cocoa powder for extra flavor
– Substitute stevia or sugar-free vanilla syrup to sweeten
– Pair your white chocolate mocha with a lower calorie breakfast sandwich or yogurt parfait
Don’t be afraid to ask the baristas to customize your mocha even more. They’re usually happy to accommodate requests to help meet your dietary needs!
Common Questions
Does making it iced change the calories?
Ordering your white chocolate mocha iced doesn’t significantly alter the calorie count. The main difference is that ice replaces the hot steamed milk.
What about ordering soy, almond or oat milk?
Substituting soy, almond or oat milk will reduce the calories compared to whole milk. Here is the nutrition info for Starbucks alternative milks in a Grande 16 oz:
| Soy milk | 90 calories |
| Almond milk | 60 calories |
| Oat milk | 120 calories |
So almond or soy milk would be the lowest calorie options.
Can I order a kids size white chocolate mocha?
Unfortunately Starbucks doesn’t offer the white chocolate mocha as a kids drink. However, you can order a short 8 oz size to get a smaller portion.
Does Starbucks have light or skinny mochas?
Starbucks doesn’t have specific “light” options for the white chocolate mocha. But you can easily modify it to make it lighter as described in this article. Some “skinny” options would be sugar free syrup and nonfat milk.
Conclusion
While the white chocolate mocha is one of the more indulgent Starbucks drinks, there are many ways to customize it for fewer calories without sacrificing that delicious sweet white chocolate flavor.
Simply choosing nonfat milk, less syrup, and no whipped cream can immediately shave off calories from your mocha. For maximum calorie-cutting, opt for sugar free syrups and smaller sizes.
Don’t hesitate to give the baristas specific instructions for your ideal lower calorie white chocolate mocha. With all their customization options, you can enjoy this creamy and decadent beverage while still meeting your nutritional goals. Sip smarter and reward yourself with a lighter mocha next time your cravings hit!
