Chick-fil-A offers a variety of iced coffee beverages that can satisfy your caffeine cravings without too many calories. But exactly how many calories are in a small iced coffee from Chick-fil-A?
The Basics of Chick-fil-A’s Iced Coffee
Chick-fil-A has a few iced coffee options on their menu:
- Iced Coffee – Freshly brewed coffee chilled and served over ice.
- Iced Coffee with Cream – Freshly brewed Chick-fil-A Coffee with cream added.
- Iced Coffee with Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup – Freshly brewed coffee with sugar free vanilla syrup, chilled and served over ice.
- Iced Coffee with Vanilla Syrup – Freshly brewed Chick-fil-A Coffee with vanilla syrup added.
Their standard iced coffee is simply their freshly brewed coffee that has been chilled and poured over ice. It contains no added cream, sweeteners, or flavorings. This will be the lowest calorie option.
Calories in a Small Iced Coffee from Chick-fil-A
According to Chick-fil-A’s nutritional information, a small iced coffee contains only 5 calories. This is for the 12 oz “small” size.
Here is a breakdown of the nutrition facts for a small iced coffee from Chick-fil-A:
| Serving Size | 12 fl oz (small) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 5 |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Sodium | 10mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1g |
| Protein | 0g |
As you can see, a small 12 oz iced coffee from Chick-fil-A contains only 5 calories and 1g of carbohydrates, with no fat or protein. This makes it a very low calorie beverage choice.
How the Calories Compare to Other Sizes
Chick-fil-A offers iced coffee in 3 sizes:
- Small – 12 fl oz (355ml)
- Medium – 16 fl oz (473ml)
- Large – 20 fl oz (591ml)
The calorie count increases slightly with the larger sizes:
| Size | Calories |
|---|---|
| Small (12oz) | 5 |
| Medium (16oz) | 10 |
| Large (20oz) | 15 |
As expected, the medium has about twice as many calories as the small, while the large has three times as many. But even the large iced coffee is still very low in calories, with just 15 calories in a 20 oz serving.
How Flavorings and Creamers Impact Calories
While the plain iced coffee is very low in calories, adding cream and flavorings will increase the calorie count. Here’s how the different flavor options compare:
| Iced Coffee Choice | Calories (Small 12oz) |
|---|---|
| Iced Coffee | 5 |
| Iced Coffee with Cream | 65 |
| Iced Coffee with Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup | 5 |
| Iced Coffee with Vanilla Syrup | 100 |
The sugar free vanilla syrup has no impact on calories since it is artificially sweetened. But the regular vanilla syrup adds 95 calories, increasing the calorie count 20-fold. Adding real cream also significantly increases the calories.
So if limiting calories is your priority, opt for plain iced coffee or use sugar free flavorings. But if you want to treat yourself to the flavored or creamy versions, just keep the extra calories in mind.
Comparing to Other Iced Coffees
How does Chick-fil-A’s iced coffee compare calorie-wise to other popular coffee shops? Here is a breakdown of a small (12oz) plain iced coffee from various restaurants:
| Restaurant | Calories (Small 12oz) |
|---|---|
| Chick-fil-A | 5 |
| Starbucks | 5 |
| Dunkin’ | 10 |
| McDonald’s | 15 |
| Caribou Coffee | 15 |
Chick-fil-A ties with Starbucks for the lowest calorie iced coffee. Most other chains range from 10-15 calories for a small serving. So if you want maximize flavor while minimizing calories, Chick-fil-A is one of the best options.
Tips for Lightening Up Your Iced Coffee
If you want to reduce calories even further in your Chick-fil-A iced coffee, here are some tips:
- Request less pumps of vanilla syrup or use sugar free
- Ask for light cream instead of regular
- Skip the cream altogether
- Ask for skim or low-fat milk instead of cream
- Opt for a smaller size
- Drink it black with no cream or sweeteners
- Ask for extra ice to make it more diluted
With some simple customizations, you can enjoy delicious Chick-fil-A iced coffee while keeping calories and nutrition on track for your goals.
The Bottom Line
A small, 12 oz iced coffee from Chick-fil-A contains only 5 calories on its own. This makes it one of the lowest calorie coffee drinks around. Adding cream and sugary flavorings will increase the calories, so customize your drink wisely if watching calories. Overall, a plain Chick-fil-A iced coffee is a refreshing low calorie beverage that can keep you energized and satisfied.
