Quick Answer
A small (12 fl oz) Starbucks Toasted Vanilla Shaken Espresso made with 2% milk contains about 150 calories. The exact calorie count can vary depending on customizations, but a standard small toasted vanilla shaken espresso has around 150 calories.
Calories in Toasted Vanilla Shaken Espresso
The toasted vanilla shaken espresso is a popular coffee drink from Starbucks. It features espresso shaken with ice, vanilla syrup, and milk. The combination of espresso, sweet vanilla flavoring, and frothy milk makes it a delicious coffeehouse treat. But like most blended and sweetened coffee drinks, it also packs quite a caloric punch.
So just how many calories are in a toasted vanilla shaken espresso? Let’s take a look at the nutritional breakdown:
Small (12 fl oz)
– 150 calories
– 2.5g fat
– 24g carbs
– 12g sugar
– 8g protein
Tall (16 fl oz)
– 190 calories
– 3g fat
– 30g carbs
– 15g sugar
– 10g protein
Grande (20 fl oz)
– 250 calories
– 4g fat
– 39g carbs
– 20g sugar
– 13g protein
Venti (24 fl oz)
– 310 calories
– 4.5g fat
– 48g carbs
– 24g sugar
– 16g protein
As you can see, the toasted vanilla shaken espresso packs a decent calorie punch, even in a small size. The calorie count ranges from 150 calories in a 12 oz small to 310 calories in a 24 oz venti.
Factors Affecting Calorie Count
While the numbers above reflect the standard recipe, several factors can alter the calorie count of your toasted vanilla shaken espresso:
Milk
The default milk used in the toasted vanilla shaken espresso is 2% milk. But you can customize your drink with any of Starbucks’ milk options:
– Nonfat milk: subtracts 15-25 calories
– Alternative milks (soy, almond, coconut, oat): adds 10-30 calories
Using nonfat milk instead of 2% milk reduces the calorie count, while alternative milks may add a few calories.
Whipped Cream
Adding whipped cream piles on an extra 50 calories and 2g of fat. Leave it off to cut 50 calories.
Syrups
Flavored syrups like caramel, white chocolate mocha, or pumpkin spice add 35-45 calories per pump. Opting for extra syrups boosts the calorie count. Sticking with the standard vanilla syrup keeps calories in check.
Espresso Shots
Adding extra espresso shots tacks on 10-15 calories per shot.
Nutrition Breakdown
Now let’s take a more detailed look at the nutrition you’ll get in a toasted vanilla shaken espresso:
Calories
A small toasted vanilla shaken espresso has around 150 calories. The calories come primarily from the sugar and milk. Starbucks uses a sweetened vanilla syrup to provide the signature vanilla flavor. Combined with 2% milk, this yields a beverage with solid calorie and sugar content. Going for larger sizes piles on more calories, ranging up to 310 calories in a 24 oz venti.
Fat
There are 2.5 grams of fat in a small toasted vanilla shaken espresso. The primary source of fat is the 2% milk. Switching to nonfat milk can reduce the fat content. The rest of the ingredients – espresso, vanilla syrup, and ice – are very low in fat. So the milk you choose has the biggest impact on fat content.
Carbs
A small toasted vanilla shaken espresso has 24 grams of carbs. The carbs come predominantly from the vanilla syrup and milk, both of which contain natural sugars (primarily lactose and sucrose). Opting for nonfat milk drops the carb count slightly. Skipping the vanilla syrup has an even bigger impact, removing around 20 grams of carbs.
Sugar
There are 12 grams of sugar in a 12 oz toasted vanilla shaken espresso. The vanilla syrup contributes significant sugar, as does the lactose naturally present in the milk. For comparison, a 12 oz cup of plain brewed coffee has less than 1 gram of sugar. So the vanilla and milk definitely boost the sugar numbers.
Protein
You’ll get 8 grams of protein in a small toasted vanilla shaken espresso. The protein comes entirely from the milk. Milk naturally contains high quality whey and casein proteins. Espresso, syrups, and ice do not provide any protein.
How to Order a Low Calorie Toasted Vanilla Shaken Espresso
If you want to enjoy your toasted vanilla shaken espresso while limiting calories, there are a few easy tweaks you can make:
– Choose a small (12 oz) or tall (16 oz) size
– Use nonfat milk
– Hold the whipped cream
– Avoid extra syrups and shots
This will allow you to keep calories in the 150-200 range for a small or tall. For an extra calorie-slash, you can ask for less vanilla syrup pumps, such as 1-2 pumps instead of the standard 4 pumps for a small.
Here’s an example of ordering a low calorie toasted vanilla shaken espresso:
“I’ll take a tall toasted vanilla shaken espresso made with nonfat milk, no whipped cream, and 2 pumps of vanilla syrup.”
With these modifications, you can knock 100 or more calories off a venti while still enjoying the delicious toasted vanilla flavor!
Toasted Vanilla vs Traditional Shaken Espresso
How does the toasted vanilla version compare to Starbucks’ regular shaken espresso in terms of calories and nutrition?
The traditional shaken espresso is simply espresso shaken with milk and ice. It does not contain any vanilla syrup or sweeteners.
This makes the standard shaken espresso significantly lower in both calories and sugar:
Small (12 oz) Shaken Espresso
– 60 calories
– 0g fat
– 9g carbs
– 5g sugar
– 8g protein
Compared to a small toasted vanilla:
– 90 fewer calories
– 15 fewer grams carbs
– 7 fewer grams sugar
So the vanilla syrup adds around 90 additional calories and 15 grams of carbs/sugar to a small shaken espresso. The protein and fat content are comparable.
Overall, the toasted vanilla version has more calories and sugar due to its signature vanilla sweetness. But the standard shaken espresso makes a great lower calorie alternative if you want an unsweetened coffee-based drink.
Comparison to Other Starbucks Drinks
How does the toasted vanilla shaken espresso stack up against some other popular Starbucks beverages in terms of nutritional content?
Here’s a comparison of calories, carbs, and sugar for a small (12 oz) size of various Starbucks drinks:
| Drink | Calories | Carbs | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toasted vanilla shaken espresso (2% milk) | 150 | 24g | 12g |
| Caffe latte (2% milk) | 140 | 9g | 9g |
| Cappuccino (2% milk) | 120 | 9g | 9g |
| Caramel macchiato (2% milk) | 150 | 23g | 23g |
| White chocolate mocha (2% milk) | 260 | 38g | 33g |
| Iced caffe vanilla latte (2% milk) | 130 | 25g | 23g |
Compared to other espresso and milk-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, the toasted vanilla shaken espresso is at the higher end for calories, carbs, and sugar due to its sweetened flavoring. Drinks with added syrups like the caramel macchiato and iced vanilla latte are comparable. By contrast, very sweet blended drinks like the white chocolate mocha far exceed it in calorie and sugar content.
So while not the most diet-friendly option, the toasted vanilla shaken espresso is certainly not Starbucks’ most caloric beverage. It provides a nicer balance of rich espresso, vanilla sweetness, and foamy milk than many ultra-sweet coffeehouse drinks.
Tips for Reducing Calories in Your Drink Order
If you want to watch your calorie intake while still enjoying Starbucks, here are some tips to reduce the calories when ordering:
– Size down – choose a tall rather than a venti
– Request nonfat or low-fat milk
– Ask for fewer pumps of flavored syrups
– Opt for sugar-free syrups (these have 0 calories)
– Skip the whipped cream
– Try cold brew or americano over lattes and mochas
– Request an extra shot of espresso instead of sugary syrups
Sticking with plain coffee or unsweetened espresso drinks is ideal if limiting calories. But with some simple tweaks like those above, you can still enjoy lattes, mochas, and other milk-based beverages while lightening the calorie load.
Conclusion
A Starbucks toasted vanilla shaken espresso contains around 150 calories in a small 12 oz serving. The calories come mainly from the vanilla-flavored syrup and milk. Larger sizes can pack over 300 calories. But ordering a small with nonfat milk and light syrup can keep the calorie count under 200. While not the lowest calorie option, the toasted vanilla shaken espresso has fewer calories than many ultra-sweet blended coffee drinks, providing a good balance of flavor and nutrition in a coffeehouse indulgence.
