Starbucks’ Strawberry Refresher is a delicious and refreshing drink that has become popular among customers looking for a fruity beverage. But like most Starbucks drinks, the Strawberry Refresher is high in calories and sugar. So how many calories are actually in a Strawberry Refresher from Starbucks?
In this article, we will break down the nutritional information and calories for a Strawberry Refresher. We will look at the calories for a Grande (16 oz) and Venti (24 oz) sized Strawberry Refresher. We will also compare the calories to some other Starbucks drinks to get an idea of where a Strawberry Refresher falls on the calorie spectrum. Finally, we will provide some tips for lowering the calorie count if you want to enjoy this fruity drink more often.
Calories in a Grande Strawberry Refresher
A Grande or medium-sized Strawberry Refresher from Starbucks contains between 210-230 calories, depending on customizations.
The standard recipe for a Grande Strawberry Refresher is made with strawberry juice, real freeze-dried strawberries, and coconut milk, then mixed with ice. It does not come sweetened with any syrups.
Here is the basic nutritional breakdown for a 16 oz Grande Strawberry Refresher:
- Total Calories: 210
- Total Fat: 4.5g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 15mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 46g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 44g
- Protein: 2g
As you can see, the majority of calories come from carbohydrates and sugar. A Grande Strawberry Refresher has 44g of sugar, which is equal to about 11 teaspoons of sugar.
The calorie count can increase if you customize the Strawberry Refresher with added syrups or sweeteners:
- With light sweetener: +20 calories
- With regular sweetener: +40 calories
- With extra strawberry puree: +10-20 calories
So if you add light sweetener and extra strawberry puree, for example, the total calories would be around 230-240 calories for a Grande.
Overall, while the Strawberry Refresher has less calories than some ultra sweet coffee drinks from Starbucks, it still packs a lot of sugar and carbohydrates into a 16 oz serving.
Calories in a Venti Strawberry Refresher
What about the nutritional info for a larger Venti Strawberry Refresher?
Here are the calories and macros for a 24 oz Venti-sized Strawberry Refresher from Starbucks:
- Total Calories: 270
- Total Fat: 4.5g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 25mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 64g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 60g
- Protein: 3g
A venti has approximately 60g of sugar, which equates to around 15 teaspoons of sugar. That’s more sugar than the recommended daily limit for women (25g or 6 teaspoons).
Customizations like sweetener and extra strawberry puree would further increase the calorie count:
- With light sweetener: +30 calories
- With regular sweetener: +60 calories
- With extra strawberry puree: +15-30 calories
Calorie Comparison With Other Starbucks Drinks
How does the Strawberry Refresher compare calorie-wise to some other popular Starbucks beverages?
Here is a calorie comparison of a Grande (16 oz) Starbucks Strawberry Refresher versus other drinks:
| Beverage | Calories (Grande 16 oz) |
|---|---|
| Strawberry Refresher | 210 |
| Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino | 300 |
| Caffe Mocha | 340 |
| Caramel Macchiato | 250 |
| Iced Coffee | 5 |
| Cappucino | 120 |
And for a Venti (24 oz):
| Beverage | Calories (Venti 24 oz) |
|---|---|
| Strawberry Refresher | 270 |
| Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino | 400 |
| Caffe Mocha | 430 |
| Caramel Macchiato | 350 |
| Iced Coffee | 5 |
| Cappucino | 150 |
As you can see, the Strawberry Refresher is lower in calories than the ultra sweet coffee-based drinks like Frappuccinos and Mochas. However, it has significantly more calories and sugar than simpler iced coffee or cappucino.
So while the Strawberry Refresher is not the worst option on the Starbucks menu for calories, the high sugar content for a Grande and especially Venti size is something to be mindful of.
Tips for Lightening Up Your Strawberry Refresher
If you want to enjoy a Starbucks Strawberry Refresher but make it a bit lighter, here are some tips:
- Order a Tall or Grande size instead of a Venti
- Skip any sweetened syrups or sauces
- Ask for only 1-2 pumps of sweetener instead of standard 4-6 pumps
- Substitute unsweetened coconut milk instead of regular coconut milk
- Add extra ice to dilute the sweetness
- Request light or no strawberry fruit puree
- Opt for stevia or sugar-free syrup instead of regular simple syrup
Implementing some of these tweaks can save you 50 calories or more per drink while still allowing you to enjoy the strawberry flavor.
You can also ask your barista to modify the Strawberry Refresher recipe to be lower in sugar. They may be able to create a customized lighter version for you.
Finally, go for a Tall size or opt for unsweetened iced tea or cold brew as even lower calorie options.
Should You Consume a Strawberry Refresher Every Day?
The Strawberry Refresher has a tasty fruit flavor, but is quite high in natural sugars. Consuming this drink every day could lead to excess sugar intake.
The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar intake to no more than 25g or 6 teaspoons per day for women and 36g or 9 teaspoons for men. Just one 16oz Grande Strawberry Refresher exceeds the recommended daily limit.
Drinking a Strawberry Refresher daily could contribute too much sugar and calories and may potentially increase your risk for:
- Weight gain – Too many liquid calories can lead to weight gain over time
- Blood sugar spikes – Large amounts of sugar can spike blood glucose levels
- Tooth decay – Sugar feeds oral bacteria that corrode tooth enamel
- Inflammation – Excess sugar intake is linked to systemic inflammation
We recommend enjoying a Starbucks Strawberry Refresher as an occasional treat a few times per week rather than an everyday drink. When you do indulge, go for a small size, avoid add-ins like sweeteners, and adjust the recipe to be lower in sugars.
Unsweetened iced coffee, tea, or cold brew are healthier daily coffeehouse drink options to consider instead.
The Bottom Line
A Starbucks Strawberry Refresher is a sweet, fruity drink that contains between 210-270 calories and 44-60g of sugar for a Grande and Venti size, respectively. It has less calories than Frappucinos and blended coffee drinks but far more than simple iced coffee.
Limiting your portion size, skipping sweeteners, and requesting modifications to make it less sweet can help lighten up this beverage. Due to the high natural sugar content, Strawberry Refreshers are best enjoyed in moderation rather than daily. Be mindful of your sugar and calorie intake by choosing unsweetened lower calorie options on more frequent Starbucks runs.
