How many ml is a Starbucks grande UK?

Starbucks is one of the most popular coffee chains in the world, with stores across the globe. One of the many reasons for Starbucks’ immense popularity is the consistency in its drinks – no matter which country you’re in, you can expect the same Starbucks experience.

Part of this familiarity comes from Starbucks’ signature drink sizes, which they’ve standardized across all stores worldwide. The sizes include Short, Tall, Grande, and Venti, in ascending order of size. This means that a Grande Starbucks drink should be the same size whether you order it in the UK, the US, or elsewhere.

But Starbucks drink sizes are described differently in the UK compared to other countries. While a Starbucks Grande is 16 ounces (473 ml) in the US, the UK Starbucks Grande is described as a medium size. This can create confusion around exactly what the volume of a UK Starbucks Grande cup is.

What is a Starbucks Grande size?

Starbucks introduced three drink sizes in the 1980s modeled after Italian coffee culture – Short, Tall, and Grande. The smallest size was Short, followed by the Tall, and the largest size was the Grande.

In the late 1990s, Starbucks introduced an even larger size called Venti to accommodate customer demand for more caffeinated beverages. The Venti size is 20 ounces (591 ml).

The Grande size sits between the Tall and Venti as the medium or regular Starbucks cup size. In the United States, a Starbucks Grande cup holds 16 fluid ounces (473 ml).

Some key facts about the Starbucks Grande size:

  • Grande is Italian for “large” and is intended to be a medium or regular-sized drink.
  • A Starbucks Grande is 16 ounces (473 ml) in the US and Canada.
  • It sits between the Tall (12 oz/355 ml) and Venti (20 oz/591 ml) sizes.
  • Hot coffee, tea, and espresso drinks come in Grande size by default.
  • Grande is the most popular Starbucks drink size, accounting for about 60% of orders.

So in most Starbucks locations worldwide, if you order a Grande drink you can expect to get a 16 ounce or 473 ml cup. But there’s a bit more nuance when it comes to the UK.

How Starbucks Sizes Differ in the UK

Even though Starbucks aims for consistency across its stores, there are some regional differences, especially when it comes to drink sizes.

In the UK, Starbucks uses different terminology for its sizing:

  • Small = Short (8 oz / 237 ml)
  • Medium = Grande (12 oz / 355 ml)
  • Large = Venti (16 oz / 473 ml)

As you can see, a Starbucks “Grande” in the UK is actually 12 ounces or 355 ml, compared to 16 ounces for a Grande in the US or other countries.

A Grande is marketed as a medium drink in the UK rather than a large. The true equivalent of a US Grande is a UK Starbucks Large.

This difference in sizing stems from the typical coffee drink sizes that were popular in the UK before Starbucks introduced its Italian-style names. Starbucks had to adjust its sizes to match up with existing consumer expectations.

A 12 oz drink would be considered a regular coffee in most coffee shops in Britain. Calling a 16 oz drink a “medium” would have confused customers. So Starbucks opted to call it a Large instead.

Why the Mismatched Sizes?

There are a few reasons why Starbucks Grande means two different sizes in the UK versus the US/elsewhere:

  • Standard UK coffee sizes were smaller than US counterparts when Starbucks entered the UK market in 1998.
  • Starbucks matched its Tall and Grande sizes to UK norms for Small and Medium at the time.
  • The Venti size was introduced later as a Large, since 20 oz drinks were not yet common.
  • Consumer expectations and definitions of Small, Medium, and Large were different in each market.
  • Starbucks prioritized local custom over global standardization in this case.

Starbucks essentially had to reshape people’s perception of its Grande, Tall, and Venti sizes to fit the British market. But the foundations of its sizing structure remained the same worldwide.

As Starbucks has grown in the UK over the past two decades, British customers have become accustomed to Starbucks’ Italian drink names and slightly larger sizes. But the original size discrepancies remain in place to avoid confusion.

Charts Comparing Starbucks Drink Sizes

To help visualize the differences between UK and US Starbucks drink sizes, here are two comparison charts:

Starbucks Drink Sizes – United States

Size Amount (liquid oz) Amount (ml)
Short 8 oz 237 ml
Tall 12 oz 355 ml
Grande 16 oz 473 ml
Venti 20 oz 591 ml

Starbucks Drink Sizes – United Kingdom

Size Amount (liquid oz) Amount (ml)
Small 8 oz 237 ml
Medium (Grande) 12 oz 355 ml
Large (Venti) 16 oz 473 ml

As you can clearly see, the Starbucks Grande size in the UK is 4 ounces (118 ml) smaller than the same Grande size in America. A UK Grande is actually equal to an American Tall size.

How Many ml are in a UK Starbucks Grande?

So to summarize, while a Starbucks Grande is 16 oz (473 ml) in the United States and many other markets, a Grande is only 12 oz (355 ml) at UK locations.

This means a UK Starbucks Grande cup holds 355 ml of coffee, tea, or other beverage.

To put that in perspective:

  • A UK Starbucks Grande is 118 ml smaller than a US Grande
  • It’s 83 ml larger than a UK Tall (Small) drink
  • And 118 ml smaller than a UK Venti (Large) drink

So now you know that asking for a Starbucks Grande in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland will get you a 355 ml beverage. That’s around 12 ounces in the imperial system.

Tips for Ordering Starbucks Drink Sizes

To avoid confusion when ordering drink sizes at Starbucks in the UK, keep these tips in mind:

  • A Grande is a medium drink, not large like in the US
  • Stick to Small, Medium, and Large terminology
  • Mediums mugs are 12 oz (355 ml)
  • Large mugs are the true equivalent of a US Grande at 16 oz (473 ml)
  • Don’t assume your usual Starbucks order size will be the same in the UK

Knowing the difference in Starbucks drink sizes between countries can prevent you from accidentally getting a much larger or smaller drink than expected!

Many customers have been caught out ordering a Venti latte thinking it was a medium, when it’s really an extra large. So be aware that the Starbucks size culture is a bit different in Britain.

Grande Size vs Other UK Coffee Sizes

It’s also helpful to understand how Starbucks’ Grande compares to regular coffee sizes at other British coffee shops:

  • Costa Coffee medium size = 12 oz (354 ml) – nearly same as Starbucks Grande
  • Caffè Nero medium = 12 oz (360 ml) – again, close to a Starbucks Grande
  • Pret a Manger regular coffee = 12 oz (350 ml)

So in general, a Starbucks Grande is very similar to a medium or regular coffee from other leading UK chains. Most British coffee shops serve regular coffees between 350-360 ml.

Starbucks is the outlier with its 16 oz US Grande versus 12 oz UK Grande. But the company maintains its unusual sizes to preserve its unique drink identity and sizing system.

Should Starbucks Standardize Sizes?

Some customers and critics argue that Starbucks should standardize its drink sizes across all countries to reduce confusion.

However, others contend that Starbucks was right to tailor its sizes to each region and meet existing consumer expectations. Standardizing drink sizes worldwide could have limited Starbucks’ international growth.

There are good arguments on both sides:

Benefits of standardization:

  • Consistency makes ordering simpler for global travelers
  • Reduces likelihood of getting an unexpectedly small or large drink
  • Provides a familiar experience for customers worldwide

Benefits of localized sizing:

  • Matches customer expectations in each country
  • Adapts to pre-existing coffee culture and norms
  • smoother introduction to new markets

Given the widespread success of Starbucks in the UK and many other international markets, keeping localized drink sizes seems to have been an effective strategy. But it still causes occasional customer confusion and annoyance.

Perhaps Starbucks may someday standardize its sizing worldwide. But for now, be sure you understand the difference between a UK and US Grande before placing your order!

Conversion Between UK, US, and Metric Starbucks Sizes

To summarize the key size conversions:

  • Tall = Small (8 oz / 237 ml)
  • Grande (US) = 16 oz / 473 ml
  • Grande (UK) = Medium = 12 oz / 355 ml
  • Venti (US) = 20 oz / 591 ml
  • Venti (UK) = Large = 16 oz / 473 ml

So in metric units:

  • Tall = 237 ml
  • US Grande = 473 ml
  • UK Grande = 355 ml
  • US Venti = 591 ml
  • UK Venti = 473 ml

And in imperial fluid ounces:

  • Tall = 8 oz
  • US Grande = 16 oz
  • UK Grande = 12 oz
  • US Venti = 20 oz
  • UK Venti = 16 oz

Familiarizing yourself with these size conversions will ensure you order the drink you expect when crossing between UK and US Starbucks locations.

Conclusion

So in summary, a Starbucks Grande in the UK contains 355 ml of coffee, tea, or other drink. This is 118 ml less than the 16 oz (473 ml) Grande size at Starbucks stores in the United States, Canada, and many other countries.

The discrepancies in Starbucks drink sizes stem from differences in consumer coffee drinking habits between the UK and US markets when Starbucks entered the UK in 1998. To avoid confusion, Starbucks opted to adapt its Grande and Venti sizes to match existing small, medium, and large norms in Britain at the time.

These localized Starbucks sizes have persisted over the past two decades, leading to an inconsistent Starbucks sizing culture across different countries. But Starbucks ultimately chose local customization over global standardization, which has seemingly paid off as they’ve expanded internationally.

So always check the size conversions before ordering your favorite Starbucks drink in a new country! Knowing that a UK Grande equates to a US Tall will ensure you get your expected caffeine fix.

Leave a Comment