Dutch Bros is a popular coffee chain known for its wide variety of specialty coffee and energy drinks. With so many options on the menu, it can be hard to determine which drink is the healthiest choice. This article will examine Dutch Bros’ offerings and nutrition information to uncover the best options for your health.
Low Calorie Drinks
For many people watching their calorie intake, the number of calories in a drink is the most important health factor. Dutch Bros offers several low calorie options under 100 calories for a small size drink.
Some of the lowest calorie options at Dutch Bros include:
- Nettle lemon tea – 10 calories
- Green tea – 15 calories
- Black tea – 15 calories
- Cold brew coffee – 25 calories
- Rebel energy drink – 25 calories
- Passionfruit iced tea – 60 calories
These ultra low-calorie drinks are great options if you are limiting your caloric intake. Black coffee is also a zero calorie option at Dutch Bros.
Sugar-Free Drinks
Another important health factor to consider is the amount of sugar in your beverage. Consuming too much added sugar can negatively impact your health and waistline.
Here are some of Dutch Bros’ drinks that are available sugar-free:
- Sugar-free Rebel energy drinks
- Sugar-free vanilla cold brew
- Sugar-free mochas
- Sugar-free iced coffee
- Sugar-free white chocolate mocha
- Sugar-free caramel iced coffee
Opting for the sugar-free version of your favorite coffee drink is an easy way to reduce your sugar intake. You can also request any espresso drink made without added syrups to cut out even more sugar.
High Protein Drinks
Protein is important for building and repairing muscles, helping you feel full, and providing long lasting energy. Some Dutch Bros drinks contain extra protein to help you meet your daily needs.
Drinks with the most protein at Dutch Bros are:
- Protein shakes – up to 36g protein
- Cold brew smoothies – 12-24g protein
- Rebel energy drinks – 20g protein
The protein shakes and smoothies are blended with whey protein or plant-based proteins like pea protein. This gives your drink a nutrition boost compared to regular blended drinks.
Keto-Friendly Drinks
When following a low carb or ketogenic diet, choosing a drink with very little sugar is important. There are many great keto options at Dutch Bros to stay on track with your diet goals.
Some keto-friendly Dutch Bros drinks include:
- Iced coffee or cold brew with sugar free syrup
- Rebel energy drink
- Cold brew smoothie with sugar-free syrup
- Matcha latte sweetened with stevia or monkfruit
- Cappuccino with sugar-free syrup
Be sure to avoid all drinks with regular syrups or sugars like mochas, fruit smoothies, and frozen blended coffees. Checking the nutrition info online can help identify the best low carb and low sugar choices.
Dairy-Free and Non-Dairy Milks
If you have an allergy or sensitivity to dairy, you can still enjoy coffee drinks at Dutch Bros. They offer a variety of dairy-free milk alternatives including:
- Almond milk
- Coconut milk
- Soy milk
- Oat milk
Any heated espresso drink like lattes, mochas, and macchiatos can be made with your choice of non-dairy milk. Cold brews and frozen blended drinks can also be customized with a dairy-free milk option.
Choosing a milk with little added sugar like unsweetened almond or oat milk will provide more health benefits over sweetened varieties.
Lower Acid Drinks
Some customers find that acidic drinks like coffee can upset their stomach. Dutch Bros offers some great low acid options as healthier alternatives.
Low acid drinks at Dutch Bros include:
- Smoothies with almond milk
- Chai tea lattes
- Matcha green tea lattes
- Hot chocolate
- Steamer with milk and syrup
These lower acidity drinks still give you great flavor without being too harsh on your digestive system. They also contain less caffeine than coffee.
High Antioxidant Drinks
Antioxidants are compounds that help fight cell damage from free radicals in your body. Some Dutch Bros beverages deliver a dose of antioxidants.
Drink options high in antioxidants are:
- Matcha green tea latte
- Green tea
- Pomegranate smoothies
- Acai bowls
- Blueberry smoothies
Sipping on an antioxidant-rich drink is a healthy habit that supports your immune system and overall wellness.
Most Nutritious Drinks
If you want to maximize the nutritional value in your Dutch Bros drink, here are some of the most nutritious options to choose from:
- Protein smoothies – Packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals
- Matcha tea latte – Provides metabolism and brain boosting antioxidants
- Acai bowls – Loaded with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats
- Cold brew – Provides a jolt of energy from caffeine without the acidity of regular coffee
- Rebel energy drinks – Have B vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants with lower sugar than mainstream brands
Focusing on smoothies, tea drinks, and cold brew coffee are some of the most nutritious ways to get your daily fix at Dutch Bros.
Lowest in Sugar
Excess sugar is one of the unhealthiest parts of coffee drinks. Here are the Dutch Bros options lowest in sugar:
- Black coffee/cold brew – 0g sugar
- Sugar-free energy drinks – 0g sugar
- Tea – 0g sugar
- Iced coffee with sugar-free syrup – 0g sugar
- Americano – 0g sugar
Avoiding sugar-loaded flavors like white chocolate, caramel, and vanilla will keep your drink’s sugar content low. Stevia and monkfruit are natural sugar-free sweeteners to request.
Lowest in Calories
To find the drinks with the least calories at Dutch Bros, stick to these options:
- Black coffee – 5 calories
- Green tea – 15 calories
- Black tea – 15 calories
- Cold brew – 25 calories
- Sugar-free energy drinks – 25 calories
- Hot tea with lemon – 25 calories
Avoid frozen blended drinks, whole milk, whipped cream, and flavor syrups to keep your calorie count low. Sugar-free versions of flavored drinks also have fewer calories than their sugary counterparts.
Most Hydrating Choices
Staying hydrated is crucial for your health. Here are the most hydrating options when you need a refreshment at Dutch Bros:
- Water
- Iced tea or lemonade
- Cold brew iced coffee
- Fruit smoothies
- Sparkling water
Cold beverages are naturally more hydrating than hot ones. Citrus flavors like lemon, lime, and orange also promote hydration. Avoid excessive caffeine and sugar, which can have a dehydrating effect.
Lowest Amount of Caffeine
If you are sensitive to caffeine or want to limit your intake, choose a Dutch Bros drink with lower caffeine:
- Decaf coffee – 0-15mg caffeine
- Herbal tea – 0mg caffeine
- Steamer – 0mg caffeine
- Hot chocolate – 24mg caffeine
- Chai tea – 25mg caffeine
On average, an 8 oz coffee from Dutch Bros contains 260mg of caffeine. By choosing decaf or herbal drinks, you can avoid excess caffeine.
Kid-Friendly Drinks
When ordering for children at Dutch Bros, here are the best kid-approved options:
- Frozen Hot Chocolate
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Vanilla Steamer
- Smoothies
- Rebel Kids Energy Drinks
Look for drinks without coffee that aren’t too hot or acidic for kids. Fruit flavors tend to appeal most to young taste buds.
Comparison of Nutrition Information
Examining the nutrition facts for different Dutch Bros drinks makes it easier to compare and choose the healthiest options.
| Drink | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Sugar | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 oz Mocha with 2% milk | 300 | 8g | 45g | 38g | 8g |
| 16 oz Caramel Cold Brew | 220 | 2.5g | 43g | 39g | 2g |
| 16 oz Peaberry Cold Brew | 5 | 0g | 1g | 0g | 0g |
| 16 oz Matcha Latte | 140 | 7g | 17g | 14g | 2g |
| 16 oz Berry Hibiscus Refresher | 130 | 0g | 32g | 24g | 0g |
As shown, complicated coffee drinks and fruit smoothies tend to be higher in calories, carbs, and sugar compared to simple black coffee, cold brew, and tea lattes. Choosing lower fat milk and sugar-free syrups can further reduce calories and carbs.
Top 3 Healthiest Dutch Bros Drinks
Based on nutritional information, here are 3 of the top healthiest Dutch Bros drinks:
- Cold brew black coffee – Extremely low in calories, sugar, fat, and carbs. Provides caffeine without acidity.
- Matcha green tea latte – Has antioxidants and metabolism-boosting compounds from matcha with modest amounts of sugar.
- Strawberry acai or pomegranate smoothie – Packed with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Contains natural sugars from fruit.
Focusing on straight coffee, tea, and fruit-based smoothies are your best options for the most nutritious drinks at Dutch Bros. Avoid adding heavy cream, syrups, and sweeteners to keep your drink healthy.
Health Tips for Ordering at Dutch Bros
Use these healthy ordering tips next time you visit Dutch Bros:
- Choose small sizes instead of large to reduce calories.
- Opt for sugar-free syrups or limit flavors to cut sugar.
- Request 2% or nonfat milk to avoid fat and calories from whole milk.
- Customize your drink to be made with less sweetener.
- Try cold brew or iced coffee instead of blended frozen drinks.
- Add a boost of protein or nutrients with pea protein, matcha, vitamins.
- Skip the whipped cream on top to eliminate fat and calories.
Being mindful about customizations and size can help keep your favorite coffeehouse drinks from derailing your diet. Knowing the healthier menu options also makes picking the best drinks easier.
Conclusion
Choosing the healthiest drink at Dutch Bros comes down to minimizing calories, sugar, carbs, and fat while maximizing nutritional benefits. While coffee drinks can quickly become indulgent treats, options like cold brew, tea lattes, and smoothies give you great flavor with added health perks.
Following a low calorie diet? Go for black coffee. Watching your carbs? Choose sugar-free options. Want an immunity boost? Try matcha. No matter your health needs, you can find a delicious drink to fit your diet at Dutch Bros.
So next time you roll up to the Dutch Bros drive-thru, use their wide selection of customization to craft a drink that satisfies your cravings and your health goals at the same time.
