Starbucks offers a variety of milk options for customers to customize their drinks, including dairy milks, non-dairy milks, and creamers. For calorie-conscious customers, choosing a lower calorie milk can help cut down on the total calories of their Starbucks beverage. In this article, we’ll compare the different milk options at Starbucks and identify the lowest calorie choices.
Calories in Different Starbucks Milk Options
Starbucks provides Nutrition Information for all of their menu items, including the different milk options customers can add to drinks like coffee, espresso beverages, and tea. Here is an overview of the calorie content in Starbucks’ milk offerings:
| Milk | Calories per 8 fl oz |
|---|---|
| Nonfat Milk | 45 |
| 1% Milk | 102 |
| 2% Milk | 122 |
| Whole Milk | 146 |
| Soy Milk | 80 |
| Almond Milk | 60 |
| Coconut Milk | 80 |
| Oat Milk | 120 |
As you can see, nonfat milk is the lowest calorie dairy milk option at Starbucks with just 45 calories per 8 ounce serving. The non-dairy milks range from 60 calories (for almond milk) to 120 calories (for oat milk).
Comparing Macronutrients in Nonfat Milk and Almond Milk
Based on calories alone, nonfat milk and almond milk rise to the top as the lowest calorie options. But when comparing the macronutrient profiles of these two milks, there are some additional differences to consider.
| Nutrition Facts | Nonfat Milk (8 oz) | Almond Milk (8 oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 45 | 60 |
| Fat | 0g | 2.5g |
| Protein | 8g | 1g |
| Carbs | 12g | 7g |
| Sugar | 12g | 0g |
| Calcium | 299mg (30% DV) | 451mg (45% DV) |
Some key differences:
– Nonfat milk has more protein than almond milk
– Almond milk has more fat than nonfat milk
– Nonfat milk is higher in natural milk sugar (lactose)
– Almond milk has no sugar
– Almond milk provides more calcium than nonfat milk
So while both nonfat milk and almond milk are low in calories, their exact nutritional profiles differ. Nonfat milk provides more protein while almond milk has more calcium.
Lowest Calorie Milk Options for Different Starbucks Drinks
When choosing a milk for your Starbucks drink, opting for nonfat milk or almond milk are best if limiting calories is your priority. However, the lowest calorie milk option can also depend on the specific drink you choose.
Coffee and Americanos
For hot coffee or Americano drinks, nonfat milk is the clear winner when it comes to limiting calories and fat. With just 45 calories per 8 ounces, using nonfat milk will keep your coffee drink totals low.
Lattes and Macchiatos
When making a latte or macchiato, almond milk edges out nonfat milk when focusing strictly on calories. That’s because these espresso drinks tend to use more milk – sometimes 8 ounces in a small latte alone. So the slightly higher calories of almond milk at 60 per 8 ounces can actually result in less total calories than if using 8 ounces of 45 calorie nonfat milk.
Chai Tea Latte
For a chai tea latte made with a concentrated liquid chai, opt for almond milk. The strong flavors in chai tea pair well with almond milk’s mild nutty taste. And at just 60 calories per 8 ounces, it keeps the total calorie count lower vs. using nonfat dairy milk.
Green Tea Latte
In a green tea latte, nonfat milk is likely the better choice. The subtle, natural flavor of green tea matches well with nonfat milk. And since green tea lattes use lower volumes of milk than other espresso drinks, nonfat milk’s 45 calories per 8 ounces can keep calorie totals lower.
Frappuccinos
For blended coffee drinks like Frappuccinos, nonfat milk is typically lowest in calories. Since Frappuccinos are made with large volumes of milk, nonfat milk’s low 45 calories per 8 ounces results in the lowest calorie drink. Almond milk’s higher fat content can significantly increase calories in a blended drink like a Frappuccino.
Tips for Ordering Low Calorie Starbucks Drinks
Beyond just choosing a lower calorie milk, there are other easy tips you can use to cut calories in your Starbucks drinks:
– For hot coffee drinks, request a size Tall or Small rather than Large or Venti
– Opt for unsweetened coffee and tea or use lower calorie zero-calorie sweeteners
– Ask for light or lower amounts of high-calorie flavor syrups like vanilla, mocha, or caramel
– Order an Americano instead of a latte – it replaces high-fat milk with water
– Skip the whipped cream, which can add 50+ calories to a drink
With unsweetened coffee or tea and nonfat or almond milk, you can keep a Tall drink around 60-100 calories. Compare that to a Venti Caramel Frappuccino made with whole milk and whipped cream at 510 calories – quite a difference!
The Lowest Calorie Milk Choice at Starbucks is…
Based on the nutritional information, nonfat milk is the lowest calorie milk option at Starbucks across most standard drink types. At just 45 calories per 8 ounce serving, going nonfat allows you to cut calories without sacrificing taste.
Almond milk comes in close behind with 60 calories per 8 ounces. For some coffee drinks, almond milk may allow you to cut more total calories due to using less volume of milk. Overall, both nonfat dairy milk and almond milk are excellent lower calorie choices.
Other tips like choosing smaller drink sizes, avoiding caloric flavor syrups and whipped cream, and sticking with unsweetened coffee and tea will help maximize your calorie savings. Enjoy your Starbucks drink with nonfat or almond milk as a tasty way to cut calories without sacrificing flavor!
