Starbucks Keto Coffee: Best Low-Carb Options

Starbucks is a popular coffee chain with thousands of outlets worldwide. If you're on a keto diet, you may be wondering if you can still enjoy their drinks. The good news is that there are several keto-friendly options available at Starbucks, and with a few simple tweaks, you can make many other drinks keto-friendly. Here's a guide to help you navigate the Starbucks menu and choose drinks that fit your keto diet.

Tips for Ordering Keto at Starbucks:

- Replace milk: For coffee drinks like cappuccinos, flat whites, or lattes, you can make them keto-friendly by swapping milk for heavy cream, half-and-half, or almond milk. Keep in mind that heavy cream and half-and-half will increase the calorie count.

- Choose sugar-free syrup or stevia: Stick to sugar-free vanilla syrup or add stevia to your unsweetened beverage from the condiment station. Avoid other flavour syrups as they contain sugar.

- Avoid toppings and add-ins: Starbucks' sauces, toppings, drizzles, and cold foams contain sugar. You can, however, add whipped cream and cinnamon.

Best Keto Starbucks Drinks to Order:

- Black Coffee: A basic black coffee at Starbucks is carb-free, making it an excellent keto choice.

- Caffe Americano: An Americano is made with a shot of espresso and hot water, providing just a few grams of net carbs.

- Espresso con Panna: This drink contains a shot of espresso and a dollop of whipped cream, adding minimal carbs.

- Iced Caffe Americano: An iced version of the Caffe Americano, made with espresso and cold water, is another low-carb option.

- Low-carb Pink Drink: This popular drink is made with Iced Passion Tango Tea, sugar-free syrup, and heavy cream.

- Caffè Misto: Order this drink with almond milk or a combination of heavy cream and water instead of steamed milk to reduce carbs.

- Low-carb London Fog: This is an iced Earl Grey tea latte made with sugar-free syrup and heavy cream instead of milk.

- Skinny Mocha: Order this drink with sugar-free skinny mocha syrup and equal parts heavy whipping cream and water to cut down on carbs.

- Unsweetened Iced Tea: Ask for unsweetened iced tea, as the default option contains sugar. You can add a few pumps of sugar-free syrup for sweetness.

- Unsweetened Iced Coffee: Starbucks' iced coffee usually comes sweetened, so ask for yours unsweetened. You can add a pump or two of sugar-free syrup if needed.

- Nitro Cold Brew: This is a cold-brewed coffee infused with nitrogen for a mild sweetness and creaminess, all without any carbs.

- Espresso Macchiato: Made with espresso and steamed milk, this drink has minimal carbs from the dairy. You can also swap the milk for a keto-friendly option.

- Flat White: Order this with heavy cream instead of milk to make it keto-friendly.

- Keto Frappuccino: Ask for an iced coffee with extra ice, sugar-free syrup, and heavy cream, blended Frappuccino-style without the Frappuccino base or syrups.

Keto-friendly milks

Starbucks offers a variety of milk options that can be used to create keto-friendly drinks. Here are some tips and suggestions for keto-friendly milk choices at Starbucks:

Milk Options and Their Carb Counts

When following a keto diet, it is important to consider the carb counts in different types of milk. Here is a breakdown of the carb content in the various milk options available at Starbucks:

• Nonfat milk: 12 grams of carbs per cup
• Two percent milk: 13 grams of carbs per cup
• Whole milk: 12 grams of carbs per cup
• Half-and-half: 10.4 grams of carbs per cup (also known as "breve" when steamed)
• Heavy whipping cream: 6.6 grams of carbs per cup
• Unsweetened almond milk: 1 gram of carb per cup
• Soy milk: 15 grams of carbs per cup

Tips for Ordering Keto-Friendly Milk Drinks

• Replace milk: For drinks like cappuccinos, flat whites, or lattes, you can make them keto-friendly by requesting to swap milk with heavy cream, half-and-half, or almond milk. Keep in mind that heavy cream and half-and-half will increase the calorie content. Avoid oat milk, cow's milk, coconut milk (which is usually sweetened at Starbucks), and vanilla sweet cream.
• Choose suitable sweeteners: Opt for sugar-free vanilla syrup or stevia. You can also order an unsweetened beverage and add stevia from the condiment station yourself. Avoid flavour syrups that contain sugar.
• Avoid toppings and add-ins: Starbucks' sauces, toppings, drizzles, and cold foams typically contain sugar. However, you can still add whipped cream and cinnamon to your drink.

Keto-Friendly Drink Ideas with Milk

• Flat White: Instead of steamed milk, ask for half heavy cream and half hot water.
• Café Latte: Order a grande café latte brewed with three parts water and one part heavy cream. Sweeten it with stevia packets.
• Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte: Replace dairy milk with heavy cream or almond milk and ask for three pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup.
• London Fog: Ask for an Earl Grey tea bag (or two for a stronger flavour). Request 3/4 hot water and 1/4 heavy whipping cream. Swap the regular vanilla syrup with two pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup.
• Cappuccino: Ask for heavy cream instead of milk. You may not get the usual foam, but heavy cream adds a rich texture. If you need extra sweetness, request a pump or two of sugar-free syrup.

Sugar-free syrups

Starbucks offers a few sugar-free syrup options, including vanilla, cinnamon dolce, and skinny mocha. Each pump of syrup contains around 1g of net carbs and is made with an artificial sweetener called sucralose.

Some people choose to avoid artificial sweeteners altogether, but if you are fine with treating yourself to a pump or two, you can ask for sugar-free syrup to be added to any drink.

Keto Unsweetened Iced Coffee

Order a Grande iced coffee with no classic syrup and two pumps of your favourite sugar-free syrup.

Keto Cinnamon Dolce Latte

Order an Americano with only 3/4 water and fill the last 1/4 with steamed heavy cream. Add two pumps of sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup.

Keto Starbucks Frappuccino

Ask for an iced coffee with no classic syrup and extra ice. Add three shots of your preferred sugar-free syrup and three shots of heavy cream. Ask the barista to blend it Frappuccino-style, without any Frappuccino base or syrups.

Keto Mocha

Order an Americano with 3/4 water and 1/4 heavy cream. Ask for no whipped cream and no vanilla syrup. Request two pumps of skinny mocha sauce and, if you want a holiday twist, add one pump of sugar-free peppermint syrup.

Keto London Fog

Ask for an Earl Grey tea bag or two, depending on how strong you like your tea. Fill the cup with 3/4 hot water and 1/4 heavy whipping cream. Swap the regular vanilla syrup for two pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup.

Keto Chai Tea Latte

Be sure to ask for a tea bag, not chai tea syrup. Request two ounces of heavy whipping cream and two pumps of sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup. For a "dirty chai" variation, add a shot of espresso, or ask for two tea bags for extra spice.

Keto Pink Drink

Ask for a Grande Passion Tango, iced. Make sure to say no classic syrup. Ask for two shots of heavy whipping cream and two pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup.

Keto Iced Latte

Order an iced latte with almond milk and two pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup.

Keto-friendly toppings

Starbucks offers a variety of keto-friendly toppings that can be added to your coffee to enhance its flavour and texture. Here are some options to consider:

Heavy Cream

Heavy cream is a popular choice for keto dieters as it adds richness and creaminess to coffee without the high carb count of milk. It has a higher fat content than milk, making it ideal for those following a high-fat, low-carb diet. However, it should be consumed in moderation due to its high-calorie content.

Unsweetened Almond Milk

Unsweetened almond milk is a good dairy-free alternative to heavy cream. It has a very low carb count (1 gram per serving) and can be used to create a creamy texture in your coffee. Be sure to specify "unsweetened" when ordering, as the regular version contains added sugar.

Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup

Starbucks offers sugar-free vanilla syrup as a keto-friendly sweetening option. While it is not completely carb-free, each pump contains around 1 gram of net carbs. You can ask for one or two pumps in your coffee to add a touch of sweetness without derailing your diet.

Stevia

Stevia is a natural sweetener that contains no carbs and no calories, making it an ideal choice for keto dieters. You can add stevia packets to your coffee to sweeten it to your taste.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice that can be added to your coffee for a warming flavour. It has a sweet and spicy taste that can enhance the flavour of your coffee without adding any carbs or calories.

Butter or Ghee

Adding a small amount of grass-fed, unsalted butter or ghee (clarified butter) to your coffee is another way to incorporate healthy fats into your keto diet. This combination, known as "bulletproof coffee," has gained popularity among keto dieters.

When ordering keto-friendly toppings at Starbucks, remember to specify your preferences clearly to ensure your drink aligns with your dietary needs. Enjoy experimenting with different combinations to find your favourite keto coffee creation!

Keto-friendly teas

Starbucks offers a variety of keto-friendly teas. Here are some options to consider:

Unsweetened Iced Tea

Order your iced tea without any sweeteners to make it keto-friendly. You can also add a few pumps of sugar-free syrup to sweeten the drink without adding carbs.

Chai Tea Latte

For a keto-friendly chai tea latte, skip the chai syrup and ask for a couple of splashes of heavy cream instead. You can also add two pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup to enhance the flavour.

London Fog

London Fog is made with Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup. To make it keto-friendly, replace the milk with heavy whipping cream and ask for sugar-free vanilla syrup.

Keto White Drink

The Keto White Drink is made with unsweetened peach citrus white tea, heavy cream, and sugar-free vanilla syrup. Ask for light ice to enjoy this drink at its best.

Hot Teas

Starbucks offers a variety of brewed hot teas that are keto-friendly, including chai tea, Earl Grey, Royal English Breakfast, Emperor's Clouds and Mist, honey citrus mint, Jade Citrus Mint, Mint Majesty, and Peach Tranquility.

Iced Teas

You can also order any of the above hot teas iced. Just ask for "iced" when placing your order.

Other Keto-Friendly Tea Options

In addition to Starbucks, there are several other keto-friendly tea options that you can explore:

• Black or green tea: Tea is a natural option with negligible carbs, usually less than 1 gram per cup.
• Herbal teas: Examples include hibiscus, chamomile, yerba mate, peppermint, and rooibos tea.
• Purple tea: Made using green tea methods, purple tea has additional antioxidants and a well-rounded, subtle, sweet flavour.
• Moringa tea: Moringa is an alkalizing, energizing herbal tea that also helps lower blood glucose levels.
• Rooibos tea: A caffeine-free, energizing tea with a complex flavour profile that can be consumed in the evening without affecting sleep.
• Yerba mate: Yerba mate has a caffeine content similar to coffee and is gentler on the body's pH. It's a great addition to a keto diet.

Keto-friendly snacks

While Starbucks is not the easiest place to eat on the ketogenic diet, there are a few keto-friendly snacks available to tide you over until your next meal.

• Kale & Mushroom Sous Vide Egg Bites: 9 grams net carbs per 2 pieces
• Bacon & Gruyere Egg Bites: 9 grams net carbs per 2 pieces
• Country Archer Hickory Smoked Turkey Jerky: 5 grams net carbs per bag
• Country Archer Original Beef Jerky: 5 grams net carbs per bag
• String Cheese: 1 gram net carb per piece
• Avocado Spread: 1 gram net carb per serving

Other keto-friendly food options

You may also be able to snack on some of Starbucks' breakfast or lunch sandwiches (with no bread) or Protein Boxes (with no crackers or fruit), although you'll have to estimate the nutrition information for these foods.

Keto-friendly drinks to have with your snack

• Black coffee: A basic black coffee at Starbucks is carb-free, making it an excellent keto-friendly choice.
• Caffe Americano: A Caffe Americano consists of a shot of espresso mixed with hot water. It’s low in carbs, providing just what’s in a shot of espresso.
• Espresso con Panna: An espresso con panna contains a dollop of whipped cream, which is small enough that it doesn't affect the carb count.
• Espresso Macchiato: Espresso macchiatos are made with added steamed milk to produce a layer of milk foam on top. The added dairy doesn’t affect the carb count and adds some extra fat.
• Cold Brew: Cold brew is brewed cold, making it smoother and less acidic than hot-brewed coffee. It’s also carb-free.
• Iced Caffe Americano: An iced Caffe Americano consists of espresso and cold water, which is then iced. The only carbs come from the espresso shot itself.
• Iced black coffee: Ask for a plain iced coffee or sugar-free vanilla syrup.
• Iced espresso: A shot of iced espresso is a refreshing caffeine boost on a hot day, providing just two grams of net carbs.
• Nitro Cold Brew: Nitro Cold Brew is infused with nitrogen to add a mild sweetness and creaminess for zero carbs.
• Galvanina Sparkling Water: Galvanina’s naturally bubbly sparkling water is available at Starbucks in unflavored or lime options, and both contain zero grams of carbs per bottle.
• Spindrift Sparkling Water: For a sparkling water with more flavor, Spindrift’s waters are naturally sweetened and flavored with small amounts of real fruit.

Frequently asked questions