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Home arrow Nutrition arrow Keto Diet arrow Ranking the Top 30 Low-Carb Keto Options at Starbucks

Ranking the Top 30 Low-Carb Keto Options at Starbucks

Wendy Lord, RD
Written by Wendy Lord, RD
HR_author_photo_Rosmy
Fact checked by Rosmy Barrios, MD
Last update: October 5, 2023
16 min read 1089 Views 0 Comments
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The Starbucks menu is extensive, but do you know which drinks are keto-friendly? We have ranked the top 30 low-carb keto options at Starbucks to make it easier for you to make an informed choice and stay in ketosis.

keto starbucks

Ordering drinks from your favorite coffee shop can be a minefield when you’re on a ketogenic diet. There is so much more to choose from than a simple cup of black coffee, and the ingredients used to concoct your beverage of choice are frequently on the list of foods to avoid.

How can you be certain that the net carbs in your go-to Starbucks drinks, be it a cold brew, chai tea latte, or grande blonde vanilla latte, aren’t going to blow your diet? After all, they are made with sweetened whipped cream, liquid sucrose, and taste-bud-tingling flavored syrups. 

You can adapt the recipes to suit your requirements to make equally delicious keto Starbucks drinks. Ingredients such as almond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream, and sugar-free vanilla syrup can turn a classic Starbucks order into a low-carb version.

Use this article as a guideline next time you visit your local Starbucks. We will show you which drinks are best to avoid, which are already low-carb, and how to order keto Starbucks drinks by making a few ingredient substitutions.

30 Best Keto-Friendly Starbucks Orders You Should Try Right Now

Does your favorite Starbucks drink belong on the keto diet? Does your Nitro Cold Brew, Pink Drink, Chai Tea, or Grande Iced Caffe Latte, full of whipped cream and classic syrup, appear on a list of approved keto drinks?

With some simple ingredient swaps, you can order keto Starbucks drinks to tantalize your taste buds. Next time you order an iced coffee, for example, replace the sugar-laden syrup with a sugar-free syrup like sugar-free vanilla syrup or sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup.

Unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, and heavy cream can convert a standard Starbucks order into one of your favorite keto Starbucks drinks. Did you know you can order a keto Pink Drink, a keto Frappuccino, or a keto London Fog?

Below is a list of 30 drinks available at your local Starbucks. The ones most suitable to include in your ketogenic diet contain zero carbs or have low net carbs content. A higher fat content is also sought after. 

Let’s have a look at some of our favorite low-carb Starbucks drinks.

#1 Original Espresso

Starbucks’ Espresso Roast is what gives their coffee drinks their smooth, rich flavor. Only brewed coffee is used to make this classic hot drink, making it a keto-friendly Starbucks drink.

Keto Starbucks drinks must be low-carb, and since espresso shots provide just 1g of net carbs per shot, whether you order a solo, doppio, triple, or quad, your espresso is one of the ultimate keto-friendly drinks.

Solo Espresso nutritional value:

  • Calories: 5kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 1g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Fat: 0g

#2 Fresh Filter Coffee

Roasted and brewed coffee is a classic hot beverage enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Fresh filter coffee is top of the list of keto Starbucks drinks because it contains zero net carbs, particularly if you enjoy black coffee.

If you prefer a coffee with a bit of milk, keep it keto-friendly by replacing regular milk with a splash of heavy cream. Use a sugar-free syrup or take your sweetener for a little sweetness.

Short Filter Coffee nutritional value (Veranda blend):

  • Calories: 5kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 0g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Fat: 0g

#3 Espresso Con Panna

Espresso Con Panna is a Starbucks drink made with espresso shots topped with whipped cream. It sounds as though it should be a keto-friendly beverage. However, if you check the list of ingredients in the whipped cream, you will see that it contains vanilla syrup.

It may be delicious, but it can push your carb intake up. Therefore, it’s best to skip the cream and replace it with a splash of heavy cream or heavy whipping cream and 1–2 pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup. 

Your Espresso Con Panna is now one of the perfect keto Starbucks drinks with a very low net carb content.

Solo Espresso Con Panna nutritional value:

  • Calories: 30kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 1g
  • Protein: 1g
  • Fat: 2.5g

#4 Original Cafe Americano

The Original Cafe Americano is on our list of naturally keto-friendly Starbucks drinks. It’s made with espresso shots topped with water, creating a frothy layer called crema. 

If you prefer your brewed coffee with a dash of milk, choose low-carb options, such as heavy cream, to stick to your low-carb diet plan and ensure the net carb content stays low. 

Short Cafe Americano nutritional value:

  • Calories: 5kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 1g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Fat: 0g

#5 Original Short Cappuccino – Skimmed Milk

It may be tempting to order a skinny cappuccino when you’re following the keto diet. However, all that means is your brewed coffee is prepared with skim milk instead of whole milk, reducing the fat content, not the carbohydrate content. 

A Short Skimmed Milk Original Cappuccino still qualifies to be included on the list of keto Starbucks drinks with a net carb content of 8.1g. However, you can reduce the carb content and make it even more keto-friendly by replacing the milk with heavy whipped cream.

Short Skimmed Milk Original Cappuccino nutritional value:

  • Calories: 54.7kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 8.1g
  • Protein: 5.2g
  • Fat: 0.1g

#6 Original Short Latte – Skimmed Milk

The carbs in a Caffe Latte come from the whole milk used to prepare it. Therefore, when you order a Grande Caffe Latte from the Starbucks menu, you will consume 19g of carbohydrates. 

If you enjoy the taste of steamed milk combined with espresso shots, order a Short drink to keep your net carb intake down. You can make it even more keto-friendly by replacing the milk with half heavy cream and half water. 

Short Skimmed Milk Latte nutritional value:

  • Calories: 66.6kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 9.9g
  • Protein: 6.4g
  • Fat: 0.1g

#7 Chai Tea

The comforting spicy aroma of chai tea is hard to resist. Luckily, you don’t have to deprive yourself of this delicious black tea beverage when you are on the keto diet. The plain brewed tea, made using tea bags, contains zero carbs and, therefore, has zero net carbs, placing it on top of the list of keto-friendly drinks.

Other chai tea Starbucks drinks are made from sweetened chai tea concentrate instead of brewed tea. Therefore, the standard Chai Tea Latte, Iced Chai Tea Latte, and Chai Creme Frappuccino contain a significant amount of carbohydrates and sugar.

To order a keto Chai Tea Latte, ask for chai tea made from a tea bag. Add heavy whipping cream and 2 pumps of sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup for a flavorful beverage you can add to your list of keto Starbucks drinks.

Short Chai Tea nutritional value:

  • Calories: 0kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 0g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Fat: 0g

#8 Caffè Misto

Equal parts steamed milk and brewed coffee come together to make Caffe Misto. We’ve included it on our list of keto Starbucks drinks because when you order a Short Caffe Misto, the net carb content is just 5.3g.

As with other low-carb Starbucks drinks, you can reduce the carb content even further by replacing the milk with a splash of heavy cream, making it even more keto-friendly. 

Short Skimmed Milk Cafe Misto nutritional value:

  • Calories: 37.2kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 5.3g
  • Protein: 3.7g
  • Fat: 0.1g

#9 Flat White – Almond

The Honey Almond Milk Flat White weighs in at 15g of carbohydrates, with 12g of sugar for a Short cup. It’s not surprising, considering the steamed milk is sweetened almond milk, and 2 pumps of Starbucks honey blend are added to the espresso shots for flavor and sweetness. 

However, you can order a Flat White and substitute steamed unsweetened almond milk for the whole milk. If you prefer a sweeter coffee, you can add 2 pumps of sugar-free syrup.

This keto-friendly coffee drink has a net carbs value of just 5g, placing it near the top of our list of the best keto Starbucks drinks.

Short Flat White with almond milk nutritional value:

  • Calories: 50kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 5g
  • Protein: 1g
  • Fat: 3g

#10 London Fog

Earl gray tea bags are steeped in hot water to make a London Fog Tea Latte. The plain tea is a keto Starbucks drink. However, when steamed milk and vanilla syrup are added to make the classic version of a London Fog available on the Starbucks menu, it’s not the most keto-friendly tea.

The net carb content of a Short London Fog Latte is 15g. When you are limited to just 50g of carbohydrates per day on the keto diet, you may think twice about making a London Fog Latte a regular part of your diet. Rather, enjoy it as an occasional treat.

Short London Fog nutritional value:

  • Calories: 90kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 15g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Fat: 2g

#11 Iced Matcha Latte

Apart from ground Japanese green tea, the Starbucks matcha tea blend contains sugar, and it is served with milk over ice. Therefore, when you order an Iced Matcha Tea Latte, you will consume a large number of carbohydrates and sugar, which is not ideal on the keto diet. 

To make this green refreshment keto-friendly and place it on our list of keto Starbucks drinks, you will need to replace the 2% milk used to make the original version with unsweetened almond milk to reduce the net carbs. 

Tall Iced Matcha Latte nutritional value:

  • Calories: 140kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 21g
  • Protein: 7g
  • Fat: 4g

#12 Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte

Starbucks’ Blonde Espresso forms the base of the Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte. The iced coffee is created by adding milk, vanilla syrup, and ice to the brewed coffee. Therefore, it is not keto-friendly.

However, since you can substitute most of the ingredients in your Starbucks drinks, you can create a keto Starbucks drink with a little careful consideration. Thanks to sugar-free syrups and unsweetened almond milk, you can order a Grande Blonde Vanilla Latte without exceeding your daily quota of net carbs. 

Tall Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte nutritional value:

  • Calories: 140kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 23g
  • Protein: 6g
  • Fat: 3g

#13 Keto Mocha

A Tall Starbucks Caffe Mocha contains 22g of carbohydrates and is made with sugar-sweetened mocha sauce, steamed milk, and whipped cream. Therefore, it’s not keto friendly at all. 

When you order keto Starbucks drinks, you must make substitutions for all the sugary ingredients to reduce the number of net carbs in your favorite beverages. In the case of a keto mocha, ask for skinny mocha sauce, and replace the milk with half water and half heavy cream.

Tall Keto Mocha nutritional value:

  • Calories: 55kcal
  • Net carbohydrates: 1g
  • Protein: 1g
  • Fat: 5g

#14 Keto London Fog

The great thing about Starbucks is that you can adapt almost all of its beverage offerings to make mouth-watering keto Starbucks drinks. The classic London Fog Latte is full of carbs and sugar, made with steamed milk and vanilla syrup.

The keto diet version cuts the net carb content down to just 1g. All you have to do is order the earl gray tea drink made with a splash of heavy cream and 2–3 pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup.

Short Keto London Fog nutritional value:

  • Calories: 101kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 1g
  • Protein: 1g
  • Fat: 11g

#15 Keto Frappuccino

Regular frappuccinos don’t appear on the keto Starbucks drinks menu because they are made with premixed powders or syrups, which are high in sugar and not keto-friendly. After all, the smallest cup of Coffee Frappuccino packs a whopping 31g of carbohydrates.

You will have to ask nicely to have a keto frappuccino made for you, but if you love this Starbucks iced coffee drink, then it’s worth the effort. Here’s what to ask for: unsweetened iced coffee with a generous amount of heavy cream, extra ice, and 2 pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup.

You get all the sweet, creamy flavor, plenty of keto-friendly fats, and only 3g of net carbs. 

Keto Frappuccino nutritional value:

  • Calories: 305kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 3g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Fat: 30g

#16 Nitro – Cold Brew 

The Nitro Cold Brew is one of the few naturally low-carb Starbucks drinks. The cold brew coffee is steeped for longer, giving it a smoother flavor profile, and infused with nitrogen.

The result is a silky smooth crema and sweetness without the addition of sugar or classic syrup, giving you a delicious keto Starbucks drink that contains zero carbs. 

Tall Nitro Cold Brew nutritional value: 

  • Calories: 5kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 0g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Fat: 0g

#17 Keto Vanilla Sweet Cream – Cold Brew

If you love the velvety smoothness of the Starbucks cold brew with the subtle taste of vanilla, topped with vanilla syrup infused whipped cream, you will love this keto Starbucks drink.

Transform the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew into a keto-friendly version by skipping the whipped cream and replacing it with a splash of heavy cream. Add 2 to 3 pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup to the unsweetened iced coffee, and voila, a keto Starbucks drink with a low net carb content.

Grande Keto Vanilla Sweet Cream – Cold Brew nutritional value:

  • Calories: 80kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 7g
  • Protein: 1g
  • Fat: 6g

#18 Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte

Another non-keto Starbucks drink is the original Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte. The smallest cup will give you 35g of net carbs, making this popular cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove-iced coffee drink a beverage that should be avoided by anyone following the keto diet.

To order a keto Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte, ask for brewed coffee with half heavy whipping cream and half water, 1 pump of pumpkin spice sauce, and 1–2 pumps of sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup. Don’t forget to skip the whipped cream for a low-carb version of a favorite Starbucks drink.

Tall Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte nutritional value:

  • Calories: 270kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 35g
  • Protein: 8g
  • Fat: 12g

#19 Keto Iced Espresso

You can’t go wrong on the keto diet with an unsweetened iced coffee – Starbucks’ smooth espresso roast is the perfect addition to the keto-friendly Starbucks drinks top 30 list. 

The Starbucks Iced Espresso fits naturally into your low-carb lifestyle, made with 2 espresso shots served over ice for a refreshing coffee drink with just 2g of net carbs. 

Doppio Keto Iced Espresso nutritional value:

  • Calories: 10kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 2g
  • Protein: 1g
  • Fat: 0g

#20 Iced Latte

Made with only black coffee, milk, and ice, you may be fooled into thinking that ordering a Grande Iced Caffe Latte is keto-friendly. However, with 13g of net carbs, it could be better.

The carbohydrate content is in the milk. Therefore, by swapping the milk with almond milk, you can enjoy a keto Starbucks iced coffee that doesn’t break the carb bank. Remember to ask for unsweetened milk, and if you prefer a sweeter coffee, ask for 1–2 pumps of sugar-free syrup.

Tall Iced Latte nutritional value: 

  • Calories: 100kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 10g
  • Protein: 6g
  • Fat: 3.5g

#21 Iced Pineapple Black Tea

Black tea combines with an infusion of pineapple to make a tropical tea that is free from carbs until the liquid cane sugar is added, taking the net carbs up to 8g in the smallest cup of Iced Pineapple Black Tea.

To push it up the ranking of keto-friendly Starbucks drinks, replace the cane sugar with a pump or two of sugar-free syrup.

Tall Iced Pineapple Black Tea nutritional value:

  • Calories: 30kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 8g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Fat: 0g

#22 Pink Drink

Even the coconut milk used in Starbucks drinks is sweetened, increasing the net carbs in this popular order. Strawberry Acai Base is what gives the Pink Drink its distinctive flavor, while the coconut milk adds a tropical taste and creaminess. 

Transform it into a keto Pink Drink by asking for Passion Tango Iced Tea with a splash of heavy cream and 2–3 pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup. Don’t forget the Strawberry Fruit Inclusion or freeze-dried strawberries.

Tall Pink Drink nutritional value:

  • Calories: 110kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 22g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Fat: 2g

#23 Horchata Almond Milk Frappuccino

The Horchata Almond Milk Frappuccino may be made with almond milk, but it is also packed with sugar-filled ingredients, making the net carb content very high at 46g in a Tall cup.

To include it in your keto diet, start by skipping the whipped cream and replacing the flavoring with sugar-free syrups. Ask for a shaken iced white tea without the cane sugar, a couple of pumps of sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup, a splash of heavy cream, and cinnamon powder.  

Tall Horchata Almond Milk Frappuccino nutritional value:

  • Calories: 280kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 46g
  • Protein: 1g
  • Fat: 10g

#24 Cinnamon Dolce Latte

Another Starbucks cinnamon favorite is the Cinnamon Dolce Latte. Steamed milk is added to espresso shots, flavored with cinnamon dolce syrup, and topped with whipped cream. The net carbs increase with each addition.

Luckily, you can swap out the sugar-rich ingredients with sugar-free options to make a mouth-watering keto Starbucks drink. A keto Cinnamon Dolce Latte is made by adding a splash of heavy cream and 2–3 pumps of sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup to the espresso shots.

Short Cinnamon Dolce Latte nutritional value:

  • Calories: 190kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 22g
  • Protein: 6g
  • Fat: 9g

#25 Herbal Tea

Herbal tea, when made using tea bags filled with herbs, botanicals, and fruit, makes a deliciously refreshing keto-friendly Starbucks drink. For example, Mint Majesty has a minty flavor with a hint of lemon and contains zero carbs. 

Short Mint Majesty nutritional value:

  • Calories: 0kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 0g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Fat: 0g

#26 Green Tea

An infusion of green tea is one of the best keto Starbucks drinks. It has zero net carbs and can be enjoyed at any time of the day. If you need to add a little sweetness to your Emperor’s Clouds and Mist green tea, opt for 1–2 pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup.

Short Emperor’s Clouds and Mist nutritional value: 

  • Calories: 0kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 0g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Fat: 0g

#27 Keto White Drink – Iced Peach

The Keto White Drink is part of the secret Starbucks menu for people wanting to order keto Starbucks drinks. It’s a creamy peach-flavored iced tea drink that has a low net carb content. 

Using iced Peach Tranquility tea as the base, add a splash of heavy cream and 2–3 pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup for a dreamy peaches and cream Starbucks treat. The cream and the sugar-free syrup add calories from fat and sugar, making the net carbs content about 4g.

#28 Iced Passion Tango Tea

A shaken iced tea with flavors of hibiscus, lemongrass, and apple, the Iced Passion Tango Tea makes a perfect keto-friendly Starbucks drink with zero calories and net carbs. If you prefer the sweetness of the Iced Passion Tango Tea Lemonade version, add a pump or two of sugar-free vanilla syrup.

Tall Iced Passion Tango Tea nutritional value:

  • Calories: 0kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 0g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Fat: 0g

#29 Iced Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte

Sweetened with liquid cane sugar and served with milk on ice, the Iced Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte is not the most keto-friendly drink on the Starbucks menu. It is made with iced black tea, which has zero carbs, but the milk and sugar add up to a total of 19g of carbohydrates in the smallest Starbucks cup.

To make it more suitable for the keto diet, use unsweetened almond milk instead of regular milk and add sugar-free syrups for a little sweetness. 

Tall Iced Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte nutritional value:

  • Calories: 100kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 19g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Fat: 2g

#30 Sparkling Water

You can never go wrong with sparkling water, no matter which diet you are following. Ice-cold sparkling water helps you meet your water requirements when you’re doing keto, and, of course, it is calorie and carb free. However, it’s important to note that flavored sparkling water may contain some sugar.

Sparkling water nutritional value:

  • Calories: 0kcal
  • Total carbohydrates: 0g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Fat: 0g

A Word From a Nutritionist

Sweet and creamy Starbucks drinks should be considered a treat on any diet plan. While some of them are very low in calories, carbohydrates, fat, and protein, many are high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar.

When on keto, Starbucks can be a minefield of sweet whipped cream and sugar-laden flavor syrups. Even the milk used to prepare many of the drinks adds a significant amount of carbohydrates to your daily intake, so you have to be careful about what you order off the menu.

It helps to know how much sugar you can include in the keto diet before tackling the Starbucks menu, and with some strategic substitutions, your Grande Iced Coffee, usually made with classic syrup, can become a keto drink.

With brewed coffee, espresso shots, or tea as your base, you can add heavy cream, almond milk, and sugar-free syrups to create delicious keto-friendly drinks. That means your Venti Iced Chai Tea Latte, Tall Nitro Cold Brew, and Grande Caffe Latte you get at your local Starbucks are a treat you can enjoy, even when you are following the keto diet.

Although using sugar-free vanilla syrup or sugar-free cinnamon dolce syrup, for example, significantly reduces the net carbs in your drink, it still contains about 1g of carbohydrates per pump, so don’t add too much.

The same caution must be taken with the milk you add to your black coffee. While whole milk is the standard choice at most coffee shops, almond milk and heavy whipping cream contain significantly fewer carbohydrates – roughly 5g per cup.

Conclusion

From Tall Chai Tea Latte to Grande Iced Coffee and everything in between, there is a keto Starbucks drink with your name on it. All you have to do is avoid the whipped cream and use sugar-free syrup to transform your favorite Starbucks drink into a keto-friendly taste sensation. 

Remember to order a Keto White Drink next time you visit your local Starbucks. Ask for unsweetened Peach Tranquility Tea, a splash of heavy cream, a couple of pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup, no water, and light ice. Enjoy!

Written by Wendy Lord, RD
Wendy is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for writing about nutrition, health, and medicine. Her aim is to translate the medical jargon to make information accessible to everyone so that they can make informed decisions about their health.
The article was fact checked by Rosmy Barrios, MD
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Wendy Lord, RD
Written by Wendy Lord, RD
HR_author_photo_Rosmy
Fact checked by Rosmy Barrios, MD
Last update: October 5, 2023
16 min read 1089 Views 0 Comments
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