In the wide range of offerings at Starbucks, which is the one that gives you the best caffeine kick? Everyone has their favorite and go-to beverages to pick and enjoy, but sometimes, we simply want the caffeine of the strongest coffee at Starbucks.
Thankfully, the range is wide enough that you can browse for favorites, even when going by the caffeine counter. To go along with the range of beverages and options, it makes sense to look at the hot beverages, cold nitro brews, the Starbucks Frappuccino, ground coffee and coffee beans, and more. Let’s dive in!
What Starbucks Drink Has The Most Caffeine? A Closer Look
1. Clover Brewed Coffee (12 oz, 280 mg)
Clover Brewed Coffee has the highest caffeine content amongst the offerings at Starbucks. The coffee is available in hot and iced variants, though the caffeine content stays largely the same for both. There are small variations with flavors, for example, the Clover Blonde Roast clocks 255 mg on the caffeine scale. Overall, this is a potent choice for those who want a caffeine kick.
If you were to pick the Venti (20 oz) for the Clover Brewed Coffee Reserve Roast, the coffee intake would shoot to 470 mg. Now that’s a serious caffeine kick and makes this Starbucks strongest coffee.
Starbucks Clover Brewed Coffee also boasts a very delightful and strong taste. Lovers of strong coffee will appreciate the strong brew – and the caffeine kick it brings along. This is the most caffeinated drink at Starbucks. One downside is that it isn’t available often.
The beans used for Clover Brewed Coffee are available in small batches and are somewhat exclusive. Stores run out of them pretty quickly.
Another important aspect is that this coffee is brewed using Clover Brewing Systems. These machines aren’t available at all outlets, so the chance of enjoying this coffee is reduced. Add to that the use of small-lot Starbucks Reserve Coffees, and you get an exclusive drink. So if you get a chance at one, take your shot!
2. Blonde Roast – Veranda (12 oz, 270 mg)
The classic brewed coffee and the strongest brew available at practically every Starbucks, the Blonde Veranda Roast is at the top of the list for strong coffees. Its strange name has become a part of its charm and its unique styling.
Starbucks Blonde Roast clocks 270 mg for a Tall (12 z) serving. That’s pretty close to the Clover Brewed Coffee, but this one is regular brewed coffee. And that means it can be available at every Starbucks.
Those who want a high-caffeine pick will find this one to be a safe bet. It’s widely available, strong, and delicious. In fact, the Blonde Roast (Veranda) coffee grounds and K cups are available for purchase, so you can make your choice brew at home.
What works in the favor of this roast isn’t just the caffeine, but the strong, delicious taste. It tastes very much like the strong coffee we all love and admire.
Where to get it: Starbucks, Coffee grounds on Amazon, Starbucks Blonde Roast K Cups
3. Pike Place Brewed Coffee (12 oz, 235 mg)
This medium roast is perhaps the most recognized flavor for Starbucks Coffee. It is their signature brew and is known for brewing a mean cup of coffee. The strong brew and the carefully crafted blend come together for an impressive cup of coffee.
Pike Place Brewed Coffee offers 235 mg caffeine for every Tall cup. The wonderful brew remains popular with Starbucks customers and is highly sought after. You can easily enjoy it at a Starbucks, or even get the coffee home and brew some for yourself.
Waking up to an excellent roast and well-brewed coffee is tough to beat! Plus, the generous caffeine content is a revved-up way to kickstart your day.
Where to get it: Starbucks, Coffee grounds on Amazon, Starbucks Pike Place Medium Roast K Cups
4. Reserve Nitro Cold Brew (12 oz, 280 mg)
Ah… a relaxing cold brew with a head of nitrogen to keep it delectable. It is remarkably simple to make cold brew at home and add nitrogen to it. This is an idea inspired by draught beer and is every bit as enticing. The refreshing Reserve Nitro Cold Brew at Starbucks comes with a caffeine kick that goes to 280 mg for a 12 oz serving.
Well, the strength and flavor are to love, and so is the mouthfeel. Those tiny nitrogen bubbles give the cold brew a great head and make it feel velvety smooth.
Starbucks offers plenty of Nitro cold brews, so the caffeine content varies. For example, the Salted Cream Nitro clocks 200 mg per 12 oz, while the Torched Vanilla Nitro gets 210 mg caffeine for the same serving size.
Many nitro cold brew flavors are available in a can and can be purchased online or from Starbucks outlets.
Where to get it: Starbucks, Amazon
5. Espresso (Solo, 0.75 oz, 75 mg)
A shot of espresso is everyone’s top choice for a strong brew with a mighty kick of caffeine. While the absolute caffeine content is often lower than other brews, espresso often has the highest caffeine content by volume. A solo shot of espresso at Starbucks has 75 mg caffeine in just 0.75 oz.
Whether you’re looking for a pick-me-up or a dose of caffeine, an espresso will do it for you. Conventionally, the caffeine content of 1-ounce espresso comes in at 60-65 mg of caffeine. Of course, the number is a generalization, but it is clear that the Starbucks espresso has a higher caffeine count.
6. Starbucks Tripleshot Energy Extra Strength (15 oz, 225 mg)
Packing 225 mg caffeine in a 15 oz can makes this beverage a stunningly potent caffeine delivery route. The ready to drink beverage is available in several flavors, though all offer a similar amount of caffeine.
At that sort of caffeine content, you aren’t just starting with strong coffee, you’re getting a jolt of energy. Well, that explains the “Energy” bit in the naming of this offering. It is practically an energy drink with the beloved flavor of coffee.
Starbucks recommends that the Tripleshot Energy Extra Strength be enjoyed cold or over ice. And yes, it does taste amazing.
For comparison, there’s also the Starbucks Doubleshot option to pick. This one too is available in different flavors and offers approximately 145 mg caffeine for a 15 oz pack.
Check pricing and flavors for Starbucks Tripleshot Energy
7. Blonde Caffè Americano (12 oz, 170 mg)
Blonde Caffè Americano is available in hot as well as cold/iced versions. Both of these offer the same amount of caffeine. The brew starts with a shot of espresso with hot water added on top. The caffeine content comes wholly from the espresso.
A Tall serving of Blonde Caffè Americano takes in 170 mg caffeine. This is slightly more than the regular Caffè Americano that offers 150 mg caffeine. The blonde brew manages a stronger caffeine kick, even if by a hair!
What’s interesting here is that though the base is an espresso, the caffeine content of the Americano increases with serving size. That may sound obvious, but that’s not how Starbucks recipes work, especially with espresso-based beverages.
Lattes, for example, don’t necessarily get a higher caffeine content with a larger cup. It’s important to remember that the caffeine content of these brews is related to the espresso shots, not the volume of the cup.
So, if you’re getting a latte with a single shot of espresso, it doesn’t matter if the cup is small or venti – the caffeine content is the same.
8. Cold Brew Coffee (12 oz, 155 mg)
The nitro cold brew has had its day in the sun, but what if we wanted a regular serving of cold brew coffee? Well, obviously, Starbucks has a specific offering for us. Regular cold brew coffee at Starbucks has 155 mg caffeine for a 12 oz serving.
The brew is strong, caffeine-rich, and has every bit the goodness that we’ve come to expect from cold brew and Starbucks.
Cold brew coffee is available in several flavors, but the caffeine content usually ranges from 140-155 mg for a 12 oz serving.
Starbucks also offers its cold brew coffee for sale online and through other channels. They’re usually available in glass bottles, which I think are a nice touch and definitely preferable over aluminum cans.
See pricing for Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee on Amazon
9. Iced Coffee (12 oz, 120 mg)
An enjoyable iced coffee is a treat to look forward to in summer. It’s worth noting that iced coffee is not the same as cold brew, which is steeped cold. Iced coffee is brewed as regular (hot) coffee and then cooled over ice.
Starbucks Iced Coffee offering is refreshing and enjoyable. Plus, given its origins, it offers a similar amount of caffeine as regular drip coffee. Okay, maybe lower, presumably due to the watering-down effect of the ice cubes.
Each 12 oz serving of iced coffee has about 120 mg caffeine. Want a higher caffeine kick? Go the unsweetened route. Getting the sugar syrup out of the way pushes up the caffeine content slightly to 140 mg.
10. Starbucks VIA Instant Iced Coffee (260-280 mg/sachet)
Instant coffee! Purists can turn their nose at it, but instant coffee is a convenience that many coffee lovers enjoy. Plus, it’s a handy and quick dose of caffeine that we can’t really say no to.
Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee is available in sachets that are easy to use and taste quite decent. Plus, if you’re looking for a caffeine kick, these sachets are an excellent path to a quick fix.
Starbucks VIA Instant Iced Coffee comes in at a very strong 260-280 mg per sachet. It is a lot of caffeine, though that’s probably the result of adding extra coffee to make up for being watered down by ice.
The regular (hot) coffee version is more subdued and offers 130-140 mg caffeine per sachet. Both of these are fairly good options and worth a shot for those who enjoy the idea of a quick iced coffee.
11. Coffee Frappuccino (16 oz, 95 mg)
There must be a spot for the famous Starbucks Frappuccino! These beverages are made to be enjoyable and refreshing, rather than strong and caffeine-rich. A fair number of Frappuccinos don’t have any caffeine in them.
For a Frappuccino, you should be more concerned about the calorie intake rather than the caffeine intake.
A 16 oz serving of Coffee Frappuccino comes with a caffeine content of 95 mg. That’s a fairly decent amount and strikes up a nice balance.
Of course, there’s always the option of revving up the caffeine content of your Frappuccino by having espresso shots added. If you choose to take this path, the caffeine content of the espresso can be added to that of the Frappuccino.
A Few More Things About The Strongest Coffee At Starbucks
While the list here looks at what Starbucks drink has the most caffeine, it is not a comprehensive list. The famous coffee chain offers a very large number of options, so the choices here are made on the basis of absolute caffeine content, popularity, and availability of the beverages.
How Much Caffeine In Starbucks Coffee – The Generalization Clause
Something else to keep in mind is that the exact caffeine content of a random cup is impossible to predict. It can vary with several factors, including the beans involved, roasting process, brewing process, extraction, and the barista.
That’s why the numbers provided here are generalizations, not absolute values. These are approximate numbers per cup, but they’re not totally off the mark. So we can be reasonably certain about what Starbucks drink has the most caffeine. It’s the Clover Brewed Coffee followed closely by the Blonde Roast.
Starbucks K Cups And Caffeine
The convenience of K cups is a great way to get your choice of brew quick and easy. Several Starbucks offerings are available as K cups. But what if you want a strong K cup with an impressive caffeine content?
Well, the regular Starbucks K cups are no slouches and pack a good punch of caffeine. For those who really want to go beyond, Starbucks Plus K cups have 2X the caffeine of their regular counterparts.
They taste pretty much the same as the regular Starbucks K cups, with the only difference that their caffeine content is much higher – twice, to be precise.
Don’t Forget To Watch Your Caffeine Intake!
Most of us love caffeine and often wake up to a hot cup of coffee. It’s the fuel that keeps us chugging throughout the day. Even as we look for strong coffee that will take us through the day and keep us powered, it’s important to consider the safe amount of caffeine intake.
Ingesting too much caffeine can have negative health effects while staying in a reasonable range brings health benefits.
Conventional suggested caffeine intake for adults is 400 mg per day. If you take a closer look, it’s clear that many strong coffees at Starbucks flirt with this level, especially if you consume more than one cup a day. For comparison, the Blonde Roast Venti (20 oz) serving has 470 mg caffeine.
Sure, you don’t always get a Venti, but even if you’re picking Tall or Grande, the caffeine intake is substantial. It’s best to stay well under the suggested limits of caffeine content.
Enjoy Some Strong Starbucks Coffee
Starbucks has an excellent range of options, going all the way from decaf (or for that matter, no-coffee options) to strong, caffeine-rich beverages. That creates an excellent opportunity to enjoy your choice of coffee and get that caffeine craving sorted.
When going for the caffeine kick, don’t forget to consider taste and flavor. They come first, not after the caffeine content.
Choosing the strongest coffee at Starbucks is convenient, give the number of options. Blonde Roast and Pike Place roast are hot favorites, and the attention they get is well deserved.