A Carb Manager Guide to the Best Keto Coffee at Starbucks

For many, nothing beats a good cup of coffee. Some enjoy it daily, while others savor it occasionally as a treat. Coffee offers potential benefits like an energy boost from caffeine and is packed with antioxidants. A recent study suggested that drinking three cups of coffee daily could extend our healthy lifespan by 6% on average, though this study was partially funded by the National Coffee Association, so results should be interpreted cautiously.

If Starbucks is your coffee of choice, you might struggle with what to order on Keto. Here’s a list of the best Keto-friendly options at Starbucks, along with ordering instructions.

Note: This list was accurate as of December 2022. The Starbucks menu changes frequently, so it’s wise to check the latest offerings on their website before visiting.

Coffee and Keto

Coffee is naturally carb-free and fits well into a Keto diet. However, be mindful of additions like flavored syrups and creamers, which can be high in sugar. For a Keto-friendly coffee, opt for black coffee, unsweetened creamers like half-and-half or heavy cream, and use natural sweeteners like stevia or allulose. Some on Keto also enjoy butter coffee, made by blending butter into your coffee for added fat and satiety.

Ordering Keto at Starbucks

Planning your next Starbucks visit? Here’s how to keep your order Keto-friendly:

• Stick to simple drinks. Basic drinks are easier to adapt to Keto. Flavored options like Pumpkin Spice Latte or Caramel Macchiato often rely on sugary syrups and can’t be made Keto-friendly. When in doubt, order black coffee or an Americano (espresso and hot water) with room for cream, then add half-and-half and/or a Keto-friendly sweetener at the self-service station.
• Use Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup. Many Starbucks drinks use sweetened syrups. Their sugar-free vanilla syrup is a Keto-friendly alternative.
• Choose low-carb milk alternatives. Replace regular milk with almond milk, half-and-half, or heavy cream to make coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos more Keto-friendly.
• Avoid Frappuccinos. These contain sugary coffee concentrate and sweetened vanilla powder, making them unsuitable for Keto.
• Mind your macros. Your drink’s calorie and carb count can vary based on milk type, size, and preparation. Remember that while heavy cream is low in carbs, it’s high in calories and fat.

Top 50+ Keto Starbucks Orders

Based on Starbucks’ menu at the time of writing, here’s a comprehensive list of Keto-friendly options, including coffee, tea, sandwiches, and snacks, with ordering instructions:

• Black coffee: Order as-is.
• Caffe Americano: Order as-is.
• Caffe Misto: Order “Caffe Misto with almond milk.”
• Cappuccino: Order “Cappuccino made with heavy cream.”
• Espresso: Order as-is.
• Espresso con panna: Order as-is (note: contains a small amount of sugar from the sweetened whipped cream, but still has Keto-friendly macros).
• Flat White: Order “Flat White made with half-and-half.”
• Honey Almondmilk Flat White: Order “Almondmilk Flat White with Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup.”
• Caffe Latte: Order “Caffe Latte made with almond milk.”
• Vanilla Latte: Order “Vanilla Latte with heavy cream and Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup.”
• Espresso Macchiato: Order “Espresso Macchiato made with half-and-half.”
• Chai: Order “Brewed chai tea with Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup and almond milk.”
• London Fog Tea Latte: Order “London Fog Tea Latte with heavy cream and Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup.”
• Royal English Tea Latte: Order “Royal English Tea Latte with half-and-half and Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup.”
• Emperor’s Clouds and Mist Tea: Order as-is.
• Jade Citrus Mint Brewed Tea: Order as-is.
• Mint Majesty Tea: Order as-is.
• Peach Tranquility Tea: Order as-is.
• Steamed Milk: Order “steamed almond milk.”
• Vanilla Creme: Order “Vanilla Creme with almond milk and Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup.”
• Cold Brew Coffee: Order as-is (black) or add heavy cream.
• Vanilla Cold Brew: Order “Vanilla Cold Brew with heavy cream and Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup.”
• Nitro Cold Brew: Order as-is.
• Iced Americano: Order as-is.
• Iced Coffee: Order as-is.
• Iced Espresso: Order as-is.
• Iced Shaken Espresso: Order “Iced Shaken Espresso with half-and-half.”
• Iced Flat White: Order “Iced Flat White with almond milk.”
• Iced Caffe Latte: Order “Iced Caffe Latte with heavy cream.”
• Iced Vanilla Caffe Latte: Order “Iced Vanilla Caffe Latte with half-and-half and Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup.”
• Teavana Sparkling Unsweetened Peach Nectarine Green Tea: Available in the grab-and-go area.
• Iced Black Tea: Specify “unsweetened” as some locations may add a sugar-syrup by default.
• Iced Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte: Order “Iced Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte with heavy cream and Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup.”
• Iced London Fog Tea Latte: Order “Iced London Fog Tea Latte with almond milk and Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup.”
• Iced Peach Green Tea: Specify “unsweetened” as some locations may add a sugar-syrup by default.
• Iced Green Tea: Specify “unsweetened” as some locations may add a sugar-syrup by default.
• Iced Passion Tango Tea: Specify “unsweetened” as some locations may add a sugar-syrup by default.
• Sparkling Water: Available in the grab-and-go area.
• Bottled Water: Available in the grab-and-go area.
• Bacon, Sausage, and Egg Wrap: Order with no bread (or remove bread before eating).
• Impossible Breakfast Sandwich: Order with no bread (or remove bread before eating).
• Bacon, Gouda, and Egg Sandwich: Order with no bread (or remove bread before eating).
• Double Smoked Bacon, Cheddar, Egg Sandwich: Order with no bread (or remove bread before eating).
• Turkey Bacon, Cheddar, Egg White Sandwich: Order with no bread (or remove bread before eating).
• Sausage, Cheddar, Egg Sandwich: Order with no bread (or remove bread before eating).
• Spinach, Feta, and Egg White Wrap: Order with no bread (or remove bread before eating).
• Eggs Gouda Protein Box: Available in the grab-and-go area; avoid crackers and fruit to keep carbs low.
• Cheese Trio Protein Box: Available in the grab-and-go area; avoid crackers and fruit to keep carbs low.
• Cheddar Uncured Salami Protein Box: Available in the grab-and-go area; avoid crackers and fruit to keep carbs low.
• Eggs Cheddar Protein Box: Available in the grab-and-go area; avoid crackers and fruit to keep carbs low.
• Ham and Swiss on Baguette: Order with no bread (or remove bread before eating).
• Turkey, Provolone, Pesto on Ciabatta: Order with no bread (or remove bread before eating).
• Tomato Mozzarella on Focaccia: Order with no bread (or remove bread before eating).
• Kale Mushroom Egg Bites: Order as-is (note: 9 grams of net carbs per 2).
• Bacon Gruyere Egg Bites: Order as-is (note: 9 grams of net carbs per 2).
• Almonds: Available in the grab-and-go area.
• Beef Jerky: Available in the grab-and-go area.
• String Cheese: Available in the grab-and-go area.

Other Keto-Friendly Coffee Chains

Not a Starbucks fan? Check out these other coffee chains:

• Dunkin’ Donuts: Try their iced coffee with cream, unsweetened.
• Tim Hortons: Their lattes made with almond milk are a good pick-me-up.
• McCafe: Available at most McDonald’s, try their Sugar-Free French Vanilla Iced Coffee without milk.
• Peet’s Coffee and Tea: Their traditional cappuccino made with almond milk is recommended.
• Caribou Coffee: Known for high-quality, fair-trade coffee and clean ingredients, their Breve is a simple blend of espresso and half-and-half.

Let us know your favorite Keto Starbucks drink in the comments!