Do Frappuccinos Have Caffeine? [Starbucks Drink Guide]
Many people love coffee, but we all have our own personal preferences.
If you’re the type to scrunch your face over the bitterness of black coffee, chances are you prefer the sweeter and creamier frappuccino blended drinks.
But here’s the question Starbucks baristas get every day, is it caffeine-free? Well, yes and no.
What’s a Frappuccino?
First things first, let’s explain what frappuccinos are. They are iced blended drinks with different flavors like chocolate and strawberry, topped with thick whipped cream.
Think of it like a milkshake but with a caffeine kick. Starbucks frappuccinos are packed with syrup, sugar, and cream, perfect for coffee drinkers with sweet teeth.
Do Starbucks Frappuccinos Have Caffeine in Them?
Following our definition of a frappuccino, Starbucks frappuccinos are generally coffee-based. So, yes, they have a level of caffeine, but not as high as the actual coffee drinks.
To set things straight, a lot of ingredients have caffeine content. Of course, we know coffee beans. But don’t forget teas, chocolate, and even matcha.
Expect caffeine if you order a frappuccino blended drink with these ingredients. Here are some examples, alongside how much caffeine they have.
- Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino (the original frappuccino): 100 mg of caffeine
- Caffè Vanilla Frappuccino: 95 mg of caffeine
- Chai Crème Frappuccino (tea-based frappuccinos): 40 mg of caffeine from the black tea and a few spices
- Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino: 15 mg of caffeine
- Caramel Frappuccino: 90 mg of caffeine
- White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino: 100 mg of caffeine
- Java Chip Frappuccino: 145 mg
- Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino: 10 mg
You can compare the lower caffeine levels of Starbucks frappuccinos as compared to the lattes and coffee drinks:
- Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew: 185 mg of caffeine
- Espresso Macchiato: 150 mg
- Iced Coffee: 165 mg
Related Reads: Iced Coffee At Starbucks, Secret Menu Drinks At Starbucks, Starbucks Cold Brew
How Can I Add More Caffeine to Starbucks Frappuccino?
What we love about Starbucks Coffee is that the drinks are customizable, making them inclusive for people with specific preferences and health needs.
You can go through these customizations if you want to add extra caffeine to your Starbucks frappuccinos.
Add Espresso Shots
Since coffee is the best source of caffeine, you can’t go wrong with requesting an additional espresso shot. This is also applicable even for non-frappuccino blended drinks.
Remember that every added shot of espresso has a corresponding additional charge in Starbucks Coffee!
Add Coffee Frappuccino Syrup (a.k.a. Frappuccino Roast or Frapp Roast)
If you don’t like an additional espresso shot, you can consider using coffee syrup. It won’t be as strong as an espresso shot, but it serves the purpose!
Some people call the syrup frappuccino roast or frapp roast, for short.
Related Read: Starbucks Coffee Syrup VS Sauce
Upsize Your Starbucks Drink
Frequent Starbucks Coffee drinkers are familiar with the sizes: tall, grande size, and venti.
Naturally, you’ll get additional syrup and caffeine content with every upgrade. Upsizing is one of the most straightforward ways to amp up your caffeine!
Related Read: Starbucks Cup Sizes Explained
Go for Espresso Frappuccino
If you appreciate more robust coffee but are in the mood for some frappuccino, you can strike the sweet spot with an espresso frappuccino.
Going affogato style is stronger than the other coffee-based frappuccinos.
Are There Caffeine-Free Frappuccinos in Starbucks Coffee Drinks?
Fortunately, there are also non-caffeinated frappuccinos with no caffeine (such as Caramel Ribbon Crunch) or creme frappuccinos with minimal to no caffeine if any.
This is good news for those who don’t enjoy caffeine and for some who experience palpitations and adverse health effects due to high caffeine intake.
Indeed, decaf coffee is the way to go if you want to ensure you are consuming ZERO CAFFEINE products.
Quick List: Decaf Frappuccino / Low Caffeine Frappuccino Options in Starbucks Coffee
If you want to go caffeine-free, get these Starbucks frappuccinos. However, note that not all crème frappuccinos are 100% caffeine-free. Some have a low amount of caffeine but it’s negligible.
- Pumpkin Spice Crème Frappuccino
- Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino
- Caramel Ribbon Crunch Creme Frappuccino
- Strawberry Crème Frappuccino
- Caramel Frappuccino
- Toasted White Chocolate Creme Frappuccino
- Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino
- Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme Frappuccino
- White Chocolate Crème Frappuccinos
How Long Does Caffeine Stay In Your System?
Caffeine stays in your system for 6-10 hours, which is a long time.
How much caffeine you can take is entirely up to you, but as with everything, it’s crucial to consume beverages with caffeine content in moderation.
Related Read: Caffeine In Coffee
Is a Starbucks Frappuccino Blended Drink Similar to an Actual Coffee Drink?
Coffee enthusiasts may argue that it’s not. Some people enjoy black coffee free from the additional ingredients.
Frappuccinos have a lot of milk, sugar, spices, and syrups that can sweeten the drink. Some say it’s more like a dessert!
But we must understand that not everyone can drink strong coffee with high caffeine content.
If you’re the type who wants sweeter drinks but with the extra kick, coffee frappuccinos or an expresso frappuccino blended drink are great alternatives.
Wrapping Up
The next time you’re scrolling on a Starbucks website or queueing in a Starbucks outlet won’t be too intimidating once you familiarize yourself with these drinks!
Frappuccinos have a minimal amount of caffeine but are not as intense, while some have none at all. A coffee frappuccino is excellent if you like the kick but without bitterness.
Don’t worry; Starbucks and coffee shop baristas are accommodating. Don’t hesitate to tell them your preference, and they’ll do their best to customize it to your liking!
Enjoy your Frappuccino drinking experience, fellow Starbucks lovers.
Frappuccinos: Frequently Asked Questions
Are there still questions you might have that we didn’t address yet? Let’s address some FAQs about Starbucks coffee frappuccinos!
Which Frappuccino Contains No Caffeine?
If you want a non-caffeinated frappuccino, shift your eyes to the “crème frappuccinos” part of the menu.
Here are some popular drinks you can order from Starbucks Coffee:
– Strawberry Crème Frappuccino Blended
– Vanilla Bean Frappuccino Blended
– Pumpkin Spice Crème Frappuccino Blended
– Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crème Frappuccino Blended (or anything with caramel syrup)
– Chai Crème Frappuccinos
– Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino (or vanilla frappuccino blended)
Can You Get a Caffeine-Free Frappuccino?
Yes! It’s possible to get a decaf frappuccino with no caffeine at all. Make sure to steer away from ingredients with caffeine such as chocolate, mocha, tea, and matcha.
And yes, mocha is essentially coffee. Many people forget that mocha is highly caffeinated!
Will a Frappucino Keep Me Up?
It depends on how much caffeine your body can handle.
Some drinkers can have more than one shot of espresso or eight cups of coffee a day and have no problem sleeping at night.
If you’re not used to caffeine, however, even the slightest hint of it in your Starbucks frappuccino can keep you up at night.
If you want Starbucks frappuccinos with higher caffeine levels, consider these drinks:
– Any coffee frappuccino beverages
– Espresso frappuccino
– Java Chip frappuccino
What’s the Difference Between a Frappe And a Frappuccino?
Technically, frappes are made with coffee.
They have more coffee content than frappuccinos, which, as mentioned above, are more similar to milkshakes.
Starbucks Coffee and other coffee shops get creative and mix coffee in frappucinos, so we have coffee frappuccino options that combine both.
Do Frappuccinos Taste Like Coffee?
Since a Starbucks frappuccino or coffee frappuccino contains coffee, you can taste a hint of it when you drink it. But it’s certainly not as strong or bold as the purer variations.
If you dislike the coffee taste, go for the chocolate or matcha drinks. They still have caffeine but without the bold flavor of the coffee.
