Does a Vanilla Iced Capp Have Coffee? Unveiling the Frozen Brew

November 7, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Tim Hortons' own menu information, the Vanilla Iced Capp is blended with real brewed coffee, meaning a vanilla iced capp has coffee. This popular frozen beverage is more than just a sweet, creamy treat; it contains a significant amount of caffeine from its coffee base, offering a refreshing and caffeinated drink.

Quick Summary

A Vanilla Iced Capp from Tim Hortons contains real brewed coffee, which provides its rich flavor and caffeine content. It is a blended frozen coffee beverage, distinguishing it from a standard iced coffee or cappuccino. The drink is made with coffee, vanilla flavoring, milk, and cream, and is offered in different sizes with varying levels of caffeine.

Key Points

Yes, it contains real coffee: The Vanilla Iced Capp is made with a real brewed coffee or coffee extract base, confirming it is a caffeinated coffee beverage.
Primary ingredients: Key components include coffee extract, milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla flavoring, which are blended with ice to achieve its unique slushy consistency.
Caffeine content: A medium-sized Vanilla Iced Capp contains a notable amount of caffeine, approximately 90-120 mg, putting it on par with or above many standard caffeinated beverages.
Blended, not brewed: It is a blended frozen drink, different from an iced latte or cold brew where liquid coffee is poured over ice.
Flavor profile: The flavor is sweet and creamy, with the coffee taste complemented by the strong vanilla flavor, making it a milder coffee experience compared to a standard brewed cup.
Modifications possible: Customers can request it to be made with milk instead of cream to adjust the calories and fat content.
Nutritional details: Like many specialty coffee drinks, it can be high in sugar and calories, especially with added flavor shots or toppings.

Yes, a Vanilla Iced Capp Contains Real Coffee

The short and simple answer to the question "does a vanilla iced capp have coffee?" is a resounding yes. The signature frozen drink from Tim Hortons is explicitly advertised as being blended with real brewed coffee. This fact often surprises new consumers or those who assume its sweetness and creamy texture might indicate a coffee-free flavor mix, but the coffee component is central to its profile. The beverage is, at its core, a frozen coffee mixture with added flavoring and dairy components.

The Anatomy of a Vanilla Iced Capp

To understand the role of coffee, it is helpful to break down the composition of a Vanilla Iced Capp. The core components include a coffee base, a blend of milk and cream, a sweetening agent, and vanilla flavoring. This creates a smooth, slushy-like consistency that is both refreshing and energizing. Unlike a traditional iced cappuccino, which typically involves espresso shots poured over ice and milk, the Iced Capp uses a pre-made java mix or brewed coffee concentrate that is then blended with the other ingredients.

Comparing the Iced Capp to Other Coffee Drinks

Many consumers wonder how the Iced Capp stacks up against other iced or frozen coffee drinks. The main difference lies in the method and ingredients used. An Iced Capp is a blended, slushy-style drink, while an iced latte or iced coffee is typically a liquid poured over ice cubes. This distinction is crucial for understanding the flavor and consistency profile. While the Iced Capp has coffee, it is heavily diluted and flavored, making it a different experience from a cold brew, which emphasizes the pure, concentrated flavor of coffee.

Caffeine Content and Variations

The presence of coffee means a Vanilla Iced Capp contains caffeine. The amount varies based on the size of the drink. According to Tim Hortons' information, a medium Iced Cappuccino can contain around 120 mg of caffeine. This level is comparable to some energy drinks, making it a substantial source of caffeine for those seeking a boost. For comparison, a medium brewed coffee from Tim Hortons can contain slightly more, while a small Iced Capp has a bit less. Customers can also request modifications, such as using milk instead of cream, which can slightly alter the nutritional content and taste.

Unpacking the Ingredients

The official ingredients list for the bottled Vanilla Flavoured Iced Capp from Metro provides insight into what goes into the blended drink served in-store:

Coffee Extract: This is the primary source of the coffee flavor and caffeine.
Sugar: A significant amount of sugar contributes to the drink's sweetness.
Water: Used as a base to create the liquid part of the beverage.
Cream and Partly Skimmed Milk: Provides the rich and creamy texture.
Natural and Artificial Flavors: The addition of vanilla flavoring, along with others, enhances the taste profile.
Carrageenan and Xanthan Gum: These are thickeners and stabilizers that give the Iced Capp its signature slushy consistency.

This list clarifies that the coffee component is a coffee extract or concentrate rather than a fresh espresso shot, which is what gives the drink its characteristic, consistent flavor.

Comparison Table: Iced Capp vs. Other Iced Coffees


Feature	Vanilla Iced Capp	Iced Latte	Cold Brew Coffee
Coffee Type	Coffee extract/brewed coffee	Espresso shots	Steeped coffee concentrate
Consistency	Thick, blended, slushy	Liquid, poured over ice	Liquid, poured over ice
Preparation	Blended with ice, dairy, and flavoring	Espresso and milk poured over ice	Coffee grounds steeped in cold water for hours, then served with ice
Dairy	Milk and Cream Blend	Mostly Milk	Optional, added by customer
Sweetness	Very Sweet	Customizable	Customizable, often less sweet
Flavor Profile	Sweet, creamy, vanilla-forward with coffee notes	Strong espresso with milky notes	Strong, smooth, low-acidity coffee flavor

Conclusion

To conclude, the Vanilla Iced Capp does indeed have coffee, making it a caffeinated beverage. While its sweet, creamy, and vanilla-heavy profile might mask the strong coffee flavor, the drink's base is brewed coffee concentrate. This provides both the characteristic coffee flavor and the energizing caffeine kick that many consumers seek. Understanding this helps clarify the ingredients and explains why this popular frozen drink is a member of the coffee beverage family. Those looking for a rich, sweet, and blended coffee experience will find that the Vanilla Iced Capp fits the bill perfectly.

For more nutritional details directly from the source, consult the official Tim Hortons nutritional information page.

Why The Iced Capp is So Popular

The Iced Capp's popularity stems from its unique position in the beverage market. It offers a sweet, indulgent, and refreshing alternative to hot coffee. The blended, creamy texture sets it apart from simple iced coffee, turning it into more of a dessert-like treat. This makes it particularly appealing to those who enjoy the energy boost of caffeine but prefer a less traditional, strong coffee taste. Its customizable nature—allowing for adjustments like switching to milk or adding toppings—also caters to a wide range of tastes.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, a Vanilla Iced Capp is not the same as an iced coffee. An Iced Capp is a frozen, blended beverage made with coffee extract, cream, and flavorings, resulting in a thick, slushy texture. An iced coffee, by contrast, is brewed coffee served liquid over ice, often with milk and sugar added separately.

The caffeine content in a Vanilla Iced Capp varies by size. A medium contains approximately 90-120 mg of caffeine. A smaller size will have less, while a larger size will have more.

No, you cannot order a standard Vanilla Iced Capp without coffee because the coffee extract is a core ingredient in the base mix. If you want a non-caffeinated option, you would need to order a different drink, such as a frozen lemonade or a flavored smoothie from the menu.

The primary ingredients include a coffee extract base, milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla flavoring. These are blended with ice to achieve the signature creamy, frozen consistency of the beverage.

The Vanilla Iced Capp does contain coffee, but the flavor is often mild and balanced by the sweetness and creaminess of the other ingredients. The prominent vanilla flavor and sugar content can mask the strong coffee taste, making it a popular choice for those who prefer a sweeter coffee drink.

Generally, no. While hot coffee typically has minimal calories, a Vanilla Iced Capp is much higher in both sugar and calories due to the added cream, sugar, and flavoring. It is best considered an indulgent treat rather than a standard daily coffee beverage.

Yes, you can request your Iced Capp to be made with milk instead of cream. This substitution can result in a slightly lighter texture and lower fat content without significantly altering the fundamental flavor.