Nutrition Diet: What is the lowest calorie Dunkin refresher?

October 10, 2025 •

3 min read

While many see Dunkin' Refreshers as a light choice, a medium can contain up to 29 grams of added sugar, according to nutritional information. To align with your nutrition diet goals, discovering what is the lowest calorie Dunkin refresher? is an important first step toward making a smarter beverage choice.

Quick Summary

The standard small Dunkin' Refreshers are the lowest-calorie base option, starting at 80 calories, but they still contain high amounts of sugar. The calorie count can be reduced significantly by requesting less concentrate or using a water base instead of green tea.

Key Points

Small is Lowest: The standard small size of any Dunkin' Refresher is the lowest calorie option on the menu, typically around 80 calories.
The Concentrate is Key: The sugary fruit concentrate is the main source of calories; the green tea base contributes very few.
Customize with Water: To create the absolute lowest calorie refresher, ask for the fruit concentrate to be mixed with water or sparkling water instead of green tea.
Beware of Hidden Sugars: Even the small, standard refreshers are high in added sugar, with a medium containing almost a day's worth for women.
Ask for 'Light': Check if your location offers a 'lite' version of refreshers, which uses less concentrate by default for a lower-calorie experience.
Go Unsweetened for Zero: For a truly no-calorie drink, opt for unsweetened iced green tea or plain cold brew.

Navigating Calorie Counts in Dunkin's Refreshers

For many, Dunkin' Refreshers offer a vibrant, fruity alternative to coffee. However, their seemingly light nature can be misleading for those monitoring their sugar and calorie intake. The standard, small-sized Refreshers are the lowest calorie option on the menu, but even these contain substantial amounts of added sugar from the fruit concentrate. Understanding the ingredients and knowing how to customize your order is key to fitting these drinks into a nutrition-focused diet plan.

The Standard Lowest-Calorie Refresher

On the standard menu, the smallest size (small) of a Dunkin' Refresher offers the lowest calorie option. For example, a small Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher contains approximately 80 calories. Similarly, the Peach Passionfruit Refresher in a small size also falls within a low-calorie range. It is important to remember that these calorie counts are for the standard preparation, which includes the fruit concentrate and a green tea base.

How to Create an Even Lower-Calorie Refresher

The most significant source of calories and sugar in a Dunkin' Refresher is the concentrated fruit syrup. The green tea base itself contributes very few calories. By changing the way the drink is made, you can drastically reduce its nutritional impact.

Swap the base for water or sparkling water: Instead of the green tea, ask for your refresher concentrate to be mixed with plain water or sparkling water. Some customers report this customization is possible via the app as well.
Request less concentrate: For those who still prefer the stronger flavor of the concentrate but want to cut down on sugar, asking for fewer pumps is an effective solution. This dilutes the sweetness and reduces the overall calorie load.
Order a “Light” Refresher: Some Reddit threads mention a “lite refresher” option that uses half the normal amount of concentrate, resulting in a less sweet and lower-calorie drink. It's worth asking if this is an option at your local Dunkin' location.

Refresher vs. Other Low-Calorie Dunkin' Drinks

While customized refreshers can be a low-calorie choice, it's helpful to see how they stack up against other options on the Dunkin' menu. For the absolute lowest-calorie beverage, a simple black coffee or unsweetened iced tea is the winner.

Nutrition Comparison Table


Drink (Medium Size)	Calories	Sugar (Approx.)	Notes
Standard Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher	130 kcal	27-29g	Contains added sugar and green tea base.
Custom Refresher (with water)	~15-30 kcal	Very Low	Custom order using a water base.
Unsweetened Iced Green Tea	~5-10 kcal	0g	Lowest calorie, no added sugar.
Black Cold Brew	~5 kcal	0g	Standard coffee, no milk or sugar.
Iced Coffee w/ Almond Milk & SF Vanilla	~60 kcal	Low	Flavored but low-calorie with customization.

The Role of Sugar in Your Diet

Even in lower-calorie versions, it's important to be mindful of the added sugar in standard Dunkin' Refreshers. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar intake to no more than 36 grams per day for men and 25 grams for women. A single medium-sized Refresher with 29 grams of sugar pushes or even exceeds this daily limit.

While the calories might seem reasonable, the high sugar content can contribute to a sugar crash and negate the drink's potential health benefits from the green tea and B vitamins. Opting for customization or other zero-sugar alternatives is a healthier strategy for long-term diet and nutrition goals. When you enjoy a customized refresher, you get the flavor you love with far less of the unnecessary added sugar.

Conclusion: Savor the Flavor, Not the Sugar

When asking what is the lowest calorie Dunkin refresher?, the answer is the small-sized option, like the Strawberry Dragonfruit, prepared with the standard green tea base, clocking in at 80 calories. However, for those on a stricter nutrition diet, the lowest-calorie option is a customized one. By replacing the green tea base with water and asking for less concentrate, you can get a refreshing, flavorful drink with significantly fewer calories and sugar. For the absolute lightest option, unsweetened iced green tea or black cold brew remain the top choices. Choosing the right drink is a simple but impactful step toward maintaining a healthy diet.

For more detailed nutritional information on Dunkin's menu items, visit their official nutrition guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

The lowest calorie Dunkin' Refresher on the menu is the small size, with the Strawberry Dragonfruit flavor being approximately 80 calories. All standard small refreshers are generally the lowest calorie option before any customizations.

To order a refresher with fewer calories, you can ask for the fruit concentrate to be mixed with water or sparkling water instead of the standard green tea. You can also ask for fewer pumps of the concentrate to reduce the sugar and calorie content.

While lower in calories than some other blended drinks, standard Dunkin' Refreshers are high in added sugar. A medium size can contain close to a full day's worth of added sugar recommended by the American Heart Association. They are best enjoyed in moderation or customized for lower sugar content.

A refresher with a green tea base will have a standard calorie count and a moderate caffeine boost. A refresher mixed with water or sparkling water will have significantly fewer calories and sugar because the concentrate is the main source of both.

Yes, ordering a smaller size of a Dunkin' Refresher significantly reduces the calorie count. For example, a medium is 130 calories, while a small is 80 calories.

The standard Dunkin' Refresher contains brewed green tea, ice, and a flavored fruit concentrate, which includes water, sugar, and natural flavors.

While no standard refresher is zero-calorie, you can achieve a nearly zero-calorie drink by ordering an unsweetened iced green tea and adding a calorie-free flavor shot, such as vanilla or hazelnut, if available.