What coffee at Starbucks has no calories? Your Ultimate Guide

October 14, 2025 •

3 min read

While a standard cup of plain black coffee contains a negligible 2-5 calories, the real challenge is navigating the menu of syrups, milk, and toppings at Starbucks to find a truly zero-calorie drink. The good news is that several options are indeed calorie-free, providing the flavor and energy boost you want without derailing your health goals.

Quick Summary

Learn which Starbucks coffees and teas are naturally calorie-free, how to order them correctly to avoid hidden sugars, and which simple additions to use for flavor without adding calories.

Key Points

Black Coffee is Your Friend: Any brewed hot or iced coffee, served black without milk or sugar, is your best near-zero calorie option at Starbucks.
Unsweetened Tea is Key: Hot and iced brewed teas are genuinely zero-calorie, provided you specifically order them without any added sweetener.
Customization is Crucial: Avoid standard syrups, milk, whipped cream, and refreshers, as these are where most calories and sugar are added.
Use Sugar-Free Alternatives: To add sweetness without calories, ask for a sugar-free vanilla syrup or use a calorie-free sweetener like Splenda or Stevia.
Check the Menu Carefully: Understand that Refreshers and most specialty beverages come pre-sweetened and are not zero-calorie drinks.
Americano is a Near-Zero Choice: A Caffè Americano is essentially watered-down espresso, making it a low-calorie alternative to lattes.

Demystifying Starbucks Calories

At its core, a black cup of coffee, whether hot or iced, contains virtually no calories. Calories are added when ingredients like milk, cream, and sugary syrups are introduced, transforming a simple beverage into a dessert-like indulgence. To find a truly zero-calorie drink, your best bets are brewed coffees and unsweetened teas, ordered without any extras.

True Zero-Calorie Options

Several menu items are naturally zero calories, as long as you order them without any added sweeteners or milks. These are your safest and simplest choices:

Brewed Hot or Iced Coffee (Black): The classic, straightforward option. Order any of Starbucks' roasts—Blonde, Pike Place, or Dark—and specify "black" to ensure no milk or sugar is added. This provides a pure caffeine kick for minimal calories.
Caffè Americano (Black): An Americano is espresso shots topped with hot water. When ordered black, it contains only a handful of calories (around 5 for a Grande), making it a near-zero option.
Iced or Hot Brewed Tea (Unsweetened): All of Starbucks' brewed teas—Black, Green, White, and Herbal—are zero calories when unsweetened. Be sure to specify "unsweetened" when you order, as some teas are automatically made with sweetener. Popular choices include:
- Iced Black Tea (Unsweetened)
- Iced Green Tea (Unsweetened)
- Mint Majesty Herbal Tea
- Passion Tango Herbal Tea

How to Order Zero-Calorie Coffee Correctly

To ensure your coffee is calorie-free, clear communication is essential. Instead of just saying "black coffee," you can use these ordering hacks:

Specify "Black" or "No Cream, No Sugar": For brewed coffee, this removes any ambiguity.
Order "Unsweetened": This is crucial for iced teas. For example, "Grande Unsweetened Iced Green Tea, no water".
Use Calorie-Free Sweeteners: If you prefer a sweet drink, ask for a sugar substitute like Splenda or Stevia, which are zero-calorie options available at most Starbucks locations. This is a great way to add flavor without guilt.

Customizing Your Zero-Calorie Drink

While staying zero-calorie requires omitting milk and syrup, you can still add flavor and complexity:

Sprinkle of Spice: A dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla bean powder can add aroma and flavor with no added calories.
Sugar-Free Syrups: Starbucks offers sugar-free vanilla syrup. Specify the number of pumps you want when ordering, but remember that many baristas recommend carrying your own monk fruit or stevia for more control.
Ask for "On the Side": If you can't resist a bit of cream or milk, ask for it on the side. This way, you control exactly how much you add and can keep the calorie count minimal.

What to Avoid for Zero Calories

To maintain a zero or near-zero calorie drink, you must avoid the following additions, which can quickly turn a simple drink into a calorie-laden treat:

Syrups: Any standard syrup (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, etc.) adds calories and sugar. Each pump is typically 20 calories and 5 grams of sugar.
Milk and Cream: Dairy milk, even skim milk, adds calories. Skim milk has around 80 calories per cup, while plant-based alternatives like unsweetened almond milk are much lower, but still not zero.
Whipped Cream: This indulgent topping is full of fat and sugar, adding significant calories.
Sauces and Toppings: Caramel drizzle and mocha sauce are high in calories and sugar.
Refreshers and Lemonades: Most Refreshers and lemonades are pre-sweetened and contain high amounts of sugar and calories. You cannot order a zero-calorie refresher.

Calorie Comparison: A Tale of Two Coffees

To illustrate how easily calories can accumulate, consider this comparison between a standard and a custom low-calorie drink.


Feature	Standard Iced Latte	Iced Americano (Black)
Base	Espresso, 2% Milk	Espresso, Water
Sweetener	Optional Syrup	None
Calories	~100-150 (Grande)	~5 (Grande)
Sugar	~10-15g	0g
Fat	~4-6g	0g
Customization	Sugar-free syrup, skim milk	Sugar-free sweetener

For more detailed nutritional information and healthy ordering options, check out this excellent guide from Verywell Fit: Starbucks Nutrition Facts: What to Order & Avoid.

Conclusion: Simple is Best

So, what coffee at Starbucks has no calories? The answer is simple: any brewed black coffee or unsweetened brewed tea. The trick is to avoid the high-calorie additives and learn how to customize your order wisely. By sticking to the basics and using zero-calorie sweeteners if needed, you can enjoy the full flavor and benefits of your favorite Starbucks drinks without compromising your diet. Whether you prefer a hot cup of black coffee or a refreshing unsweetened iced tea, a calorie-free pick-me-up is always on the menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

A standard, black Cold Brew or Nitro Cold Brew from Starbucks contains only about 5 calories and is considered virtually calorie-free. Just be sure to order it black with no milk, sugar, or flavored foam.

No, frappuccinos are made with high-sugar syrups, milk, and ice, making them a dessert-like drink. There is no way to order a truly zero-calorie frappuccino at Starbucks.

Unsweetened almond milk is one of the lowest-calorie options, but it still contains around 30 calories per cup. For a truly zero-calorie drink, it's best to omit milk altogether.

No, all Refreshers are made with pre-sweetened juice bases and are not zero-calorie. For example, a Grande Kiwi Starfruit Refresher is around 90 calories.

You can add flavor by using a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg, asking for a zero-calorie sweetener like Stevia, or requesting a sugar-free vanilla syrup.

No, some brewed iced teas at Starbucks are automatically prepared with a sweetener unless you specify "unsweetened" when ordering. Always be clear to ensure your drink is calorie-free.

An Iced Americano with a splash of unsweetened almond milk and a packet of Stevia provides a similar coffee and milk experience for very few calories. Alternatively, an unsweetened iced tea is a zero-calorie, refreshing choice.

Just like regular brewed coffee, decaf coffee served black is virtually calorie-free. The caffeine content does not affect the calorie count.

A 'skinny' drink is typically made with sugar-free syrup and skim milk. While it is much lower in calories than a standard version, it is not zero-calorie due to the milk content.