Frappuccinos from Starbucks are a popular blended coffee drink that can be customized in many ways. One of the most common customizations is to swap out the default milk for a non-dairy alternative like almond milk. But how does this impact the total calories and nutrition of the drink?
Quick Answer
The number of calories in a Starbucks Frappuccino made with almond milk can range from about 100 to 530 calories, depending on the size and specific ingredients. A small Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino with almond milk has around 130 calories, while a large Java Chip Frappuccino with almond milk has around 530 calories. Choosing nonfat milk and sugar-free syrups can reduce the calories further.
Calories by Size
The size of the Frappuccino makes a significant difference in its calorie content. Here are the approximate calories for some popular Frappuccino varieties with almond milk by size:
| Frappuccino | Small (12 oz) | Medium (16 oz) | Large (24 oz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffe Vanilla | 130 calories | 180 calories | 270 calories |
| Caramel | 170 calories | 230 calories | 350 calories |
| Java Chip | 210 calories | 280 calories | 530 calories |
| Mocha | 140 calories | 190 calories | 290 calories |
As you can see, the small size ranges from 130-210 calories, while the large can contain up to 530 calories. Choosing a smaller size is an easy way to reduce the number of calories.
Calories by Base and Customizations
The base Frappuccino recipe and additional customizations both impact the calorie content. Here are some factors that influence the calories:
Base Frappuccino
- Caffe Vanilla and Caramel – higher in calories due to having a higher amount of syrups
- Coffee and Creme-based – lowest in calories with minimal flavorings added
- Blended Crème Frappuccinos have the most calories due to high fat and sugar content
Milk
- Nonfat milk reduces calories compared to 2% milk
- Non-dairy milks like almond milk tend to be lower in calories than regular milk
Sweeteners
- Added syrups increase calories – caramel, mocha, vanilla, etc.
- Whipped cream adds 50+ calories
- Sugar-free syrups reduce calories compared to regular sweeteners
Other Customizations
- Flavored drizzles like chocolate and caramel add calories
- Extra espresso shots slightly increase calories
- Adding fresh fruit instead of sugary toppings reduces calories
Lowest Calorie Options
If you want to create a lower calorie Frappuccino with almond milk, here are some of the best options:
- Coffee Frappuccino Light blended with almond milk and sugar-free vanilla syrup
- Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino made with nonfat milk, no whipped cream, and sugar-free vanilla syrup
- Strawberries & Cream Frappuccino blended with almond milk and fresh strawberry puree instead of syrup
- Green Tea Creme Frappuccino with almond milk and no classic syrup
These customized versions can contain 100 calories or less for a small size. For the Coffee Frappuccino Light, opting for almond milk instead of nonfat milk reduces the calories by about 30-50 as well.
Highest Calorie Options
On the opposite end, here are some ways to create a higher calorie Frappuccino with almond milk if that’s your preference:
- Java Chip Frappuccino with whole milk, whipped cream, mocha sauce, and caramel drizzle
- Caramel Frappuccino blended with almond milk plus extra caramel syrup and drizzle
- Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino made with almond milk and added vanilla syrup
- Cookies & Cream Frappuccino with almond milk, java chips, and chocolate whipped cream
These versions with multiple syrups, toppings, and sodium-rich ingredients can add up to over 500 calories for a large size.
Nutrition Facts
Beyond just calories, the nutrition facts for a Starbucks Frappuccino with almond milk are:
Carbohydrates
- 48-88 grams per large serving depending on added sugars
- Mainly sucrose and lactose from syrups and milk
- Can choose sugar-free syrups to reduce carbs and calories
Fat
- 3-18 grams per large serving
- Mainly saturated fat from heavy cream and whipped cream
- Nonfat milk reduces fat content
Protein
- 10-20 grams per large serving
- Comes from the milk
- Non-dairy milks like almond milk contain less protein
Caffeine
- 75mg per 16-ounce serving
- Added espresso shots increase caffeine
- Can request decaf shots or decaf Frappuccino base
Vitamins and Minerals
- 10-20% Vitamin A, Vitamin D (from milk)
- Calcium, potassium, vitamin B12
- Low fiber, vitamin C, iron
Overall, Frappuccinos are high in sugar, low in fiber, and low in vitamins and minerals compared to whole foods. But customizations like nonfat milk and sugar-free syrups can improve the nutrition profile.
Frappuccino Calories Compared to Other Drinks
How does a Starbucks Frappuccino with almond milk compare calorie-wise to other popular coffee drinks? Here is a comparison of calories for a 16-ounce serving:
| Drink | Calories (16 oz) |
|---|---|
| Starbucks Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino with almond milk | 180 |
| Dunkin’ Donuts Vanilla Latte with almond milk | 190 |
| McCafe Vanilla Iced Latte with almond milk | 230 |
| Caribou Coffee Campfire Mocha with almond milk | 260 |
| Peet’s Coffee Vanilla Latte with almond milk | 140 |
The Frappuccino is moderate in calories compared to other coffee drinks when made with almond milk. Customizations also impact the nutrition at other coffee chains. For example, the Caribou mocha drink has a higher calorie count due to its use of chocolate syrup.
Tips for Reducing Calories
If you want to lighten up your Frappuccino, here are some tips to reduce the calories with almond milk:
- Choose a small or tall size (12-16 oz)
- Opt for sugar-free syrups like SF vanilla or SF cinnamon dolce
- Ask for less pumps of syrup, sauce, and base (e.g. 2 pumps instead of 4)
- Substitute nonfat milk for 2% milk
- Hold the whipped cream
- Ask for only 1-2 toppings instead of drizzle/sprinkles
- Add fresh fruit or protein powder instead of sugary toppings
- Go for a lighter base like coffee or creme instead of heavy cream
- Only do 1-2 added shots of espresso
With simple customizations like these, you can easily shave off 100 or more calories from your drinks. You can also ask the barista to make any substitutions or reductions needed to hit your calorie goal.
Low-Calorie Frappuccino Alternatives
If you want something cooler and lighter than a Frappuccino, Starbucks offers some lower calorie iced coffee options you can customize with almond milk:
- Iced coffee: 5-25 calories for cold brew or iced coffee with almond milk
- Iced Americano: 10 calories for an Americano on ice with almond milk
- Iced latte: about 100 calories for an iced latte made with almond milk
- Iced chai tea latte: 130 calories with almond milk
- Iced coffee refresher: 60-80 calories depending on flavor
- Cold brew lemonade: 130 calories
- Nitro cold brew: 10 calories for the black coffee version
These provide the cold, caffeinated, coffee-based drink you may be craving in a lighter calorie format. You can also make custom iced coffee drinks at home using cold brew, ice, almond milk, and light flavorings.
Conclusion
The number of calories in a Starbucks Frappuccino with almond milk can range widely based on the size and what’s added to it. While a customized large Frappuccino may have over 500 calories, choosing almond milk, a smaller size, and lighter toppings can bring a drink down to 100 calories or less. If you want to maximize nutrition and minimize calories, go for options like iced coffee, cold brew, and tea lattes made with almond milk. But an occasional small Frappuccino with your favorite flavors can be part of a balanced diet as well.
