A Carb Manager Guide to the Best Keto Coffee at Starbucks

There’s nothing like a cup of coffee. Some of us drink it every morning, while others prefer to grab a coffee occasionally as a special treat.

Not that we need an excuse to drink it, but coffee has numerous potential benefits. The caffeine it contains can provide an energy boost, plus it’s also full of antioxidants. In a recent study, researchers even found that — on average — we could all have a 6% longer healthy lifespan if we drank 3 cups of coffee per day.[*] (Note, however, that this study was partially funded by the National Coffee Association, so we should take the findings with a grain of salt.)

Still, if Starbucks is your coffee of choice, you may be struggling with how and what to order since going Keto.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best Keto-friendly menu options at Starbucks, along with instructions on how to order them. 

Note: This list is up-to-date and accurate as of December 2022. The Starbucks menu frequently changes so it’s a good idea to check and see if what you want is still available on the Starbucks website before making a trip there.

Coffee and Keto

Coffee is naturally carb-free, so it’s perfectly fine to have on Keto. What you have to be aware of are all the additions — many creamers or coffee flavorings can be deceptively high in sugar, even if they don’t taste very sweet.

Still, if you want to enjoy coffee on Keto, there are several ways you can. We recommend sticking to black coffee, using unsweetened creamers like half and half or heavy cream (or plant-based versions), and choosing natural, carb-free sweeteners like stevia or allulose.

Many people on Keto also enjoy butter coffee as a breakfast replacement or to boost their daily fat intake. To make butter coffee, all you have to do is blend a pat of butter into your coffee and then add your normal fixings. The addition of butter makes your coffee extra frothy and filling.

But enough about making coffee at home — let’s talk about Keto coffee at Starbucks!

Ordering Keto at Starbucks

Preparing for your next Starbucks run? Here’s how to keep it Keto:

• Stick with simple drinks. It’s easier to make simple drinks Keto-friendly. Some Starbucks flavored options, like a Pumpkin Spice Latte or a Caramel Macchiato, can’t be made Keto-friendly because these flavors come from sugar-laden syrups.  When in doubt, order black coffee or an Americano (espresso and hot water) with room for cream, and then add half and half and/or a Keto-friendly sweetener at the self-service area in-store.
• Use Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup. Most flavored or sweetened drinks from Starbucks contain flavored syrups, which are loaded with sugar. They do offer one sugar-free flavor syrup however; the Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup. This syrup, stevia, or Splenda are their Keto-friendly sweetener options.
• Replace milk with Keto options. Replace milk with one of Starbucks’ low-carb milk options, like almond milk, half and half, or heavy cream. This is a great way to make coffee drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, and mistos more Keto-friendly.
• Avoid Frappuccinos. Frappuccinos contain an ingredient called Frappuccino Roast, which is a sugary coffee concentrate. Additionally, even the Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino (which doesn’t contain Frappuccino Roast) is sweetened and flavored with a sugary vanilla powder rather than syrup — so you can’t just ask for Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup in its place.
• Be mindful of macros. The calorie and carb count of your drink can vary based on the type of milk you choose, the size of drink you order, and who makes the drink. Remember that although heavy cream is low in carbs, it’s extremely high in calories and fat. Choosing heavy cream as a replacement in a drink that typically contains a lot of milk is going to result in a very high calorie beverage.

Best 50+ Keto Starbucks Orders

Based on the menu from the Starbucks website at the time of writing, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of Keto coffees (and everything else Keto-friendly at Starbucks, too) — from tea to sandwiches and snacks. We’ve also included ordering instructions. 

Note: in every instance that we’ve recommended almond milk, heavy cream, or half and half, you can use these interchangeably, depending on your preference. They are Starbucks’ Keto-friendly milk options.

Additionally, you can also substitute Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup anywhere it appears for one of Starbucks’ other Keto-friendly sweeteners (like stevia). 

Here’s our list of :

1. Black coffee: order as-is
2. Caffe Americano: order as-is
3. Caffe Misto: order “Caffe Misto with almond milk”
4. Cappuccino: order “Cappuccino made with heavy cream”
5. Espresso: order as-is
6. Espresso con panna: order as-is (note: contains a small amount of sugar from the sweetened whipped cream, but still has Keto-friendly macros)
7. Flat White: order “Flat White made with half and half”
8. Honey Almondmilk Flat White: order “Almondmilk Flat White with Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup”
9. Caffe Latte: order “Caffe Latte made with almond milk”
10. Vanilla Latte: order “Vanilla Latte with heavy cream and Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup”
11. Espresso Macchiato: order “Espresso Macchiato made with half and half”
12. Chai: order “brewed chai tea with Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup and almond milk”
13. London Fog Tea Latte: order “London Fog Tea Latte with heavy cream and Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup”
14. Royal English Tea Latte: order “Royal English Tea Latte with half and half and Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup”
15. Emperor’s Clouds and Mist Tea: order as-is
16. Jade Citrus Mint Brewed Tea: order as-is
17. Mint Majesty Tea: order as-is
18. Peach Tranquility Tea: order as-is
19. Steamed Milk: order “steamed almond milk”
20. Vanilla Creme: order “Vanilla Creme with almond milk and Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup”
21. Cold Brew Coffee: order as-is (black) or add heavy cream
22. Vanilla Cold Brew: order “Vanilla Cold Brew with heavy cream and Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup”
23. Nitro Cold Brew: order as-is
24. Iced Americano: order as-is
25. Iced Coffee: order as-is
26. Iced Espresso: order as-is
27. Iced Shaken Espresso: order “Iced Shaken Espresso with half and half”
28. Iced Flat White: order “Iced Flat White with almond milk”
29. Iced Caffe Latte: order “Iced Caffe Latte with heavy cream”
30. Iced Vanilla Caffe Latte: order “Iced Vanilla Caffe Latte with half and half and Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup”
31. Teavana Sparkling Unsweetened Peach Nectarine Green Tea: available in the grab-and-go area
32. Iced Black Tea: specify "unsweetened" as some locations may add a sugar-syrup by default.
33. Iced Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte: order “Iced Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte with heavy cream and Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup”
34. Iced London Fog Tea Latte: order “Iced London Fog Tea Latte with almond milk and Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup”
35. Iced Peach Green Tea: specify "unsweetened" as some locations may add a sugar-syrup by default.
36. Iced Green Tea: specify "unsweetened" as some locations may add a sugar-syrup by default.
37. Iced Passion Tango Tea: specify "unsweetened" as some locations may add a sugar-syrup by default.
38. Sparkling Water: available in the grab-and-go area
39. Bottled Water: available in the grab-and-go area
40. Bacon, Sausage, and Egg Wrap: order with no bread (or remove bread prior to eating)
41. Impossible Breakfast Sandwich: order with no bread (or remove bread prior to eating)
42. Bacon, Gouda, and Egg Sandwich: order with no bread (or remove bread prior to eating)
43. Double Smoked Bacon, Cheddar, & Egg Sandwich: order with no bread (or remove bread prior to eating)
44. Turkey Bacon, Cheddar, & Egg White Sandwich: order with no bread (or remove bread prior to eating)
45. Sausage, Cheddar, & Egg Sandwich: order with no bread (or remove bread prior to eating)
46. Spinach, Feta, and Egg White Wrap: order with no bread (or remove bread prior to eating)
47. Eggs & Gouda Protein Box: available in the grab-and-go area; avoid crackers and fruit in the boxes to keep carbs low
48. Cheese Trio Protein Box: available in the grab-and-go area; avoid crackers and fruit in the boxes to keep carbs low
49. Cheddar & Uncured Salami Protein Box: available in the grab-and-go area; avoid crackers and fruit in the boxes to keep carbs low
50. Eggs & Cheddar Protein Box: available in the grab-and-go area; avoid crackers and fruit in the boxes to keep carbs low
51. Ham and Swiss on Baguette: order with no bread (or remove bread prior to eating)
52. Turkey, Provolone, & Pesto on Ciabatta: order with no bread (or remove bread prior to eating)
53. Tomato & Mozzarella on Focaccia: order with no bread (or remove bread prior to eating)
54. Kale & Mushroom Egg Bites: order as-is (note: 9 grams of net carbs per 2)
55. Bacon & Gruyere Egg Bites: order as-is (note: 9 grams of net carbs per 2)
56. Almonds: available in the grab-and-go area
57. Beef Jerky: available in the grab-and-go area
58. String Cheese: available in the grab-and-go area

Other Keto-Friendly Coffee Chains

Not a Starbucks fan? See if there are any local coffee shops in your area you can support. But if not, here are some other coffee chains that you can check out:

• Dunkin Donuts: Although you’ll have to pass on the donuts, we love Dunkin’s iced coffee with cream -- just make sure to ask for it unsweetened.
• Tim Hortons: Need a morning pick-me-up? Try a Tim Hortons latte made with almond milk.
• McCafe: McCafe drinks should be available at most McDonald’s. Try the Sugar Free French Vanilla Iced Coffee without milk to keep carbs low.
• Peet’s Coffee and Tea: Peet’s Coffeebars are located all across the US. We recommend their traditional cappuccino made with almond milk.
• Caribou Coffee: Caribou Coffee specializes in high-quality, fair trade coffee and clean-label ingredients. Their Breve is a simple, Keto-friendly blend of espresso and half and half.

Any other Keto Starbucks coffee hacks we should know about? Be sure to let us know your favorite Keto Starbucks drink in the comments!