16 Of The Unhealthiest Starbucks Drinks (And What To Order Instead)

Pink Drink. Pumpkin Spice. Peppermint Mocha. If any of these sound familiar, then you're well aware they come from Starbucks. While the international coffee chain began in Seattle in 1971 as a haven to proto-hipsters and coffee fiends, it wouldn't be long before the company exploded, introducing the world to a new era that saw handcrafted coffee, blended drinks, and Italian pronunciation go hand in hand.

As the brand grew, so did their menu — along with the rise of the complicated coffee order. According to Starbucks, there are more than 170,000 ways to customize their drinks. While some beloved beverages will be cut from the menu in 2025, the ones below are still in regular rotation, either as a permanent fixture or seasonal staple. And alongside the growing brand and menu, calorie counts also grew. Decadent toppings, sugary syrups, and several other add-ins ballooned the brand's plain old coffee into expensive milkshakes. We used calories, grams of fat, and grams of sugar as our metrics for determining the level of unhealthiness in the following bevvies. If you're taking your next trip to the coffee giant, these 16 drinks are the ones you might want to avoid.

If you're not in the mood for coffee but still want a drink that feels sophisticated, you may be inclined to order up a Pistachio Crème Frappuccino. The icy blended beverage is nutty, sweet, topped with a generous serving of whipped cream, and garnished with a salted brown butter cookie flavored topping. Of course, those decadent toppings add up when it comes to calories, grams of fat, and sugar. In a grande size, you can expect a hefty 360 calories, 45 grams of sugar, and 17 grams of fat. Not exactly the best choice when you're looking for a sweet, sippable treat.

Instead of potentially overindulging at the Starbucks counter, you can try the Pistachio Cream Cold Brew. This bevvie still has the same sweet, nutty notes as the Frappuccino version, but it benefits from the kick of caffeine in the coffee chain's signature cold brew. It's still not an ideal choice, with 250 calories, 32 grams of sugar, and 13 grams of fat, but you can skip the salted brown butter topping and ask for the sugar-free vanilla syrup to bring all those numbers down even further.

Is there anything quite as warm and cozy as a steaming cup of hot chocolate on a chilly day? For kids and kids-at-heart, Starbucks' Hot Chocolate is a masterclass in decadence, made with steamed milk and chocolate syrup before getting a towering mound of whipped cream and mocha drizzle. That decadence comes at a cost, of course, to the tune of 370 calories, 37 grams of sugar, and 16 grams of fat.

While you could certainly make your own hot chocolate and be in better control of what goes into it, sometimes we simply don't have the time or energy and would rather hit up a drive-thru instead. If that sounds like you, just know that this one isn't the healthiest of choices. If you really want a hot chocolate from Starbucks, try ordering it without the whipped cream and chocolate drizzle (it'll melt into your cup anyway by the time it's cooled down enough to sip). You can also choose nonfat milk instead of the standard 2% milk for a slight reduction in calories and fat.

Let's be real: This is basically a strawberry milkshake, made bougie with the help of Starbucks branding. The Strawberry Crème Frappuccino is chock full of sugar (a whopping 51 grams of it) thanks to the use of classic syrup, strawberry purée, and whipped cream. It also has 370 calories and 16 grams of fat in a grande, due to the whipped cream and whole milk used in the base.

For a drink that's just as photogenic but a whole lot lighter in fat and calories –– while also cutting the sugar content in half –– swap out this Frappuccino for the Pink Drink. The Instagrammable sensation blends Starbucks' Strawberry Açaí Refresher with coconut milk for a caffeine-free beverage that's still sweet, strawberry-forward, and creamy. The best part is that this icy drink is only 140 calories with 2.5 grams of fat, making it a much better choice.

This purple-hued stunner has a sweet, creamy flavor and a hint of floral from the lavender powder. (Try this lavender and peach galette recipe for even more seasonal goodness.) It is a perfect drink for spring and, like so many Starbucks beverages, too gorgeous not to share online. However, there is a beast within that beauty, in the form of too many calories, too much sugar, and too much fat. A grande-size Lavender Crème Frappuccino has 370 calories, 52 grams of sugar, and 16 grams of fat. There's also zero caffeine in this drink, like all the Crème Frappuccinos, so you're relying on pure sugar to carry you through your afternoon meeting.

If you're looking for a similar flavor profile, try the Iced London Fog Latte. Made with an infusion of bergamot and lavender, this tea latte has that hint of floral flavor without too much caffeine. A grande size is just 140 calories with 2.5 grams of fat. The sugar content is sliced in half to 25 grams, but you can reduce it even further by asking for sugar-free vanilla syrup in place of regular.

Another milkshake that's masquerading as a fancy drink, the Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino is beloved by children and adults alike. However, that love comes at a cost –– 380 calories, 52 grams of sugar, and 16 grams of fat in a grande. A milkshake is rarely a healthy choice, and since it's unlikely that Starbucks will be tinkering with their beloved recipe any time soon, this bevvie is a tough one to find an appropriate swap for.

Instead, consider portion control. Order a tall and you've dropped down to 260 calories, 35 grams of sugar, and 12 grams of fat. Skip the whipped cream and ask for it to be made with nonfat milk or even 2% instead of the whole milk that it's usually prepared with. This will further decrease your numbers across the board. It'll still be a delicious, indulgent drink, but perhaps a tiny bit better for you.

The Pistachio Frappuccino strikes again, but this time it's brought more calories, more sugar, more fat, and caffeine. In a grande, you can expect to slurp up 380 calories, 55 grams of sugar, and 16 grams of fat. That's all thanks to the whole milk, whipped cream, pistachio syrup, and salted brown butter topping. If you really want a delicious nutty flavor to your drink and are in desperate need of a dose of caffeine, we have a much lighter solution for you to enjoy.

On your next trip to the Starbucks counter, swap out your Pistachio Frapp for an Iced Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. This dairy-free drink uses oat milk in place of whole milk and a hazelnut syrup instead of the pistachio. Still icy and creamy thanks to the oat milk, it's also a good choice if you're watching calories, sugar, and fat. A grande nets just 150 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, and 16 grams of sugar. That's a pretty substantial decrease without sacrificing creamy, cold, nutty flavor.

Let's just say what this is: Apple juice with added sugar that's topped with even more sugar. Of all the drinks on this list, this Starbucks beverage has the most grams of sugar –– a staggering 70 grams in a grande. That's because, in addition to the naturally occurring sugars in the steamed apple juice, a grande Caramel Apple Spice receives four pumps of Cinnamon Dolce syrup, a pile of whipped cream, and a drizzle of caramel to top it all off. That nets you 380 calories and 8 grams of fat as well.

If you still want something refreshing and fruity, choose the Strawberry Açaí Refresher instead. Yes, it's not a hot drink, unlike the Caramel Apple Spice, but it's still made without caffeine and kid-friendly, without quite as steep a sugar crash. A grande of this fruity drink has only 100 calories, 0 grams of fat, and 21 grams of sugar. Or, simply have a steamed apple juice and call it a day.

Simple and elegant, but packed with calories, fat, and sugar. The White Chocolate Mocha is a beloved beverage for those who like their coffee to taste like dessert. Made with 2% milk, espresso, white chocolate mocha sauce, and whipped cream, this beverage is delicious if you can handle the 390 calories, 46 grams of sugar, and 17 grams of fat that reside in every grande order.

Portion control strikes again when you want to alter this beverage to prevent it from reaching meal-level heights of your daily calorie intake. You can still enjoy the drink you love, just with a few tweaks. First, drop down to a tall size and save yourself 100 calories, 12 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of fat. Reduce that even further by ditching the whipped cream and choosing nonfat milk. Then, you have a drink that should still be only enjoyed on occasion, but one that'll leave you feeling a lot better afterward.

Pumpkin spice –– a blend made of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and occasionally clove –– is emblematic of fall. The Pumpkin Spice Latte is similarly iconic, with many fans of the autumnal drink waiting with bated breath as the coffee chain releases it earlier every year. (Although it seems August is as far ahead as they're willing to go.)

However, the nutritional information of the PSL is just as notorious as the drink itself, with a grande weighing in at 390 calories, 50 grams of sugar, and 14 grams of fat. The seasonal bevvie is a hard one to replicate fully, since it has such a unique taste that customers wait all year for. Portion control is your friend here. Think about ordering a tall rather than a grande, skipping the whipped cream, and opting for one less pump of that sugary pumpkin syrup. Choose nonfat milk for a more robust coffee-and-pumpkin-spice taste while also reducing fat intake. Finally, if you really need an extra dose of pumpkin, sprinkle a little pumpkin spice on top for even more fall flavor and zero added calories.

If the regular hot version of the White Chocolate Mocha was going to appear on our list for its staggering amounts of calories, fat, and sugar, its iced counterpart couldn't be too far behind. Indeed, like the hot drink, the Iced White Chocolate Mocha also has 390 calories, as well as 42 grams of sugar and 20 grams of fat.

Instead of sipping on this saccharine behemoth, you can cut way down on all three numbers by ordering an iced coffee instead. Originally served chilled and unsweetened, ask for it with two pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup and just one pump of the white chocolate mocha syrup. This will help reduce your numbers across the board. To mimic the creamy decadence of the original iced drink, ask for your iced coffee to be finished with a splash of sweet cream. It's a little extra bit of indulgence but still nowhere close to the calories, fat, and sugar of the Iced White Chocolate Mocha.

The holidays are often a time of indulgence, when we throw caution to the wind and have that extra cookie, Christmas cocktail, or helping of turkey. However, if your daily coffee order during the festive season is a Caramel Brȗlée Latte from Starbucks, you might want to rethink things. While there's no doubt this sweet drink is delicious, it's definitely not the healthiest of the bunch. A grande size packs an impressive 420 calories with 47 grams of sugar and 15 grams of fat.

Instead, order a grande of Starbucks' Blonde Espresso with a splash of cream. Then, get a pump of the caramel brȗlée syrup and a pump of caramel syrup. Sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon if you'd like some added holiday flair ... and enjoy. If you need more sweetness in this altered drink –– because those 47 grams in the OG are tough to miss –– add an extra pump or two of the sugar-free vanilla syrup. All of the sweetness with a whole lot less sugar.

Frappuccinos are notorious for packing in plenty of calories, fat, and sugar in their conveniently drinkable, semi-frozen format. (And don't even get us started on the secret menu calorie bomb of the Pumpkin Cookie Crumble Frappuccino.) You can still enjoy the cold pumpkin taste of a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino on a not-so-chilly fall day with a lighter swap. 

Instead of sucking 420 calories, 73 grams of sugar, and 15 grams of fat through a straw, order an iced coffee instead. Doctor it with some sugar-free vanilla syrup and a pump or two of the pumpkin spice syrup. Add a splash of sweet cream for a more indulgent, rich flavor and finish it with a dusting of pumpkin spice. It's the same fall flavor you know and love, but with a whole lot less sugar, fat, and calories, which means enjoying one or two a week won't be as detrimental to whatever your health goals are.

Who doesn't love a Peppermint Mocha around the holidays? The combination of dark chocolate and crisp peppermint with the jolt of caffeine is exactly what you need to power through a last-minute shopping trip in a jam-packed mall. However, all the sugar (55 grams in a grande) can give you a substantial sugar crash.

Save yourself the sugar hangover (plus the 440 calories and 16 grams of fat) by skipping the whipped cream topping and accompanying chocolate curls. Order your Peppermint Mocha half-sweet, which means fewer pumps of syrup. Since this beverage tends to have a lot of mocha syrup residue at the bottom of the cup anyway, you won't miss it. Finally, so as to better appreciate the trifecta of coffee, mint, and chocolate flavors, order your mocha with nonfat milk. These small alterations will make a major difference when it comes to calories, fat, and sugar, but will still have you enjoying your favorite holiday drink.

Creamy? Check. Caramelly? Check. Crunchy? Weirdly, check. The layers of the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino are gorgeous, but those striations are also packed with everything that makes it not such a healthy choice. Coffee Frappuccino syrup, dark caramel sauce, caramel sauce, whipped cream, and a caramel sugar topping all add up to 470 calories, 60 grams of sugar, and 22 grams of fat in a grande. At that point, you may as well add coffee to a cake and call it a day.

If you love those roasty, toasty caramel notes but don't love the calories, fat, and sugar packed into a single blended beverage, order the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso instead. A grande is a mere 150 calories with 15 grams of sugar and 4.5 grams of fat. The creaminess of the oat milk works well in this iced drink, while the brown sugar mimics the warm caramel flavor of the original Frappuccino.

If your coffee drink has "cookie" in the title, you can be pretty certain that it's not a health food. In fact, the Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino is one of the unhealthiest drinks available at Starbucks, with a host of add-ins that makes this Frapp more of a dessert than a beverage.

In a grande size of this flavor, customers will enjoy coffee Frappuccino syrup, mocha sauce, and Frappuccino chips blended together and layered with whipped cream and mocha sauce before being topped with more whipped cream, a mocha drizzle, and cookie crumbles. What customers might enjoy less? The hefty price tag of 480 calories, 55 grams of sugar, and 24 grams of fat. To still enjoy the chocolatey flavor without quite the same level of indulgence, we made a few substitutions: Order an iced coffee with sugar-free vanilla syrup and a pump or two of mocha syrup. Skip both the whipped cream and cookie crumbles and opt for a splash of sweet cream instead.

Like its regular chocolate counterpart, the holiday-infused Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha is a monster when it comes to calories, fat, and sugar. In fact, it tops our list as the unhealthiest drink you can buy at Starbucks. A grande of one of these bad boys will earn you 480 calories, 66 grams of sugar, and 18 grams of fat.

To transform this drink into something that won't have you battling a sugar hangover and stealing almost a quarter of your recommended daily calorie intake, we have a few suggestions. First, swap the milk for nonfat milk and ditch the whipped cream and chocolate curls. Then, ask for it to be made half sweet. In a normal grande Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha, there are four pumps each of the white mocha syrup and peppermint syrup. That's a lot of added sugar. Cutting that in half still gives you the holiday flavor you crave without setting you up for a sugar crash. Finally, if you really want to make a difference, order a smaller size. Then, you can sip and savor.