Pregnant people do so much to make sure that the baby they are carrying remains healthy and safe. Along with all the restrictions of what you can and can’t do and what you can and can’t eat is caffeine – found in most coffee drinks, teas, and sodas. Heavy caffeine intake of more than 300 milligrams a day has been associated with low birth weight and an increased risk of miscarriage.
Not to worry, there is no need to sacrifice your daily coffee fix while pregnant. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends limiting caffeine consumption to less than 200mg a day or about 2 6-ounce cups of coffee a day. Many of Starbucks’ offerings are safe for your consumption while pregnant, as long as the portion size contains less than 200 mg of caffeine.
Note that certain medications and supplements may also contain caffeine. While these amounts are most likely minuscule, take note of them when you calculate your daily intake of caffeinated beverages. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns over your caffeine intake while you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Starbucks Drinks You Can Safely Enjoy While Pregnant
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Iced Coffee
A tall-sized order (12 fl oz) of plain iced coffee from Starbucks contains 120mg of caffeine while a grande (16 fl oz) has 165mg. As long as you stay below a venti size that contains 235mg of caffeine, drinking iced coffee should be fine. A tall sized order (12 fl oz) of plain iced coffee from Starbucks contains 120mg of caffeine while a grande (16 fl oz) has 165mg. As long as you stay below a venti size which contains 235mg of caffeine, drinking iced coffee should be fine.
If you prefer larger, sizes, however, an iced coffee with milk from Starbucks peaks at 190mg of caffeine in a trenta sized order (30 fl oz).
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Espresso/Iced Espresso
Espressos form the base of most coffee-based Starbucks drinks. A solo expresso (0.75 fl oz) has 75mg of caffeine and a doppio(1.5 fl oz) has 150mg. Stay away from a triple or quad espresso which will put you way over the 200mg a day limit.
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Americano
An Americano, which is essentially an espresso diluted with water, has similar caffeine levels to espresso. A short Americano has 75mg and a tall one has 150mg. A grande has 225mg, putting you over the limit.
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Brewed Coffee
Starbucks offers 4 different types of brewed coffee. Blonde Roast, Dark Roast, Pike Place Roast, and Decaf Pike Place.
A short (8 fl oz) Blonde Roast contains 180mg of caffeine. The next size up from that (tall), contains 270mg – way over the 200mg limit.
A short Dark Roast contains 130mg and a tall contains 195mg. A grande goes over the limit at 260mg.
A short Pike Place Roast contains 155mg, A tall order of the same drink has 235mg.
Stick with the short cup size if you’re drinking brewed coffee while pregnant.
If you prefer larger cups of coffee, a Decaf Pike Place Roast is by far your safest bet. A venti-sized cup has only 30mg of caffeine.
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Hot Latte
All the lattes on Starbucks’ current menu top out at between 150mg and 200mg at a venti size, except for the Starbucks Reserve Latte, which has 265mg of caffeine in a venti size. You can still enjoy a Starbucks Reserve Latte in a grande size which contains 135mg. Reserve Latte in a grande size which contains 135mg.
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Cappuccino
Feel free to enjoy your cappuccino in any size you wish. A venti, which is the largest size offered, stays below the limit with 150mg of caffeine.
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Flat White
A venti flat white has 195mg of caffeine, just barely below the limit of 200mg. A Honey Almondmilk Flat White, on the other hand, has 225mg in the grande and venti sizes. The short and tall sizes both have 150mg.
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Mocha
Starbucks’ Caffe Mocha and White Chocolate Mocha have 180mg and 150mg of caffeine in their venti sizes respectively.
A venti Starbucks Reserve Dark Chocolate Mocha has 265mg of caffeine, so stick to a grande size which contains 135mg or smaller if you plan on drinking this beverage.
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Tea
All the tea options on the Starbucks menu stay well below 200mg. Feel free to enjoy your hot and iced tea drinks with no worry. However, for pregnant women considering bubble tea, it’s important to note that the caffeine content, sugar levels, and other additives should be taken into account to ensure a healthy intake.
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Refreshers
Starbucks has a rather large range of fruit-flavored cold drinks all of which fall under the 200mg caffeine limit, even in the trenta size.
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Coconutmilk Drinks
Iced coconut milk drinks all have caffeine levels below 200mg. Matcha and tea-infused varieties have greater amounts of caffeine, but only reach about 110mg of caffeine and can still be enjoyed even in the largest sizes. Iced coconut milk drinks all have caffeine levels below 200mg. Matcha and tea infused varieties have greater amounts of caffeine, but only reach about 110mg of caffeine and can still be enjoyed even in the largest sizes.
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Frappuccino
All of Starbucks’ blended Frappuccino flavors stay below the 200mg caffeine limit, even in the trenta size. The Espresso Frappuccino, which has the largest amount of caffeine, has about 185mg in the venti size.
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Cold Brew
All of Starbucks’ cold brew flavors are below 200mg of caffeine, as long as you only get them in the tall size. The next size up will put you past your caffeine limit.
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Macchiato
A venti Starbucks Caramel Macchiato has 150mg of caffeine. If you plan to go for an Espresso Macchiato, go with a doppio size which has 150mg, or a solo which has 75mg.
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Hot Chocolate
If coffee isn’t your thing, you’re all set to go. A Starbucks Hot Chocolate has only 35mg of caffeine in the venti size, while a White Hot Chocolate has 0mg in all sizes.
For pregnant women, enjoying a hot chocolate can be a safer alternative to coffee, but it is still important to monitor caffeine intake, as excessive caffeine can pose risks during pregnancy.
The Roundup
Starbucks Drink | Maximum “Safe” Size While Pregnant | Amount of Caffeine in Maximum “Safe” Size |
Iced Coffee | Grande (16 fl oz) | 165 mg |
Iced Coffee with Milk | Trenta (30 fl oz) | 190 mg |
Espresso | Doppio (1.5 fl oz) | 150 mg |
Americano | Tall (12 fl oz) | 150 mg |
Brewed Coffee | Short (8 fl oz) | 130 mg – 180 mg |
Decaf Brewed Coffee | Venti (20 fl oz) | 30 mg |
Hot Latte (except Starbucks Reserve Latte) | Venti (20 fl oz) | 150 mg – 200 mg |
Starbucks Reserve Latte | Grande (16 fl oz) | 135 mg |
Cappuccino | Venti (20 fl oz) | 150 mg |
Flat White | Venti (20 fl oz) | 195 mg |
Honey Almondmilk Flat White | Tall (12 fl oz) | 150 mg |
Mocha (except Starbucks Reserve Mocha) | Venti (20 fl oz) | 150 mg– 180 mg |
Starbucks Reserve Mocha | Grande (16 fl oz) | 135 mg |
Hot and Iced Teas | Trenta (30 fl oz) | 0 mg – 145 mg |
Refreshers | Trenta (30 fl oz) | 50 mg – 90 mg |
Coconutmilk Drinks | Venti (20 fl oz) | 0 mg – 110 mg |
Frappuccino | Venti (20 fl oz) | 115 mg – 180 mg |
Cold Brew | Tall (12 fl oz) | 140 mg – 155 mg |
Caramel Macchiato | Venti (20 fl oz) | 150 mg |
Espresso Macchiato | Doppio (1.6 fl oz) | 150 mg |
Hot Chocolate | Venti (20 fl oz) | 0 mg – 35 mg |