How many calories are in a peppermint mocha from Starbucks? (what is in a Starbucks Peppermint mocha? + More information)
Starbucks peppermint mocha is one of the most popular festive drinks offered by the coffee house. However, if you are a lover of this drink and trying to maintain a low-calorie intake, you might wonder, how many calories are in a Starbucks peppermint mocha from Starbucks?
Starbucks peppermint mocha is not among the healthiest drinks offered by the coffee chain as just a grande serving has 440 calories; 140 of these calories are from fats. Therefore, if you are working towards healthy living, you might want to avoid this drink. During the holidays, my go-to drink is definitely the iced Starbucks peppermint mocha, since it is so refreshing with a unique taste.
However, I have had a massive change in my diet lately, since I am trying to drop some pounds. I decided to research the foods and drinks I consume and drop those with a high-calorie count. A drink that I love so much but had to bid goodbye to is the Starbucks peppermint mocha, due to its high-calorie count. If you are looking forward to trying out this drink, read on to find out more.
Table of Contents
What is in Starbucks peppermint mocha?
There are several variations of the Starbucks peppermint mocha. However, the standard variation of this drink is a blend of mocha sauce, brewed espresso, peppermint syrup, milk foam, steamed milk, dark chocolate curls, and garnished with whipped cream. The peppermint syrup and the mocha sauce are what give this drink its identity with a unique and sweet taste.
Starbucks mocha sauce is made of sugar, water, natural flavors, and some cocoa that has been processed with alkali. On the other hand, peppermint syrup contains sugar, natural flavors, water, citric acid, and sodium benzoate to act as a preservative.
Additionally, the dark chocolate curls that are used as toppings on this drink contain some sugar chocolate mass that has been processed with alkali, vanilla extract, cocoa butter, milk, and soy lecithin. The whipped cream is made of mainly cream and vanilla syrup.
However, if you want to reduce the calorie count of this drink, you might opt for plant-based milk like coconut and almond milk. Additionally, you might want to ditch the whipped cream so as to reduce the fats in the drink. However, if you do not mind the calories in this drink and want to make it sweeter, Starbucks allows you to customize your drink by either omitting or adding some sweeteners.
What are the nutritional facts for Starbucks peppermint mocha?
As mentioned above, Starbucks peppermint mocha is not the healthiest drink at the coffee house as just a grande serving will give you a whole 440 calories, with 140 of these calories coming from fats. The same serving of this drink has 16 grams of total fats, which amount to 21% of the daily value, and 10 grams of saturated fats, which is equal to 50% of the daily value required.
The same grande serving of the Starbucks peppermint mocha has a relatively high caffeine content of 175 mg, 13 grams of proteins, and also a high sugar content of 54 grams. Additionally, this drink has 63 grams of carbs which is 23% of the daily value required, 4 grams of dietary fiber, which is 14% of the daily value, and 140mg of sodium. Also, it has 45mg of cholesterol which is equal to 15% of the daily value required.
How can I make Starbucks peppermint mocha at home?
If you cannot wait till winter to enjoy your peppermint mocha from Starbucks, then you can use this recipe to make your peppermint mocha from home easily. The good thing is that you can easily purchase the syrups used to make this drink online or in grocery stores or make it at home easily. You will need the following equipment; espresso machine, stove, whisk, and saucepans.
If you have your peppermint syrup and mocha sauce ready, then the process of preparing your peppermint mocha becomes quite straightforward. First, you will pass your coffee grounds with hot water through your espresso machine and collect the extract.
After preparing your espresso, pour peppermint syrup into a mug and add two shots of espresso. Add mocha syrup and steamed milk to the mixture and stir till it’s consistent. Serve with the toppings of your liking.
What does Starbucks peppermint mocha taste like?
The Starbucks peppermint mocha has a rich chocolate taste mainly because of the dark chocolate curls and the mocha sauce added to the drink. While taking this drink, you might also recognize a faint coffee taste due to the brewed coffee used to make it. Additionally, this drink is generally sweet, and you can increase its sweetness by telling your baristas to add more sweeteners of your preference.
Conclusion
It is no doubt that the Starbucks peppermint mocha will give you a unique festive experience due to the refreshing nature and unique taste of this drink. However, it all comes down to the health benefits we are looking for when consuming foods or beverages. If you are avoiding drinks with high-calorie content, then you might want to avoid this drink or customize it to get a healthier version of it. All in all, this drink will keep you alert all day due to its caffeine content while offering you a more chocolatier taste than coffee taste.
FAQ Section
How much is Starbucks peppermint mocha?
The price of Starbucks peppermint mocha will depend on the location you have ordered from and the size. Generally, a tall serving of this drink will cost you $4.45, a grande will go for around $4.95, and you will pay $5.45 to get a venti.
How much caffeine does Starbucks peppermint mocha have?
According to the Starbucks website, a grande serving of their peppermint mocha has a caffeine content of 175 mg, a tall has 95 mg, a short has 90 mg, and a venti has 185 mg of caffeine.
Can I order Starbucks peppermint mocha without whipped cream?
Yes, if you want to reduce the fat and calorie content of peppermint mocha, Starbucks has a variety of options you can order your drink with instead of whipped cream. Substitute toppings of whipped cream offered at Starbucks include; cinnamon dolce sprinkles, and pumpkin spice toppings, or you can garnish your drink with mocha or caramel drizzles.