Starbucks green tea latte vs Frappuccino: Which one is better?

Some Starbucks drinks have similar key ingredients which can be confusing to a customer, when they are deciding on what to have. I was in this situation recently when I was craving a green tea drink and went to Starbucks and the barista told me they serve Green Tea Latte and a Frappuccino version of the same. I couldn’t decide on which one to pick so I got both. In this article, I have shared my experience with both drinks. In case you’re torn between having a Starbucks green tea latte or frappuccino, this article will help decide.

What are the differences between Starbucks green tea latte vs Frappuccino?

Features.	Starbucks green tea latte.	Starbucks green tea Frappuccino.
Ingredients.	Match tea blend (ground green tea and sugar), 2% Milk.	Milk, ice, classic syrup, whipped cream topping and crème Frappuccino syrup (natural flavour, sugar, salt, water, xanthan gum and preservatives like citric acid and potassium sorbate).
Taste profile.	Mellow, savoury, creamy and sweet with a Moorish grassy aftertaste.	Thick, creamy, sweet and smooth with a vegetal, slightly bitter flavour.
Caffeine content/ Nutritional value.	A grande green tea latte’s (16fl oz.) nutritional value based on a 2000 caloric diet is as follows; Calories- 240, calories from fat- 60, total fat- 7g, saturated fat- 4.5g, trans fat- 0g, cholesterol- 25mg, sodium- 160mg, total carbs- 34g, dietary fibre- 1g, sugars- 34g, protein- 12g and caffeine- 80mg.	A grande green tea frappuccino (16fl oz.) nutritional value based on a 2000 caloric diet is as follows; Calories- 420, calories from fat- 150, total fat- 16g, saturated fat- 10g, trans fat- 0.5g, cholesterol- 50mg, sodium- 240mg, total carbs- 62g, dietary fibre- 1g, sugar- 61g, protein- 6g and caffeine- 70mg.
Availability/ accessibility.	The Starbucks green tea latte is easily available and accessible at any of the Starbucks stores and via the Starbucks app.	The Starbucks green tea Frappuccino is also easily available and accessible at any of the Starbucks stores and via the Starbucks app.

Starbucks green tea latte vs Frappuccino- How they compare.

What it’s made of (Ingredients).

The Starbucks green tea latte is prepared with 2% steamed hot milk, milk foam and matcha tea blend, which is sugar and ground Japanese green tea. If a customer prefers, a sweetener can be added to the latte in form of syrups like vanilla syrup or classic syrup. Also, the 2% milk can be swapped with a customer’s preferred milk. Depending on the size of the drink, the number of matcha tea blend scoops used varies.

The Frappuccino, on the other hand, is prepared with a crème Frappuccino syrup, ice, milk, Starbucks classic syrup, Matcha tea blend and whipped cream topping. The number of classic syrup pumps used in the Frappuccino varies depending on the size of the drink. The number of matcha tea blend scoops used also depends on the beverage size.

In the ingredients category, the Frappuccino wins since it carries various ingredients that give it a versatile taste and more room to customize the drink.

Taste profile.

The Starbucks green tea latte has a slightly bitter taste with a Moorish, grassy flavour. With sweeteners, however, the grassy taste is tamed slightly thus bringing out a sweet and delicious taste.

The Frappuccino is sweet and creamy but also with a similar vegetal aftertaste. However, in the Frappuccino, the bitter earthy taste is well balanced with sweetness from the classic syrup.

In this category, both drinks tie since the flavours presented are very similar and both of the drinks require a bit of sweetening to tame the grassy taste.

Caffeine content/ Nutritional value.

The green tea latte’s caffeine content ranges between 30mg and 110mg while the Frappuccino’s caffeine levels are from 50mg to 95mg.

In this category, it is a draw, since different customers want different caffeine levels.

Availability/ Accessibility.

Both beverages are reading available in all Starbucks stores. Therefore, it is also a draw in this category.

Starbucks green tea latte vs Frappuccino: A comparison review.

Starbucks green tea latte – Overview.

The green tea latte is sold in four sizes; short (8fl oz.), tall (12fl oz.), grande (16fl oz.) and a venti (24fl oz.) and is available both in-store and on the app. The calories of the drink range between 110 and 320 and the sugar levels are from 14g to 43g. The 2% milk used can be swapped with a customer’s preferred milk and to tame the slightly grassy taste, you will have to add sweeteners.

What I liked;

• Can be customized.
• The significant caffeine content.

What I didn’t like;

• The bitter grassy aftertaste.

Who it’s best suited for;

• Best for those who want a caffeinated drink without coffee and do not mind natural, vegetal flavours.

Starbucks Frappuccino- Overview.

This beverage is thick and rich with a creamy texture and is sold in 3 sizes; tall, grande and venti. The vegetal taste in this Frappuccino is perfectly balanced with the classic syrup sweetness. If you’re watching your calorie intake, it is best to avoid this Frappuccino since it has a lot of calories, between 300 and 520.

What I liked;

• Can be customized.
• Thick, rich and creamy texture.

What I didn’t like;

• The Moorish, earthy aftertaste.

Who it’s best suited for;

• Best for those that enjoy vegetal tastes and thick consistencies in their drinks and would like a coffee-free caffeinated beverage.

Final Verdict: So, which is better? – Starbucks green tea latte or Frappuccino?

Both the green tea latte and the Frappuccino are equally good as they both possess similar taste profiles which are earthy, vegetal and Moorish thanks to the matcha tea blend used. Also, to get rid of the grassy aftertaste, in both beverages, you have to add sweeteners. Customizing is allowed in both drinks and the caffeine content lies in the same range.

FAQ SECTION.

Does Starbucks Frappuccino have more caffeine than a green tea latte?

Although the difference isn’t significant, the green tea Frappuccino has more caffeine than the latte counterpart.

Is Starbucks green tea latte sweeter than Frappuccino?

The Frappuccino is slightly sweeter than the latte due to the presence of the Starbucks classic syrup.

Which one is easier to make between a green tea latte and Frappuccino?

The green tea latte, with two ingredients, is easier to make compared to the six ingredients required by the Frappuccino.