Starbucks Iced Latte Vs. Iced Coffee: Which One is better?

Starbucks has a huge variety of drinks. You always have to choose one drink over another. But how can you make such a choice when you have drinks with almost similar features? I find it fun to compare drinks that customers find it hard to decide the better one. My friend was at a loss and asked me to help her decide which drink was better, the iced latte vs. iced coffee.

Although I could not give her an informed answer at the time, I later did my research and made this post for her and you if you can’t decide which one is better. You will learn the primary features and differences between the two drinks

What are the differences between Starbucks Iced Latte Vs. Iced Coffee?

Features	Iced Latte	Iced Coffee
Ingredients	Milk, Ice, Brewed Espresso	Ice, Brewed Coffee, Classic Syrup
Taste profile	It has a coffee flavor	It has a strong coffee flavor
Caffeine content/Nutritional value	A 16 fl oz serving has 150mg of caffeine, 130 calories, 11g of sugar, 4.5g total fats, 13g total carbohydrates, and 8g of proteins The drink is rich in proteins, but the high-fat content	A 16 fl oz serving has 165mg of caffeine, 80 calories, 20g of sugar, 0g total fats, 20g total carbohydrates, and 0g of proteins The drink is fats free but has no proteins
Availability/accessibility	It is available throughout the year and is accessible in all Starbucks stores.	It is available throughout the year and is accessible in all Starbucks stores.
Roast level	Medium to dark roast	Medium roast

Starbucks Iced Latte Vs. Iced Coffee – How They Compare.

What is it made of? (ingredients)

The iced latte is made of 2% milk and 2 shots of signature espresso. The milk is frothed and allowed to sip into the espresso, simulating the steamed milk in a standard drink. Ice is also considered an ingredient in an iced latte. You can add a sweetener of your choice. You also have the freedom of choosing between daily and non-daily milk.

On the other hand, iced coffee is made with 90% cooled, brewed Starbucks coffee and ice cubes. The ice cubes make it refreshing, especially on a hot summer day. You can add a sweetener of your choice.

The iced latte wins this category because it has milk as an ingredient that makes it richer in taste and nutrients.

Taste profile

The iced latte has a mellow and balanced coffee flavor from the espresso and milk. The milk neutralizes the strong espresso flavor. If you find the bitter taste in strong espresso displeasing, the iced latte is the drink for you because it has no bitter taste from the coffee. The milk flavor maintains a balanced taste for the drink.

Starbucks iced coffee has a strong coffee flavor. Although the flavor of brewed coffee is not as strong as the one for espresso, you will taste the unadulterated rich taste of well-brewed coffee. However, it does not have a strong bitter taste in strong espresso. It is, therefore, a perfect tasting drink.

The two drinks have a coffee flavor and lack strong espresso’s bitter taste. Their taste is fairly similar, so this category has no absolute winner.

Caffeine content/Nutritional value

Iced latte has 150mg of caffeine, which is enough to keep you alert during the day or for a late-night task. The caffeine is not too high to cause health concerns. It has 130 calories which will keep you energized, especially on a busy field day. The drink is also protein-rich; it has 8 grams, contributing 16% of an average adult’s daily protein requirement. It, however, has 4.5g of fat.

The iced coffee has 165mg of caffeine, slightly higher than an iced latte. It has 80 calories which are significantly low and perfect for a person maintaining a low-calorie intake. It has no fats, making it a perfect drink for a person who needs to lose weight.

Iced latte wins in this category because it is a high-protein drink and contributes significantly to your daily protein requirements.

Availability/accessibility

Iced latte is available throughout the year, and you can access it in any Starbucks store. It is one of the drinks you will never miss at any Starbucks. Additionally, it is a drink you can easily prepare at home, making it more available.

Similarly, iced coffee is available throughout the year and in all Starbucks stores. It is among the drinks that you can never lack at Starbucks. It is also pretty easy to make at home, making it more accessible.

Both drinks are readily available and accessible; therefore, there is a tie in this category.

Roast level

The iced latte is made from espresso with medium to dark coffee roast levels. Medium to dark levels of roast produces a strong coffee flavor.

Similarly, the brewed coffee is made with coffee at a medium roast level. This level produces an excellent coffee taste.

There is a tie in this level because the roast levels produce a similar quality of coffee flavor.

Starbucks Iced Latte Vs. Iced Coffee: A comparison review

Starbucks iced latte – Overview

What I liked;

• The high protein content makes it a highly nutritious drink

What I didn’t like;

• The fat content that makes it unsuited for individuals losing weight

Who it’s best suited for.

• It is best for all coffee lovers and especially the young who still need high proteins for growth

Starbucks iced coffee – Overview

What I liked;

• Its low-calorie content and the fact that it has no fats

What I didn’t like;

• It has no proteins or vitamins, making it less nutritious

Who it’s best suited for.

• It is suited for all coffee lovers, especially those trying to lose or maintain body weight.

Final Verdict: So, which is Better? – Starbucks Iced Latte or Iced Coffee

Starbucks iced latte is better than iced coffee. This is because it has a high protein content making it more nutritious than iced coffee. It also has a balanced taste due to the presence of milk. If you want a nutritious drink with an excellent coffee flavor, choose Starbucks iced latte.

FAQ

Is iced latte stronger than iced coffee?

Iced latte is not stronger than iced coffee because the milk neutralizes the strong espresso taste, bringing a more balanced flavor.

Is iced latte sweeter than iced coffee?

No, the sweetness depends on the choice and the amount of sweetener you add to the drink.

Which one is healthier between Starbucks iced coffee and iced latte?

Starbucks iced coffee is healthier than iced latte because it has low-calorie content and no fat.