What Starbucks drinks are safe during pregnancy? (How much caffeine should pregnant women drink in a day? + more information)

If you’re pregnant and craving a Starbucks drink you’re probably wondering, “What Starbucks drinks are safe during pregnancy?”

Starbucks has various drinks that are safe during pregnancy, from coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, brewed teas and refreshers to frappuccinos. My sister is pregnant and recently, she was craving a Starbucks drink, but we weren’t sure if it was safe for her to have one. So, we decided to carry out in-depth research to find out. Additionally, after lengthy discussions with numerous Starbucks baristas, we discovered various drinks pregnant women can have from Starbucks. One of the key things we learnt was that pregnant women have a daily limit of 200mg of caffeine. To learn more about this and the various Starbucks drinks that are safe for consumption during pregnancy, keep reading.

Coffees.

Starbucks has various coffees that one can have while pregnant. The most crucial factor to consider when selecting which coffee to have is the caffeine amount. Note that pregnant women are limited to 200mg of caffeine per day.

One of the Starbucks coffees that pregnant women can have is a decaf pike place blend, which is made with brewed decaf coffee. A venti size (largest size), for example, of this coffee has only 30mg of caffeine.

Another coffee option is a solo espresso or doppio espresso. A solo espresso is a single espresso shot with just 75mg of caffeine and a doppio is a double shot of espresso, with 150mg of caffeine. Both espressos are below the caffeine limit.

A short (8fl oz.) or tall (12fl oz.) Americano, which is made with water and brewed espresso is another option for pregnant women. Stick to these two sizes, as they are within the caffeine limit.

A short or tall Starbucks caffé misto is also safe for consumption during pregnancy. A short has 75mg and a tall has 150mg of caffeine. The larger sizes have more caffeine so, avoid them. You can also have a healthier caffé misto by replacing the 2% milk with plant-based milk. Plant-based milk options available include coconut, oat, soy or almond milk.

Lattes.

Starbucks also has various lattes that are safe during pregnancy like chai tea latte, pumpkin spice latte and green tea latte. Just like in coffees, checking the caffeine level of your latte is crucial. Additionally, be on the lookout for sugar levels too. The recommended sugar limit for pregnant women is 50g per day.

Starbucks Chai tea latte isn’t prepared with coffee. The 50mg – 120mg caffeine levels in this latte are from the chai tea concentrate used. Other ingredients include milk and water. The chai tea concentrate has spices like cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, ginger and cloves.

Starbucks green tea latte or matcha tea latte is a latte prepared with matcha tea blend and milk. The matcha blend has ground green tea and sugar. The caffeine levels in this latte are between 30mg – 110mg, which is within the recommended limit.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is another safe latte option for pregnant women with 75mg – 150mg of caffeine. This latte is made with pumpkin spice sauce, milk and brewed espresso with whipped cream and pumpkin spice topping. PSL has spices like ginger and cinnamon, known for their ability to calm nauseous stomachs.

Cappuccinos.

The Starbucks cappuccino is another safe option made with milk and brewed espresso. Starbucks cappuccino is available in 4 sizes, with the short and tall containing 75mg of caffeine and the grande and venti having 150mg of caffeine. All four sizes are therefore safe for consumption, when pregnant.

Customizing, by say, asking for plant-based milk instead of 2% milk can also make this cappuccino healthier.

Brewed teas.

Starbucks brewed teas like Earl Grey tea, Royal English Breakfast tea and Emperor’s Clouds & Mist brewed tea are safe for pregnant women to consume.

With just 40mg of caffeine in all the available sizes, the Starbucks Earl Grey tea is an infusion of water, black tea, lavender flowers and bergamot essence and has 0g of sugar, 0g of fat and 0 calories.

Royal English breakfast tea is also available in 4 sizes with 40mg of caffeine in all the sizes and 0g of sugar.

Emperor’s Clouds & Mist tea which is an infusion of water and green tea has between 1mg – 16mg of caffeine and 0g of sugar.

Refreshers.

Starbucks refreshers like the Strawberry-acai refresher, pineapple passionfruit refresher, pineapple passionfruit lemonade refresher and dragon drink refreshers are also safe to drink during pregnancy. However, it is crucial to avoid any refresher with hibiscus as one of the ingredients as it can be dangerous for pregnant women.

Frappuccinos.

Although Starbucks frappuccinos aren’t the healthiest drinks, when properly customized and consumed in moderation, they can be a delicious treat during pregnancy. Watch out for sugar and caffeine levels in these beverages.

Since frappuccinos are known to have high amounts of added sugar, they are categorized under sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). During pregnancy, it is risky and unhealthy to have 5 or more servings of SSBs per week, as they may cause issues like preterm birth. It is, therefore, advised to stick to the short (8fl oz.) size and request fewer pumps of sweeteners and syrups when ordering.

Some of the Starbucks frappuccinos pregnant women can have include; caramel brulee crème Frappuccino, peppermint mocha crème Frappuccino and strawberries crème Frappuccino.

Note that it is crucial to always consult your physician first, when in doubt.

FAQ SECTION.

What size Starbucks can I drink while pregnant?

The size of a Starbucks drink you can have depends on the ingredients used in the drink and the customizations made. For highly caffeinated drinks and drinks with high sugar levels, stick to the smaller sizes as they have less caffeine and less sugar.

Can I have a strawberry refresher while pregnant?

Yes. The sugar level is between 16 – 41g and the caffeine levels are between 35mg – 90mg, both of which are within the recommended limits.

Does Starbucks have caffeine-free drinks that are safe for pregnancy?

Yes. These drinks include; lemonades, steamers and steamed apple juice.