Does Frappuccino Have Coffee? Everything You Need To Know

Many people love sipping on Frappuccinos on a hot summer day, but does Frapuccino have coffee, or are they not the right choice for a morning pick-me-up?

The short answer is that some Frappuccinos have a coffee base while others don’t. The long answer, however, is a bit more complicated than that.

As an ex-Starbucks barista, I’ve got all the dirty details on these drinks, their caffeine content, and more.

Keep reading to get the full story on whether or not Starbucks frappuccinos have caffeine or not. You might also be wondering, what is cold foam?

Does Frappuccino Have Coffee? 

There are two main types of frappuccino: 

1. Coffee-based frappuccinos
2. Cream-based frappuccinos

In fact, only about half of the frappuccinos on the Starbucks coffee shop menu have coffee in them.

Usually, the coffee-based frappuccinos are listed under the “Cold coffee beverages” section of the menu.

On the other hand, the frappuccinos without coffee typically fall under the “Other drinks” section of the menu.

Let’s take a deeper look at the two different types of frappuccinos.

Coffee-based Frappucino

Coffee-based frappuccinos, of course, have coffee. The most common ones are:

• Caramel
• Toffee Mocha
• Mocha
• Java Chip
• Cinnamon Roll
• Hazelnut
• Caffe Vanilla 

These frappuccinos use a special coffee concentrate called frappuccino roast. In addition to the coffee base, they also contain milk, coffee-flavored syrup, your syrup of choice, and ice.

If you want even more caffeine, go ahead and ask your barista for a shot of espresso in your frap.

Just note that your drink may be a bit more watery than you’re used to. I actually like it better this way, so it’s all a matter of personal preference.

You can also ask for the extra shot as an affogato shot. This means the barista will pour the shot on top of the drink instead of blending it into your frappuccino.

Cream-based Frappuccino 

Cream-based frappuccinos are the exact opposite of coffee-based ones. They don’t have coffee and are a little sweeter than their counterparts.

The most common Starbucks cream-based frappuccinos are:

• Vanilla bean
• White chocolate cream
• Chocolatey chip
• Matcha green tea
• Strawberries and cream
• Pumpkin spice

One thing to know about these drinks is that even though cream-based frappuccinos don’t have coffee, they may contain little caffeine.

This is especially when your order has a chocolate flavor. Caffeine is a natural ingredient in chocolate.

Still, the caffeine content is so small that you’re not likely to even notice it.

These drinks contain milk, ice, unflavored syrup, and your choice of flavored syrup. They’re topped with whipped cream, adding decadence.

PRO TIP
If you want a coffee-based frappuccino flavor without the cream, just ask your barista to leave out the coffee! They can turn any cream frappuccino into a coffee one without a problem.

Starbucks Frappuccino: Caffeine & Calories

Now that you know a bit about cream vs. coffee-based frappuccinos, let’s talk about the caffeine and calorie content.

To make things easier, I’ve put together a quick table. This breaks down the calories and caffeine in some of Starbucks’ most popular frappuccinos.

There’s a mix of coffee-based and non-coffee-based drinks, so you can see some of the differences.

Remember that the information is based on a 16-oz grande Starbucks drink.

Now, even though this table lays out the basic caffeine and calorie count for frappuccinos, that’s not to say those are fixed numbers.

You can actually lower the calories by substituting whole milk with skim, nonfat, or non-dairy milk (soy, coconut, oat or almond milk.)

On top of that, you can always ask for a shot of espresso to be added to any of the cream-based frappuccinos.

Or, ask for the barista to leave the coffee out of your coffee-based drink.

These quick tricks make it easier for you to change the caffeine content of the drink to your liking.

Another option for getting less caffeinated drinks is to simply choose a frappuccino with less caffeine.

The Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino is the coffee-based frap with the lowest amount of caffeine.

So, with a few tweaks to your drink, you can make something that’s as healthy and as caffeinated as you want.

FAQs

With your questions on frappuccinos, caffeine, and calories answered, you might still have another doubt or two to clear up.

Here’s a quick FAQ to help you put any lingering questions to rest.

What is the difference between a Frappe and a Frappuccino?

Frappes are Greek drinks made with blended coffee, ice, syrup, and milk. Frappuccinos are basically the Starbucks brand name for the same drink. You won’t find frappuccinos anywhere other than Starbucks, but you can find frappes in many coffee shops.

Are Frappuccinos healthy?

Frappuccinos are one of the top four unhealthiest drinks. These drinks are loaded with sugar, fat, and calories. The only exception is the Coffee Light Frappuccino, which is crafted with low-fat milk and sugar-free sweetener.

What drinks from Starbucks don’t have coffee?

There are a number of drinks that don’t have coffee at Starbucks, including: 

• Cream frappuccinos
• Blended strawberry lemonade
• Steamers
• Hot chocolate
• Tea drinks
• Smoothies
• Refreshers
• Caramel apple spice

The Bottom Line

So, does Starbucks Frappuccino have coffee? It depends.

If you order a cream-based drink, your beverage will be completely coffee-free. But, if you go for a coffee-based frappuccino, you’ll get a concentrated coffee in your drink.

And, although adding a coffee base gives your drink a caffeine kick, it doesn’t increase the calorie count by much.

Do you still have questions about Starbucks frappuccinos? Check out this guide to the difference between a frappe and a frappuccino!