Starbucks offers a range of beverages BEYOND coffee, including Starbucks Refreshers which are a lighter beverage option that is sweeter than your typical cup of joe. Although Starbucks Refreshers may not be coffee or a shot of espresso, they still have caffeine in them. So, if you’re looking for an alternative to coffee and want something fruity and refreshing to give you a boost of energy, consider trying a Starbucks Refresher. In this post, you’ll learn more about Starbucks Refreshers, how much caffeine is actually in them, and how to get a free “caffeine boost” according to a friendly barista that I spoke with.

What Exactly is the Starbucks Refreshers Menu?

Starbucks Refreshers are a range of fruit-flavored cold drinks that give the perfect alternative for those who don’t necessarily love drinking coffee.

Currently, there are a few different combinations of Starbucks Refresher flavors, including the following:

– Dragon Drink

– Mango Dragonfruit

– Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade

– Paradise Drink

– Strawberry Acai Lemonade

– Pineapple Passionfruit

– Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade

– Pink Drink

– Strawberry Acai

It’s worth noting that Refreshers come in three base flavors: Strawberry acai, mango dragonfruit and pineapple passionfruit.

You can then take each base flavor and add either lemonade, coconut milk, or order it plain.

See Also: The Starbucks Secret Menu is a Fun Way to Find Your Next Favorite Drink

Do All Refreshers Have Caffeine?

Yes.

All Starbucks Refresher drinks have caffeine in them.

The size of the drink will determine how much caffeine is in the drink.

For example, a Grande (medium) 16 fluid oz. Starbucks Refresher drink has about 45mg of caffeine.

If So, How Much Caffeine?

As mentioned, depending on the size of the Starbucks Refreshers drink will determine how much caffeine is in the drink.

Here’s a breakdown of how much caffeine you can expect in your Starbucks Refresher by size:

– Tall, 12 oz. drink: 35-45 mg caffeine

– Grande, 16 oz. drink: 45-55 mg caffeine

– Venti, 24 oz. drink: 70-85 mg caffeine

– Trenta, 30 oz. drink: 90-110 mg caffeine

Keep in mind that the exact amount of caffeine in Refreshers is directly tied to the flavor you order.

Also, you can expect close to 3x the amount of caffeine in regular coffee compared to Refreshers.

So if you want a small pick-me-up, and not a caffeine blast, these drinks might be a good option.

See Also: The Starbucks 15 Best Low Calorie Drink Options

Where Does the Caffeine Come From?

Caffeine is naturally found in fruit, leaves, and beans of coffee, cacao, and guarana plants.

But the caffeine in these Starbucks drinks comes from the green coffee extract.

Also, it’s worth noting that Refreshers have ZERO coffee taste or flavor.

Does the Base Liquid Change the Caffeine Amounts?

Yes.

Depending on the drink, it will definitely impact the amount of caffeine.

For instance, a single shot of espresso that is only 1.5 ounces has 65 mg of caffeine while a Starbucks Refresher that is 16 ounces has only about 45 mg of caffeine.

Can I Get Extra Caffeine Added If I Want?

Yes and no.

While you technically can’t ask for “extra caffeine” in your Starbucks Refresher order, you can try a couple of loopholes to get some extra caffeine in Starbucks Refresher.

First, I was told by a very friendly barista that you can ask for light ice or no ice in your Starbucks Refresher drink for what she termed a “small caffeine boost”.

This will allow your drink to be less watered down and allow you to drink a higher concentration of caffeine.

Another option according to my barista friend, is combining your Starbucks Refresher with iced black tea or iced green tea.

Adding black or green tea to your Starbucks Refresher drink will allow you to consume about an extra 15 mg of caffeine.

So, if you order a Grande Starbucks Refresher and combine it with green or black tea, you can expect to consume about 60 mg of caffeine.

See Also: 7 Starbucks Menu Hacks That’ll Save You Money Every Time

What are Some Good “No-Caffeine” Alternative Drinks?

Even though Starbucks Refreshers have caffeine, this doesn’t mean there aren’t no-caffeine drink alternatives at Starbucks.

If you want a decaffeinated beverage at Starbucks, consider trying any of the below drink choices:

– Blended Strawberry Lemonade

– Comfort Brewed Wellness tea

– White Chocolate Crème Frappuccino

– Iced Passion Tango

– Lemonade

– Caramel Brulee Crème Frappuccino

– Strawberry Frappuccino

So if you’re trying to limit your caffeine intake, but still want a refreshing and yummy drink to indulge in at Starbucks, there are several no-caffeine drink alternatives available.

Ask the Reader: What other clever ways do you know to either get more or less caffeine when ordering Starbucks?

By Kyle James