Starbucks Protein Drinks: Protein, Calories & Sugar

By Muhammad Saif Ullah, founder & editorUpdated October 31, 2026Numbers from Starbucks and our tested calculator

Quick answer

  • The Starbucks protein drinks with the most protein are the iced protein matchas, 31 g in a Grande. A Venti Iced Protein Matcha has 50 g.
  • Best protein for the calories: the Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha, 31 g protein for 210 calories and 10 g sugar.
  • Any dairy drink can get protein-boosted milk for $1, and protein cold foam adds about 15 g more for $2.

Starbucks added its protein lineup on September 29, 2025 and grew it in January 2026. The protein comes from a protein-boosted 2% milk (milk with added whey) and from protein cold foam. Below are Starbucks’ own Grande numbers, plus my ranking by protein per 100 calories, which nobody else seems to publish.

Every Starbucks protein drink (Grande)

Drink (Grande) Protein Calories Sugar Customize
Iced Protein Matcha 31 g 260 23 g Open →
Iced Caramel Protein Matcha 31 g 270 24 g
Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha 31 g 210 10 g
Iced Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha 31 g 210 10 g
Iced Vanilla Protein Latte 29 g 270 29 g Open →
Iced Caramel Protein Latte 29 g 280 31 g Open →
Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte 29 g 200 9 g Open →
Iced Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte 29 g 200 9 g
Protein Matcha (hot) 28 g 300 30 g Open →
Caramel Protein Matcha (hot) 28 g 310 32 g
Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (hot) 28 g 240 16 g
Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha (hot) 28 g 240 16 g
Vanilla Protein Latte (hot) 27 g 310 34 g Open →
Caramel Protein Latte (hot) 27 g 320 37 g Open →
Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte (hot) 27 g 230 15 g Open →
Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte (hot) 27 g 230 15 g
Iced Banana Protein Cream Matcha 23 g 400 38 g Open →
Iced Vanilla Protein Cream Shaken Espresso 19 g 410 28 g Open →
Vanilla Protein Cream Cold Brew 17 g 300 23 g Open →

Starbucks-published U.S. values, checked October 31, 2026. Starbucks says protein grams are approximate because drinks are made by hand. “Open” links go to the drinks already in our calculator; the rest are being added.

Ranked by protein per 100 calories

Grams alone can mislead. A drink with 23 g protein and 400 calories is a very different choice from one with 31 g and 210. This ranking shows how much protein you get for every 100 calories.

# Drink (Grande) Protein per 100 cal Protein · Calories
1 Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha 14.8 g 31 g · 210
2 Iced Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha 14.8 g 31 g · 210
3 Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte 14.5 g 29 g · 200
4 Iced Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte 14.5 g 29 g · 200
5 Iced Protein Matcha 11.9 g 31 g · 260
6 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte (hot) 11.7 g 27 g · 230
7 Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte (hot) 11.7 g 27 g · 230
8 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (hot) 11.7 g 28 g · 240
9 Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha (hot) 11.7 g 28 g · 240
10 Iced Caramel Protein Matcha 11.5 g 31 g · 270
11 Caffè Latte with nonfat milk (not a protein drink) 10.8 g 14 g · 130
12 Iced Vanilla Protein Latte 10.7 g 29 g · 270
13 Iced Caramel Protein Latte 10.4 g 29 g · 280
14 Cappuccino with nonfat milk (not a protein drink) 10.0 g 9 g · 90
15 Protein Matcha (hot) 9.3 g 28 g · 300
16 Caramel Protein Matcha (hot) 9.0 g 28 g · 310
17 Vanilla Protein Latte (hot) 8.7 g 27 g · 310
18 Caramel Protein Latte (hot) 8.4 g 27 g · 320
19 Iced Banana Protein Cream Matcha 5.8 g 23 g · 400
20 Vanilla Protein Cream Cold Brew 5.7 g 17 g · 300
21 Iced Vanilla Protein Cream Shaken Espresso 4.6 g 19 g · 410
  • Sugar-free wins: the iced sugar-free matchas and lattes take the top four spots. Same protein, 50 to 80 fewer calories than the regular versions.
  • A plain nonfat latte keeps up: a Grande Caffè Latte with nonfat milk gives about the same protein per calorie as the regular protein lattes, just less of it in total (14 g).
  • The “cream” drinks rank last: the cold foam adds protein, but it adds more calories and sugar along with it.

How to add protein to any Starbucks drink

  • Protein-boosted milk ($1): swap it into any drink made with dairy milk. In our calculator, a Grande Caffè Latte with protein milk is about 250 calories and 27 g protein (estimate), almost the same protein as the Vanilla Protein Latte with 16 g less sugar, because there’s no syrup.
  • Protein cold foam ($2): Starbucks says it adds about 15 g protein to iced protein lattes and matchas, taking them past 40 g. It also adds calories and sugar, so check the flavor.
  • Go sugar-free: ask for sugar-free vanilla or sugar-free caramel syrup. This keeps all the protein and cuts most of the added sugar.
  • Size up for more protein: a Venti Iced Vanilla Protein Latte is 390 calories and 40 g protein, and a Venti Iced Protein Matcha is 420 calories and 50 g protein, per Starbucks.
  • Protein milk needs dairy: it’s a 2% milk base, so it won’t work if you order oat, almond or soy.

Protein powder, taste and ordering tips

  • Protein powder: Starbucks doesn’t offer a protein powder add-in right now. Protein milk and protein cold foam do that job. Baristas usually can’t add powder you bring from home, so stir it in yourself after you get the drink.
  • Taste: Starbucks says the protein milk doesn’t change the flavor much. Some people find it a little thicker. Sugar-free versions taste less sweet, so expect that going in.
  • Order in the app: protein milk and protein cold foam are in the customization options, which is easier than reading a long order out at the counter.
  • The 70 g hack: Food Republic reports about 70 g protein from a Venti Iced Protein Matcha with light ice and extra protein cold foam. That’s roughly 600 to 700 calories, so treat it as a meal, not a coffee.

Add a high-protein bite

A protein drink plus one of these gets you to 40 to 50 g protein in one stop. Starbucks numbers for its egg bites and bakes:

  • Bacon & Gruyère Egg Bites: 19 g protein, 300 calories.
  • Potato, Cheddar & Chive Bakes: 12 g protein, 240 calories.
  • Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper Egg Bites: 12 g protein, 170 calories.

Want the total for your whole order? Add your drink and food in the full calculator.

Best high-protein, low-sugar orders

Lowest sugarIced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte29 g protein · 200 cal · 9 g sugar
Most proteinIced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha31 g protein · 210 cal · 10 g sugar
Hot pickSugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte27 g protein · 230 cal · 15 g sugar
Caramel fanSugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte27 g protein · 230 cal · 15 g sugar
Cheapest boostCaffè Latte + protein milk~27 g protein · ~250 cal (estimate)
Light and simpleCappuccino with nonfat milk9 g protein · 90 cal

Are Starbucks protein drinks worth it?

  • Good for: mornings when coffee is breakfast, or after a workout when you want protein and caffeine together. 27 to 31 g in a Grande is close to what a protein shake gives.
  • Watch the sugar: the regular protein lattes still carry 29 to 37 g sugar. The sugar-free versions fix most of that.
  • Watch the add-ons: the cream cold foam versions run 300 to 410 calories, against 200 to 280 for the plain iced protein drinks.
  • Milk sugar is normal: even “sugar-free” protein drinks show some sugar. That’s lactose from the milk, not added sugar.
  • Watching blood sugar: pick a sugar-free version. The sugar-free syrups are sweetened with sucralose, which the FDA considers safe. If you’d rather skip sweeteners, ask for fewer pumps of the regular syrup.
  • Allergies: the protein comes from whey (milk), so these aren’t an option if you avoid dairy.

If you have kidney disease, diabetes or another health condition, check with your doctor or dietitian about how much protein and sugar fits your plan.

Protein calorie calculator: build your own

Pick a drink, switch to protein milk or add protein cold foam, and you’ll see protein, calories, sugar and caffeine update. Custom numbers are estimates, so they can differ by a few calories from Starbucks’ listed drinks.

FAQ

Which Starbucks drink has the most protein?
  • The iced protein matchas, at 31 g in a Grande and 50 g in a Venti.
  • Add protein cold foam and Starbucks says you get past 40 g.
How much protein is in the Iced Caramel Protein Latte at Starbucks?
  • About 29 g protein in a Grande, with 280 calories and 31 g sugar.
  • The Iced Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte is 200 calories with the same protein and 9 g sugar.
How many calories are in the Caramel Protein Matcha?
  • Starbucks lists a hot Grande at 310 calories, 28 g protein and 32 g sugar. The iced Grande is 270 calories with 31 g protein.
  • The sugar-free caramel version is 240 calories hot and 210 iced.
How much does protein milk cost at Starbucks?
  • $1 to swap protein-boosted milk into a dairy drink, and $2 to add protein cold foam, per Starbucks.
  • Prices can vary by store.
How much protein is in Starbucks protein cold foam?
  • Starbucks says it adds about 15 g protein to a Grande iced protein latte or matcha.
  • It also adds calories and sugar, depending on the flavor.
Can I add protein powder to my Starbucks drink?
  • Starbucks doesn’t sell a protein powder add-in right now. Order protein milk or protein cold foam instead.
  • If you bring your own powder, stir it in after you get your drink.
What is Starbucks protein milk made of?
  • It’s 2% milk with added whey protein, so it contains dairy.
Do Starbucks protein drinks have a lot of sugar?
  • The regular versions have 23 to 37 g sugar in a Grande.
  • The sugar-free versions drop to 9 to 16 g, mostly natural milk sugar.

Sources

Independent and unofficial. Not affiliated with Starbucks. For general information only, not medical advice.