Do Starbucks Frappuccinos have Coffee? (2023)

It’s normal to feel tempted and quickly decide on getting one of these fancy drinks without actually knowing what they contain.

So I guess you’re now asking yourself whether a Starbucks Frappuccino has coffee in it.

To be fair, this is a rather common question that has to do with the large variety of caffeinated and non-caffeinated Starbucks beverages.

To clear the confusion I’m about to answer all of the following questions:

Do all Starbucks Frappuccinos contain coffee or just some of them?

If so – is it espresso?

What is the caffeine content in each one of these blended drinks?

And overall – what’s a Frappuccino really made of anyway?

Let’s get to it.

Do Starbucks Frappuccinos contain Coffee?

The Starbucks Frappuccino is a cold blended beverage that has become the go-to for many.

This refreshing drink is delicious, but if you’re about to have one, it is good to know what its ingredients are.

Especially, in case you’re more sensitive to the effects of caffeine.

Here’s what determines if Starbucks Frappuccinos have coffee in them:

There is a large variety of Frappuccino drinks and not all of them contain coffee.

Some are coffee-based and others – crème based.

For example, the Caramel Frappuccino, the Java Chip Frappuccino, and the Espresso Frappuccino are all coffee-based.

Even though when originally marketed, all Frappuccinos had coffee in them, today those from the Crème line do not.

Nevertheless, some coffee-free crème beverages are more caffeinated than others.

For example, the Matcha Green Tea Crème Frappuccino does contain caffeine unlike the Strawberry Frappuccino and the Caramel Brulèe Crème Frappuccino.

If you’re interested, you can check out my Matcha Green Tea Frappuccino Copycat Starbucks recipe, by clicking here.

Caffeine and Calorie Content Chart

Knowing how much caffeine you ingest in your system is important when you want to avoid jitters.

On the other hand, I’m sure it would be interesting for many people to find out how many calories they consume by having just a single cup of their favorite Frappuccino.

Have a look at this chart which shows the calorie and caffeine content in all Frappuccino drinks (size – Grande, 16 fl. oz.):

As you can see some crème-based Frappuccinos are caffeinated.

The caffeine content and how many calories there are in each drink may vary depending on the changes you make to the original recipe when ordering.

For example, all Frappuccinos are made with whole milk by default, but you can have yours with skim instead.

This would lower the calorie content.

On the other hand, if you tell your barista that you want a Java Chip Frappuccino with decaf espresso, the caffeine content in it will be much lower than what the chart above shows.

If you want to make adjustments to the drink you order, you should probably be aware of what Frappuccinos are actually made of.

By being familiar with the ingredients, you can be flexible with your order and get exactly what you want and need.

What’s in a Starbucks Frappuccino Anyway?

The Frappuccino is a trademarked by Starbucks cold drink that is basically made of a blended mix of milk, sugar, ice, and differently flavored syrups.

If you get a coffee-based Frappuccino the coffee, more often than not, will go through the blender along with the other ingredients.

There is a large variety of Frappuccino drinks and each contains different syrups, sauces, and toppings such as whipped cream, caramel drizzle, etc.

Here on this picture you can see a Caramel and a Mocha Frappuccino:

Each Frappuccino has a certain number of coffee base or crème base pumps.

The base syrup adds sweetness to a Frappuccino because of all the sugar it contains. However, it also makes it thicker and contributes to the smooth final texture of the beverage.

To lower the calorie content of your drink, ask the barista to make a cup with fewer base pumps.

For example, in a Grande Frappuccino, you’d usually get 3 base pumps but you can ask the barista to make them 2, or even 1.

Bear in mind, that this recipe tweak will have a big impact on your drink’s taste and overall mouthfeel.

Another way to lower the calorie content of your Frappuccino is to switch the whole milk with, say, nonfat.

On the other hand, if you don’t truly care about calories, you could have your Frappuccinos with heavy cream instead of milk.

You can also tell the barista to have the milk substituted with a plant-based alternative if you’re not a fan of dairy.

Do They Use Espresso?

I’m sure that many of you associate this Starbucks drink’s name with the frappe.

You can actually visit another article of mine where you can explore the differences between the Frappuccino and the frappe in detail.

With that being said, here’s if espresso is being used in the making of a Starbucks Frappuccino:

When it comes to the type of coffee used in the drink, the only Frappuccino that is currently made with espresso is the Espresso Frappuccino.

In other Frappuccino drinks, the espresso shots are substituted with a certain number of Frappuccino Roast pumps.

Frappuccino Roast, also known as Frap Roast, is basically an instant coffee powder that is dissolved in water at room temperature.

The more Frap Roast pumps – the higher caffeine content and a stronger coffee flavor.

You can ask for more or less Frap Roast pumps, or even have an espresso shot added on top of them for an extra caffeine kick.

Related Post: What are The Strongest Coffee Drinks at Starbucks

You can also ask the barista to have your Frappuccino made with a shot of espresso instead of Frappuccino Roast.

Have in mind though, that this may make the texture of your drink different, as espresso always comes out of the machine hot.

It’s usually poured on top of the already blended drink before the toppings are added.

By adding the hot espresso to the icy blended Frappuccino, the drink will become a bit more watery.

Usually, Frappuccinos made with espresso are somewhat sweeter compared to the Frap Roast blended ones, as the instant coffee powder generally has a stronger, more bitter flavor.

If you want to have a decaf Frappuccino from the coffee line, the only way is with a shot of decaf espresso.

There is no such thing as decaf Frappuccino Roast, so keep that in mind.

Conclusion

It’s good to know what your drink has in it, especially if one of the ingredients could be caffeine.

Many times the drink’s sweetness and added flavors cover up the coffee taste.

Now that you know which Starbucks Frappuccinos have coffee in them you’ll be able to make more informed decisions and it will be easier for you to order them exactly as you’d want them to be.