Skip to main content

The strongest coffee at Starbucks: What to order for an extra caffeine kick

What to order when you need something strong

Starbucks sign
Lingchor / Unsplash

From sleepless nights to long working hours, we’ve all had those times when a single cup of coffee won’t cut it. Especially for coffee drinkers who have built up a tolerance to caffeine, there’s a time and a place for ordering something bolder than a regular cup of coffee. A standard cup of coffee contains about 80 mg of caffeine, but many of Starbucks’ specialty beverages contain far more caffeine.

Are you scouring the menu for the strongest coffee at Starbucks? Here’s how to place a strong and bold order. These top Starbucks drinks are packed with caffeine for those rough mornings.

Recommended Videos

Strongest coffee at Starbucks: Hot beverages

Starbucks cup
Sorin Sîrbu / Unsplash

When ordering the strongest coffee at Starbucks, you’ve got options. We’ve broken down the strongest coffees at Starbucks into two categories: hot and cold. While espresso shots contain more caffeine per ounce than brewed coffee, the difference in serving size means Starbucks’ brewed coffees generally contain more caffeine per cup than espresso-based beverages.

Starbucks Blonde Roast brewed coffee

Among all coffee roasts, light roast (also known as blonde roast) contains the most caffeine. This is because the beans are roasted shorter than dark roast coffee, allowing them to retain the most caffeine. Order a brewed coffee in the blonde roast for the strongest coffee at Starbucks.

A grande-sized order (16 ounces) of this coffee contains about 360 mg of caffeine. This coffee can also be ordered in a venti size, packing in over 400 mg of caffeine in just one cup. Typically, Starbucks only brews blonde roast in the morning up until noon. However, anytime you can still order blonde roast coffee, made as a pour-over coffee.

Even on those mornings when you need something ultra strong, don’t forget to be mindful about consuming too much caffeine in one day. The FDA recommends that adults consume no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day — which the venti size of the Starbucks Blonde Roast already exceeds.

Starbucks Pike Place brewed coffee

Close behind the Blonde Roast in second place is Starbucks’ beloved medium roast coffee, the Pike Place blend. If you don’t love the light taste of a blonde roast, this medium roast is a bit more of a full-bodied flavor and still contains quite a bit of caffeine. A grande-sized order of Pike Place contains 310 mg of caffeine per cup, and a venti contains 410 mg of caffeine per cup.

Starbucks dark roast brewed coffee

Last but not least is Starbucks’ dark roast blend of hot-brewed coffees. The longer roasting time removes some of the caffeine from this roast, yet a grande-sized order still contains 260 mg of caffeine per cup. A venti order has 340 mg of caffeine. Starbucks’ dark roast coffee is known for having a fuller-bodied, robust, bold taste. Although dark roast is not the strongest in terms of caffeine content, it is the strongest brewed coffee offered at Starbucks in terms of flavor profile.

Americano

Starbucks’ Americano is among the strongest espresso-based drinks the chain offers. Made with just water and espresso shots, a grande-sized order of an Americano coffee contains 225 mg of caffeine, and a venti contains 300 mg of caffeine.

Cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos

While not necessarily the strongest drinks at Starbucks, creamy-based espresso drinks still contain a solid amount of caffeine. If you want something indulgent and frothy, a grande-sized cappuccino, latte, or macchiato, each contains about 150 mg of caffeine, while a venti size contains 225 mg.

Strongest cold coffees

Starbucks iced coffee
Nadine E / Unsplash

Starbucks’ cold coffee contains less caffeine than many of the hot options. However, cold coffee lovers can still enjoy several orders containing over 200 mg of caffeine per cup.

Nitro Cold Brew

Slow-steeped for a super-smooth taste, Starbucks’ Nitro Cold Brew is a popular favorite among cold coffee lovers. The nitrogen infusion through brewing on tap creates a sweet flavor without sugar. Nitro Cold Brew also contains more caffeine than regular cold brew, with 215 mg of caffeine in a tall size and 280 mg in the grande size. Unlike cold brew, Nitro Cold Brew is unavailable in larger sizes than a grande.

Cold brew

Regular cold brew may not contain as much caffeine as Nitro Cold Brew in terms of tall and grande sizes, yet it can contain more caffeine when ordered in larger sizes. A venti cold brew contains 310 mg of caffeine, and a trenta size contains 360 mg of caffeine.

Iced coffee

Starbucks’ iced coffee contains slightly less caffeine than cold brew, but is still a great option for a morning pick-me-up. A grande order contains around 165 mg of caffeine with venti and trenta sizes at 235 and 285 mg, respectively.

Is ordering a shot of espresso a better idea?

Espresso cup
Matt Hoffman / Unsplash

Starbucks also offers a blonde espresso shot containing about 85 mg of caffeine. If you want something super strong without much volume, order a quad espresso (four shots). A quad espresso contains around 340 mg of caffeine per cup, which is still not as strong as the Starbucks Blonde Roast brewed coffee. On the flip side, however, you can drink the quad espresso shots much faster than a 20-ounce venti coffee.

Emily Caldwell
Emily is an accomplished freelance journalist focusing on food, beverage, health, fitness, and travel content. She loves to…
Savor the Soul of NOLA with this new chicory coffee blend
Get ready for Mardi Gras with new this blend
Organic New Orleans Style Artisan Blend with Chicory

Just in time for Mardi Gras, Fresh Roasted Coffee has announced a new chicory coffee blend with a rich, smooth tribute to Louisiana's coffee tradition. Known for its sustainable coffee options, Fresh Roasted Coffee has crafted this coffee blend to capture the rich history and bold flavors of New Orleans with the new Organic New Orleans Style Artisan Blend. It is highly acclaimed as a smooth and delightfully rich coffee blend that brings together organic coffee and Positively Botanicals’ Organic Chicory to create a perfect balance of tradition and taste.
The Organic New Orleans Style Artisan Blend honors Louisiana's unique coffee culture, which dates back to the Civil War era. Coffee shortages led to the innovation of adding chicory root to coffee. This inventive blend quickly became a beloved staple in the South, particularly in New Orleans, where it remains an essential part of today’s coffee culture. The New Orleans locals enjoy their chicory coffee with some sugar and steamed milk, but this blend is delicious no matter how you take it.

Fresh Roasted Coffee has a unique process for this special blend. They've taken their customer-favorite Arabic coffee into a French roast, which is then blended with Positively Botanicals' organic Chicory Root.

Read more
Klatch Coffee drops new espresso roast
A new Klatch Coffee to fuel your day
Klatch Coffee eureka

Known for roasted-to-order coffees, premium coffee brand Klatch Coffee has dropped another delicious roast. Made for espresso lovers, the new Eureka roast is available in cafe locations across Southern California and online for purchase anywhere. The new Eureka blend offers flavor hints of chocolate, with notes of caramelized sugar and creamy vanilla for a solid, bold cup of espresso every time. Earlier this year, Klatch Coffee’s Barista’s Choice Espresso Club members got a sneak peek of Eureka as a member-only exclusive coffee that has not yet been offered to the public. Now, coffee lovers everywhere can sip on this new premium roast.
Mike Perry, Klatch Coffee’s Roastmaster, notes that Barist'as Choice Espresso Club members have given all-around exceptional feedback about the new espresso blend. Due to the demand, Klatch decided to offer Eureka to everyone. Eureka is now available to the general public as part of Klatch Coffee's collection of award-winning, top-rated whole bean espresso, available in a 310-gram bag, 2 lb bag, or 5 lb bag. This new espresso blend is only offered in whole bean and is roasted-to-order when ordered directly from Klatch Coffee's website.
The Baristas at Klatch Coffee recommend a 20-gram dose brewed at 201°F [94°C] for 25 to 27 seconds for the best shot of espresso. Every sip of this delightful new blend delivers a golden crema that’s sure to brighten your day. Don’t miss out—treat yourself to this liquid gold today! Klatch Coffee is also known for its other popular espresso blend, titled "WBC World's Best Espresso", which is also available for individual purchase on a subscription.
Buy Now

Read more
Jordan’s Skinny Mixes joins protein coffee trend with new product launch
Enjoy a Frappuccino without the added sugar
Caramel frappuccino

Jordan’s Skinny Mixes, a brand known for helping coffee lovers craft delicious drinks without sugar, has launched a pre-sale of its newest invention: a Skinnyccino. With consumer interest rising in products that combine protein with coffee, the brand proudly announces its new "Skinnyccino" product line. Jordan Engelhardt first launched the brand in 2009 to "elevate life’s daily rituals" without sacrificing fun or flavor. Today, the brand has expanded beyond cocktail mixers and offers a vast selection of sugar-free products available on SkinnyMixes.com, Amazon, and in-stores at many major retailers throughout the U.S.
This announcement marks the brand's first-ever ready-to-drink beverage, offering a convenient, on-the-go coffee containing half the calories in a typical Starbucks Frappuccino. Available in Caramel or Vanilla flavors, the Skinnyccino is the perfect drink for those who want to down on sugar and increase protein intake. Each ready-to-dink Skinnyccino contains zero added sugar and has 110 calories, 8 grams of protein, and 100 mg of caffeine per 12-ounce serving.
Crafted from a cold brew with meal milk and naturally flavored, Jordan's Skinny Mixes describes the new product launch as a way to "indulge in the sweet life" without the added guilt. Each drink offers convenience, enough caffeine, and the familiar taste many coffee lovers crave.

Skinnyccinos are now available directly from Jordan's Skinny Mixes website on a pre-sale launch starting today, March 4th, until March 10th, with an official launch date of March 11th, 2025. Skinnyccinos join the brand's other sugar-free and low-sugar flavor products, including coffee syrups, cocktail mixers, water-enhancing syrups, and on-the-go flavor bursts.

Read more