15 Zero Calorie Starbucks Drinks (And How to Order Them)
Yes, Starbucks has genuinely zero and near-zero calorie options — and some of them are actually good. Here’s the full list, plus the syrups, sweeteners, and ordering hacks that keep your count at zero.
Starbucks has several genuinely zero calorie drinks — unsweetened teas and black coffee are 0–5 calories. Caffè Americano is 15 calories. With zero calorie sweeteners and sugar-free syrups (also 0 calories), you can customize many drinks to near-zero without sacrificing flavor.
Does Starbucks Have Zero Calorie Drinks?
Short answer: yes. Longer answer: more than most people realize. Most Starbucks customers assume the menu starts at 150+ calories and goes up from there. That’s true for lattes and frappuccinos — but it’s not the whole picture.
Starbucks tea menu, black coffee lineup, and espresso-over-water drinks are either completely zero calories or so close it doesn’t matter. Add the chain’s zero calorie sweeteners and sugar-free syrups, and you can customize your way to near-zero on drinks that actually have flavor and caffeine.
This article covers 15 zero calorie Starbucks drinks you can order right now — with exact calorie counts, caffeine levels, and the specific words to use at the counter or in the app.
A few drinks on this list are technically 5–20 calories, not a true zero. We’re including them because at that calorie level, the difference from zero is nutritionally irrelevant — and they’re far more useful to know about than leaving you with a list of three items. Where calories aren’t a literal zero, we say so clearly.
15 Zero and Near-Zero Calorie Starbucks Drinks
Organized from absolute zero up — so you can pick based on how strict you’re being today.
- 1
Unsweetened Iced Tea (any variety)
Starbucks brews Teavana teas fresh — black, green, herbal, and white. Ordered unsweetened, every single variety is 0 calories. The Passion Tango Herbal Tea is the crowd favorite: caffeine-free, hibiscus-forward, naturally tart, and genuinely refreshing. The Peach Tranquility and Mint Majesty are also excellent caffeine-free options.
How to order: “Iced [tea name], unsweetened, no water” — the “no water” part gives you pure tea instead of the diluted default.
0calories - 2
Hot Brewed Tea (unsweetened)
Every hot tea at Starbucks — Emperor’s Clouds & Mist green tea, Earl Grey, Jade Citrus Mint, Peach Tranquility, Royal English Breakfast — brews to 0 calories when ordered without honey or sweetener. It’s the most overlooked zero calorie hot drink at Starbucks because it’s so simple people assume there must be a catch. There isn’t.
How to order: “[Tea name], no sweetener, no honey.”
0calories - 3
Black Brewed Coffee (hot)
Pike Place Roast, Blonde Roast, Dark Roast — all brewed coffee options at Starbucks are 5 calories black. That’s it. A Venti Pike Place has 410mg of caffeine for 5 calories, which might be the best caffeine-per-calorie ratio of anything on the planet. Most people overlook it because it feels too simple. It’s not simple — it’s just honest.
How to order: “Grande [roast name], black, no room.” (No room = no space left for milk you won’t be adding.)
5calories - 4
Cold Brew Coffee (unsweetened, no milk)
Starbucks cold brew is steeped for 20+ hours, which produces a naturally smooth, slightly sweet flavor — without any sugar. Ordered black with no additions, a Grande is 5 calories. It also has about 205mg caffeine, which makes it one of the most efficient zero calorie iced coffees at Starbucks you can order. The Nitro Cold Brew variant adds velvety texture from nitrogen — still 5 calories.
How to order: “Grande Cold Brew, no sweetener, no milk.” Or “Grande Nitro Cold Brew” — it comes unsweetened by default.
5calories - 5
Iced Coffee (unsweetened, black)
Starbucks iced coffee is chilled brewed coffee — not cold brew — poured over ice. Ordered without classic syrup (which is added by default) and without milk, it’s 5 calories. This is the one where you have to be explicit: the default comes with classic syrup, so you need to say “no classic, no milk” or it won’t be zero calorie.
How to order: “Grande Iced Coffee, no classic syrup, no milk, light ice.”
5calories - 6
Caffè Americano (hot or iced)
Espresso shots pulled over hot water. Simple, bold, and 15 calories for a Grande with two shots. The Iced Americano is identical — espresso over water and ice. No milk, no syrup, no anything extra. This is the go-to zero calorie coffee at Starbucks for espresso lovers who want concentrated flavor without a latte’s calorie cost.
How to order: “Grande Americano, black.” Done. If you want more shots: “Triple Grande Americano” is still only 20 calories.
15calories - 7
Espresso (solo or doppio)
A solo (single) espresso shot is 5 calories. A doppio (double) is 10 calories. That’s the entire drink — concentrated, intense, and consumed in about 30 seconds. If you’re purely chasing caffeine efficiency and zero calories, there’s nothing better on the menu. Starbucks uses Espresso Roast by default; you can ask for Blonde Roast for a slightly sweeter, lighter profile.
How to order: “Doppio espresso” or “Solo espresso for here” (they’ll serve it in a proper espresso cup).
5calories - 8
Unsweetened Passion Tango Iced Tea Lemonade (modified)
The standard Passion Tango Lemonade has 80–130 calories from classic syrup and lemonade. But order it as “unsweetened Passion Tango tea, no lemonade, no classic, add a splash of water” and you get the same vivid pink color and hibiscus flavor for 0 calories. It looks identical to the original and tastes almost as good — this is one of the best zero-calorie visual drinks at Starbucks for anyone who wants something that looks indulgent.
How to order: “Grande Passion Tango Iced Tea, no classic syrup, no lemonade, unsweetened, light ice.”
0calories - 9
Iced Green Tea (unsweetened)
Starbucks brews Jade Citrus Mint green tea for their iced green tea. Unsweetened, a Grande is 0 calories with a clean, grassy flavor and about 25mg caffeine — low enough that it won’t disrupt sleep if ordered in the afternoon. This is the best zero calorie green tea at Starbucks for anyone who wants something lighter than coffee caffeine-wise.
How to order: “Grande Iced Green Tea, unsweetened, no water.” (No water gives you full-strength brewed tea.)
0calories - 10
Iced Black Tea (unsweetened)
Starbucks brews Royal English Breakfast tea for their iced black tea. Unsweetened, it’s 0 calories with a higher caffeine content than green tea — around 25–50mg for a Grande. Robust, clean, and deeply underordered. Works beautifully with a splash of lemon (which adds zero calories) if you want something with more brightness.
How to order: “Grande Iced Black Tea, unsweetened, no water, squeeze of lemon.”
0calories - 11
Americano with Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup
A Grande Americano (15 cal) plus sugar-free vanilla syrup (0 cal per pump) gives you a lightly sweetened, flavored espresso drink for 15–20 calories total. This is the closest thing to a “flavored latte” in the zero-calorie zone. The sugar-free vanilla syrup uses sucralose — no calories, no carbs. Two pumps give noticeable sweetness without being sugary.
How to order: “Grande Iced Americano, 2 pumps sugar-free vanilla, no milk.”
~20calories - 12
Cold Brew with Sugar-Free Cinnamon Dolce Syrup
Cold Brew (5 cal) plus sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce syrup (0 cal) equals a spiced, lightly sweet iced coffee at 5 calories. The cinnamon dolce flavor reads as warm and slightly indulgent — nothing like a plain black cold brew. This is one of the best zero calorie iced coffee options at Starbucks for people who think they need sweetener to enjoy coffee.
How to order: “Grande Cold Brew, 2 pumps sugar-free cinnamon dolce, no milk, light ice.”
5calories - 13
Iced Green Tea with Sugar-Free Syrup
Unsweetened iced green tea (0 cal) with a pump of sugar-free vanilla or sugar-free cinnamon dolce (0 cal) gives you a subtly flavored, 0 calorie iced tea that tastes intentional rather than plain. The sugar-free syrup dissolves cleanly into cold tea and provides just enough sweetness to round out the grassy green tea flavor. Great for afternoon caffeine without any caloric cost.
How to order: “Grande Iced Green Tea, unsweetened, 1 pump sugar-free vanilla, no water.”
0calories - 14
Nitro Cold Brew (plain)
Nitrogen-infused cold brew served from a tap. No ice — the nitrogen keeps it cold and creates a creamy, Guinness-like texture from the cascading bubbles. A Grande Nitro Cold Brew is 5 calories with around 280mg caffeine — one of the highest-caffeine low-calorie drinks at Starbucks. Important note: Nitro is only available in Tall and Grande sizes (Venti would over-carbonate).
How to order: “Grande Nitro Cold Brew, no sweet cream, no additions.” It comes unsweetened by default.
5calories - 15
Iced Peach Green Tea (unsweetened, modified)
The standard Iced Peach Green Tea has 60–80 calories from the peach juice blend and classic syrup. Order it “unsweetened, no peach juice, add 1 pump sugar-free peach syrup if available” (location-dependent) and you get the flavor profile for near-zero calories. In locations without sugar-free peach, the unsweetened green tea with peach notes from the brewing process alone is still a worthwhile zero calorie Starbucks tea — and still 0 calories.
How to order: “Grande Iced Peach Green Tea, unsweetened, no peach juice, no classic syrup, light ice.”
0calories
Starbucks Zero Calorie Syrups and Sweeteners
This is the part most people miss. Starbucks’ zero calorie syrups and sweeteners are what turn a plain zero-calorie base drink into something that feels customized and intentional — without adding a single calorie.
Zero Calorie Syrups (Sugar-Free)
These use sucralose (Splenda) as the sweetener. Each pump is genuinely 0 calories and 0 grams of sugar. Available at most U.S. Starbucks locations:
| Sugar-Free Syrup | Calories per pump | Best used in |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-Free Vanilla | 0 cal | Americanos, cold brew, iced teas, lattes (with nonfat milk) |
| Sugar-Free Cinnamon Dolce | 0 cal | Cold brew, black tea, hot coffee — warm spice flavor |
| Sugar-Free Hazelnut | 0 cal | Hot coffee, Americanos — nutty, slightly sweet |
| Sugar-Free Caramel (select locations) | 0 cal | Iced coffee, cold brew — caramel flavor without the sugar |
Yes. The FDA allows products with less than 5 calories per serving to be labeled “zero calories,” and Starbucks sugar-free syrups fall well under that threshold. Each pump delivers flavor via sucralose with no caloric contribution.
Zero Calorie Sweeteners at Starbucks
Beyond the sugar-free syrups, Starbucks carries these zero calorie sweeteners at the condiment bar or available on request:
| Sweetener | Calories | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stevia (Organic Sweet’N Low) | 0 cal | Natural | Available at most locations on request |
| Splenda (Sucralose) | 0 cal | Artificial | Standard at all condiment bars |
| Equal (Aspartame) | 0 cal | Artificial | Standard at all condiment bars |
| Sweet’N Low (Saccharin) | 0 cal | Artificial | Standard at all condiment bars |
Regular sugar (turbinado, white), honey, and liquid cane syrup are all caloric. The zero calorie sweetener options at Starbucks are the four above. If you want zero calories in your hot tea or coffee, use one of these instead of honey or classic syrup.
What About Starbucks Zero Calorie Creamer?
Starbucks doesn’t offer a zero calorie dairy creamer — all their milk options have some calories. However, if you’re asking about the Starbucks brand creamers sold in grocery stores, some of those are labeled “zero sugar” but still contain calories from fat. At the store counter, your lowest-calorie milk option is almond milk (~60 cal per 8 oz) or nonfat milk (~80 cal per 8 oz). Neither is zero — but both are low.
What About Cold Foam?
Standard sweet cream cold foam is 110–130 calories and not zero-calorie friendly. However, plain cold foam made from nonfat milk is around 30 calories — a much lighter topping if you want texture without the full calorie hit. For a complete breakdown of every cold foam variety and its calorie count, see our Starbucks Cold Foam Calories guide — including vanilla cold foam, lavender cold foam, and all seasonal options.
Zero Calorie Starbucks Drinks at a Glance
A fast reference for when you’re at the counter and need to decide quickly.
| Drink | Calories | Caffeine | Hot/Iced | Caffeine-Free? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unsweetened Herbal Tea | 0 | 0mg | Both | ✓ Yes |
| Unsweetened Green Tea | 0 | ~25mg | Both | No |
| Unsweetened Black Tea | 0 | ~25–50mg | Both | No |
| Passion Tango (modified) | 0 | 0mg | Iced | ✓ Yes |
| Brewed Coffee (black) | 5 | ~260–410mg | Hot | No |
| Cold Brew (plain) | 5 | ~205mg | Iced | No |
| Nitro Cold Brew | 5 | ~280mg | Iced | No |
| Iced Coffee (no syrup/milk) | 5 | ~165mg | Iced | No |
| Espresso (solo) | 5 | ~75mg | Hot | No |
| Caffè Americano | 15 | ~150mg | Both | No |
| Americano + SF Vanilla | ~20 | ~150mg | Both | No |
| Cold Brew + SF Cinnamon | 5 | ~205mg | Iced | No |
Best Zero Calorie Starbucks Hacks
Beyond the drinks themselves, a few ordering strategies consistently help people stay at zero or near-zero without feeling like they’re missing out.
The “No Classic” Rule
Several Starbucks drinks — iced coffee, iced teas, some refreshers — come with classic syrup added by default. Classic syrup is just liquid sugar: 20 calories per pump, totally flavorless. Always say “no classic” on any iced drink order to avoid invisible calories you didn’t want.
The “No Water” Tea Trick
Standard Starbucks iced tea is brewed tea diluted 50/50 with water. Ordering “no water” gives you full-strength tea — more flavor, same zero calories. It makes unsweetened tea significantly more enjoyable.
Sugar-Free Syrup Instead of Sweetener
Sugar-free syrups are more consistent than packets — they dissolve instantly and distribute evenly through cold drinks. One pump of sugar-free vanilla in cold brew is smoother and more controlled than stirring in a Splenda packet that never fully dissolves.
Lemon = Free Flavor
A squeeze of lemon (from the packets at the condiment bar, or ask for lemon slices) adds brightness to any iced tea or Americano for zero calories. The acidity makes unsweetened drinks taste less flat without actually adding sweetness.
Light Ice = More Drink
Ordering “light ice” on any iced drink gives you more actual beverage in the cup. No extra calories — just more of what you ordered. Especially useful for cold brew and iced tea where you’re already at zero.
“Grande Iced Americano, 2 pumps sugar-free vanilla, light ice, squeeze of lemon.” — It sounds like nothing. It tastes like a lightly sweetened, citrus-kissed iced espresso drink. 20 calories. People order it daily without missing their lattes.
If zero feels too restrictive and you want more options with real flavor, our Starbucks drinks under 100 calories guide covers the next tier up — drinks that are still very light but open up the full menu considerably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Starbucks have zero calorie drinks?
Yes. Unsweetened herbal teas (Passion Tango, Peach Tranquility, Mint Majesty) are 0 calories. Unsweetened green and black iced teas are 0 calories. Black brewed coffee, cold brew, nitro cold brew, and espresso are 5–15 calories — close enough to zero to be functionally equivalent for any dietary purpose. For a focused list, see our 0 calorie Starbucks drinks guide.
Can I get zero calorie coffee at Starbucks?
Yes. Black brewed coffee and espresso are 5 calories — effectively zero. A Caffè Americano (espresso over water) is 15 calories. A Nitro Cold Brew is 5 calories. If you want a flavored zero calorie coffee, add sugar-free vanilla or cinnamon dolce syrup — both are 0 calories per pump and turn a plain Americano into a flavored drink at essentially no caloric cost.
Are Starbucks sugar-free syrups really zero calories?
Yes. Starbucks sugar-free syrups use sucralose (Splenda) and contain fewer than 1 calorie per pump — the FDA rounds this to zero. They are genuinely 0 calories, 0 sugar, and 0 carbs per pump. Available sugar-free options at most locations: vanilla, cinnamon dolce, and hazelnut.
Does Starbucks have a zero calorie sweetener?
Yes — several. Splenda (sucralose), Equal (aspartame), Sweet’N Low (saccharin), and stevia are all available at the condiment bar or on request. All are 0 calories. These are different from sugar-free syrups — sweeteners are dry packets, while syrups are liquid and dissolve more evenly into cold drinks.
Is Starbucks iced tea zero calories?
Unsweetened, yes. Starbucks iced teas come sweetened with classic syrup by default — ordering them unsweetened drops the calorie count to zero for all herbal, green, and black tea varieties. Always specify “unsweetened” and “no classic syrup” when ordering.
What is the best zero calorie Starbucks drink?
For coffee drinkers: Nitro Cold Brew (5 cal, ~280mg caffeine, creamy texture from nitrogen). For non-coffee: Unsweetened Passion Tango Iced Tea (0 cal, vivid color, great flavor). For something flavored: Grande Iced Americano with 2 pumps sugar-free vanilla (~20 cal, tastes intentional and satisfying).
Does Starbucks have zero calorie refreshers?
Standard Refreshers (Mango Dragonfruit, Strawberry Açaí, etc.) are 90–130 calories from the juice base and cane sugar. A genuinely zero calorie refresher doesn’t exist on the standard menu. However, ordering “Passion Tango Iced Tea, unsweetened, no juice base” gives you the pink color and herbal flavor for 0 calories — the closest zero-calorie alternative.
What has zero calories at Starbucks?
Zero calories: any unsweetened herbal tea (hot or iced), unsweetened green tea, unsweetened black tea, and plain water. Near-zero (5–15 cal): black brewed coffee, cold brew, nitro cold brew, iced coffee without syrup/milk, espresso, and Caffè Americano. Sugar-free syrups add flavor for 0 calories. Zero calorie sweeteners (Splenda, stevia, Equal) are also available.
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