Frappuccinos have been the talk of the town for as long as we can remember! From java chip to green tea there is an array of options to choose from.
With so many varieties of beverages and the many different names given to them, it can be a little tricky to find out what your drink contains and what it doesn’t.
One of the most asked questions about frappuccinos is whether they contain caffeine? In this article, we will be covering everything you need to know about your frappuccino!
Jump Straight to the answer – Does StarbucksFrappuccino have caffeine?
What is a Frappuccino?
Frappuccino is a combination of “frappe” and “cappuccino”. The name frappuccino speaks for itself, A frappe is a thick milkshake blended with ice or ice cream, and combining cappuccino to that means adding a shot or two of espresso to it.
Find out the total caffeine in 2 shots of espresso.
This is how the original version of frappuccino was created, but let’s be honest over the years the drink has undergone several changes and most frappuccinos no longer contain espresso.
Frappuccino is a trademarked brand of Starbucks. That means a frappuccino can be legally sold only by Starbucks or by those who have permission to use the Starbucks trademark.
History of Frappuccino?
The story of Frappuccino dates back to 1992 when a coffee shop in Massachusetts called Coffee Connection started selling an Ice blended espresso-based drink called the Frappuccino.
It was milk blended with ice, sugar, and espresso. This refreshing beverage quickly became popular among Local Harvard students. Coffee Connection started making this beverage with granita machines and then moved to using soft-serve ice-cream machines.
When Starbucks realized its fondness for this ice-blended beverage was growing it saw an excellent opportunity in the market, especially during the summer months.
So the famous coffee joint started testing a similar drink, but they decided to use a blender instead of a soft-serve ice cream machine, in order to make the process faster.
In 1994, Starbucks acquired Coffee Connection and its most popular drink the frappuccino. They trademarked the name and started selling this famous beverage nationwide.
Does Starbucks Frappuccino Have Caffeine?
The answer to the question, if frappuccino has caffeine is both yes and no. While a majority of frappuccino is in fact coffee-based, some flavors do not contain coffee.
To have a clear understanding, what you should know first is that there are two types of frappuccino, one that is coffee-based and the other that is creme-based.
More often than not, creme-based frappuccinos like Strawberries & Creme Frappucino, Vanilla Cream Frappuccino, Chocolate Cream Frappuccino, etc do not contain caffeine.
While, other frappuccino flavors like Caramel Frappuccino, Java Chip Frappuccino, and Espresso Frappuccino are coffee-based beverages and therefore do contain caffeine.
That being said some creme-based frappuccinos still have caffeine in them, for example- Green Tea Cream Frappuccino and Chai Tea Cream Frappuccino are in fact caffeinated beverages.
If you are sensitive to caffeine and are still doubtful about your frappuccino, the best way to be sure is to ask your barista if the beverage you are ordering is caffeine-free or not. In most cases, you can also ask the barista to add or not add coffee to certain beverages.
How much Caffeine is in a Frappuccino?
Now, that you know that your favorite frappuccino probably contains caffeine. It is also important to know how much caffeine is present in different frappuccinos.
Here is a list of all the Starbucks frappuccinos with their caffeine content-
| No. | Frappuccino | Contains Coffee | Caffeiene Content |
| 1. | Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino | Yes | 85mg |
| 2. | Espresso Frappuccino | Yes | 155mg |
| 3. | Caramel Frappuccino | Yes | 90mg |
| 4. | Caffè Vanilla Frappuccino | Yes | 95mg |
| 5. | Chai Creme Frappuccino | No | 40mg |
| 6. | Java Chip Frappuccino | Yes | 105mg |
| 7. | Matcha Green Tea Frappuccinp | No | 70mg |
| 8. | Mocha Frappuccino | Yes | 100mg |
| 9. | Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino | No | 15mg |
| 10. | Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème Frappuccino | No | 15mg |
| 11. | White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino | Yes | 95mg |
| 12. | Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino | Yes | 85mg |
The caffeine content of each beverage is based on a grande-sized drink from Starbucks. This chart lets you know clearly that even some creme-based frappuccinos have caffeine.
However, the caffeine content in these beverages is fairly low. So, if you’re getting yourself one with the intention of getting a caffeine buzz, you might want to re-think your options!
Can you have Frappuccino without Caffeine?
Definitely, you can! We live in the age of personalization, where every single thing can be customized and catered to your personal needs and so can your frappuccinos.
Customers always have the option to ask their barista to skip the coffee in their choice of frappuccino. You can also ask them to switch the regular coffee with decaf this way the caffeine content would be quite less.
If you do not want to go through the hassle of customizing your drink and need a quick go-to order, then here is a list of caffeine-free frappuccinos you can order-
- Caramel Ribbon Crunch Creme Frappuccino
- Strawberry Frappuccino
- Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino
- White Chocolate Creme Frappuccino
- Strawberry Funnel Cake Creme Frappuccino
Final Thoughts
It is extremely crucial to know what you are consuming and how. Even though Frappuccinos are loaded with sugar and cream most drinks still contain caffeine.
We hope with this guide it is clear that certain frappuccinos have caffeine and some do not. Having a clear understanding of what your drink contains helps you make an informed decision.
Homemade Chilled Mocha Frappuccino Recipe
Frappuccinos are like the newest coffee trend that is here to stay. Not only it is extremely refreshing and incredibly delicious, but also the recipe is very simple to make, it requires only a few ingredients and it is really quick too!
Try this extremely simple mocha frappuccino recipe at home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Both Frappe and Frappuccino were traditionally made of coffee but both these drinks are made using different types of coffee. Frappe is made using instant coffee. So if you want to make an original frappe you have to make it using instant coffee which is what results in giving you a frothy chilled drink at the end.
Frappuccino, on the other hand, is made using espresso or brewed coffee. Adding instant coffee to this type of ice-blended drink would not give the same taste and flavor. To learn more about the differences between a Frappe and Frappuccino, click here!
A Mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks contains around 100mg of caffeine.
Yes, usually the caramel frappuccino from Starbuck does contain coffee. However, you can always ask your barista to skip the espresso or switch it with decaf coffee.
