Quick Answer
Yes, you can get a caramel frappuccino without caffeine from Starbucks. When ordering a caramel frappuccino, you can request it to be made with decaf shots, or no coffee at all. The caramel frappuccino is available in both caffeinated and decaffeinated versions.
What is a Caramel Frappuccino?
A caramel frappuccino is a blended coffee drink made with ice, milk, sweetened coffee, caramel syrup, and whipped cream. It is one of Starbucks’ most popular blended beverages.
The standard caramel frappuccino recipe contains:
- Milk
- Ice
- Caramel syrup
- Whipped cream
- Espresso shots
The espresso shots provide the caffeine. By default, a grande size caramel frappuccino contains 3 shots of espresso, equal to about 150mg of caffeine.
Caramel Frappuccino Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount in Grande Size |
|---|---|
| Milk | About 1 cup |
| Ice | 2-3 cups crushed ice |
| Espresso shots | 3 shots |
| Caramel syrup | 2-3 pumps |
| Whipped cream | Topping |
The combination of milk, ice, espresso, and caramel syrup is blended together to create the frappe consistency. The whipped cream tops it off.
How to Order a Decaf Caramel Frappuccino
If you enjoy the caramel frappuccino but want to avoid the caffeine, there are a couple options for ordering it decaffeinated:
Option 1: Substitute Decaf Shots
When ordering a caramel frappuccino, request that it is made with decaf espresso shots instead of regular espresso. For example, you can say:
“I’d like a grande caramel frappuccino with decaf shots instead of regular shots please.”
This will remove most of the caffeine while keeping the coffee flavor. A grande made with 3 decaf shots will contain about 15-25mg of caffeine.
Option 2: Order Without Any Coffee
To remove all caffeine, order a caramel frappuccino without any espresso shots. For example:
“Could I get a grande caramel frappuccino with no coffee/espresso shots added?”
This makes it completely caffeine-free. Without the coffee, the drink will be lighter in color and have a milder coffee taste, highlighting the sweet caramel flavor.
How Much Caffeine is in a Caramel Frappuccino?
Here is an overview of the caffeine content in a standard caffeinated caramel frappuccino from Starbucks:
| Size | Espresso Shots | Caffeine (mg) |
|---|---|---|
| Tall | 2 shots | 100 |
| Grande | 3 shots | 150 |
| Venti | 4 shots | 200 |
As you can see, caffeine content ranges from 100-200mg per drink. Ordering with decaf shots or no coffee at all significantly reduces the caffeine.
Decaf Caramel Frappuccino Nutrition Facts
Removing the coffee also changes the nutrition facts. Here is a nutrition comparison of a standard grande caramel frappuccino versus one made with no coffee:
| Nutrition Fact | With Coffee | Without Coffee |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 410 | 380 |
| Total Fat | 11g | 11g |
| Sodium | 270mg | 270mg |
| Total Carbs | 71g | 69g |
| Sugars | 61g | 59g |
| Protein | 6g | 3g |
Removing the coffee drops calories, carbs, sugars, and protein slightly. Overall the nutrition is very similar. The main change is the lack of caffeine.
Tips for Ordering a Decaf Caramel Frappuccino
Here are some useful tips for customizing a decaf caramel frappuccino:
- Feel free to adjust the number of pumps of caramel syrup to your liking. Adding extra will make it sweeter.
- Request less or no whipped cream to reduce fat and calories.
- Ask for skim or nonfat milk to further cut calories and fat.
- Order it with added ingredients like toffee nut or mocha sauce for more flavor.
- Blend it with ice only, no milk, for a lighter option.
- Customize the size. The taller the drink, the more ingredients it will contain.
Keep in mind that some customizations may add calories, sugars, etc. so adjust accordingly to meet your needs.
Other Tips for Low Caffeine Starbucks Drinks
Beyond caramel frappuccinos, there are many ways to order low or no caffeine drinks at Starbucks:
- Substitute decaf espresso in any hot or iced coffee drink
- Order hot chocolate or steamers made with no coffee
- Request tea drinks unsweetened or without chai concentrate
- Choose a Refresher made with juice and coconut milk, no tea
- Order a Crème Frappuccino which only contains milk and flavor
- Ask for a blended strawberry lemonade with no lemonade base
- Customize sugary coffee-free Fizzios like ginger ale or root beer
Check the menu boards and ask your barista for the best low/no-caffeine options. Starbucks can customize most drinks to meet your needs.
The Bottom Line
While the standard caramel frappuccino does contain a good amount of caffeine, ordering it decaffeinated is easy. Simply request it made with decaf espresso shots or no coffee at all. This allows you to enjoy the sweet caramel flavor without the stimulant effects.
Customize your decaf frappuccino in ways that suit your preferences like less whipped cream or nonfat milk. And don’t forget Starbucks has many other delicious coffee-free drinks to choose from as well. So go ahead and order your caramel frapp caffeine-free!