Quick Answer
A large (16 oz) caramel iced latte from Starbucks contains approximately:
- Calories: 330
- Total Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
- Sodium: 150mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 54g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 51g
- Protein: 11g
So a large Starbucks caramel iced latte contains about 330 calories. The calories come mainly from fat and carbohydrates, especially sugars.
Detailed Nutritional Breakdown
Let’s take a more detailed look at the nutritional contents of a Starbucks large caramel iced latte:
Calories
A 16 oz Starbucks caramel iced latte contains approximately 330 calories.
This is quite high in calories for a single beverage. For comparison, a 12 oz can of Coca-Cola contains 140 calories.
So this iced latte packs over twice as many calories as a can of soda in just a slightly larger size.
The high calorie count is mainly due to the large amounts of fat and added sugars.
Fat
The latte provides 11g total fat, including 7g saturated fat.
Saturated fat should be limited to avoid raising LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat to no more than 13g per day.
So this one drink already provides over half of the recommended daily limit for saturated fat intake.
Carbohydrates
There are 54g total carbohydrates in a large Starbucks caramel iced latte.
The majority of these carbs come from added sugar. There is 51g sugar in total.
That’s a very high amount, exceeding the American Heart Association’s recommended daily limit of 36g for men and 25g for women.
Consuming excess added sugars is linked to weight gain, diabetes, heart disease and other health issues.
Aside from sugar, most of the remaining carbs come from the milk. There is little to no fiber.
Protein
With 11g of protein, this drink does provide a decent amount of this important nutrient.
The protein comes primarily from the milk. This makes the drink more nutritious and filling compared to soda or other sugar-sweetened beverages.
Micronutrients
There areminimal micronutrients like vitamins and minerals in a Starbucks caramel iced latte.
Milk provides a small amount of calcium, vitamin D and vitamin A, but overall the drink is lacking in essential vitamins and minerals.
It should not be considered a significant source of micronutrients.
Comparison to Other Popular Coffee Drinks
How does a Starbucks caramel iced latte compare calorie-wise to other popular coffee beverages? Here is a comparison:
| Beverage (16 oz) | Calories |
|---|---|
| Starbucks Caramel Iced Latte | 330 |
| Starbucks Caffe Mocha | 410 |
| Dunkin’ Iced Caramel Latte | 350 |
| McCafe Caramel Iced Latte | 280 |
| Black Coffee | 5 |
As you can see, most popular iced and blended coffee drinks from chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’ contain 300-400 calories or more in a medium/large 16 oz serving.
In comparison, black coffee with no sugar or milk is very low in calories.
So the high calorie content is mainly due to adding sugar and milk/cream to coffee-based drinks.
Ways to Make Your Latte Healthier
If you want to enjoy lattes and other coffee drinks without consuming excess calories, here are some tips:
– Choose a small or medium size (12 oz or less)
– Ask for less sugar or no sugar added
– Request skim or low-fat milk instead of whole milk
– Opt for sugar-free flavored syrup instead of regular caramel, mocha, etc
– Boost flavor with cinnamon instead of extra syrups
– Leave room at the top for foam rather than getting a completely filled cup
Making just a couple tweaks can substantially reduce the calories while still allowing you to enjoy your favorite coffeehouse beverage.
The Bottom Line
A Starbucks large caramel iced latte contains approximately 330 calories, mainly from fat and added sugars. It’s high in calories, fat, saturated fat, sugars and low in fiber and micronutrients.
Modifying your order by downsizing, reducing sugar and choosing lower fat milk can help reduce the calorie content while still allowing you to enjoy your latte. Unsweetened coffee drinks like black coffee have very minimal calories in comparison.