Iced coffee beverages are popular menu items at coffee shops like Starbucks. One such drink is the iced brown sugar Oatmilk shaken espresso. This sweet and creamy coffee drink is made by shaking espresso with ice, brown sugar syrup and Oatmilk. But how much sugar does this iced coffee contain?
In this article, we will break down the ingredients in an iced brown sugar Oatmilk shaken espresso to determine the total sugar content. We will look at the amount of espresso, brown sugar syrup, Oatmilk and ice used. We’ll also consider size options like tall, grande and venti. By understanding the sugar content, you can make informed decisions about what drinks fit your dietary needs and preferences.
Amount of Espresso
The iced brown sugar Oatmilk shaken espresso starts with a shot or shots of espresso. Espresso itself contains no sugar. The amount of espresso in the drink depends on the size:
| Size | Amount of Espresso |
|---|---|
| Tall | 1 shot (1 fl oz) |
| Grande | 2 shots (2 fl oz) |
| Venti | 3 shots (3 fl oz) |
As you can see, the amount of sugar-free espresso increases with drink size. A taller size provides more caffeine but does not add any sugar.
Brown Sugar Syrup
The sweet flavor in the beverage comes from the addition of Starbucks brown sugar syrup. This syrup is a proprietary blend of brown sugar and water.
The standard amount of brown sugar syrup used is:
| Size | Brown Sugar Syrup |
|---|---|
| Tall | 3 pumps (1.5 tsp) |
| Grande | 4 pumps (2 tsp) |
| Venti | 5 pumps (2.5 tsp) |
The nutritional information for Starbucks brown sugar syrup states there are 12 grams of sugar per serving. Each pump from the syrup dispenser provides approximately 1 teaspoon or 4 grams of sugar.
Therefore, we can determine the amount of sugar added from the brown sugar syrup:
| Size | Brown Sugar Syrup Pumps | Sugar per Pump (grams) | Total Sugar from Syrup (grams) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Grande | 4 | 4 | 16 |
| Venti | 5 | 4 | 20 |
As expected, the sugar contributed by the brown sugar syrup increases with size. A taller drink has 12 grams of sugar from the added syrup.
Oatmilk
Oatmilk is the non-dairy milk alternative used in the iced brown sugar shaken espresso. Starbucks uses their own Oatmilk containing oats and water.
The standard amount of Oatmilk in the beverage is:
| Size | Oatmilk |
|---|---|
| Tall | 4 oz |
| Grande | 6 oz |
| Venti | 8 oz |
The nutritional data for Starbucks Oatmilk shows it contains 7 grams of sugar per 8 fluid ounces.
Based on the standard Oatmilk amount in each size, we can calculate the sugar added:
| Size | Oatmilk Amount | Sugar per 8 oz | Total Sugar from Oatmilk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall | 4 oz | 7g | 3g |
| Grande | 6 oz | 7g | 4g |
| Venti | 8 oz | 7g | 7g |
The Oatmilk contributes 3-7 grams of sugar depending on drink size. So the sugar adds up incrementally as more Oatmilk is used in larger sizes.
Ice
The iced brown sugar Oatmilk shaken espresso is served over ice. The ice is made from brewed Starbucks espresso and therefore does not contain any additional sugar. The amount of ice scales up with the size:
| Size | Ice |
|---|---|
| Tall | 12 oz |
| Grande | 16 oz |
| Venti | 24 oz |
So while a larger size comes with more ice, the ice itself does not contribute any extra sugar.
Total Sugar Content
Now that we’ve looked at how much sugar is in each ingredient, we can calculate the total amount of sugar in an iced brown sugar Oatmilk shaken espresso:
| Size | Sugar from Syrup | Sugar from Oatmilk | Total Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall | 12g | 3g | 15g |
| Grande | 16g | 4g | 20g |
| Venti | 20g | 7g | 27g |
A tall iced brown sugar Oatmilk shaken espresso made standard contains around 15 grams of sugar. The sugar jumps up to 20 grams for a grande and 27 grams for a venti.
So the total sugar scales up substantially as you go from a small to a large drink size. The increase comes primarily from the higher amount of brown sugar syrup pumps used in larger sizes. The additional Oatmilk also contributes incremental sugar.
Comparing Milk Options
We’ve looked at the standard recipe using Oatmilk. But you can customize your iced shaken espresso by substituting different milk options. How does the sugar content change with different dairy and non-dairy milks?
Here’s a comparison of the total sugar in a tall (12 oz) iced brown sugar shaken espresso using different milks:
| Milk | Sugar per 8 oz | Total Sugar (Tall) |
|---|---|---|
| Nonfat Milk | 12g | 18g |
| 2% Milk | 11g | 17g |
| Almond Milk | 0g | 12g |
| Coconut Milk | 6g | 15g |
| Oat Milk | 7g | 15g |
| Soy Milk | 1g | 13g |
The dairy milk options like nonfat and 2% milk add a few additional grams of sugar due to their natural lactose content. Nondairy milks vary quite a bit – coconut milk contributes some extra sugar while almond milk and soy milk add negligible amounts. Overall, the different milk choices only shift the total sugar slightly compared to brown sugar syrup as the main driver.
Customization Options
Beyond milk choice, you can also customize your iced shaken espresso in other ways that alter the total sugar content:
Sweetener: Substitute sugar-free sweeteners to cut down on sugar. Options like stevia or Splenda will not add anything to the total sugar count.
Syrup: Skip the brown sugar syrup or opt for a lower sugar syrup like sugar-free vanilla or cinnamon dolce. Just 1-2 pumps will provide flavor without all the added sugar.
Milk: Request a splash or light layer of milk rather than the full 4 oz in a tall. This limits how much natural milk sugar goes into your drink.
Size: Stick with the smallest size available to minimize extra pumps of syrup and milk. Get a tall rather than a venti to keep sugar in check.
Ice: Ask for extra ice to make your drink extra cold without changing the sugar content.
So while the standard recipe calls for brown sugar syrup and regular dairy milk, you can request modifications to fit your preferences and dietary needs.
Conclusions
To summarize key points:
– The brown sugar syrup contributes the most sugar, providing 12-20 grams depending on size.
– Oatmilk adds 3-7 grams of sugar in standard recipes.
– Skipping syrup, using sugar-free sweeteners and less milk can reduce the total sugar amount.
– A tall iced brown sugar shaken espresso contains around 15 grams of sugar.
– Customizing your drink with lower sugar options can help manage your sugar intake.
Understanding what goes into your coffee drink empowers you to make informed choices and balance enjoyment with health. Knowing the sugar content of menu items like the iced brown sugar Oatmilk shaken espresso can help guide your orders and any customizations. Enjoy your coffee while keeping added sugars in check!
Learn More
To learn more about the sugar content of popular Starbucks drinks, check out these helpful resources:
[Starbucks Complete Nutrition Data](https://www.starbucks.com/menu/catalog/nutrition?drink=all) – Look up any menu item to see the total sugars and calories.
[Sugar in Popular Starbucks Drinks](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/starbucks-sugar-in-drinks) – Review the sugar counts for some of the most common coffeehouse orders.
[Hidden Sugars in Your Latte](https://www.eatthis.com/hidden-sugars-in-your-latte/) – Get helpful tips for ordering lower sugar versions of coffee drinks like lattes, mochas and macchiatos.
[Keto Drinks at Starbucks](https://perfectketo.com/keto-starbucks/) – See recommendations of low carb and low sugar drinks that fit a keto diet.
Armed with information, you can satisfy your coffee cravings while keeping added sugars in check and maintaining a balanced diet. Carefully customizing your drinks can let you both enjoy high quality coffee drinks and look after your health.