Does the pink drink have caffeine? Is it stronger than a single espresso?

You’ve probably come across a pink drink on Instagram, it must have been a carousel post, a story or even a reel with one of your friends relishing it and if not, it might have caught your eye one of the distinct-colour drinks at Starbucks. But the question that comes quite naturally is, what’s the secret ingredient that makes it pink? Does the pink drink have caffeine?

Let’s go over these questions to get a better picture of this unique drink. 

What really is the Starbucks pink drink?

It’s no surprise that young audiences rave about the pink drink; exotic fruits are blended together and served over crushed ice to create a refreshing drink. 

Interestingly, the drink’s base isn’t espresso, nor coffee of any kind, but Strawberry-Acai Refresher.

But where does the pink colour come from? 

A splash of coconut milk that’s used to add richness and an extra layer of flavour gives this vibrant pink hue to this drink,making it appealing to the eye; no wonder that so many Instagram enthusiasts or Starbucks fans feature pink drink photos in their Instagram profiles. If you’re into drinks with coconut check the list of Starbucks.

Does the pink drink contain any caffeine? 

Because its base isn’t coffee, the Starbucks Pink Drink doesn’t taste like coffee, but it does contain caffeine, just like many other Starbucks Refreshers.

The pink drink at Starbucks, just like many other of their refreshers, contains a small amount of caffeine that comes from green coffee extract. But if you’re looking for a caffeinated brew to boost your mood and energy, a pink drink isn’t a great option given that it’s low in caffeine. 

How much caffeine is in the pink bevy then? 

There are only 45 mg of caffeine, nowhere near an espresso that contains 75, cappuccino and latte and americano, 150, mocha 175, Flat White 130. If coffee keeps twisting and turning in bed struggling to go to sleep, you now know what to go for next time at Starbucks.

What’s a pink drink made from?

Its recipe doesn’t include any fancy ingredients, and in fact, it’s a fairly wholesome brew. Plus, it’s simple to make, so you’ve got every good reason to give it a go and make a decent pink drink at home.

Let’s copy Starbucks’ recipe: 

Strawberry acai base which is made up of water, sugar, white grape juice concentrate, citric acid, “natural flavours,” natural green coffee flavour, fruit and vegetable juice, and Rebaudioside A. 

Rebaudioside A is the commercial name for a derivative of Stevia, a no-calorie sweetener. It’s very popular in food and drinks because it has the best taste of all of the Stevia products. 

The white grape juice concentrate definitely adds to some of the fruity flavour and sweetness, and the freeze-dried strawberries in the mix give it a fruity spin. This brings us to natural green coffee flavor, which is a green coffee extract—an additional important basic ingredient. Green coffee is just unroasted coffee beans that have been plucked, dried, and had the pulp scraped off, hence the low caffeine content.

Finally, sweetened coconut milk, which also helps to lessen the color, gives the Starbucks pink drink its smoothness.

Caffeine in different pink drink sizes

Here’s the pink drink caffeine content per size: 

• Tall (12 oz.): 35 mg
• Grande (16 oz.): 45 mg
• Venti (24 oz.): 70 mg
• Trenta (30 oz.): 90 mg

Is a pink drink high in calories? 

If you’re making a heroic attempt to cut down on sugar, be aware that the two main pink drink ingredients (strawberry acai base and coconut milk) are high in sugar content.

Coconut milk by its nature has sugar in it whilst the strawberry acai base is a set product prepared in advance and distributed to Starbucks cafes. So, it’s impossible to order a sugar-free pink drink at Starbucks. But if you’re on diet and can’t do without a pink drink, why not pink drink could be your occasional treat to reward yourself for every week you complete resisting all the guilty pleasure surrounding you. 

Calories by Size:

• Tall (12 oz.): 110
• Grande (16 oz.): 140
• Venti (24 oz.): 200
• Trenta (30 oz.): 270

Does Starbucks have a sugar-free pink drink?

It’s impossible to order a Pink Drink without sugar. Coconut milk and Strawberry Acai Refreshers juice, both of which include sugar, are both ingredients in a Pink Drink.

What is the pink drink most often called? 

You’ll find it as ‘the pink drink’ on the Starbucks menu and there’s now doubt that it’s the most distinctive and pinkest drink among a menu with so many unforgettable drinks. Similar refreshing brews that also contain subtly sweet coconut milk (but caffeine-free) are:

• Star Drink 
• Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher 
• Dragon Drink

Can you really make a caffeine-free (decaf) pink drink?

Yes, you’re making your own at home; simply exclude the green coffee concentrate for a decaf beverage and it is suitable for children. Green coffee adds an extra layer of grassy, earthy, and slightly sweet flavour that you won’t get, but your beverage will still taste great.

Can you order a caffeine-free pink drink at Starbucks? 

The trouble is that strawberry acai contains caffeine…

But there’s a way you can get around it: order the skinny pink drink instead; because this version is only on their secret menu it’s wise to jot down how to order it. 

You basically ask the barista to replace the strawberry acai base with iced passion tango tea that has a pretty similar fruity taste to the strawberry base but contains no caffeine. The rest of the recipe (coconut milk and freeze-dried strawberries) remains the same with the original.

But there are other delicious options on the menu including Starbucks smoothies or frappuccinos without coffee.

How to actually order a pink drink at Starbucks?

Since it’s officially introduced to the Starbucks menu, it’s simple to order; it comes in three different sizes: tall, grande and venti. 

If you use the Starbucks app, you will find under the Cold Drinks section, and one customization is to add concentrated lemonade sugar (plain, medium sweet) and ice (with ice, without ice or with less ice)

Here are the Starbucks pink drinks’ prices per size: 

• Tall: €4.25
• Venti: €4.75
• Grande: €4.95

What’s the Tik Tok Starbucks drink? 

The recipe for the so-called TikTok Starbucks beverage has been altered from the Pink Drink. The TikTok version substitutes heavy cream and two scoops of vanilla powder for coconut milk. Then, whipped cream is placed on top.

Is the Starbucks pink drink only on their secret menu? 

It wasn’t long ago that you could find the Starbucks pink drink only on their ‘secret menu’, but a huge constant buzz on Instagram urged Starbucks to introduce it to their normal menu. Starbucks mango drinks are some other refreshing drinks worth trying.

Let’s wrap it up

It’s fair to say the world of social media has been a better place since the emergence of the pink drink with Instagram enthusiasts, among other SM users, flaunting their feeds with eye-catching pictures of this vibrant-coloured brew. Starbucks Snickerdoodle drink is great to check out.