Delicious Starbucks Drinks for Pregnancy 2024 – Which to Avoid?

Ever wondered which are great Starbucks drinks for pregnancy?

We all know that Starbucks is the go-to place for coffee, but did you know that they have a whole range of pregnancy-safe drinks? If you’re looking for a non-caffeinated option, or just want to switch things up, these are the best Starbucks drinks to try while pregnant.

Let’s get into it.

Which Are the Best Starbucks Drinks for Pregnancy? 

While it’s perfectly safe for most people to consume moderate amounts of caffeine (400mg), pregnant women are advised to limit their intake. This is because caffeine can cross the placenta and increase the risk of miscarriage or other problems. While there’s no need to completely eliminate caffeine, it’s important to limit your intake to 200mg per day or less. This is equivalent to about one to two cups of coffee, depending on the coffee.

Here are three things to keep in mind: 

1. The larger the size of your coffee the more caffeine it has: Typically, the espresso-based drinks in Tall size (12 oz) at Starbucks have one espresso (63mg of caffeine) and the Grande (16oz) and Venti (20oz) have two espresso shots (126mg) in them. One of the good things about Starbucks is that you can customise your drink and order a Grande brew with only one espresso shot. 
2. The roast of coffee you choose plays a role: an 8-oz blonde roast drink contains 130mg whilst an 8-oz drink has 130mg. It’s better to opt for a brew made with a dark roast.
3. Decaf coffee is a great option: the caffeine content in a single Starbucks espresso is much less (3-15.8mg). Why not switch to decaf?
4. Syrups are high in sugar: who doesn’t like syrups? Vanilla and hazelnut and so many others add a sweet spin to your drink, but they have a lot of sugar. Particularly, one single pump of the majority of Starbucks syrups has about 20 calories.

Which Starbucks lattes are the best for pregnant women?

The main ingredients in most of the lattes are milk and coffee, so as long as your coffee has less than two espresso shots, you’re on the safe side. But if you prefer to go for an iced macchiato or latte low in caffeine these are some of the best options:

Matcha Tea Latte: it doesn’t contain coffee and is made with matcha tea and milk.

Caffeine: 80mg

Calories: 240

Sugar: 32g

Iced Matcha Latte: It’s just the cold and refreshing version of the drink described above.

Caffeine: 80mg

Calories: 200

Sugar: 28g

Chai Tea Latte: it’s made with black tea and a mix of spices including clove and cinnamon and steamed milk.

Caffeine: 95mg

Calories: 240

Sugar: 42g

Eggnog Latte: it’s a holiday brew with espresso used as its base. 

Caffeine: 150mg

Calories: 450

Sugar: 52g

Pumpkin Spice Latte: a delicious espresso-based drink blended with various warm spices.

Caffeine: 150mg

Calories: 390

Sugar: 50g

Do Starbucks use only pasteurised cream and milk? 

Coffee bars including Starbucks must use only pasteurised milk by the law according to State and federal law to ensure that their customers can enjoy their drinks without running the risk of having any health issues such as Salmonella. But if you’re one of those who enjoy their drinks extra hot, there’s no harm in asking for some extra hot milky drink. 

What’s the best milk type for pregnant? 

Many suggest that cow’s milk is the best option for pregnant women as it’s rich in nutrients and especially Vitamin D and Calcium. But if you’re avoiding dairy, these are some good alternatives to take into account: 

Soy milk: it’s almost as nutritious as cow’s milk as its protein and calcium level are almost the same. 

Almond milk: it’s a great option as it’s enriched with Vitamin A and calcium.

Oat milk: a perfect option for anyone looking for gluten-free milk and it’s rich in Vitamin B and minerals. You can always check out some top Starbucks oat milk drinks

Are Starbucks frappuccinos OK for pregnants? 

A Frappuccino at Starbucks is a guilty pleasure with an infusion of flavours in them and it’s no surprise they’re loved by many. On the flip side, although they are too high in caffeine, they contain more sugar than other drinks. And as you might have guessed sugar intake is another thing pregnant women should have in moderation as having too much can cause gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.

I’ve compiled a list of the Frappuccinos low in caffeine and sugar: 

Coffee Frappucino

Caffeine: 95mg

Calories: 230

Sugar: 45g

Chai Creme Frappuccino

Caffeine: 40mg

Calories: 340

Sugar: 45g

Mocha Frappuccino

Caffeine: 100mg

Calories: 370

Sugar: 51g

Caramel Frappuccino

Caffeine: 90mg

Calories: 380

Sugar: 54g

Another thing to consider is that Frappuccinos aren’t as customisable as other drinks, meaning you can’t really ask for fewer espresso shots for example to reduce the caffeine.  Frappuccinos are refreshing. much like acai Starbucks drinks.

Luckily, Starbucks offers Frappucinos without coffee.

Which Starbucks drinks are caffeine-free for pregnant women? 

If you’re willing to absolutely avoid caffeinated drinks in this case it’s wise not to opt for espresso-based drinks including Americano, cappuccino, latte and macchiatto. 

One of the best options is to go for a  herbal tea, steamed milk, decaf coffee or refreshers:

• Blended Strawberry Lemonade
• Iced Passion Tango 
• Mint Majesty Tea Latte
• Lemonades
• Peach Tranquility 
• Fresh Juices
• White Chocolate

Are Starbucks Refreshers OK for pregant women? 

Starbucks Refreshers are refreshing and delicious at the same time; made with simple ingredients, mainly fresh or dried fruit and often protein powder. Some of them contain caffeine, but most of the times is very little (around 40). Plus, since they mostly contain fruit they are low in calorie, so they’re a great option not only for pregnants but anyone leading a healthy lifestyle.

The good news is you have a great selection of Starbucks Refreshers from acai, mango, smoothies, to raspberry. 

Which Starbucks food is best for pregnancy? 

Starbucks are known for their food and all the different snacks they have. 

It’s wise to avoid egg sandwiches as if the eggs aren’t boiled properly can cause Salmonella which can have an effect on your pregancy. Another thing to avoid is fruit as if the section is accessible to everyone and many people touched it before you the odds are you might get foodborne illness. Bananas and oranges are safer since they’re cover by their skin.

You can always opt for salads and sandwiches with vegetables which are safe, low-calorie and delicious. 

What about drinks for pregnants at other big chains? 

Let’s go over a couple of other big chains and see what they offer. 

Dunkin Donuts

Did you know that the small size of the dark roast at Dunkin Donuts contains less caffeine than the recommended daily intake (200mg) for pregants? This can be a good option.

Another decent option is Dunkaccino which is low in calories (14oz 83 mg) and of course small size espresso-based drinks including cappuccino, latte, americano and macchiato.

Caribou Coffee

Some of your best options at Caribou Coffe are drinks that have only one espresso (which isn’t too bad for you) shot such as

• Campfire Mocha
• Tutle Mocha
• Caramel High Rise
• White Berry Mocha
• Hot Chocolate

McCafe

At McCafe you’ll find plenty of low-caffeine drinks including:

• Iced Mocha
• Frappe
• Machiatto
• Cappuccino
• Americano
• Iced Sweet Tea
• Decaf Coffee

Let’s wrap it up

Starbucks has many delicious drinks that are safe for pregnant women.  There are a few things to avoid when pregnant, such as caffeine and too much sugar. However, with a little bit of research, it is easy to find out which Starbucks menu items are safe during pregnancy.  If you’re concerned about weight loss have you tried carnitine instant coffee?

FAQ about Starbucks drinks for pregnancy

Let’s go over a few questions on the topic that often come up.

Is hot chocolate safe for pregnant women? 

It is safe to drink chocolate while pregnant as long as your caffeine intake stays what’s recommended. To put things in perspective a typical mug of hot chocolate has around 25mg. So, in theory, you can have around seven cups, but it also depends on the type of chocolate you use.

How many espresso shots can you have while pregnant? 

A single espresso has around 63mg of caffeine, so this means that you can have about three espressos a day. But it also depends on whether your body breaks down caffeine easily. If not, it’s a good idea to have less than three a day.

Is Lemongrass safe for pregnant women? 

Lemongrass tea is one of those teas like ginger that has zero caffeine, so as long as you have your tea with little or without sugar, having lemongrass tea is OK. One thing to check before having this tea is to see if you’re allergic to it.

Can you have a venti coffee while pregnant?

Yes, you can as long as you ask the barista for one espresso shot instead of two, as most of the Venti-size espresso-based drinks usually have two espresso shots. And of course, if the drink you’re planning to order doesn’t contain caffeine you’re good. Another thing to keep in mind with Venti-size drinks is the sugar content as it’s good to keep your daily intake as low as possible. 

Can I have a dragon drink while pregnant?

It’s good to avoid it since energy drinks are high in caffeine and as you might have already known caffeine is good to avoid during pregnancy.