Starbucks Cold Brew contains 5 kcal in a Grande — less than 1% of the adult 2,000 kcal daily reference intake. A Tall contains approximately 3 kcal and a Venti approximately 7 kcal. The negligible calorie count holds across all sizes as the drink is cold brew concentrate and water over ice only — no milk, no syrup, no base. It is one of the very lowest calorie drinks at Starbucks alongside the Iced Americano, hot Americano and Freshly Brewed Coffee. Adding milk would substantially increase calories.

Tall (12oz): approximately 3 kcal, 0g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0.7g carbohydrate, 0g sugar, 0.4g protein, 0g salt, 155mg caffeine. Grande (16oz): 5 kcal, 0g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0.9g carbohydrate, 0g sugar, 0.5g protein, 0g salt, 200mg caffeine. Venti (24oz): approximately 7 kcal, 0g fat, 0g saturated fat, 1.2g carbohydrate, 0g sugar, 0.7g protein, 0g salt, 260mg caffeine. The only nutritionally meaningful figure is caffeine — everything else is effectively zero across all sizes.

Starbucks Cold Brew contains approximately 155mg of caffeine in a Tall, 200mg in a Grande and 260mg in a Venti. The caffeine comes from the cold brew concentrate — cold brewing extracts caffeine highly efficiently through the extended steeping process of 20 or more hours. A Grande at 200mg reaches the NHS recommended daily maximum for pregnancy of 200mg in a single drink. The Venti at 260mg uses 65% of the NHS adult daily maximum of 400mg. Those who are pregnant should limit to a Tall and account for any other caffeine sources throughout the day. The NHS recommends a maximum of 400mg per day for most adults and 200mg per day during pregnancy.

Starbucks Cold Brew contains 0g of sugar at every size — no free sugars, no natural sugars, no lactose. It is one of the very few items at Starbucks with zero sugar alongside Chamomile Tea, Mint Majesty Tea, Espresso and the Iced Americano. The cold brew concentrate itself has a characteristically smooth, slightly sweet perceived flavour due to the cold extraction process — but this is a sensory effect, not actual sugar. No sugar is added at preparation. Adding a syrup at the counter introduces free sugars — a single pump adds approximately 5g.

No. NOVA 1 — unprocessed. Starbucks Cold Brew is cold brew coffee concentrate diluted with cold water and poured over ice. The concentrate is made by steeping coarsely ground coffee beans in cold water for 20 or more hours then filtering — a simple physical process with no additives, no flavourings and no preservatives. It sits in NOVA 1 alongside Chamomile Tea, Mint Majesty Tea, Espresso and the hot and iced Americano. The vast majority of items at Starbucks are NOVA 4; the Cold Brew is one of the simplest and least processed drinks on the menu.

Starbucks Cold Brew contains none of the 14 major allergens. It does not contain milk, wheat/gluten, egg, soya, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, celery, mustard, sesame, lupin, molluscs or sulphites. Coffee beans are not one of the 14 major allergens in the UK. It is one of the simplest allergen profiles on the entire Starbucks menu alongside the Iced Americano, hot Americano and herbal teas. Always tell your barista if you have a severe allergy before ordering.

Yes. Starbucks Cold Brew is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans. It contains no animal-derived ingredients — cold brew concentrate and water only. It is gluten-free, allergen-free and NOVA 1. It is one of the most inclusive items on the Starbucks menu suitable for any dietary requirement.

No. Starbucks Cold Brew is not suitable for children. Even a Tall contains approximately 155mg of caffeine — significantly above safe levels for any child based on FSA guidance of 3mg per kg of body weight per day. The NHS advises children should avoid caffeine where possible. Cold Brew has among the highest caffeine of any drink at Starbucks due to the concentrated extraction process. Chamomile Tea and Mint Majesty Tea are the only caffeine-free hot drink options at Starbucks.

Starbucks Cold Brew requires careful size selection during pregnancy. A Tall at approximately 155mg of caffeine is within the NHS recommended pregnancy maximum of 200mg per day when no other caffeine is consumed. A Grande at 200mg reaches this limit in a single drink. A Venti at 260mg exceeds it. During pregnancy a Tall is the maximum appropriate size, and only when no other caffeinated food or drink has been consumed that day. If in doubt, consult a midwife or GP.

Starbucks Cold Brew is cold brew concentrate and water over ice — black coffee with no milk. The Cold Brew Latte is the same cold brew concentrate poured over milk and ice. The Cold Brew contains 5 kcal and 0g sugar per Grande; the Cold Brew Latte with whole milk contains 153 kcal and 11g of natural sugar per Grande from the milk. Both are NOVA 2, both have similar caffeine levels at approximately 200mg per Grande. The Cold Brew is for those who want black iced coffee; the Cold Brew Latte for those who prefer a milk-softened version of the same drink.

Both are black iced coffee drinks with near-zero calories and 0g sugar. Grande Cold Brew: 5 kcal, 200mg caffeine, NOVA 1. Grande Iced Americano: 11 kcal, 225mg caffeine, NOVA 1. The caffeine levels are similar — the Iced Americano at 225mg is marginally higher per Grande from three espresso shots versus the cold brew concentrate equivalent. The key difference is flavour: Cold Brew produces a smoother, less bitter, naturally lower acidity coffee through the slow cold steeping process; the Iced Americano delivers the sharper, more intense character of espresso. Both are zero sugar and allergen-free. The choice is entirely one of flavour preference.

At 0g of sugar, Starbucks Cold Brew uses none of the adult daily free sugar allowance of 30g — the entire daily budget remains for food. It is one of only a handful of drinks at Starbucks that adds absolutely nothing to the daily sugar total. Pairing with a Butter Croissant (5.4g) leaves 24.6g of the budget intact. Pairing with a Cinnamon Bun (28g) leaves 2g. Pairing with a Victoria Sponge (43g) exceeds the daily limit on the food alone. Cold Brew is the most sugar-neutral black iced coffee drink at Starbucks.

Starbucks Cold Brew is one of the most nutritionally simple items on the menu — 5 kcal, 0g sugar, no allergens, NOVA 1, vegan. The sole consideration is the high caffeine — 200mg per Grande reaches the NHS pregnancy limit in a single drink, and the Venti at 260mg uses 65% of the adult daily maximum. For adults who want a smooth, low-acidity black iced coffee with zero sugar, zero allergens and minimal calories, the Cold Brew is the best choice in the black iced coffee range at Starbucks. It is also the most flavourfully distinct alternative to espresso-based drinks — the cold extraction process produces a fundamentally different flavour profile that many people who find espresso too bitter or acidic prefer.