Free UK delivery on all orders · At-home saliva test · Secure checkout
Free UK delivery on all orders

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short): calories, sugar and caffeine by portion, age and sex

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short), caffe mocha topped with whipped cream and cocoa in a glass mug, nutrition and calories

Boone’s analysis puts Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) at 10% of an adult’s daily calories, 2.2 teaspoons of added sugar and 90mg of caffeine.

How many calories are in a Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)? It contains 200 calories, 9g of fat (6g saturated), an estimated 9g of added sugar and 75mg of sodium, plus 90mg of caffeine.

Build a full order with our nutrition calculator

Use the Boone meal calculator to see this drink alongside the rest of your order rather than on its own. Choose your age and sex, and switch between US and UK guidance, for a more accurate view of how a Caffè Mocha (Short) fits into a day.

‍

Nutrition information

Nutrition information: Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)

Serving size8 fl oz
Calories200
Total fat9g
of which saturated6g
Trans fat0g
Carbohydrate22g
Total sugars18g
Includes added sugars (Boone estimate)9g
Fibre2g
Protein7g
Sodium75mg
Caffeine90mg

Nutrition figures are Starbucks US published data for the standard recipe in this size, including the default milk and toppings. Starbucks publishes total sugar only, so added sugar is a Boone estimate. Boone converts the figures to the portion and age comparisons on this page.

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) contains 200 calories, which is 10% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels. It provides 9g of total fat, of which 6g is saturated, 18g of total sugars (an estimated 9g added), 75mg of sodium, 7g of protein and 2g of fibre.

The saturated fat content of 6g represents 30% of the 20g Daily Value.

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) is assembled from 2 separately manufactured components, combined at the point of sale. The whipped cream alone carries 5 different classes of additive. Across the whole drink the ingredient list names emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, preservatives and acidity regulators. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make components survive industrial production, storage and transport.

FDA Daily Values (2,000-calorie diet)

Calories2,000
Total fat78g
Saturated fat20g
Carbohydrate275g
Added sugars50g
Fibre28g
Sodium2,300mg
Protein50g

Added sugar vs total sugar

Where the sugar comes from: Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)

An estimated 9g of the 18g counts as added sugar, or about 2.2 teaspoons. The other 9g is naturally occurring.

Added sugars come from

  • sugar in the mocha sauce
  • sugar in the whipped cream

Naturally occurring sugars come from

  • lactose in the milk
  • lactose in the whipped cream

Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030: no more than 10g of added sugar per meal from age 11 and none for children aged 10 and under. FDA Daily Value: 50g a day. Starbucks publishes total sugar only. Boone estimates the naturally occurring share from the milk in the recipe (about 1.3g of lactose per gram of milk protein, capped at the sugar in a plain latte of the same size) and counts sugars, syrups and juice concentrates as added.

Ultra-processed food: what is really in it

Processing and additives: Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) is assembled from 2 separately manufactured components, combined and served at the point of sale. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, preservatives and acidity regulators. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.

Emulsifiers

Keep fat and water mixed so sauces, creams and foams stay smooth. Found in the whipped cream.

Thickeners and gums

Thicken and stabilise texture so sauces and foams hold up in storage. Found in the whipped cream.

Flavourings

Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the mocha sauce and whipped cream.

Preservatives

Slow the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds, or stop fats going stale, in centrally prepared components. Found in the whipped cream.

Acidity regulators

Control sourness and keep syrups and bases stable on the shelf. Found in the whipped cream.

Boone classifies Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) as NOVA group 4, ultra-processed, based on the additives named above. NOVA groups foods by how far they are from their whole-food form, not by how nutritious they are. A group 4 food is not automatically unhealthy, and a group 1 food is not automatically healthy. Read from the published ingredient list, October 2026.

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) contains at least 11 distinct ingredients: 5 raw and 6 manufactured. Raw means something you could buy and cook with at home; manufactured means a substance that only exists as an output of industrial processing.

Ingredient count: Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)

What you orderRawManufacturedTotal% manufactured
Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) on its own561155%

The 6 manufactured ingredients

carrageenan, citric acid, cocoa processed with alkali, mono and diglycerides, natural flavors, potassium sorbate.

The 5 raw ingredients

brewed espresso, cream, milk, sugar, water.

What those ingredients are, by type

Meat, fish, dairy and eggs2
Coffee, tea and cocoa2
Emulsifiers and thickeners2
Preservatives and acidity regulators2
Water1
Sugars and syrups1
Flavourings and extracts1

Boone counts every distinct named ingredient on Starbucks’ published component lists, including sub-ingredients, and removes duplicates, so sugar appearing in three syrups counts once. Ice and water added at the counter are not counted. Raw covers whole foods and basic kitchen staples such as milk, sugar, salt and oil. Manufactured covers substances that only exist as an output of industrial processing. Every figure here is a minimum.

Ingredients

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) is made from 4 components, 2 of them separately manufactured.

Ingredients by component: Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)

Milk

Milk.

Brewed espresso

Brewed Espresso.

Mocha sauce

Water, Sugar, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Natural Flavor.

Whipped cream

Cream (Cream, Mono and Diglycerides, Carageenan), Vanilla Syrup (Sugar, Water, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid).

Ingredients taken from the Starbucks US menu at starbucks.com, retrieved October 2026, for the standard recipe. Recipes change and customisations alter them, so always check in store before ordering if you have an allergy.

Allergens at a glance

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) contains milk.

Allergen information: Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)

AllergenStatus
MilkContains
EggsNot declared
FishNot declared
Crustacean shellfishNot declared
Tree nutsNot declared
PeanutsNot declared
WheatNot declared
SoybeansNot declared
SesameNot declared

Contains 90mg of caffeine. Contains = named in the Starbucks US ingredient list for the standard recipe; Starbucks does not publish a separate allergen statement for most drinks. Starbucks prepares drinks with shared equipment, so no drink can be guaranteed allergen free, and changing the milk or adding toppings changes the allergens. UK rules also require barley, oats, mustard, celery and sulphites to be declared; these are shown where the ingredient list names them. Retrieved October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories are in a Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)?+

Boone calculates that Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) contains 200 calories, which is 10% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value and 13% of the daily needs of a moderately active child aged 4 to 8.

How much added sugar is in a Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)?+

Boone estimates that Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) contains 9g of added sugar, about 2.2 teaspoons, which is 18% of the 50g FDA Daily Value. Starbucks publishes 18g of total sugar.

How much caffeine is in a Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)?+

Starbucks lists 90mg of caffeine for Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short). That is 22% of the 400mg a day the FDA cites as an amount not generally linked with negative effects in healthy adults. Pregnancy guidance is 200mg a day, and the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against caffeine for children.

How does Caffè Mocha compare across sizes?+

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha by size: Short: 200 calories, an estimated 9g of added sugar, 90mg of caffeine; Tall: 290 calories, an estimated 13g of added sugar, 95mg of caffeine; Grande: 370 calories, an estimated 17g of added sugar, 175mg of caffeine; Venti: 450 calories, an estimated 22g of added sugar, 185mg of caffeine. Figures are for the standard recipe.

Is Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) within US sugar guidance for children?+

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 recommend no added sugar for children aged 10 and under and no more than 10g per meal from age 11. With an estimated 9g of added sugar, Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) is within the per-meal limit from age 11 but above the guidance for younger children.

How much saturated fat is in a Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)?+

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) contains 6g of saturated fat. Boone calculates this as 30% of the 20g Daily Value and 35% of the 17g limit for a child aged 4 to 8.

Is Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) ultra-processed?+

Boone classifies Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) as NOVA group 4. Reading the published ingredient list, it contains emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, preservatives and acidity regulators. NOVA group 4 describes how far a food is from its whole-food form, not how nutritious it is.

Is Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) suitable for children?+

Boone’s analysis flags that its estimated 9g of added sugar is above the Dietary Guidelines advice of no added sugar for children aged 10 and under; it contains 90mg of caffeine, which the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against for children. That does not make it off limits, but it does mean a Caffè Mocha (Short) uses up a large share of a young child’s day in one drink.

How much protein is in a Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)?+

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) contains 7g of protein, which Boone calculates as 14% of the 50g Daily Value.

How much sodium is in a Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short)?+

Starbucks US Caffè Mocha (Short) contains 75mg of sodium. Boone calculates that as 5% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 3% of the 2,300mg adult limit.