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Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall): calories, sugar and caffeine by portion, age and sex

Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall), green vanilla matcha latte with milk foam in a glass mug, nutrition and calories

Boone’s analysis puts Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) at 9% of an adult’s daily calories, 0.0 teaspoons of added sugar and 50mg of caffeine.

How many calories are in a Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)? It contains 180 calories, 4.5g of fat (3g saturated), an estimated 0g of added sugar and 120mg of sodium, plus 50mg 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 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) fits into a day.

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Nutrition information

Nutrition information: Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)

Serving size12 fl oz
Calories180
Total fat4.5g
of which saturated3g
Trans fat0g
Carbohydrate12g
Total sugars11g
Includes added sugars (Boone estimate)0g
Fibre1g
Protein22g
Sodium120mg
Caffeine50mg

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 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) contains 180 calories, which is 9% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels. It provides 4.5g of total fat, of which 3g is saturated, 11g of total sugars (an estimated 0g added), 120mg of sodium, 22g of protein and 1g of fibre.

The saturated fat content of 3g represents 15% of the 20g Daily Value.

Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) is assembled from 3 separately manufactured components, combined at the point of sale. The sugar free vanilla syrup alone carries 6 different classes of additive. Across the whole drink the ingredient list names maltodextrin, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, preservatives, acidity regulators and non-sugar sweeteners. 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 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)

An estimated 0g of the 11g counts as added sugar, or about 0.0 teaspoons. The other 11g is naturally occurring.

Naturally occurring sugars come from

  • lactose in the milk
  • lactose in the whey protein isolate

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 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)

Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) is assembled from 3 separately manufactured components, combined and served at the point of sale. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains maltodextrin, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, preservatives, acidity regulators and non-sugar sweeteners. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.

Maltodextrin

A processed starch that adds body and bulk without much flavour. Found in the sugar free vanilla syrup.

Emulsifiers

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

Thickeners and gums

Thicken and stabilise texture so sauces and foams hold up in storage. Found in the sugar free vanilla syrup.

Flavourings

Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the sugar free vanilla syrup.

Preservatives

Slow the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds, or stop fats going stale, in centrally prepared components. Found in the sugar free vanilla syrup.

Acidity regulators

Control sourness and keep syrups and bases stable on the shelf. Found in the sugar free vanilla syrup.

Non-sugar sweeteners

Add sweetness without the calories of sugar. Found in the sugar free vanilla syrup.

Boone classifies Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) 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 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) contains at least 10 distinct ingredients: 3 raw and 7 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 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)

What you orderRawManufacturedTotal% manufactured
Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) on its own371070%

The 7 manufactured ingredients

citric acid, maltodextrin, natural flavors, potassium sorbate, sucralose, sunflower lecithin, xanthan gum.

The 3 raw ingredients

ground green tea, milk, water.

What those ingredients are, by type

Emulsifiers and thickeners2
Preservatives and acidity regulators2
Meat, fish, dairy and eggs1
Water1
Flavourings and extracts1
Sugars and syrups1
Sweeteners1
Coffee, tea and cocoa1

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 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) is made from 5 components, 3 of them separately manufactured.

Ingredients by component: Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)

Milk

Milk.

Whey protein isolate

Milk.

Sunflower lecithin

Sunflower Lecithin.

Sugar free vanilla syrup

Water, Natural Flavor, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sucralose, Potassium Sorbate.

Matcha

Ground Green Tea.

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 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) contains milk.

Allergen information: Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)

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

Contains 50mg 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 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)?+

Boone calculates that Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) contains 180 calories, which is 9% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value and 12% of the daily needs of a moderately active child aged 4 to 8.

How much added sugar is in a Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)?+

Boone estimates that Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) contains 0g of added sugar, about 0.0 teaspoons, which is 0% of the 50g FDA Daily Value. Starbucks publishes 11g of total sugar.

How much caffeine is in a Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)?+

Starbucks lists 50mg of caffeine for Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall). That is 12% 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 Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha compare across sizes?+

Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha by size: Short: 110 calories, an estimated 0g of added sugar, 25mg of caffeine; Tall: 180 calories, an estimated 0g of added sugar, 50mg of caffeine; Grande: 240 calories, an estimated 0g of added sugar, 75mg of caffeine; Venti: 300 calories, an estimated 0g of added sugar, 100mg of caffeine. Figures are for the standard recipe.

Is Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) 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. Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) has no estimated added sugar, so it is within both.

How much saturated fat is in a Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)?+

Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) contains 3g of saturated fat. Boone calculates this as 15% of the 20g Daily Value and 18% of the 17g limit for a child aged 4 to 8.

Is Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) ultra-processed?+

Boone classifies Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) as NOVA group 4. Reading the published ingredient list, it contains maltodextrin, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, preservatives, acidity regulators and non-sugar sweeteners. NOVA group 4 describes how far a food is from its whole-food form, not how nutritious it is.

Is Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) suitable for children?+

Boone’s analysis flags that it contains 50mg of caffeine, which the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against for children. That does not make it off limits, but it does mean a Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) uses up a large share of a young child’s day in one drink.

How much protein is in a Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)?+

Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) contains 22g of protein, which Boone calculates as 44% of the 50g Daily Value.

How much sodium is in a Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall)?+

Starbucks US Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha (Tall) contains 120mg of sodium. Boone calculates that as 8% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 5% of the 2,300mg adult limit.