While it’s pretty easy to brew up your own Whole30 compliant coffee drinks at home, sometimes when you’re on the run (or just feeling a bit lazy), a visit to Starbucks is in order.
For many, a visit to Starbucks is a treasured part of the daily routine. There’s no reason to stop visiting while you’re doing Whole30, although your regular orders may have to go out the window for a while.
Lattes and Frappuccinos are out, but there’s still plenty to order from Starbucks for those who can’t get enough of the siren stuff.
We’ll show you what you can and cannot drink at Starbucks while on Whole30!
Note: We always recommend checking ingredient lists yourself manually at Starbucks.com, as ingredients can change. This is especially true for food items.
What Is Whole30 Compliant At Starbucks?
Standard black coffee is always compliant at Starbucks, just like it is at home. Many hot brewed teas past the test too.
While you can’t sweeten up your coffees with syrup or milk, there are strategies for making compliant Whole30 coffee that packs some extra flavor punch. Bring your favorite compliant creamers to Starbucks and add them to your drink!
Coffee:
- Iced Coffee (Unsweetened) (Ingredients: Ice, Brewed Coffee)
Note: Be sure to order unsweetened iced coffee, since “Classic Syrup” (Sugar, Water, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid) is added automatically unless requested otherwise.
- Cold Brew Coffee (Ingredients: Brewed Coffee, Ice)
- Hot Brewed Coffee (Includes Blonde Roast, Dark Roast, Clover Brewed Coffee and Pike Place Roast)
- Decaf Pike Place Roast Coffee
- Americano (Ingredients: Water, Brewed Espresso) – iced is OK too
- Espresso (Ingredients: Brewed Espresso) – iced is OK too
Hot Teas
- Comfort Wellness Tea (Ingredients: An Infusion Of [Water, Ginger, Orange Peel, Chamomile, Lemon Verbena, Spearmint, Rooibos, Licorice Root, Fennel, Natural Flavor, Peppermint, Orange Oil, Lemon Essence Oil])
- Emperor’s Cloud and Mist Green Tea (Ingredients: An infusion of [Water, Green Tea].
- Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea (Ingredients: An Infusion Of [Water, Green Tea, Spearmint Leaves, Lemon Verbena, Lemongrass, Natural Flavor])
- Mint Majesty Herbal Tea (Ingredients: An Infusion Of [Water, Spearmint Leaves, Peppermint Leaves, Lemon Verbena])
- Royal English Breakfast Tea (Ingredients: An Infusion Of [Water, A Blend Of Black Teas])
- Earl Grey Brewed Tea (Ingredients: An Infusion Of [Water, Black Tea, Bergamot Essence, Lavender Flowers])
Iced Teas (You Must Request Unsweetened)
Note: It’s very important to order your iced tea speficially as “unsweetened”, since “Liquid Cane Sugar” is added automatically unless requested otherwise. Usually baristas will ask your preference if they offer sweetened and unsweetened versions, but it’s best to simply add “unsweetened” to your order to be safe.
- Iced Peach Citrus White Tea – Features a blend of white teas and infusion of apples, licorice root, rose hips, orange peels, among others.
- Iced Pineapple Black Tea – A black tea blend with an infusion of apples, orange peels, licorice root, chamomile pollen, and citric acid.
- Iced Strawberry Green Tea – A blend of green teas with an infusion of apples, licorice root, hibiscus, rose hips, citric acid, and lemon grass.
- Iced Black Tea – This tea contains water and a blend of black teas.
- Iced Green Tea – This tea is an infusion of water, green tea blend, spearmint, lemon verbena, and lemongrass.
- Iced Passion Tango Tea – The passion iced tea contains water, hibiscus flowers, citric acid, cinnamon, apple, licorice root, lemon grass, and fruit juice extract.
Pro Tip: Ask for a steeped hot tea and a large cup of iced tea to create your own guaranteed compliant iced beverage, if you feel uncertain about your iced drink’s ingredients.
Bottled Drinks
- Starbucks® Bottled Cold Brew Black, Unsweetened
- Starbucks® Iced Coffee Unsweetened
- Bottled Water
- Spindrift
Food Items
- Prosnax Gala Apples, Egg, White Cheddar Cheese, and Almonds Snack Box (compliant except for the cheese, which you can remove)
- Prosnax Carrots, White Cheddar Cheese, and Almonds Snack Tray (compliant except for the cheese, which you can remove)
- Avocado Spread (Ingredients: Haas Avocado, Sea Salt, Onion, Garlic, Jalapeno Pepper, Lime Juice)
- Justin’s Classic Almond Butter (Ingredients: Dry Roasted Almonds, Palm Oil)
- Bananas
- Oranges
- Almonds (check ingredients)
- RXBars (certain RXBars are compliant)
What You Can NOT Have At Starbucks:
- Passion Tango Tea (HOT). Passion Tango Tea is infused with candied papaya pieces and candied mango pieces which include sugar, so this tea is out! This can be confusing, since the iced passion tea is compliant (so long as you’re getting unsweetened).
- Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea (HOT). Peach Tranquility Tea is infused with candied pineapple as well as peach pieces with rice flour, so this tea is out as well.
- Oprah Chai Herbal Blend Brewed Tea (HOT). Contains Amaranth Grain, so it’s out.
- All Iced Teas NOT Listed Above. Don’t go near any shaken iced teas that are not listed above. Only the iced teas listed above are compliant (and even with those, make sure to ask for no syrup).
- Lemonades. There are several tea lemonade mixes (such as the Iced Black Tea Lemonade). None of the lemonade drinks are compliant, as they all have sugar.
- Other Coffees. No cafe latte, cafe mocha, cappuccino, macchiato, or mochas are compliant.
- Youthberry White Tea. Infused with candied fruit pieces, which contain sugar, disqualifying this item from the list.
- Shaken Berry Sangria Herbal Tea. Contains sugar.
- Strawberry Limeade Granita. Contains tons of sugar, most definitely out!
- No Frappuccinos. It probably goes without saying, but all Frappuccinos are out.
- Refreshers. None of the Refreshers (Cool Lime, Strawberry Acai, and Very Berry Hibiscus) are compliant.
Whole30 Starbucks Tips & Tricks
- Double Check Online. If you’re not sure about a specific Starbucks drink, be sure to check the Starbucks online nutrition menu, which provides complete details on each drink’s ingredients!
- Forget the Coconut Milk. While Starbucks does have coconut milk, it’s full of additives and isn’t compliant. Instead, bring your own compliant coconut milk from home or homemade almond milk!
- When Buying Packs, Read Labels Carefully. When buying tea (or any other drink) packs, make sure to read labels carefully, as ingredients can change slightly from what’s made on site vs. what’s sold in packs.
- Ask Questions and Repeat Back Order. Don’t be afraid to ask the barista questions if you’re not sure, and make sure to explain your order clearly and repeat it back.
Our Take On Navigating Starbucks on Whole30
Navigating your way around Starbucks while on Whole30 can be a bit tricky, especially as ingredients and sourcing changes in the future. Here’s our take on staying safe.
Your Best Picks
Even with changing ingredient lists and menus, it’s a pretty safe bet that these drinks will always remain compliant.
- Brewed Coffee, Americano, Espresso. These drinks are simply coffee beans + water, so they’ll always be compliant.
- Iced Coffee (Unsweetend). Iced coffee and cold brew are also safe bets, so long as you make sure that no sweeteners or syrups are being added. Baristas shouldn’t add syrup without asking you, but re-iterate to take extra precautions. You’ve worked hard – no reason to let a new barista mis-step throw you off track.
- Traditional Brewed Teas. Earl Grey, English Breakfast, and Green Tea are safe to go with. Just avoid any weird-sounding teas you’ve never heard of before.
Do you have any strategies for ordering at Starbucks while on Whole30? What are your Starbucks Whole30 secrets? Share your advice in the comments!
Whole30 Starbucks FAQs
Is the almond milk at Starbucks Whole30 approved?
No, the almond milk at Starbucks is not Whole30 friendly because it contains sugar and other additives. Instead, bring your own Whole30 compliant almond milk!
Is Starbucks pink drink Whole30 approved?
No, Starbuck’s Pink Drink is not Whole30 compliant because it contains added sugar in the Strawberry Acai base as well as in the coconut milk.
Is Starbucks Nitro cold brew Whole30 approved?
Yes! Standard cold brew and Nitro cold brew are both Whole30 compliant (just don’t add any milk unless you are bringing your own compliant almond milk or coconut milk – remember, Starbuck’s own aren’t compliant).
Can you have La Croix on Whole30?
Yes, La Croix is one of the best Whole30 drink beverages you can enjoy on the program!
Starbuck Iced Passion Tea contains licorice root which is a legume. It is not whole30 approved.
Based on my research, I’m inclined to say it’s probably compliant, as it’s noted here that licorice flavoring is ok – http://forum.whole30.com/topic/16008-licorice-tea/
I dont think the Teavana Oprah Cinnamon ChaI Tea is Whole 30 compliant as they steam it with milk
Hey Lyndsey – you might be thinking of the Teavana Oprah Cinnamon Chai Tea Latte – the latte is not compliant, but the regular tea should be. You can see nutritional info here: https://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/tea/teavana-oprah-chai-brewed-tea. No mention of steamed milk.
Going on a Starbucks date while on Whole30. Thank you for posting this.
Almond milk latte at starbukcks is a-ok I do believe
Very doubtful that they use compliant almond milk.
As a Starbucks barista, I’d just like to weigh in on the comment,
“Baristas shouldn’t add syrup without asking you, but re-iterate to take extra precautions.”
Tea and iced coffee recipes come standard and default with sweetener, so if you do not want it, you ALWAYS have to specify. Otherwise, it will be made to the recipe, as we are trained. Please be kind to your barista, and understand that we are always happy to accomodate, but just need to be clear on what your needs are!
Thanks Tiffany! I’ve ordered Starbucks iced coffee many times and never have had syrup in mine, so I wonder why that is. Would it ever be so light in syrup that I wouldn’t taste it? Good to know that many default with syrup – even more important to ask then!
What about Matcha at Starbucks?
The matcha powder has sugar in it.
Yup, sugar is part of the blend so matcha is out.
What about a Pink Drink??
No, sorry, the Strawberry Acai base contains sugar.
Soda water
What about the defense wellness brewed tea?
Why not just give us a list of the can’s!
You mean Starbucks cans? Most of those are full of sweeteners and sugars, so I’d guess none are complaint. But if you read the ingredients on Starbucks plain, unsweetened cold brew cans/glass containers, you may find one that just as coffee.
Any one who spends their hard earned money buying bizarrely overpriced caffeine at Starbucks can’t have enough common sense to profit from these tips. Why not just stand on the sidewalk setting dollar bills on fire? It makes about as much sense.
There is always at least one unnecessary comment in every thread. Maybe a refreshing beverage from Starbucks will help curb your anger.
Are the egg bites ok? Thank you for the helpful article!