FINALLY, Starbucks has released its new menu of fall-themed drinks and snacks, bringing back the iconic pumpkin spice latte.
But have you ever sat down to calculate how much sugar is in each of their drinks? Their pumped with tons of vanilla and caramel syrups, not to mention the brown sugar that’s used in the Apple Crisp Macchiato.
After trying out their menu and figuring out which one was the best, The Sun calculated out how much sugar percentage is in each drink and you’d be surprised.
As a reminder, the American Heart Society has suggested an added-sugar limit of no more than 100 calories per day (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams of sugar) for most women and no more than 150 calories per day (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams of sugar) for most men.
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE
Total calories: 390 calories
Added sugar: 50 grams
The PSL is Starbucks’ golden child with over 429 million drinks being sold worldwide every year.
And there’s no denying that the PSL is probably the best fall and winter drink but that one drink has over half of the amount of added sugar people should have.
PUMPKIN CREAM COLD BREW
5
Total calories: 250 calories
Added sugar: 31 grams
The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew comes in at fewer calories and total sugar content.
The difference is that it doesn’t have the same milk content as the PSL – this being a cold brew – and it also lacks the sauce which gives the PSL its sweetness.
ICED APPLE CRISP MACCHIATO
5
Total calories: 280 calories
Added sugar: 45 grams
One of this year’s new drinks is the Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato, which is surprisingly really good.
The drink is sweeter than its counterpart, the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, and unsurprisingly, it has more grams of sugar.
The ingredients for this one include a spiced apple drizzle, apple puree and juice, caramelized sugar, and brown sugar syrup.
APPLE CRISP MACCHIATO
5
Total calories: 300 calories
Added sugar: 45 grams
Another new drink for this year’s menu, the Apple Crisp Macchiato has a very similar sugar content to its iced version.
PUMPKIN SPICE FRAPPUCINO
5
Total calories: 420 calories
Added sugar: 65 grams
The sweetest of the bunch is the frappuccino version of the PSL – to no surprise.
On top of the typical pumpkin spice topping, pumpkin spice sauce, and vanilla syrup that’s part of the recipe, the frappuccino also adds coffee frappuccino syrup, a mixture that contains even more sugar.
But it sure is tasty.