Starbucks Pike Place (grande) has more caffeine than Starbucks Caffe Americano: 310mg vs 225mg in the same 16 oz grande. That is a 85mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
Starbucks Caffe Americano vs Starbucks Pike Place (grande): the numbers
| Starbucks Caffe Americano | Starbucks Pike Place (grande) | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 225mg per 16 oz grande | 310mg per 16 oz grande |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 14.1mg | 19.4mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 1.8 | 1.3 |
Sources: Starbucks Caffe Americano's figure is verified in our Starbucks Caffe Americano caffeine guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (source); Starbucks Pike Place (grande)'s figure is verified in our Starbucks Pike Place (grande) guide against Starbucks menu data (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick Starbucks Caffe Americano when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks Pike Place (grande) when you actually need the bigger hit and know your tolerance. If you are stacking either with other caffeinated drinks through the day, run the math against the 400mg reference rather than guessing.
For context, the FDA cites 400mg of caffeine a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. Tolerance and health vary, so treat these numbers as information, not advice.
Related reading
- Starbucks Caffe Americano: the full caffeine guide
- Starbucks Pike Place (grande): the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
FAQ
Does Starbucks Caffe Americano or Starbucks Pike Place (grande) have more caffeine? Starbucks Pike Place (grande): 310mg per 16 oz grande versus 225mg per 16 oz grande for Starbucks Caffe Americano.
Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Pike Place (grande), at about 19.4mg per fluid ounce versus 14.1mg for Starbucks Caffe Americano.
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