Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato vs Starbucks Caffe Latte: which has more caffeine?

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato has more caffeine than Starbucks Caffe Latte: 150mg vs 150mg in the same 16 oz grande. That is a 0mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato vs Starbucks Caffe Latte: the numbers

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato Starbucks Caffe Latte
Caffeine per serving 150mg per 16 oz grande 150mg per 16 oz grande
Caffeine per fl oz 9.4mg 9.4mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 2.7 2.7

Sources: Starbucks Caramel Macchiato's figure is verified in our Starbucks Caramel Macchiato caffeine guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (source); Starbucks Caffe Latte's figure is verified in our Starbucks Caffe Latte guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Starbucks Caffe Latte when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks Caramel Macchiato 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

FAQ

Does Starbucks Caramel Macchiato or Starbucks Caffe Latte have more caffeine? Starbucks Caramel Macchiato: 150mg per 16 oz grande versus 150mg per 16 oz grande for Starbucks Caffe Latte.

Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Caramel Macchiato, at about 9.4mg per fluid ounce versus 9.4mg for Starbucks Caffe Latte.

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