Starbucks Pike Place (grande) has more caffeine than Starbucks Caramel Macchiato: 310mg vs 150mg in the same 16 oz grande. That is a 160mg gap, and since the servings match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
Starbucks Caramel Macchiato vs Starbucks Pike Place (grande): the numbers
| Starbucks Caramel Macchiato | Starbucks Pike Place (grande) | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 150mg per 16 oz grande | 310mg per 16 oz grande |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 9.4mg | 19.4mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 2.7 | 1.3 |
Sources: Starbucks Caramel Macchiato's figure is verified in our Starbucks Caramel Macchiato 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 Caramel Macchiato 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 Caramel Macchiato: 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
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does Starbucks Caramel Macchiato or Starbucks Pike Place (grande) have more caffeine? Starbucks Pike Place (grande): 310mg per 16 oz grande versus 150mg per 16 oz grande for Starbucks Caramel Macchiato.
Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Pike Place (grande), at about 19.4mg per fluid ounce versus 9.4mg for Starbucks Caramel Macchiato.
Comparing caffeine? The caffeine comparison tool puts hundreds of drinks side by side, and the caffeine curfew calculator can check your cutoff time for tonight.
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