Starbucks Iced Coffee has more caffeine than Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: 165mg vs 150mg in the same 16 oz grande. That is a 15mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
Starbucks Iced Coffee vs Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: the numbers
| Starbucks Iced Coffee | Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 165mg per 16 oz grande | 150mg per 16 oz grande |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 10.3mg | 9.4mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 2.4 | 2.7 |
Sources: Starbucks Iced Coffee's figure is verified in our Starbucks Iced Coffee caffeine guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (source); Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte's figure is verified in our Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks Iced Coffee 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 Iced Coffee: the full caffeine guide
- Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
FAQ
Does Starbucks Iced Coffee or Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte have more caffeine? Starbucks Iced Coffee: 165mg per 16 oz grande versus 150mg per 16 oz grande for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Iced Coffee, at about 10.3mg per fluid ounce versus 9.4mg for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.
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