Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande) has the most caffeine of the three at 225mg per 16 oz grande, Starbucks Caffe Latte (grande) sits in the middle at 150mg, and Starbucks Cappuccino (grande) has the least at 150mg. The servings are identical, so the per-can numbers settle it outright: a 75mg spread from top to bottom.
Starbucks Caffe Latte (grande) vs Starbucks Cappuccino (grande) vs Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande): the numbers
| Starbucks Caffe Latte (grande) | Starbucks Cappuccino (grande) | Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 150mg per 16 oz grande | 150mg per 16 oz grande | 225mg per 16 oz grande |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 9.4mg | 9.4mg | 14.1mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 2.7 | 2.7 | 1.8 |
Sources: Starbucks Caffe Latte (grande) is 150mg per 16 oz grande per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our the caffeine database; Starbucks Cappuccino (grande) is 150mg per 16 oz grande per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our the caffeine database; Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande) is 225mg per 16 oz grande per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our the caffeine database.
What a 75mg spread actually feels like
All three come in the same 16 oz grande, so the gap is the whole difference. 75mg is roughly 0.8 cups of brewed coffee, which is the easiest way to size it if you already know your coffee tolerance. Switching from Starbucks Cappuccino (grande) to Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande) once a day changes your weekly intake by about 525mg.
The three head-to-head pages
Each pairing has its own page with the full math:
- Starbucks Caffe Latte (grande) vs Starbucks Cappuccino (grande), head to head
- Starbucks Caffe Latte (grande) vs Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande), head to head
- Starbucks Cappuccino (grande) vs Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande), head to head
Which one should you pick?
Take Starbucks Cappuccino (grande) when you want the smallest dose of the three, Starbucks Caffe Latte (grande) when you want a middle number without thinking about it, and Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande) when you actually want the 225mg and know how you handle it. If you drink more than one caffeinated thing a day, the useful move is adding the day up against the 400mg reference rather than judging each drink alone.
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
- 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
Which has the most caffeine, Starbucks Caffe Latte (grande), Starbucks Cappuccino (grande) or Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande)? Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande), at 225mg per 16 oz grande. Starbucks Caffe Latte (grande) has 150mg per 16 oz grande and Starbucks Cappuccino (grande) has 150mg per 16 oz grande.
Which of the three is strongest per ounce? Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande), at about 14.1mg per fluid ounce, ahead of Starbucks Caffe Latte (grande) at 9.4mg and Starbucks Cappuccino (grande) at 9.4mg.
How many Starbucks Caffe Americano (grande) servings reach the FDA 400mg reference? About 1.8 of them, at 16 oz grande each. The FDA cites 400mg a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. This is information, not advice.
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