Starbucks Pike Place (grande) has more caffeine than Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew: 310mg vs 280mg in the same 16 oz grande. That is a 30mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew vs Starbucks Pike Place (grande): the numbers
| Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew | Starbucks Pike Place (grande) | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 280mg per 16 oz grande | 310mg per 16 oz grande |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 17.5mg | 19.4mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 1.4 | 1.3 |
Sources: Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew's figure is verified in our Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew 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 Nitro Cold Brew 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 Nitro Cold Brew: 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 Nitro Cold Brew or Starbucks Pike Place (grande) have more caffeine? Starbucks Pike Place (grande): 310mg per 16 oz grande versus 280mg per 16 oz grande for Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew.
Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Pike Place (grande), at about 19.4mg per fluid ounce versus 17.5mg for Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew.
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