Starbucks Pike Place (grande) vs Full Throttle: which has more caffeine?

Starbucks Pike Place (grande) has more caffeine than Full Throttle: 310mg vs 160mg in the same 16 oz grande. That is a 150mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.

These are different categories of drink, which changes how the caffeine arrives. Energy drinks and sodas list an exact number because caffeine is a measured additive; brewed drinks vary with the beans and the brew, so their figures are compiled averages. The numbers here are the standard published values for each.

Starbucks Pike Place (grande) vs Full Throttle: the numbers

Sources: Starbucks Pike Place (grande)'s figure is verified in our Starbucks Pike Place (grande) caffeine guide against Starbucks menu data (source); Full Throttle's figure is verified in our Full Throttle guide against Caffeine Informer (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Full Throttle 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 Pike Place (grande): the full caffeine guide
• Full Throttle: the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database

FAQ

Does Starbucks Pike Place (grande) or Full Throttle have more caffeine? Starbucks Pike Place (grande): 310mg per 16 oz grande versus 160mg per 16 oz can for Full Throttle.

Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Pike Place (grande), at about 19.4mg per fluid ounce versus 10.0mg for Full Throttle.