Starbucks Pike Place (grande) has more caffeine than Pure Leaf black iced tea on both counts: 310mg per 16 oz grande against 54mg per 18.5 oz bottle, and about 19mg per fluid ounce against 3. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.
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 Pure Leaf black iced tea: the numbers
| Starbucks Pike Place (grande) | Pure Leaf black iced tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 310mg per 16 oz grande | 54mg per 18.5 oz bottle |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 19.4mg | 2.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 1.3 | 7.4 |
Sources: Starbucks Pike Place (grande)'s figure is verified in our Starbucks Pike Place (grande) caffeine guide against Starbucks menu data (source); Pure Leaf black iced tea's figure is verified in our Pure Leaf black iced tea guide against PepsiCo label data (source).
The concentration gap is the striking part: Starbucks Pike Place (grande) packs roughly 7 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 16 oz grande finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Pure Leaf black iced tea 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
- Pure Leaf black iced tea: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does Starbucks Pike Place (grande) or Pure Leaf black iced tea have more caffeine? Starbucks Pike Place (grande): 310mg per 16 oz grande versus 54mg per 18.5 oz bottle for Pure Leaf black iced tea.
Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Pike Place (grande), at about 19.4mg per fluid ounce versus 2.9mg for Pure Leaf black iced tea.
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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