Starbucks Pike Place (grande) has the most caffeine of the three at 310mg per 16 oz grande, Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew (grande) sits in the middle at 280mg, and Starbucks cold brew (grande) has the least at 205mg. The servings are identical, so the per-can numbers settle it outright: a 105mg spread from top to bottom.
Starbucks Pike Place (grande) vs Starbucks cold brew (grande) vs Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew (grande): the numbers
| Starbucks Pike Place (grande) | Starbucks cold brew (grande) | Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew (grande) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 310mg per 16 oz grande | 205mg per 16 oz grande | 280mg per 16 oz grande |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 19.4mg | 12.8mg | 17.5mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 1.3 | 2.0 | 1.4 |
Sources: Starbucks Pike Place (grande) is 310mg per 16 oz grande per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our the caffeine database; Starbucks cold brew (grande) is 205mg per 16 oz grande per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our Starbucks cold brew (grande) guide; Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew (grande) is 280mg per 16 oz grande per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our the caffeine database.
What a 105mg spread actually feels like
All three come in the same 16 oz grande, so the gap is the whole difference. 105mg is roughly 1.1 cups of brewed coffee, which is the easiest way to size it if you already know your coffee tolerance. Switching from Starbucks cold brew (grande) to Starbucks Pike Place (grande) once a day changes your weekly intake by about 735mg.
The three head-to-head pages
Each pairing has its own page with the full math:
- Starbucks Pike Place (grande) vs Starbucks cold brew (grande), head to head
- Starbucks Pike Place (grande) vs Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew (grande), head to head
- Starbucks cold brew (grande) vs Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew (grande), head to head
Which one should you pick?
Take Starbucks cold brew (grande) when you want the smallest dose of the three, Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew (grande) when you want a middle number without thinking about it, and Starbucks Pike Place (grande) when you actually want the 310mg 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 Pike Place (grande), Starbucks cold brew (grande) or Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew (grande)? Starbucks Pike Place (grande), at 310mg per 16 oz grande. Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew (grande) has 280mg per 16 oz grande and Starbucks cold brew (grande) has 205mg per 16 oz grande.
Which of the three is strongest per ounce? Starbucks Pike Place (grande), at about 19.4mg per fluid ounce, ahead of Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew (grande) at 17.5mg and Starbucks cold brew (grande) at 12.8mg.
How many Starbucks Pike Place (grande) servings reach the FDA 400mg reference? About 1.3 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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