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

Starbucks Pike Place (grande) has more caffeine than Starbucks Refreshers: 310mg vs 45mg in the same 16 oz grande. That is a 265mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.

Starbucks Refreshers vs Starbucks Pike Place (grande): the numbers

Sources: Starbucks Refreshers's figure is verified in our Starbucks Refreshers 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).

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 Starbucks Refreshers 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 Refreshers: 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 Refreshers or Starbucks Pike Place (grande) have more caffeine? Starbucks Pike Place (grande): 310mg per 16 oz grande versus 45mg per 16 oz grande for Starbucks Refreshers.

Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Pike Place (grande), at about 19.4mg per fluid ounce versus 2.8mg for Starbucks Refreshers.