The One High-Calorie Starbucks Drink You Should Avoid At All Costs, According To Health Experts

At popular coffee chains like Starbucks and Dunkin,’ there are plenty of ways to take your coffee that could support your weight loss goals, whether that’s drinking it plain black, lightly sweetened, etc.

Many of us see the plethora of drink options on these menus and become tempted by their seasonal drinks or new beverages, and trendy ones usually contain lots of fat and sugar. The white chocolate mocha, a popular mainstay on Starbucks’ menu and a more recent addition to Dunkin’s, is undeniably delicious, but experts warn that its saturated contents can seriously impact your health if consumed frequently. We spoke to experts like personal trainer and health coach Daniel Maman and certified nutrition coach Karisa Karmali to learn more.

On Starbucks’ website, the ‘white chocolate mocha’ beverage description reads, “our signature espresso meets white chocolate sauce and steamed milk, and then is finished off with sweetened whipped cream to create this supreme white chocolate delight.” While this sounds (and does taste) good, you have to be wary of the fine print. A grande size of this drink (the shop’s medium equivalent) contains a whopping 430 calories, 53g sugar, 18g fat—wow. 

Writing for Health, Cynthia Sass, registered dietitian, nutrition editor, and New York Times best-selling author refers to this Starbucks offering as a “serious sugar bomb,” explaining that it has 12 grams of saturated fat (60% of the recommended daily limit), and 55 grams of carbs (53 of which are sugar).

This is “over 13 teaspoons worth, or the equivalent of about five Tootsie Pops,” she explains. For a healthier chocolate-caffeine combo, she suggests sipping “an almond milk latte while enjoying a few squares of dark chocolate.” She notes that white chocolate mochas pack in much more “calories and fat than expected.”

Karmali notes that “while everything in moderation is fine,” this beverage is “very calorie-heavy with no nutritional value,” calling it “a bit excessive.” We’d have to agree, even if it is delicious.

Julia Chatsky, who writes for Eat This, Not That! agrees. “When you see ‘white chocolate,’ think white refined flour: over-processed and missing all nutritional value,” she says, before referring to this infamously tasty but sugary drink as “a simple no-go.”

And if you want to lose weight, don’t even think about getting the Frappuccino version of this drink. “Starbucks’ White Mocha Frappuccino with whole milk has 500 calories and 12 grams of saturated fat, which is 60 percent of the daily maximum recommended amount,” Maman notes. He explains that health risks at hand include “serious cardiovascular effects such as arterial obstruction.” Yikes!

Overall, the sugar intake of white chocolate mocha drinks just isn’t worth it. “This beverage contains two and three times the optimum amount of added sugars that a healthy individual should drink per day,” Maman notes. (That’s some serious overkill, even if you do have a sweet tooth).

Speaking of teeth, white chocolate mocha drinks can do some serious damage to your pearly whites as well, according to Whitney DiFoggio, RDH, BS aka Teeth Talk Girl. “Liquid sugar is worse on teeth than eating candy because the liquid reaches areas that are harder to clean, such as between teeth or deep down in the tiny grooves on chewing surfaces. Sipping on drinks with sugars or sweeteners (such as white mocha) will definitely increase your chance of tooth decay and cavities,” she says. Ouch, our teeth hurt just thinking about it.

Overall, it’s safe to say consuming this drink regularly can take a serious toll on your overall health, whether you order it at Starbucks, Dunkin’ or somewhere else! If you’re looking for a more health-conscious alternative, Karmali has some advice: “A half-sweet option with 2% milk instead of cream and no whipped cream topping can still be a treat, with less diabetes risks,” she says. Sounds perfect!