Coffee shop menus can be overwhelming. Between the confusing coffee terms, endless customization options, and secret menus, it is amazing that we ever manage to order anything!
And caffeine adds another layer of confusion. Whether you’re trying to avoid ordering a caffeinated drink or you are looking for a little boost, you should know if your drink will have coffee in it. Today we’re answering an important question: do frappuccinos have coffee? The answer isn’t completely straightforward — so scroll down to see what you need to know.
What’s a frappuccino?
Frappuccinos are frozen, blended drinks that may or may not have coffee in them. They generally contain ice, flavorings like caramel or chocolate, milk, and sugar. They’re a lot like milkshakes, but they come in a wider range of flavors than just chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. And they often have a big dollop of whipped cream on top!
Starbucks trademarked the Frappuccino back in 1995. It’s one of their most popular types of drinks — and we can see why! Starbucks Frappuccinos are smooth, refreshing, and tasty. The coffee company offers two major types of Frappuccinos: coffee-based and creme-based.
Because the term is trademarked, other coffee shops will generally use other names like blended coffee, frozen coffee, or frappe.
Which frappuccinos have coffee?
A coffee frappuccino will, of course, have coffee in it. But other flavor options like caramel, vanilla, and mocha may also have coffee mixed in. The best way to be sure is to ask your barista! You may also be able to add or subtract the coffee or espresso from a particular frappe.
Starbucks frappuccinos with coffee in them include Caffe Vanilla, Caramel, Coffee, Espresso, Java Chip, and Mocha.
Which frappuccinos don’t have coffee?
Some frappuccinos are more a dessert than a wake-up call. If you are looking to avoid coffee in your frappuccino, try ordering one that’s chocolate chip or strawberry-flavored.
If you’re at Starbucks, frappuccinos without coffee (also called Frappuccino Blended Creme) include Blended Strawberry Lemonade, Vanilla Bean, and Strawberries & Cream.
The Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino doesn’t have coffee in it — but it does have a little caffeine (15 milligrams) because of the chocolate. And tea frappuccinos like the Chai Creme and the Green Tea Creme have a little caffeine (20 milligrams) from the tea leaves.
If the coffee shop has a kids’ menu, that’s a great place to look for coffee free frappuccinos. Most kids steer clear of coffee, so you’re likely to find sweet, much less caffeinated frozen drinks.
The Bottom Line
So do frappuccinos have coffee? It depends on which kind you order. Options like coffee, caramel, and mocha usually do have added coffee, whereas vanilla, chai, and strawberry may not. If you can’t tell, just ask your barista!
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- Egg Coffee: 8 Surprisingly Delicious Recipes
Featured image credit: Coffee Affection
