If you make a purchase using our provided links, we may receive a commission. Learn more here.
As a lactose intolerant person, I've often struggled with getting milk alternatives that won't give me cramps - thankfully Starbucks has me covered.
Alongside coconut milk, they also offer almond milk, soy milk, and oat milk.
Here, I'll provide you with everything you need to know about the coconut milk Starbucks uses.
What Brand Of Coconut Milk Does Starbucks Use?
The dairy-free coconut milk that Starbucks use is Single Origin Sumatra coconut milk. It is used in locations across the United States and Canada.
While traditional real coconut milk is made with just coconut meat and water, the coconut milk at Starbucks comes from the tropical Indonesian island of Sumatra.
It contains other additions that are meant to make it taste better with Starbucks handcrafted beverages.
You'll be able to enjoy this delicious non-dairy alternative in many of the drinks on the Starbucks menu.
Is Starbucks Coconut Milk Healthy?
Starbucks coconut milk is not very healthy compared to other coconut milk brands.
While all natural coconut milk is meant to be healthy, Starbucks coconut milk contains a range of other ingredients and food additives that don't make it the healthiest option.
Some ingredients include coconut cream, coconut water concentrate, added sugar aka cane sugar, tricalcium phosphate, carrageenan, gellan gum, corn dextrin, xanthan gum, guar gum, vitamin A palmitate, and vitamin D2.
Here's a quick snapshot of what these additional ingredients are:
Without all the additional additives and cane sugar, coconut milk actually comes with plenty of health benefits.
Not only is it a hydrating and nutrient-rich delicious alternative to dairy milk, but it also comes with plenty of vitamins and minerals.
In fact, coconut milk is high in vitamin E, which is great for your skin, hair, and nails.
With the coconut milk at Starbucks, however, it isn't pure as it comes with water, emulsifiers, corn dextrin, coconut water concentrate, and other compounds.
What this means is that you won't be reaping as many health benefits as you would from natural coconut milk.
The sugar content of coconut milk Starbucks uses is also relatively high as it comes with added sugar - not something you'd typically find in the natural version.
Is it Organic?
No, the Starbucks coconut milk isn’t organic as it contains several emulsifiers and food additives.
Does Starbucks Coconut Milk Have Sugar?
Yes, Starbucks coconut milk is sweetened with cane sugar, giving it a sweet taste compared to regular coconut milk.
In fact, just a serving of Starbucks coconut milk is estimated to contain about 17 grams of sugar - a relatively hefty amount!
Is It Gluten-Free?
Yes, the coconut milk at Starbucks is gluten-free.
If you've got gluten food allergies, you'll be good to go with the Starbucks coconut milk.
How Many Calories Does Starbucks Coconut Milk Have?
Just a serving of coconut milk comes with 180 calories and 17 grams of sugar.
Due to the amount of sugar content that’s in Starbucks coconut milk, it’s not the healthiest option out there.
7 Best Starbucks Coconut Milk Drinks To Order
When ordering Starbucks drinks with coconut milk, here are some quick tips on Starbucks drinks that you should be ordering!
- 1Pink Drink
This refreshing drink uses the Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher as a base and comes with the addition of passionfruit and coconut milk. It’s creamy, delicious and even comes with chunks of dried strawberries. A grande has 140 calories. - 2Dragon Drink
Another delicious certified vegan drink, this particular one is made with mango and dragonfruit flavors along with coconut milk and freshly decided dragon fruit. - 3Star Drink
This is a great choice if you're someone who likes starfruit and kiwi flavor, as that's the predominant taste. It's also mixed with coconut milk and fresh kiwi fruit chunks. - 4Violet Drink
This particular drink uses the Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher drink as a base before being combined with coconut milk and blackberries. - 5Coconut Lime Refresher
This one is on the secret menu, and as far as beverages go, it has a sharp and creamy mix that's absolutely delicious. All you've got to do is ask the barista to replace the water in the classic cool lime refresher with coconut milk! - 6Orange Drink
Another secret menu option, you can easily also replace this with other non-dairy milk options if you'd like. Simply ask the barista to shake a drink with orange juice concentrate, coconut milk, iced tea, and vanilla bean powder, and you're good to go. - 7Vanilla Coconut Latte
For something warm, go for the vegan-certified vanilla coconut latte. While you can also do this with other non-dairy milk options such as almond milk and soy milk - especially if you're looking for something with less sugar, the sweetened coconut milk makes this one of the best drinks for winter.
Ask Barista For: If you'd like, you can even enhance the flavors of the vanilla coconut latte by adding some mocha sauce or raspberry syrup!
Common Starbucks Coconut Milk Questions
Does Starbucks charge more for coconut milk?
Yes, Starbucks does charge more for its other milk options, such as coconut milk, soy, and oat milk. It's about 70 cents extra.
How much sugar is in Starbucks coconut milk?
Starbucks coconut milk contains 17 grams of sugar and about 180 calories per serving in a grande cup.
Can I buy Starbucks Coconut Milk for home use?
Yes, you can buy Starbucks coconut milk for home use; it has been available since 2015. Do note, however, that there isn't a retail version available, so you would need to visit Starbucks if you want to buy the coconut milk.
Can you order just coconut milk at Starbucks?
You can order just coconut milk at Starbucks if you’d like, though it does taste pretty good with a Starbucks drink!
Is Starbucks coconut milk Whole30 approved?
No, Starbucks coconut milk is not Whole30 approved. It contains added ingredients.
Final Words
While the coconut milk Starbucks uses does come with a good amount of calories and grams of sugar, it tastes great with the different drinks on offer.
It’s also ideal if you’re lactose intolerant (like me!) or want an alternative to almond milk.
References:
1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/xanthan-gum
2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321944
