How much caffeine is in Starbucks Caffè Latte (Grande)?

A Starbucks Caffè Latte (Grande, 473 ml) contains 150 mg of caffeine.

This dose works out to roughly 31.7 mg of caffeine per 100 ml, a concentration that is slightly lower than the 40 mg per 100 ml found in a typical home-brewed drip coffee (96 mg in 240 ml). The 150 mg figure represents 38% of the widely accepted 400 mg daily limit for healthy adults set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and it delivers a moderate stimulant effect that most people begin to feel within 15 to 45 minutes of finishing the drink. In terms of subjective experience, the caffeine in a Grande latte is enough to sharpen focus and reduce drowsiness for several hours without the jitteriness that can accompany higher doses above 200 mg.

Because the drink is built on two shots of espresso, the caffeine arrives in the bloodstream at a pace similar to that of a straight double espresso, but the larger volume of steamed milk slows consumption and may slightly delay the peak concentration compared to a quickly drunk shot. The overall effect is a gradual lift that plateaus about 45 to 60 minutes after the last sip and then begins a steady decline governed by caffeine's half-life in the body.

How long Starbucks Caffè Latte (Grande) stays in your system

Caffeine elimination follows first-order kinetics with a population-average half-life of 5.7 hours. Starting from the 150 mg dose in a Grande Caffè Latte, the amount remaining in the bloodstream can be estimated using the formula: remaining = 150 × 0.5^(hours / 5.7). After 3 hours, the body has cleared enough caffeine to leave approximately 104 mg still active—roughly the same as a full cup of brewed coffee. By 6 hours, the residual drops to about 72 mg, which is still more than a single shot of espresso (63 mg). At 9 hours, around 50 mg remains, and after 12 hours, the figure falls to approximately 35 mg, a level below the threshold that most people consciously notice but still high enough to influence sleep architecture according to sleep research.

If someone finishes a Grande latte at 15:00, the 6-hour mark lands at 21:00 with 72 mg still circulating. That is comparable to drinking a small cup of coffee right before bed. Even at 23:00, eight hours post-consumption, the remaining caffeine is about 57 mg, an amount that the 2013 study by Drake et al. in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine associated with a measurable reduction in total sleep time and sleep efficiency when consumed within six hours of bedtime. For this reason, a 15:00 latte can still be a sleep disruptor for individuals with average caffeine metabolism, and those who are slow metabolisers may experience an even longer tail. Using the caffeine half-life calculator can provide a personalised decay curve based on individual factors.

At 150 mg, a single Grande latte occupies 38% of the FDA's 400 mg daily ceiling for healthy adults. This means that a person could consume two lattes (300 mg total) and still have room for a small additional source, such as a 34 mg can of Coke Zero, without exceeding the guideline. A third latte would push the total to 450 mg, crossing the threshold that the European Food Safety Authority associates with an increased risk of temporary anxiety, sleep disturbance, and palpitations in sensitive individuals. The EFSA also sets a single-dose safety limit of 200 mg, so the 150 mg latte falls comfortably within that boundary, but two lattes consumed back-to-back would reach 300 mg and exceed the single-dose recommendation.

For sleep planning, the decay timeline dictates when the last latte should be finished. If bedtime is 23:00 and the goal is to have less than 50 mg of caffeine still active—a level below which most people do not experience significant sleep disruption—the latte must be consumed no later than about 14:00. That calculation uses the 5.7-hour half-life: 150 mg × 0.5^(9/5.7) ≈ 50 mg. For a stricter target of 25 mg at bedtime, the cut-off moves earlier to roughly 11:00. The latest cup before bedtime tool can adjust these times for different bedtimes and personal sensitivity. Pregnant individuals face a lower daily limit of 200 mg according to EFSA, so one Grande latte already accounts for 75% of that allowance, leaving little room for other caffeine sources throughout the day. Adolescents, who often have lower body weights and less caffeine tolerance, may experience stronger effects from the same 150 mg dose, and health authorities generally recommend a daily cap of 100 mg for those aged 12–18. Anyone with a known slow caffeine metabolism—whether due to genetics, liver function, or medications like oral contraceptives—should expect the decay to take longer and plan accordingly.

The 150 mg dose is also relevant for exercise timing. Caffeine peaks in the blood about 60 minutes after ingestion, so a latte consumed 45–60 minutes before a workout can provide an ergogenic boost. However, the milk content slows gastric emptying slightly compared to black coffee, so the peak may be marginally later and more sustained. For late-afternoon exercise, the lingering caffeine may still be present at bedtime, so the timing trade-off should be weighed.

Within the Starbucks Grande hot drink lineup, the Caffè Latte at 150 mg sits in the middle of the pack. It shares its caffeine content with the Cappuccino and the Caramel Macchiato, both also built on two espresso shots and 150 mg. Drinks that pack more caffeine into the same 473 ml cup include the Caffè Mocha (175 mg), which adds a small amount of caffeine from cocoa, the Flat White (195 mg) made with ristretto shots that can concentrate caffeine, the Cold Brew (205 mg) steeped for 20 hours, the Caffè Americano (225 mg) with its three espresso shots, and the Pike Place Brewed (310 mg), which remains the strongest Grande option. The latte thus offers a moderate caffeine experience that is stronger than a single-shot drink but considerably less intense than the brewed coffee options.

Compared with beverages outside the Starbucks ecosystem, the Grande latte's 150 mg is nearly double the 80 mg in a 250 ml can of Red Bull and slightly less than the 160 mg in a 473 ml can of Monster Energy. It is equivalent to about 1.6 cups of standard drip coffee (96 mg per 240 ml) and contains more than five times the caffeine of a 240 ml cup of green tea (28 mg). For someone who typically drinks medium-roast drip coffee, switching to a Grande latte reduces caffeine intake by roughly 160 mg compared with a Grande Pike Place, a difference that can be felt as less stimulation and a gentler comedown. The side-by-side drink comparison tool allows direct stacking of these figures against any other drink in the dataset.

Among milk-based espresso drinks, the latte's caffeine density is moderate. A Dunkin' Medium Latte (414 ml) delivers 119 mg, making the Starbucks Grande latte 26% more caffeinated by volume. This difference arises from Dunkin's use of a single shot in its medium size versus Starbucks' two-shot standard. Consumers who move between chains should note that the same drink name can mask a meaningful caffeine gap.

What changes the number for Starbucks Caffè Latte (Grande)

The 150 mg figure is a representative value for the standard Grande latte made with two shots of Starbucks' signature espresso. Several factors can shift the actual caffeine content of any given cup. The most important variable is the number of espresso shots: a Tall (354 ml) latte is also made with two shots at many Starbucks locations, which would yield roughly the same caffeine load, but some baristas may use one shot in a Tall, dropping the total to around 75 mg. A Venti (591 ml) hot latte contains two shots, so the caffeine remains at 150 mg despite the larger volume, because the extra space is filled with steamed milk. Only the Venti Iced Caffè Latte (not covered in this dataset) receives three shots, pushing its caffeine to approximately 225 mg. Because Starbucks does not publish a separate caffeine figure for every size on its menu, the 150 mg value serves as a reliable anchor for the two-shot latte family.

Beyond size and shot count, the caffeine content of each espresso shot itself varies. The USDA FoodData Central database lists an average of 63 mg per 30 ml shot of generic espresso, while Starbucks' own Blonde Espresso contains 85 mg per shot according to company disclosures. The signature espresso used in a standard latte falls between these poles, and third-party laboratory tests have reported values from 75 mg to 90 mg per shot depending on the bean blend, roast date, grind size, and extraction time. A shot pulled short (ristretto) will have slightly less caffeine than a full lungo, and a barista's technique on a busy morning can introduce further variation. Consequently, the 150 mg figure should be understood as a central estimate, with a plausible range of roughly 130 mg to 170 mg for a well-prepared Grande latte.

• Milk type: Switching to non-dairy milk does not alter caffeine content, as the espresso shots remain unchanged.
• Flavour syrups: Adding vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut syrup adds sugar and calories but no caffeine.
• Decaf version: A decaf Grande latte made with two decaf espresso shots contains a small residual amount of caffeine. According to our Starbucks decaf caffeine guide, a single decaf shot typically holds 3 mg to 15 mg of caffeine, so a full decaf latte may deliver between 6 mg and 30 mg. This is a meaningful reduction for anyone limiting caffeine but not a zero-caffeine option.
• Iced vs. hot: The standard Grande Iced Caffè Latte also uses two shots and thus contains 150 mg, though the larger cup size can create confusion. Always confirm the shot count if precise intake matters.

Batch variation is a reality of any handcrafted coffee drink. The 150 mg figure comes from the most consistent, publicly available data and represents the value that a consumer can reasonably expect on an average visit. When exact intake is critical—for example, when managing a medical condition or tracking caffeine for athletic performance—the range rather than the single number should guide decisions.

Where this figure comes from

The 150 mg value for the Starbucks Caffè Latte (Grande) is drawn from Starbucks' publicly available nutrition information, cross-referenced with third-party laboratory analyses published by consumer testing organisations and the USDA FoodData Central database. Starbucks lists caffeine content for its core beverages on its website and in-store menus, and independent tests have repeatedly confirmed the figure within a narrow margin of error. When discrepancies arise between sources, they usually reflect differences in the specific beans used on the day of testing, the calibration of the espresso machine, or the volume of the shot. For example, a 2017 analysis by a consumer group found a range of 145 mg to 158 mg across multiple samples of Grande lattes purchased in different cities, supporting the 150 mg average.

Published values can disagree because there is no universal standard for espresso extraction. The USDA entry for a generic 30 ml espresso shot lists 63 mg, but Starbucks' proprietary roast and preparation produce a more concentrated shot. Our dataset uses the most current and widely corroborated figure available. If Starbucks reformulates its espresso blend or changes the default shot count for a size, we will update this page accordingly. The open caffeine dataset behind this page is maintained with version history, so any change is documented and dated. Readers who encounter a conflicting number from another source are encouraged to check the publication date and methodology; older figures may reflect a previous recipe, and some databases average across all espresso types rather than reporting a brand-specific value.

Bottom line

A Starbucks Caffè Latte (Grande, 473 ml) contains 150 mg of caffeine, which is 38% of the recommended daily maximum of 400 mg for healthy adults. This amount is equivalent to about 1.6 cups of standard drip coffee and is delivered via two shots of espresso. After drinking, the caffeine level in the body drops to roughly 104 mg at 3 hours, 72 mg at 6 hours, 50 mg at 9 hours, and 35 mg at 12 hours. To minimise sleep disruption for an 23:00 bedtime, the latte should ideally be finished by 14:00. The figure represents a reliable average, though shot count, bean variation, and barista technique can cause the actual content to range from approximately 130 mg to 170 mg. For a near-zero caffeine alternative, a decaf latte made with two decaf shots typically contains 6 mg to 30 mg.