Many people are surprised when they learn that hot chocolate has caffeine. The caffeine comes from the cocoa used to give it its chocolatey flavor. While its caffeine is nowhere near the level of numerous coffee and energy drinks, it is enough to make note of.
Below you will find information on the caffeine in Starbucks Hot Chocolate along with a comparison to other caffeinated drinks.
Caffeine In Starbucks Hot Chocolate
Starbucks Hot Chocolate has 1.67 milligrams of caffeine per ounce. Its caffeine is generally considered low. Most people who are not sensitive to caffeine can drink any sizes listed below with minimal or no side effects from the caffeine. The 20-ounce Starbucks Hot Chocolate is about equal in caffeine to a 12-ounce can of Coke to give a comparison (see below for more comparisons).
| Serving Size | Caffeine(mg) |
|---|---|
| 8 fl. oz. (kids or short size) | 15mg |
| 12 fl. oz. (tall) | 20mg |
| 16 fl. oz. (grande) | 25mg |
| 20 fl. oz. (venti) | 35mg |
Starbucks Hot Chocolate Ingredients
The ingredients for Starbucks Hot Chocolate do not reflect added caffeine. The caffeine in this beverage comes naturally from cocoa. If caffeine was added, it would be displayed in the ingredients list as you find in drinks like sodas and energy drinks.
Ingredients: Milk, Mocha Sauce [water, Sugar, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Natural Flavor], Whipped Cream [cream (Cream, Mono And Diglycerides, Carageenan), Vanilla Syrup (Sugar, Water, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid)]
Caffeine Comparison
Let’s look at how the caffeine in Starbucks Hot Chocolate compares to other caffeinated beverages. This information should give you a clear understanding of the caffeine in this hot chocolate. Overall, its caffeine is much less than many popular caffeinated drinks.
| Beverage | Serving Size | Caffeine(mg) |
|---|---|---|
| Starbucks Hot Chocolate | 12 fl. oz. | 20mg |
| Starbucks Medium Roast Coffee – Pike Place Roast | 12 fl. oz. | 235mg |
| Coca-Cola Classic | 12 fl. oz. | 34mg |
| Pepsi | 12 fl. oz. | 38mg |
| Dr Pepper | 12 fl. oz. | 42mg |
| Mountain Dew | 12 fl. oz. | 54mg |
| Rockstar Energy Drink – Original | 12 fl. oz. | 120mg |
| Monster Energy – Original | 12 fl. oz. | 120mg |
Sources:
starbucks.com
