Caffè Americano
Starbucks Iced Caffe Americano and Hot Americano Guide
It is espresso shots topped with hot water, with no milk or syrup unless you add them. Order it hot or over ice. Shots rise with size: one in a Short, two in a Tall, three in a Grande and four in a Venti. The card below shows the delivery-app starting price.
None defaultMilk
3Grande shots
About 225 mgGrande caffeine
$4.75+Starts at
Shots, sizes and strength
A caffe americano starbucks serves is espresso shots topped with hot water, with no milk and no syrup unless you ask for them. You can get it hot or over ice, and the shot count rises with the cup size.
This guide covers what you pay, how the hot and iced builds differ, shots and caffeine by size, calories, and the exact words to use when you order. For every other drink, browse the full Starbucks menu with prices.
Starbucks Coffee Americano Price and What You Get
Caffè Americano
The card above shows the delivery-app "from" price, which starts at $4.75. That is not the in-store price. Cups cost more as the size goes up, and the total also moves with your store, your city and any extras you add.
What you get is simple: a drink made of espresso and water. Starbucks describes it as espresso shots topped with hot water that create a light layer of crema, and it suggests asking for an extra shot if you want a bigger boost.
- Base: espresso shots plus water
- Milk: none by default
- Temperature: hot or iced
- Sizes: Short (hot only), Tall, Grande and Venti
Americano Sizes and How Many Espresso Shots Each Has
Published guides list one shot in a Short, two in a Tall, three in a Grande and four in a Venti. Hot cups are 8, 12, 16 and 20 fluid ounces, while the iced Venti is 24 ounces. Check the drink screen in the app, because it shows the shot count for your order.
Americano Sizes and How Many Espresso Shots Each Has
| Size | Hot cup | Iced cup | Shots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short | 8 oz | Not offered | 1 |
| Tall | 12 oz | 12 oz | 2 |
| Grande | 16 oz | 16 oz | 3 |
| Venti | 20 oz | 24 oz | 4 |
You can add or remove shots in the app, and the drink then changes in strength rather than in size. For cup volumes across the menu, see the Starbucks cup sizes page.
Starbucks Grande Americano: Shots, Calories and Caffeine
The grande is the size most people reach for. It holds 16 ounces and has three shots, which works out to about 225 mg of caffeine and around 15 calories according to published nutrition listings. Those numbers assume nothing was added.
Caffe Americano Caffeine Content Compared With Pike Place
Shots drive the caffeine in an Americano, not the water. Using the commonly quoted figure of about 75 mg per Signature espresso shot, the listings put a Short near 75 mg, a Tall near 150 mg, a Grande near 225 mg and a Venti near 300 mg.
A brewed Pike Place Roast is stronger by volume in most sizes. The Pike Place brewed coffee page gives its numbers. So a Grande Americano usually has less caffeine than a Grande Pike Place, even though espresso sounds stronger.
Starbucks has said a Blonde shot has about 85 mg against about 75 mg for Signature. Swap every shot and a Grande climbs to roughly 255 mg.
Can You Order a Starbucks Iced Decaf Americano?
Yes. Ask for decaf shots, or for half-caff if you want some of each, and choose iced. Decaf is low in caffeine, not zero, so a few milligrams per shot remain. In the app, change the espresso option under the customize screen. Our decaf coffee options page covers more.
How to Customize an Americano
Because the base is so plain, small changes show up in the cup. These are the options people use most:
- Extra shot: stronger and a little more bitter
- Fewer shots: gentler, with more water
- Room for milk: leaves space so you can add your own
- Splash of milk or oat milk: softens the edge for a few extra calories
- Syrup: ask for one or two pumps instead of the default of four
- Light ice: more drink and less melt
- Cold foam: a sweet topper on an iced cup
Say it in this order: size, hot or iced, then the changes. "Grande iced Americano with one pump of vanilla and a splash of oat milk" works at a counter and in the app.
Blonde Americano and Extra Shot Options
This version uses Blonde Espresso, which is lighter in roast, smoother and a touch sweeter than Signature. It carries slightly more caffeine per shot. An extra shot adds body and bite, while a ristretto-style pull is a shorter, sweeter shot some baristas will make on request. Availability can vary by store.
Starbucks Americano FAQs
How many shots are in a grande Americano at Starbucks?
A Grande has three espresso shots, according to published guides. A Tall has two, a Short has one and a Venti has four. The app shows the shot count for your exact order, and you can add or remove shots there.
How much caffeine is in a Grande Caffe Americano?
About 225 mg, based on three Signature shots at roughly 75 mg each. A Tall is about 150 mg and a Venti about 300 mg. Blonde shots add a little more, and decaf shots remove most of it.
Is an Americano stronger than regular brewed coffee at Starbucks?
Not usually by caffeine. A Grande Americano has about 225 mg, which is lower than a Grande Pike Place Roast. The taste is bolder, though, because espresso is more concentrated before the water goes in.
What is the difference between an iced Americano and an iced coffee?
An iced Americano is espresso poured over cold water and ice. Iced coffee is brewed coffee that is chilled, and it is usually sweetened unless you say otherwise. The Americano is bolder, and the iced coffee is smoother.
Can I get a Blonde or decaf Americano at Starbucks?
Yes. Ask for Blonde Espresso for a lighter and slightly sweeter cup, or decaf shots for far less caffeine. You can also mix shot types. Availability may differ at licensed stores, so check the app first.
Does a Starbucks Americano come with milk?
No. It is espresso and water only. You can ask for room, a splash of milk or a plant milk, and any milk adds a few calories. Cream and syrup add more, so say how much you want.
How many calories are in a Starbucks Americano?
A plain one is very low: roughly 5 calories in a Short, 10 in a Tall and 15 in a Grande or Venti. Syrup, milk and cold foam raise that, so ask for the app's nutrition view when you customize.
What is the difference between an Americano and a long black?
Both are espresso and water. A long black pours the shots onto the water, which keeps the crema and gives a slightly fuller taste. An Americano adds water to the shots, which thins the crema and lightens the body.
Is a hot Americano the same as an iced Americano with no ice?
Almost, but not quite. The espresso is the same, yet the order of pouring and the temperature change the taste. A hot cup is rounder as it cools, while an iced one stays crisp.
Why does an Americano cost more than brewed coffee?
Espresso takes more equipment and time than a pot of brewed coffee, and an Americano holds several shots. Prices also depend on size, store and add-ons, and delivery-app prices run higher than in-store.