Do Frappuccinos have coffee? You might think that this is an easy question to answer, but as it turns out, there is some debate over the matter.
In this article, I’ll explore everything you need to know about Frappuccinos and coffee.
I’ll discuss what ingredients go into a Frappuccino and whether or not coffee is one of those ingredients.
By the end of this article, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about whether or not you want a Frappuccino!
Do Frappuccinos have coffee?
Most Frappuccinos have coffee, except for the creme-based Frappuccinos, which are mostly composed of syrups and milk. The coffee in Frappuccinos is blended with ice and other ingredients to create a creamy, frosty beverage.
Some people opt for a decaf Frappuccino if they want the flavor without the caffeine, and you can completely customize your Frappuccino if you want to, which is awesome!
What is the coffee base Starbucks uses made of?
Starbucks uses a sweetened coffee-based Frappuccino syrup as a coffee flavoring, which they call Frappuccino Roast.
The only exception is the espresso Frappuccino, which has an espresso shot added, but more on this later.
It’s a bit tough to figure out what exactly is in the Frappuccino Roast, so I started a chat with their customer service, which you can check out below:
It’s nice to get this cleared up. Now you know what their Frappuccino Roast entails, and so do I.
Which Frappuccinos are made with coffee?
So, which of the Frappuccinos have coffee in them? To get to the bottom of this, I’ve compiled this complete overview of all the Frappuccinos currently available.
I’ve pulled all the information from the Frappuccino section on Starbucks.com and listed whether it’s made with the Frappuccino Roast as the coffee base or something else. Check it out:
| Frappuccino name: | Does it contain coffee? |
| Pumpkin spice Frappuccino | Yes, made with Frappuccino Roast |
| Apple crisp oatmilk Frappuccino | Yes, made with Frappuccino Roast |
| Mocha cookie crumble Frappuccino | Yes, made with Frappuccino Roast |
| Caramel ribbon crunch Frappuccino | Yes, made with Frappuccino Roast |
| Espresso Frappuccino | Yes, made with espresso and Frappuccino Roast |
| Caffè vanilla Frappuccino | Yes, made with Frappuccino Roast |
| Caramel Frappuccino | Yes, made with Frappuccino Roast |
| Coffee Frappuccino | Yes, made with Frappuccino Roast |
| Mocha Frappuccino | Yes, made with Frappuccino Roast |
| Java chip Frappuccino | Yes, made with Frappuccino Roast |
| White chocolate mocha Frappuccino | Yes, made with Frappuccino Roast |
As you can see, the only exception in the list is the espresso Frappuccino which also has a shot of espresso added.
The only thing that wasn’t quite clear to me was the coffee Frappuccino. Which, in my eyes, would also contain brewed coffee.
That’s why I reached out to Starbucks customer service once again, and they confirmed that the only Frappuccino that has espresso added is the espresso Frappuccino:
This means that the coffee Frappuccino only has the Frappuccino Roast as the coffee basis.
Which Frappuccinos have no coffee?
Now that you know that most Frappuccinos are made with coffee, you might be wondering which Frappuccinos have no coffee added.
Check out the list below to see which options you have if you want to skip coffee but still want that sweet Frappuccino flavor:
| Frappuccino name: | Coffee? |
| Pumpkin spice crème Frappuccino | No |
| Apple crisp oatmilk crème Frappuccino | No |
| Chocolate cookie crumble crème Frappuccino | No |
| Caramel ribbon crunch crème Frappuccino | No |
| Strawberry crème Frappuccino | No |
| Chai crème Frappuccino | No |
| Double chocolaty chip crème Frappuccino | No |
| Matcha crème Frappuccino | No |
| Vanilla bean crème Frappuccino | No |
| White chocolate crème Frappuccino | No |
Keep in mind that while the crème-based Frappuccinos do not contain coffee, there are a few that contain caffeine.
So, if you’re looking to cut out caffeine completely or want to take it easy, check out this complete guide for an overview of the amount of caffeine in Frappuccinos.
Easy way to figure out which Frappuccino has coffee
If you’re in a rush or are ordering your Frappuccino in the drive-thru, you can remember this:
All Frappuccinos that are crème-based are coffee-free. The rest of the Frappuccinos use Frappuccino Roast pumps as the coffee basis.
The only Frappuccino that uses espresso as its basis is the espresso Frappuccino, which will have a slightly stronger flavor than all other Frappuccinos.
If you want to add more coffee to your Frappuccino, you can always add espresso shots to your customized drink.
You can ask your barista how much caffeine it would have or use the Starbucks site to get a complete overview of your customized Frappuccino’s nutritional information (and caffeine amount)!
Are homemade Frappuccinos made with coffee?
Homemade Frappuccinos are based on three espresso shots (or an equivalent amount of brewed coffee), so they’ll have a more espresso-forward taste.
So, if you’d rather skip the Starbucks line or just like making coffee at home, you can check out the delicious homemade Frappuccino recipes below:
- Homemade Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
- Homemade White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino
- Homemade Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
- Homemade Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino
- Homemade Java Chip Frappuccino
- Homemade Caramel Frappuccino
- Homemade Mocha Frappuccino
Keep in mind that you can also customize these homemade drinks to your liking. So use decaf coffee beans to make your espresso if you want to go easy on the caffeine.
As decaf coffee doesn’t taste different, I love this option as an afternoon treat myself.
Or, if you want to keep things simple, learn how to make the basic recipe for the Frappuccino.
Starbucks Frappuccino coffee FAQs
Below, I’ve covered a few more Frappuccino coffee questions you may have:
Can you get a Frappuccino without coffee?
There are two ways to get a Frappuccino without coffee. All crème-based are coffee-free, so you can choose one of those delicious flavors.
Or, if you prefer one of the Frappuccinos that usually has coffee in them, you can ask your barista to make it without the Frappuccino Roast.
Do Frappuccinos have espresso in them?
The only Frappuccino that has espresso is the espresso Frappuccino. All of the other Frappuccinos are made with Frappuccino Roast, not espresso.
Conclusion
So there you have it! If you’re ever wondering whether or not your Frappuccino has coffee in it, now you know where to look.
All in all, there are many different types of Frappuccinos, and whether or not they have coffee is dependent on their type.
The best way to know for sure if your desired drink has coffee is to ask the barista, especially if you like to customize your Frappuccino!
If you love Starbucks coffee, but don’t want to leave the house, check out some homemade Starbucks recipes to try below:
