Are you tired of the same old Starbucks routine?
Maybe you're looking to mix things up with something fizzy, fruity, and caffeinated without ordering another coffee.
Here's what Starbucks has offered in the "energy drink" lane, what it tastes like, and what you can actually find today.
Key takeaways
- Verdict: Yes, Starbucks does have energy drinks. The main option today is Baya Energy, a sparkling RTD can with 160 mg of caffeine per 12 oz, sold at grocery stores and Starbucks locations for $2.89 per can. If you enjoy fruity, fizzy drinks, it is worth trying.
- Flavors: Baya Energy comes in three varieties: Raspberry Lime, Pineapple Passionfruit, and Mango Guava. All three use fruit juice and natural flavors, each with its own balance of sweetness, tartness, and carbonation. Flavor opinions are polarizing, so start with the one that matches your usual fruit preferences.
- Caffeine vs other energy drinks: Baya Energy packs 160 mg per 12 oz can, matching Monster and Rockstar (both 160 mg) and well above Red Bull (80 mg), but with the fewest calories (90) and the least sugar (22 g) of the group.
- Watch out: Starbucks also launched handcrafted Iced Energy drinks in U.S. cafes on June 25, 2024, but they were later removed as Starbucks simplified its lineup. The in-store versions are gone, and the RTD can is what you will find today.
- Next step: Curious what else Starbucks makes in-house? See Handcrafted Drink Starbucks for a full breakdown of the handcrafted lineup.
Let's break it down!
Are Starbucks energy drinks any good?
Let's start with the canned Starbucks energy drinks, then I'll cover the (now removed) in-store iced energy drinks so you know what people are referring to.
Starbucks Baya Energy has 160 mg of caffeine per 12-oz can, and Starbucks describes the caffeine as coming from coffee fruit/coffee plant sources.
It's meant to taste like a sparkling fruit drink (not like coffee).
Baya Energy drinks come in three fruity flavors:
- Raspberry Lime
- Pineapple Passionfruit
- Mango Guava
They're naturally flavored with fruit juice, and the carbonation gives all three a slightly tangy finish.
Flavor-wise, they're polarizing. If you like sparkling fruit drinks, you'll probably enjoy at least one flavor.
If you're picky about aftertaste, start with the one that matches your usual fruit preferences!
Mango Guava
The Mango Guava flavor has a strong initial taste. If you are a big fan of guava, you may really enjoy this energy drink, as the taste of guava seems much more potent than the taste of mango.
The sweet mango flavor is hard to trace. If the mango is what most interests you in this flavor combination, you may be left unsatisfied.
Pineapple Passionfruit
Pineapple Passionfruit provides the sweet taste and smell of pineapple. The passionfruit, however, isn't detectable in the initial taste but does present itself slightly in the aftertaste.
This flavor combination works perfectly together to get your taste buds excited. If you love the taste of fruity pineapple drinks, this energy drink is worth trying.
Raspberry Lime
The Raspberry Lime flavor hits you with a burst of raspberry taste as soon as you take a drink.
The raspberry dominates between the two flavors, leaving the lime hard to detect. The raspberry seems to carry this energy drink alone, but it does an excellent job at that.
Overview of Starbucks' iced energy drinks (in-store)
Update: Starbucks launched handcrafted Iced Energy drinks in U.S. cafés on June 25, 2024; however, they were later removed from menus as Starbucks simplified its lineup.
I'm keeping this section here because people still search for the drink names.
When they launched, Starbucks described them as sugar-free energy drinks that combined sparkling fruit flavors + iced tea, served in venti only (24 fl oz).
The lineup was:
- Tropical Citrus Iced Energy (passionfruit + citrus with green tea)
- Melon Burst Iced Energy (melon + cucumber with Passion Tango Tea)
- Frozen Tropical Citrus Iced Energy with Strawberry Puree (a limited-time frozen version in the app)
These drinks were available exclusively in venti cup size (24 fl oz) and had the following amount of caffeine:
| Starbucks iced energy drink | Caffeine content |
| Tropical citrus iced energy | 205 mg |
| Melon burst iced energy | 180 mg |
| Frozen tropical citrus iced energy with strawberry puree | 140 mg |
Bottom line: these were high-caffeine, fruit-forward drinks that tasted closer to a sparkling refresher than anything coffee-based.
What ingredients are in Baya Energy?
Bottom line: these were high-caffeine, fruit-forward drinks that tasted closer to a sparkling refresher than anything coffee-based.
Across all three cans, the first three ingredients are:
- Carbonated water
- Fruit juice
- Cane sugar
You'll also see natural flavors and caffeine (from coffee fruit extract).
How do Starbucks' energy drinks compare with its competitors?
This chart compares Baya Energy Raspberry Lime to some of the most popular energy drinks on the market: Monster Original, Red Bull Original, and Rockstar Energy Original.
This chart compares the number of calories, caffeine, sugars, and carbs present in each brand and the size of the can provided:
| Comparison | Monster Original | Red Bull Original | Rockstar Original | Starbucks Baya Energy (Raspberry Lime) |
| Can size | 16 fl oz (473 mL) | 8.4 fl oz (250 mL) | 16 fl oz (473 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 230 | 110 | 260 | 90 |
| Caffeine | 160 mg | 80 mg | 160 mg | 160 mg |
| Total sugars | 54 g | 26 g | 63 g | 22 g |
| Total carbohydrates | 58 g | 29 g | 64 g | 23 g |
Where can you find Baya Energy drinks?
Finding Starbucks Baya Energy drinks is relatively easy.
These energy drinks are available at many retailers across the United States and cost $2.89 per can at most stores.
These are some of the places where you can find Baya Energy drinks:
- Starbucks coffee shops
- Grocery stores
- Gas stations
- Convenience stores
- Online retailers
Conclusion
Starbucks Baya Energy is Starbucks' main energy drink option, offering a unique alternative to your usual coffee order.
Each 12 fl oz can has 160 mg of caffeine, and you can choose from Raspberry Lime, Pineapple Passionfruit, or Mango Guava, each with its own balance of sweetness, tartness, and carbonation.
If you enjoy fruity, fizzy drinks, Baya Energy is worth trying. If you're picky about flavor, start with the one that sounds most like your go-to fruit combo and take it from there!
