Five familiar orders, one sneaky question each time — how many teaspoons of sugar are really in there? Some of these will surprise you. Let's see how sharp your eye really is.
First up, the caramel macchiato. Espresso marked into steamed milk, a caramel drizzle on top. It looks light and milky, barely sweet at all. A typical grande — how many teaspoons of sugar do you reckon is hiding in there?
A typical grande caramel macchiato comes in at around seven teaspoons — that's roughly the same as two chocolate digestives, just dissolved instead of dunked. Sizes and syrup pumps vary, but that drizzle is doing more work than it looks.
Next, the white chocolate mocha. White chocolate sauce, steamed milk, whipped cream on top. It tastes like pudding in a cup — so how many teaspoons of sugar do you think a typical grande is carrying?
A typical grande white chocolate mocha lands around thirteen teaspoons — more sugar than a can of full-sugar cola, which usually sits around nine. This one's genuinely closer to dessert than to coffee.
Autumn's favourite: the pumpkin spice latte. Cinnamon, nutmeg, that signature orange sauce. It smells like a bake, not a drink — how many teaspoons of sugar do you think a typical grande holds?
A typical grande pumpkin spice latte comes in around ten teaspoons — about the same as a slice of carrot cake. The spice tricks your brain into thinking 'cosy', not 'pudding'.
Now the frappuccino — blended, iced, topped with cream. It's basically a milkshake wearing a coffee cup's clothes. Grande size — guess the teaspoons before we tell you.
A typical grande frappuccino also comes in around thirteen teaspoons — roughly a can of cola and a couple of biscuits on the side. Blended and iced doesn't mean light.
Last one, and it's the plot twist. Iced shaken espresso — just espresso, ice, a splash of syrup. It sounds like the 'healthy' choice on the menu. How many teaspoons do you reckon this one's got?
A typical grande iced shaken espresso comes in around four teaspoons — the lowest of the lot, about one digestive biscuit's worth. Sometimes the plainest-looking drink really is the lighter order.
Start your transformation — try SugarCoach free, then £2.99/weekGeneral lifestyle education, not medical advice — personal medical decisions belong with your GP or pharmacist.