Starbucks Has a New Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, and It’s Not a Total Sugar Bomb
Starbucks is launching the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso on March 2.
The new drink features Starbucks Blonde espresso blended with brown sugar and cinnamon—and it’s all topped off with oat milk and ice.
Dietitians say the drink’s nutrition info isn’t too bad compared to the chain’s other sugar-packed offerings, but should still be sipped in moderation.
Starbucks made a big announcement on Monday: It’s adding even more plant-based drink options to its menu.
Starting March 2, you can enjoy two new plant-based drinks. In addition to the Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso, oat milk fans can try the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. It’s made with Oatly’s oat milk, which will now be available—along with fellow dairy-free soy, coconut, and almond milks—at Starbucks locations across the country.
According to Starbucks, the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso features Starbucks Blonde espresso blended with brown sugar and cinnamon—and it’s all topped off with oat milk and ice. So, what does that mean for the drink’s nutrition info? We asked dietitians to weigh in.
Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso nutrition information
This is what you can expect in the nutrition department when you have a grande Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, per Starbucks:
Calories: 120
Fat: 3 g (0 g sat fat)
Carbs: 20 g
Protein: 2 g
Sodium: 120 mg
Fiber: 1 g
Sugar: 13 g
Is the Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso healthy?
While this isn’t necessarily a health drink (nor did it ever claim to be), dietitians say it’s not a bad choice compared to other options. “It’s definitely lower in sugar than a lot of the chain’s other drinks,” says Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., author of The Little Book of Game-Changers.
Oatly is also dairy-, gluten-, soy-, and tree nut-free, and certified 100% vegan, all of which can be helpful if you have a food allergy or dietary restrictions, says Gina Keatley, C.D.N., of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy in New York City. “Also, the Oatly milk contains some vitamin B12 which is an almost impossible nutrient to get if you’re a strict vegan,” she says.
But experts say there are a few things to keep in mind before ordering. “A grande will still run you 120 calories, which mostly comes from the 13 grams of sugar,” Keatley says. There’s not a lot of fat and protein to balance out that sugar, so you could be left with a blood sugar crash after having it, Cording says. (Read: that foggy afternoon slump.)
If you want to try the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, Keatley recommends pairing it with a fiber-filled snack (think: a handful of almonds or popcorn) to keep your blood sugar at an even level.
Overall, though, experts agree it’s best to think of the new drink as something you have here and there versus your new regular. “A drink like this might offer a nice treat, but won’t be offering much in the way of staying power,” Cording says. “But as a once in a while indulgence? Definitely.”
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