Starbucks Launches Energy Drinks to Compete with Red Bull

Starbucks’ new energy drinks pack a punch – more than twice the caffeine of regular coffee

Starbucks Iced Energy Drinks

Forget your afternoon latte! Coffee giant Starbucks is shaking up the beverage world with its brand-new line of energy drinks. Designed to rival the likes of Red Bull, these aren’t your average pick-me-up. Starbucks’ new energy drinks pack a serious punch, boasting more than double the caffeine content of a typical cup of coffee. With this launch, Starbucks aims to capture the attention of both its loyal patrons and new consumers seeking an energizing alternative. As the competition heats up in the energy drink market, Starbucks is making it clear that it’s ready to energize and refresh its fan base in a whole new way.

Starbucks Iced Energy Drinks

Launched on June 25, 2024, Starbucks Iced Energy Drinks are sugar-free beverages that combine sparkling fruit flavors with iced tea for the ultimate jumpstart. Available at Starbucks stores across the United States, these new iced energy drink comes in three flavors:

Starbucks Iced Energy Drinks
Starbucks Iced Energy Drinks

Melon Burst Iced Energy Drink: This beverage features refreshing flavors of melon and cucumber balanced with bright Passion Tango tea, served over ice.

Tropical Citrus Iced Energy Drink: This thirst-quencher combines refreshing flavors of passionfruit and citrus, balanced with green tea, served over ice.

Frozen Tropical Citrus Iced Energy Drink with Strawberry Puree: Available exclusively in the Starbucks app, this frozen drink boasts refreshing flavors of passionfruit and citrus balanced with swirls of strawberry puree.

The first two flavors are permanent additions to Starbucks’ menu, while the third one is only available for a limited time.

Caffeine Content

All three variants of Starbucks Iced Energy Drinks are available only in Venti (24 fl oz) size and contain 140 – 205 mg of caffeine, which for some people may seem like a lot. For comparison, a regular (8 fl oz) cup of coffee has about 95 mg of caffeine, so one order of Starbucks iced energy drink would be like having two cups of coffee.

One 8.4 fl. oz. can of Red Bull Energy Drink contains 80 mg of caffeine, one order of Starbucks’ iced energy drink would be like having two cans of Red Bull. If you get your caffeine hit from a can of Diet Coke, which has only 46 milligrams of caffeine, that’s equivalent to drinking four 12-ounce cans of the soft drink.

Apart from caffeine, these energy drinks also include taurine, an amino acid known to enhance exercise performance and commonly found in energy drinks.

The launch of Starbucks Iced Energy drinks comes as the energy drink trend continues to rise, with various chains like Dunkin’ and Panera also offering high-caffeine beverages. While Starbucks iced energy drinks contain less caffeine than Panera’s recently discontinued Charged Lemonade, it still provides a substantial caffeine boost to compete with established energy drink brands, like Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar in the fast-growing U.S. energy drink retail market, which reached $18 billion in 2021.

Other New Additions to Starbucks Menu

In addition to the Starbucks Iced Energy Drinks, the coffeehouse chain has also added the following permanent offerings to its menu:

Nondairy Vanilla Sweet Cream and Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam

Starbucks Nondairy Vanilla Sweet Cream and Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam

Starbucks’ new nondairy vanilla sweet cream and nondairy vanilla sweet cream cold foam are both made with a creamy combination of oat milk and soymilk. Available year-round, they are a delicious addition to any handcrafted beverage.

Caramel Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee

Starbucks Caramel Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee
Starbucks Caramel Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee

The new Caramel Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee at Starbucks features a swirl of caramel and a cascade of Vanilla Sweet Cream.

Egg, Pesto & Mozzarella Sandwich

Starbucks Egg, Pesto & Mozzarella Sandwich
Starbucks Egg, Pesto & Mozzarella Sandwich

A vegetarian menu item, Starbuck’s Egg, Pesto and Mozzarella Sandwich features a fluffy cage-free egg frittata with kale and basil pesto and mozzarella on a toasted cheddar and onion bun.

Blueberry Streusel Muffin

Starbucks Blueberry Streusel Muffin
Starbucks Blueberry Streusel Muffin

Baked until golden brown, the Blueberry Streusel Muffin is made with juicy blueberries and is finished with a rich cinnamon streusel topping.

Sources: Starbucks, Nation’s Restaurant News