Want to know how much caffeine is in a caramel frappe? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s post, we’re detailing exactly how much caffeine you can expect in your favorite caramel frappe drink, as well as answering a few popular questions posed by frappe lovers like you.
Table of Contents
- Is Frappe and Coffee the Same?
- How Much Coffee Does a Caramel Frappe Have?
- How Much Caffeine Is in a Caramel Frappe?
- Do McDonald’s Frappes Have Caffeine?
- Frappe Sizes
- How Much Caffeine Is in a Caramel Frappe From Starbucks?
- How Much Caffeine Is in a Burger King Caramel Frappe?
- Caramel Frappucino Recipe
- Can I Have a Caramel Frappe While Pregnant?
- How Much Coffee Is in a Caramel Frappe? It Varies!
- FAQs
Is Frappe and Coffee the Same?
No. A frappe and coffee aren’t the same things. But they do share a connection.
Because most frappe drinks contain coffee, you can expect regular coffee to be added to these popular and deliciously sweetened drinks. Frappes are often defined as being a normal coffee drink (or sometimes espresso) with milk added and ice blended in. On top of that, there are various frappe flavors added in the form of syrup that can take your traditional brewed coffee from bland to wow very quickly! All of this is often then topped with whipped cream and served up ice cold.
So, is a frappe and coffee the same? No. But when you order a frappe know that there is usually coffee in the drink–but not always!
Does a Frappe Always Have Coffee?
As mentioned, a frappe may not always have coffee. Though most places you order a frappe will indeed contain traditional coffee, this isn’t always the case (especially at Starbucks). In fact, there are several frappe flavors at Starbucks that don’t have even a hint of coffee in them.
But let’s back up a bit. It is important to note that while Starbucks has several kinds of flavored frappe drinks that don’t have coffee, you must also know that these drinks aren’t actually called frappes at Starbucks. Instead, they are called “Frappuccinos“.
Starbucks is the only place that truly sells a “frappuccino” as this is a trademarked name. However, the concept is still the same as a frappe. The drink usually contains espresso blended with sugar syrup and ice blended with milk. It also contains a frappe base to make it thicker and creamier.
So, which of these popular frappuccino flavors don’t have coffee in them?
These include:
- Strawberry Creme
- Vanilla Bean Creme
- Chai Creme
- Matcha Green Creme
Note: Many of the frappuccinos that are made with coffee can be easily customized as being “creme” frappuccino drinks. Simply ask your Starbucks associate not to add any coffee to your frappuccino and voila! In most cases, this request can be honored. The only way it won’t is if the coffee is already incorporated into the frappuccino base itself.
How Much Coffee Does a Caramel Frappe Have?
Now it’s time to narrow our focus to specific on the caramel frappe. A caramel frappe will have varying amounts of coffee depending on where you order it from and the size of the drink. A ballpark estimate would be that there is a little over half of a cup of coffee in a 16 fl oz cup of frappe. Anything smaller than this would likely have less coffee, however, anything larger than this could have a significantly more amount of coffee.
Thus, if you aren’t a big coffee fan, you may want to order yourself a smaller size; or skip the coffee altogether!
How Much Caffeine Is in a Caramel Frappe?
The answer to this is usually 60 mg or more. But when it comes to how much caffeine is in a caramel frappe, the answer will vary depending on the size of the drink and the place you purchased the frappe from. For ease, we’ve broken down the caffeine content by size and location in the following segments. This should make it easier for you to find the information you need to know. So, let’s dive in!
Do McDonald’s Frappes Have Caffeine?
Remember that a McDonald’s frappe, whether you order the caramel or one of their other frappe flavors, will likely have caffeine. Much of the confusion about whether or not McDonald’s frappes have a high caffeine content come from the fact that their ingredient list contains “coffee extract” as an ingredient rather than regular coffee.
However, you should note that despite this being the case, you can certainly expect your frappe from McDonald’s to have caffeine. As of now, there are only two flavors, both caramel and mocha, to choose from and each has caffeine. It is possible that McDonald’s will release more flavors in the future, and whether or not they will have caffeine is yet to be determined.
So, if you find yourself ordering a newly flavored frappe from McDonald’s in the future, be sure to ask an associate about the caffeine content if it’s something that worries you.
How Much Caffeine Is in a McDonald’s Frappe
The amount of caffeine in a McDonalds caramel frappe varies by size. The least amount is 75 mg. Surprised? Don’t be!
The “60 mg” we quoted above is for the tall Starbucks caramel frappuccino. And because McDonald’s “small” frappe is the same size as Starbucks’ “grande” frappuccino, you can expect the McDonald’s frappe to have more caffeine than the smallest Starbucks frappuccino.
What Is in a McDonald’s Frappe?
The McDonalds frappe comes in two flavors: caramel and mocha. These two drinks have very similar ingredients. In a nutshell, both consist of ice, caramel coffee frappe base. whipped cream, and caramel drizzle.
The following are the specifics about what ingredients constitute each of these components when ordering a McDonald’s Caramel Frappe.
Ice
Ingredients: Ice.
Caramel Coffee Frappe Base
Ingredients: Cream, Skim Milk, Sugar, Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Milk, Coffee Extract, Natural, And Artificial Flavors, Mono & Diglycerides, Guar Gum, Potassium Citrate, Disodium Phosphate, Carrageenan, Locust Bean Gum.
Contains: Milk.
Whipped Light Cream
Ingredients: Cream, Nonfat Milk, Milk, Liquid Sugar, Contains 2% Or Less: Mono And Diglycerides, Natural Flavors, Carrageenan. Whipping Propellant (nitrous Oxide).
Contains: Milk.
Caramel Drizzle
Ingredients: Corn Syrup, Sweetened Condensed Milk (milk, Sugar), Sugar, Water, Butter (cream, Salt, Natural Flavor), Salt, Pectin, Disodium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate (preservative).
Contains: Milk.
The McDonald’s Mocha Frappe has similar ingredients. They are as follows:
Ice
Ingredients: Ice
Mocha Coffee Frappe Base
Ingredients: Cream, Skim Milk, Sugar, Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Coffee Extract, Milk, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Cocoa (processed With Alkali), Mono & Diglycerides, Guar Gum, Potassium Citrate, Disodium Phosphate, Carrageenan, Locust Bean Gum, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1.
Contains: Milk.
Whipped Light Cream
Ingredients: Cream, Nonfat Milk, Milk, Liquid Sugar, Contains 2% Or Less: Mono And Diglycerides, Natural Flavors, Carrageenan. Whipping Propellant (nitrous Oxide).
Contains: Milk.
Chocolate Drizzle
Ingredients: Corn Syrup, Dextrose, Water, Sugar, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Cocoa (processed With Alkali), Modified Food Starch, Nonfat Milk, Natural Flavors, Salt, Gellan Gum, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Soy Lecithin.
Contains: Milk, Soy.
Frappe Sizes
How Much Caffeine Is in a Small Caramel Frappe
A small McDonald’s caramel frappé will have 75 mg of caffeine.
A tall Starbucks caramel frappuccino will have 60mg of caffeine.
How Much Caffeine Is in a Medium Caramel Frappe
A medium McDonald’s caramel frappé will have 85 mg of caffeine.
A grande Starbucks caramel frappuccino will have 75mg of caffeine.
How Much Caffeine Is in a Large Caramel Frappe
A large McDonald’s caramel frappé will have 130 mg of caffeine.
A venti iced Starbucks caramel frappuccino will have 120mg of caffeine.
How Much Caffeine Is in a Caramel Frappe From Starbucks?
A Starbucks caramel coffee frappuccino will contain the following amounts of caffeine respectively:
- Tall: 60 mg
- Grande: 75 mg
- Venti: 130 mg
Remember that not all Starbucks frappuccinos will contain coffee. You can even order the caramel frappuccino without coffee which would make this drink completely caffeine free. Sure you’ll be missing that quintessential coffee and caramel flavor, but you’ll also still have the normal caramel flavor with caramel drizzle to soothe your cravings. It’s ultimately a win-win!
Does Starbucks Caramel Frappe Have Coffee in It?
Remember that the Starbucks caramel frappe normally has coffee in it. However, you should be able to order the drink without coffee if you’re worried about the caffeine content.
How Much Caffeine Is in a Burger King Caramel Frappe?
Burger King hasn’t appeared to get very specific about its caffeine content when it comes to its caramel frappe drinks. However, we’re willing to bet the caffeine content hovers around the same that you’d expect from McDonald’s caramel frappe drinks!
Caramel Frappucino Recipe
Now that you know a little about what goes in a typical fast food caramel frappe, you may just have contemplated making one on your own. If that’s you, you’re in the right place! Making your own caramel frappuccino at home gives you the ability to control the amount of coffee that goes in the drink–if you decide to put any at all! By doing this, you also have control over caffeine levels which can be helpful, especially when you’re pregnant.
Other benefits to making a caramel frappe at home? Not only do you have iced coffee at your fingertips but you can also begin to experiment with other flavors to come up with something uniquely decadent to enjoy anytime you want!
Heard enough? Got you. Let’s dive into this recipe for the best caramel frappe!
Homemade Caramel Frappucino Recipe
We’ve pulled together a deliciously sweet recipe that can satisfy your craving for sweet coffee. Just keep reading to find out how!
- Instant Coffee granules mixed with one cup of water (can also use a cup of strong fresh brewed coffee)
- ½ cup milk
- 3 tablespoons maple or your choice of sweetener (or more to taste)
- 2 tablespoons caramel syrup (more or less to taste)
- whipped cream and caramel syrup drizzle over the top (optional but totally recommended!)
Instructions
- Place your instant or fresh coffee, milk, sweetener, and caramel syrup in a blender.
- Blend until smooth and completely incorporated.
- Pour into individual cups.
- Top with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.
- Serve and enjoy!
Can I Have a Caramel Frappe While Pregnant?
it is important to know that while you may have a caramel frappe while pregnant, you should be careful of how many of these you consume in one day.
In general, the average daily recommended amount of caffeine a pregnant woman should consume is 200 mg and under. Many doctors recommend you don’t consume any caffeine at all during your pregnancy, however, the general consensus is that if you do take in caffeine that it should not exceed 200mg per day.
With this in mind, you can easily see how drinking multiple caramel frappes in one day could cause you to exceed your daily recommended amount of caffeine quickly. This is especially true if you are consuming other caffeinated beverages or foods (such as tea, soda, or chocolate). Thus, while drinking one caramel frappe a day may not hurt you, you certainly don’t want to go overboard when taking in these kinds of drinks.
Note: Caffeine is only one concern when it comes to drinking frappes while pregnant. Remember also that a caramel frappe is loaded with sugar and high fructose corn syrup, which makes this an unhealthy choice for everyday consumption. Instead, try opting for a regular McCafe coffee for your morning brew and reserve the caramel or mocha frappe only for special occasions.
How Much Coffee Is in a Caramel Frappe? It Varies!
As you can see, the caffeine content in a caramel frappe will depend largely on the size of the drink and who is selling it. As previously mentioned, most caramel frappes out there will have caffeine, and this is usually because of the coffee (or coffee extracts) used within the drink. Beyond that, these drinks are formulated with coffee frappuccino syrup, ice, and milk, all of which come together to make insanely delicious frappe beverages.
Remember that if you are sensitive to caffeine, you most likely won’t want to order a frappe, as even the smallest sizes are likely to have 60mg of caffeine and up. Hope this helps clear up the confusion about how much coffee is in a caramel frappe.
You can also check out if other drinks have caffeine, such as thai tea and taro.
See you next time!
FAQs
Is frappe and coffee the same?
No, they aren’t. Coffee is just that. However, a frappe is coffee blended with ice, a frappe base, flavored syrups, and milk. Frappes are then often topped with whipped cream.
What is the difference between a Frappuccino and a frappe?
There isn’t much difference between the two besides the name. A frappuccino is a name that has been trademarked by Starbucks. However, the general idea of both the frappuccino and the frappe is generally the same.
How much caffeine is in a frappe?
Caffeine in frappes ranges from 0 to 130 mg of caffeine, and sometimes even more!
Do caramel frappes have caffeine?
They usually do. However, you may be able to order a caramel frappuccino without coffee (and thus without caffeine) at your local Starbucks.
