As temperatures rise, many people trade in their steaming cups of coffee for a cooler alternative.
High street coffee shops offer a variety of enticing choices, from iced lattes to syrupy frappes and rich ‘Spanish’ coffees topped with condensed milk.
While these chilled beverages promise a refreshing break from the heat, they also often resemble desserts, packed with sugar, fat, and calories.
Our fascination with iced barista drinks is partly fueled by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Ben Affleck, Britney Spears, and Khloé Kardashian, who are frequently seen holding large iced coffees.
However, your cool caffeine pick-me-up might be concealing an alarming truth.
An investigation by Which? revealed that some popular iced coffees from major chains contain more sugar than the recommended daily intake in just a single serving.
So just how unhealthy are these summer favourites?
We asked Nichola Ludlam-Raine, specialist dietitian and author of How Not to Eat Ultra-Processed, to reveal the worst offenders, from worst to best…
Caffè Nero Espresso & Caramel Luxury Frappe
Caffè Nero describes this popular seasonal menu item as a ‘creamy whipped iced frappe made with caramel sauce and classico espresso, topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel’.
But according to Ms Ludlam-Raine, it contains enough calories to rival a light meal and a ‘considerable’ amount of sugar and fat.
The iced coffee that scored the worst is the Caffè Nero Espresso & Caramel Luxury Frappe
Nutritional info (per serving):
Caffeine: 160mg
Calories: 469kcal
Sugar: 53.4g
Fat: 21.2 g
‘Once a drink starts containing large amounts of syrup, whipped toppings, sauces and sweetened foams, it becomes much closer to a dessert than a coffee,’ Ms Ludlam-Raine says.
‘There’s nothing wrong with enjoying one occasionally- no more than monthly perhaps – but it sits firmly in the “treat” category rather than as an everyday coffee choice.’
Ms Ludlam-Raine’s rating: 1/5
Starbucks Iced White Chocolate Mocha
Starbucks describes this drink as a mixture of espresso, milk, and white chocolate-flavoured sauce, poured over ice and topped with whipped cream.
Ms Ludlam-Raine points out that the white chocolate sauce significantly increases both the sugar and fat content, of which most of it is saturated – ‘the fat type that many of us should be consuming less of’.
The Starbucks Iced White Chocolate Mocha is made with espresso, milk and white chocolate flavoured sauce poured over ice, topped with whipped cream
Nutritional info (per serving):
Caffeine: 89.1mg
Calories: 401kcal
Sugar: 45.7g
Fat: 19.1g
Our expert says: ‘While it can indeed be enjoyed as an occasional treat, it’s probably best viewed in the same category as a dessert rather than a standard coffee order.’
Ms Ludlam-Raine’s rating: 1.5/5
Starbucks Brown Sugar Cloud Frappuccino
The Starbucks Brown Sugar Cloud Frappuccino is made from a blend of frappuccino roast coffee, milk and ice, layered with brown sugar flavour cream cold foam
Nutritional info (per serving):
Caffeine: 27.7mg
Calories: 319kcal
Sugar: 37.2g
Fat: 16g
Our expert says: ‘Although marketed as a coffee drink, nutritionally it’s closer to a dessert/sugary milkshake.
‘It contains relatively little caffeine compared with most coffees, meaning you’re getting much more of the sweetness and indulgence than the coffee itself.’
Ms Ludlam-Raine’s rating: 2/5
Generic iced caramel latte
A generic iced caramel latte contains around 190 to 290kcal and 5g to 9g of fat
Nutritional info (per serving):
Caffeine: 75 to 150mg
Calories: 190 to 290kcal
Sugar: 24g to 44g
Fat: 5g to 9g
Our expert says: ‘This category varies enormously between coffee shops. Some versions are relatively moderate, while others contain large amounts of syrup and added sugar.
‘If caramel is your favourite flavour, asking for fewer pumps of syrup can make a substantial difference (or ask for a sugar-free syrup).’
Ms Ludlam-Raine’s rating: 2.5/5
Costa Spanish Iced Latte
Costa’s Spanish Iced Latte is made with condensed milk flavoured sauce
Nutritional info (per serving):
Caffeine: 184 mg
Calories: 225kcal
Sugar: 29g
Fat: 4.7g
Our expert says: ‘This sits somewhere in the middle. It delivers one of the highest caffeine levels on the list but also contains a significant amount of sugar.
‘However, most of the sugar will be naturally occurring from the milk (19g of the 29g – but that’s still 2 tsp of added sugar per drink or 10g, which is a third of our daily allowance.
‘It’s a reasonable occasional choice but probably not one for every day.’
Ms Ludlam-Raine’s rating: 3/5
Pret Iced Blueberry Latte
Pret’s Iced Blueberry Latte is sweetened with blueberry syrup over ice
Nutritional info (per serving):
Caffeine: 180mg
Calories: 147kcal
Sugar: 21.7g
Fat: 3.6g
Our expert says: ‘The blueberry flavour makes this a more interesting choice but don’t assume that fruity automatically means healthier.
‘It’s still a relatively sweet drink, although it compares favourably with many frappé-style alternatives.’
Ms Ludlam-Raine’s rating: 3.5/5
Caffè Nero Iced Brown Sugar Oat Latte
Caffè Nero Iced Brown Sugar Oat Latte is made with Alpro Oat and flavours of sweet brown sugar
Nutritional info (per serving):
Caffeine: 160mg
Calories: 136kcal
Sugar: 18.6g
Fat: 3.2g
Our expert says: ‘While sweeter than the top two, it’s still more balanced than many flavoured iced coffees on the market and remains recognisably a coffee rather than a treat drink.’
Ms Ludlam-Raine’s rating: 4/5
Caffè Nero Iced Honey Foamed Americano
Caffè Nero’s Iced Honey Foamed Americano is made with classico iced americano, foamed with flavours of honeycomb
Nutritional info (per serving):
Caffeine: 160mg
Calories: 67kcal
Sugar: 13.3g
Fat: 0.4g
Our expert says: ‘A good choice for those who enjoy a sweeter coffee but don’t want lots of added syrups, cream or excess calories. The honey foam adds sweetness while the drink itself remains relatively light.’
Ms Ludlam-Raine’s rating: 4.5/5
Best option: Costa Iced Oat Velvetino
Costa’s Iced Oat Velvetino is made with Mocha Italia blend, agave flavour syrup and plant-based alternative oat drink
Join the discussion
Are high street coffee chains encouraging unhealthy habits with their sugary iced drinks?
Nutritional info (per serving, small 255ml):
Caffeine: 185 mg
Calories: 91kcal
Sugar: 9.4g
Fat: 3g
Our expert says: ‘This was the standout option overall.
‘It offers the flavour and enjoyment of an iced coffee while keeping calories, sugar and fat relatively modest – and as a bonus, the fat is mainly unsaturated (as it’s plant-based), as opposed to saturated.
‘It still delivers a substantial caffeine hit too, making it feel much more like a coffee than a dessert.’
Ms Ludlam-Raine’s rating: 5/5
Nichola Ludlam-Raine says the best coffee choices are often the simplest
The verdict
Many of these iced coffees can contain around 160–185mg caffeine per serving, which is similar to – or even higher than – some regular coffees.
For most healthy adults, the recommended maximum caffeine intake is around 400mg per day, while pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to limit caffeine to 200mg per day.
This means that just one large iced coffee could provide close to half of an adult’s daily caffeine limit, and in some cases, almost all of the recommended limit during pregnancy.
Ms Ludlam-Raine highlights that the biggest nutritional divide isn’t between coffee chains – it’s between iced coffees and frappé-style drinks.
‘The best everyday choices tended to be those that kept added sugars and extras to a minimum, while still allowing the coffee itself to shine through,’ she says.
‘My advice would be to enjoy the more indulgent options if you love them, but think of them as occasional treats rather than daily staples.
‘For everyday drinking, choosing a simpler iced coffee and customising the sweetness to your taste can make a big difference.’
