How to Order Low Carb Keto at Starbucks and Starbucks Copycat Recipes

Have you ever stood in line, gazing at their menu board and feeling a little lost as to how to order low carb keto at Starbucks and still get something yummy? Well those days are over. This post will give you several options that will leave you feeling satisfied.

Being born and raised in Washington State, just outside of Seattle, Starbucks is a staple. It is part of our landscape. It's just something we do. I am surprised it is not used as a verb yet - like Facebooking, googling or tweeting. Friend -"Hey, what are you up to tomorrow?" Me - "Oh you know, just Starbucking" You could say that Seattle is the coffee capital of the U.S. The city of Seattle has the greatest concentration of coffee houses in the country. The original Starbucks opened in 1971 in the Pike Place Market and has been iconic to this area ever since. Have you ever tried to visit the original Starbucks during the summer? Due to Starbucks cult like following and the fact that it is at the market, there is a line through the entire store and down the side walk outside. It seems like almost everyone in the world is there at the same time.

Now, it is rare to travel anywhere and not see a Starbucks. People will get up early to grab it before work. They will wait in long lines, pre-order through their app, and even fork over cash they really don't have for a cup of that delicious bean juice.

So the big question on every low carbers mind is "Do I have to give up my daily Starbucks to maintain my low carb, ketogenic lifestyle?" The answer is NO!! Well then how do you order low carb / keto at Starbucks? You just have to get creative with your ordering. Don't be too shy to ask for exactly what you want. You are handing over your hard earned money and paying a premium to go to Starbucks, versus other coffee chains. Therefore, You should get exactly what you want, even if it is an off-menu or custom made drink. Never once have I been met with anything but friendliness when requesting a special order. They may not always get it right, but they will certainly try and are always willing to remake it. I am here to help you get creative with your low carb ordering. Starbucks is back on your low carb menu!! So, what can you order? Here are several to get your started. I will add more options as I think of them.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Starbucks puts their signature “Classic Syrup” (liquid cane sugar) in a lot of their drinks. If you aren’t sure if the drink you are ordering normally has it, just err on the side of caution and ask for it without. Also note that not all stores make the drinks the same. They should, but they don’t. So just because one location makes your drink right, doesn’t mean another location will. ALWAYS ask for exactly what you want and don’t be afraid to ask them for clarification.

How to Order Low Carb Keto at Starbucks and 10 Low Carb Starbucks Copycat Recipes

The obvious keto Starbucks choices:

Espresso - There are no carbs in a shot of espresso. It is definitely an acquired taste, but it is always a viable option.
Drip Coffee - You can drink it black or you can add cream and sugar free syrup to it. This is how I drink my coffee at home on most days. When I am not drinking Boosted Keto Coffee at home, that is.
Iced Coffee - Again, you can add any sugar free syrups you want to this. You can also add heavy cream or half and half
Cold Brew - This is made in house daily and in small batches. Get it early before they are sold out.
Hot Tea - Starbucks has a lot of great hot tea flavors. Drink it as is or add a little sweetener or sugar free syrup to it.
Cappucino - Cappuccino is just espresso and milk foam. If you like it wetter, it also has a little steamed milk in it. You can have it plain or you can add sugar-free syrup to it. You can substitute any type of milk for this. The lower the fat content, the higher the carbs. The higher the fat content, the less foamy the cappuccino will be.

How to order a low carb latte at Starbucks:

Order an americano (iced or hot) with a splash of heavy cream. Starbucks makes their own whipped cream, therefore they all carry heavy cream. If you want it flavored, just add any of their sugar-free syrups.
Order a latte, sub half and half (breve) or heavy cream. If you want it flavored, just add any of their sugar-free syrups. This will be very creamy. If you don't want it so rich, order the americano option above instead.
Order a latte, but ask for almond milk or coconut milk as a substitution. Many Starbucks now carry both. Note- They are not unsweetened and do have some sugar and carbs. They are still much lower than milk. Ask to see the container. They will happily show you. Then you can see for sure if they are right for you.
Order a flat white, but ask to substitute half and half for the whole milk or even half heavy cream and half water.
Order a chai tea latte and ask for 2 brewed tea bags instead of the concentrate. Then add sugar-free vanilla and a splash of heavy whipping cream.

How to order a low carb frappuccino at Starbucks:

This one took them a couple of tries to get right. They looked at me like I was nuts, but once they got it right, it became my favorite summer drink. Ask for a Coffee Light Frappucino with half water and half heavy cream instead of the nonfat milk. It has a subtle sweetness all on its own, but you can add any of their sugar-free syrups for a little more flavor
Ask for a Sugar-Free Cinnamon Dulce Light Frappucino with half water and half heavy cream instead of non-fat milk. Trust me when I tell you that your low carb blended coffee drink game just got elevated.

How to order a low carb mocha at Starbucks:

Order a Skinny Mocha with half heavy cream and half water instead of the non-fat milk. Alternately you can ask to sub half and half (breve)
Order an Americano with skinny mocha sauce and a splash of heavy cream
Order a coconut or almond milk mocha, sub skinny mocha sauce (See the note about)
Order a sugar free peppermint mocha with skinny mocha sauce with half heavy cream and half water. Alternately, you can ask to sub half and half (breve)

How to order keto non-coffee drinks at Starbucks:

Order a breve hot chocolate, sub skinny mocha sauce.
Keto Pink Drink – Order an unsweetened Passion Tango Herbal Tea, with no classic syrup (again with that pesky classic syrup), add sugar-free vanilla and a splash of heavy cream.

Save carbs and money and make your own:

Now that you know how to order low carb / keto at Starbucks, I will show you how you can enjoy similar versions of those same drinks from the comfort of your low carb home. If you are looking to save some cash and probably even a few carbs, you can try out these Starbucks copycat recipes. If you have ever been in line and found yourself drooling over the pastry case, have no fear, I have included some copycat recipes for some of Starbucks most popular sweet treats as well.