We Decoded All the Starbucks Coffee Sizes—Here's What You Need to Know (2024)

Here's everything you need to know about Starbucks coffee sizes, including how many espresso shots come in each size.

Starbucks’ coffee sizes can be confusing. Are cold Starbucks drinks bigger than hot drinks? Is a tall really the smallest size you can get? And does ordering a larger size mean getting more caffeine?

Here’s everything you need to know whether you’re ordering from the secret menu or enjoying an old classic.

Why Starbucks Coffee Sizes Aren’t Small, Medium and Large

Like most of us, you’ve probably wondered why Starbucks doesn’t use regular sizes like every other store. The story starts in 1983, when Howard Schultz, who founded the brand that eventually became Starbucks, visited Italy. Wanting to emulate the romantic Italian coffee experience, he modeled his new American coffee shop on Italian coffee bars, using terms such as macchiato, latte and grande.

When the Starbucks franchise expanded in the ’90s, the coffee sizes were short, tall and grande. Eventually, venti was introduced, kicking short off the menu, and tall became the new short.

Starbucks Coffee Sizes at a Glance

Demi (3 ounces)
Short (8 ounces)
Tall (12 ounces)
Grande (16 ounces)
Venti (20 ounces for hot drinks, 24 ounces for cold drinks)
Trenta (30 ounces)

What Each Starbucks Coffee Size Really Means

Taste of Home

Demi

Demi comes from the French word “demitasse,” which means half-cup in French. The history of the little cup goes all the way back to Italy in 1906! This tiny cup holds only 3 ounces and is made solely for espresso shots, each of which come in at about an ounce. This size is perfect for a single or even a double shot of espresso (commonly known as a doppio), which is 2 ounces.

Short

The smallest Starbucks drink around, a short contains 8 ounces. This li’l cup is available for hot drinks only, including brewed coffee and espresso drinks. Short drinks made with milk, like lattes and cappuccinos, contain one shot of espresso. A short Americano, made with water, also has a single shot. Single shots have less caffeine than a cup of coffee, so these are great options if you don’t love coffee jitters.

Tall

Confusingly, the second smallest size at Starbucks is called “tall.” It clocks in at 12 ounces, and you can order both hot and cold drinks in a tall cup. Tall drinks made with milk have one shot of espresso. The tall Americano and shaken espressocontain two shots.

Grande

In Spanish, “grande” means large, but since more’s better when it comes to coffee, it’s actually a medium option at Starbucks. Grande coffees hold 16 ounces, both for cold and hot beverages. Grande espresso drinks have two shots. As usual, the Americano and shaken espresso have an extra shot, giving you a nice boost with three shots of espresso.

Venti

The venti option is tricky, since it’s actually two different sizes. A hot venti beverage contains 20 ounces of coffee—in fact, the word venti means 20 in Italian. The cold venti is slightly larger, at 24 ounces. Both cups are noticeably tall and a bit more ungainly to carry around, something to bear in mind if you’re on the go.

Surprisingly, a venti hot drink has the same amount of espresso as a grande: two shots. The extra volume is mostly milk and syrup. However, a venti Americano has a whopping four shots of espresso.

The slightly larger capacity of the venti cold drink includes an extra shot: three shots for milky drinks, and an extra shot for a shaken espresso.

Trenta Cold

The newest Starbucks size caused a stir when it came out in 2011. As Eater reported, the 30-ounce Trenta is actually larger than most human stomachs. You can only order cold drinks in this gargantuan size, including iced tea, iced tea lemonade, iced coffee, cold brew and Starbucks Refreshers.

Espresso Exceptions

Of course, there are always a couple of exceptions: flat white lattes, made with a special ristretto shot, always include one more shot than traditional lattes.And blended drinks, like Frappuccinos, contain a single shot, regardless of size.

Confused? Don’t worry too much. If you’re unclear about sizing options or need to watch your caffeine intake, chat with your barista about the Starbucks menu; they’ll know the details!

Our Best Starbucks Copycat Recipes

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Inspired by: Starbucks Chai Tea LatteMy family loves this comforting chai tea latte recipe, especially on cold days instead of cocoa or when they're feeling under the weather. I simplified this chai tea recipe by using the filter basket of our coffeepot. It's delicious and great after dinner! —Julie Plummer, Sykesville, MarylandGet Our Recipe for Chai Tea Latte

Molly Allen for Taste of Home

Inspired by: Starbucks Cranberry Bliss BarsYou can make Starbucks cranberry bliss bars any time you please with this step-by-step copycat recipe. It makes an entire pan of bars that taste just like the real deal. —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon

Get Our Recipe for Cranberry Bliss Bars

Taste of Home

Inspired by: Starbucks Egg BitesYou can substitute Gruyere cheese for the Swiss and ham for the bacon, or add in small-cut veggies to these copycat Starbucks egg bites. I also like to bake these in small Mason jars for fun single-portion presentations. Serve with avocado slices and fresh fruit for a healthy breakfast. —Maria Morelli, West Kelowna, British Columbia

Get Our Recipe for Copycat Starbucks Egg Bites

Inspired by: Starbucks Caramel FrappuccinoI love caramel frappuccinos from Starbucks, but they get too expensive. I now make my own, and they are just as good. If you blend the milk with all the other ingredients, it gets too foamy—instead stir it in with a spoon after all the ice is crushed. —Heather Egger, Davenport, Iowa

Get Our Recipe for Caramel Frappuccino

NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME

Inspired by: Starbucks Cheese DanishThe flaky layers of laminated dough and a sweet, cheese filling in the center make this Danish a natural to pair with hot coffee or tea. It’s as delicious for breakfast as it is for a late-night snack. —Nancy Mock, Colchester, Vermont

Get Our Recipe for Starbucks Danish

Inspired by: Starbucks Roasted Ham, Swiss and Egg SandwichOn a busy morning, these freezer breakfast sandwiches save the day. A hearty combo of eggs, Canadian bacon and cheese will keep you fueled through lunchtime and beyond. —Christine Rukavena, Taste of Home Senior Editor

Get Our Recipe for Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches