Winter Coffee Drinks Contain Up to 18 Teaspoons of Sugar

As temperatures drop, coffee shops roll out festive drinks—but many of these seasonal specials pack more sugar than a week’s worth of desserts. A closer look reveals just how much hidden sweetness is in your favorite winter latte.

One large Costa Toffee Nut Latte contains 73.3 grams of sugar—that’s 18 teaspoons, over twice the daily recommended limit for women and nearly double for men. Starbucks’ Peppermint Mocha (large) follows close behind with 58.2 grams. These figures come from a UK Daily Mail investigation highlighting the alarming sugar and calorie content in mainstream coffeehouse holiday beverages.

How Much Sugar Is Really in Your Holiday Coffee?

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises a maximum of 35 grams (about 9 teaspoons) of sugar per day for men and 25 grams (6 teaspoons) for women. Yet a single large Costa Toffee Nut Latte exceeds 73.3 grams (18 teaspoons), delivering 610 calories—more than a quarter of many people’s daily intake. Starbucks’ large Peppermint Mocha contains 58.2 grams (14.5 teaspoons) of sugar and 547 calories. Even hot chocolate options, like Costa’s Caramel Hot Chocolate, reach 661 calories and 24 teaspoons of sugar.

Why Are These Drinks So Sweet?

The excessive sugar content comes from added ingredients such as flavored syrups, whipped cream, and condensed milk. For example, the toffee and caramel flavors in Costa’s drinks rely heavily on sugary syrups, while Starbucks’ holiday blends include peppermint syrup and chocolate. Even without whipped cream, base recipes call for high-sugar flavorings that quickly push the total intake beyond healthy limits. These drinks are designed for indulgence, not moderation.

Caffeine Content in Winter Coffee Drinks

Beyond sugar, these seasonal coffees also deliver high doses of caffeine. A small Costa espresso averages 185 mg of caffeine, with many drinks containing 2–3 espresso shots (around 277 mg total). Starbucks’ larger brewed coffees can reach up to 320 mg per cup. While caffeine boosts alertness, it is also mildly addictive, and regular high intake can lead to withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and elevated blood pressure.

Experts warn that the combination of sugar, caffeine, and calories makes these drinks far more than a simple pick-me-up. “These drinks are a cocktail of calories, sugar, and saturated fat with minimal nutritional benefit,” says a UK nutrition expert. Regular consumption can contribute to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even cognitive decline.

What Can You Do?

Both Costa and Starbucks say they offer customization options. Costa promotes lower-calorie choices such as drinks made with skimmed milk and sugar-free syrups, noting that their best-selling Christmas drink is a skim latte with only 70 calories. They also offer a unique 3-calorie tea and a gingerbread latte with skim milk at 192 calories. Starbucks baristas recommend requesting skim milk or skipping whipped cream to reduce calories. All locations allow customers to opt for sugar-free syrups or less sweet alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much sugar is in a large Costa Toffee Nut Latte?

A large Costa Toffee Nut Latte contains 73.3 grams of sugar, which equals 18 teaspoons. This amount is more than double the daily recommended sugar intake for both men and women according to the WHO.

How much sugar is in a Starbucks Peppermint Mocha?

A large Starbucks Peppermint Mocha contains 58.2 grams of sugar, roughly 14.5 teaspoons. That’s over twice the recommended daily sugar intake for women and close to double for men.

What’s the caffeine content in Costa and Starbucks holiday drinks?

A small Costa espresso has around 185 mg of caffeine, with many drinks containing 2–3 shots totaling approximately 277 mg. Starbucks’ larger brewed coffees can contain up to 320 mg of caffeine per cup.

Are there lower-sugar or lower-calorie options available?

Yes. Both Costa and Starbucks offer options such as drinks made with skimmed milk, sugar-free syrups, or customized orders without whipped cream. Costa’s best-selling Christmas drink is a skim latte with 70 calories, and they also sell a 3-calorie tea and a 192-calorie gingerbread latte with skim milk.

What are the health risks of consuming too much sugar and caffeine?

Excessive sugar intake is linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cognitive issues like Alzheimer’s. High caffeine consumption can lead to addiction, anxiety, and elevated blood pressure, especially when intake is reduced abruptly.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Sweet Coffee Profiles

For coffee lovers drawn to the intense sweetness of holiday drinks, try FrontStreet Coffee’s (Blackberry), a medium-roasted single origin from Costa Rica with honey processing. It offers floral, grape, sweet orange, and chocolate notes—perfect for those who enjoy a sweet, fruity cup. Alternatively, the Sidra (Sidra) from , also medium-roast, delivers complex fruitiness with hints of grape, apricot, and candy-like sweetness. For deeper sweetness, the Brazil Queen Manor (Brazil Queen Manor) medium roast features peanut and dark chocolate tones with a smooth, sweet finish. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.