How Much Sugar Is in a Latte?
A plain grande latte has about 17 g of sugar — all natural milk lactose from the steamed milk, before a single pump of flavoured syrup.
in 1 grande (16 fl oz), plain · about 4 teaspoons
- Per serving
- 17 g
- Per 100 g
- 5 g
- Type
- Natural sugar
- In teaspoons
- ≈ 4 tsp
A big chunk of a day's sugar in one serving.
A grande (16 fl oz) latte is mostly steamed milk, and that milk is where the sugar comes from: about 17 g of natural lactose, the same sugar you'd find in a glass of milk. No sugar is added to a plain latte — it lands in the 'high' band purely because of the volume of milk in a large cup.
The real jump happens with flavoured syrups. A vanilla, caramel, or mocha latte adds roughly 20–25 g more on top of the milk's natural sugar, which can put a large flavoured latte north of 40 g total — closer to a can of soda than a cup of coffee. Ordering it plain, or asking for half the pumps, keeps it in the natural-sugar range only.
Lower-sugar swaps
- Order it plain, or ask for sugar-free syrup to skip the added sugar
- Go a size down, or ask for half-milk half-water, to cut the lactose load
Frequently asked questions
- Does a plain latte have added sugar?
- No — a plain latte's sugar is entirely natural lactose from the milk. Sugar only enters the picture with flavoured syrups, which shops add by default in flavoured drinks.
- How much sugar does a flavoured latte add?
- Typically 20–25 g more from the syrup, on top of the milk's natural ~17 g — meaning a large flavoured latte can carry more sugar than a can of Coke.
More foods
Learn more
Sugar values from USDA FoodData Central; actual amounts vary by brand, ripeness, and recipe. Last updated 2026-08-09.