How much caffeine is in Starbucks Peppermint Mocha?
A Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Peppermint Mocha has 175 mg of caffeine.
That's about 2 cups of brewed coffee, and 44% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.
Source: starbucks.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
When did you have it?
Had at 3 pm, about 61 mg is still in you at an 11 pm bedtime. That might affect your sleep.
Your whole day, every drink, in the free CaffeineIQ check. The iPhone app is coming soon.
Sizes
| Size | Volume | Caffeine | mg per fl oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short | 8 fl oz (237 ml) | 90 mg | 11 |
| Tall | 12 fl oz (355 ml) | 95 mg | 7.9 |
| Grande shown above | 16 fl oz (473 ml) | 175 mg | 11 |
| Venti, hot | 20 fl oz (591 ml) | 185 mg | 9.3 |
| Venti, iced | 24 fl oz (710 ml) | 265 mg | 11 |
Iced and hot versions have the same caffeine except where the table lists them separately.
Source: starbucks.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Latest time to drink it
For an 11 pm bedtime, most people should finish a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Peppermint Mocha by about 1:30 pm. The table works it out for other bedtimes and for how sensitive you are: it is the latest time to start one so that the caffeine left stays under the line all night.
| Bedtime | Very sensitive under 25 mg | Average under 50 mg | Not very sensitive under 100 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 pm | 6:30 am | 11:30 am | 4:30 pm |
| 10 pm | 7:30 am | 12:30 pm | 5:30 pm |
| 11 pm | 8:30 am | 1:30 pm | 6:30 pm |
| Midnight | 9:30 am | 2:30 pm | 7:30 pm |
| 1 am | 10:30 am | 3:30 pm | 8:30 pm |
For a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Peppermint Mocha, average clearance (half-life 5 h), 8 hours of sleep. "Any time" means even one at bedtime stays under the line.
How long it lasts
The caffeine from a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Peppermint Mocha peaks in your blood about 75 minutes after you start it, at roughly 149 mg. Half of it is gone in about 5 hours for an average adult; that ranges from roughly 3 to 7 hours, and longer in pregnancy or with some medicines.
| Time after | 3 hours | 6 hours | 9 hours | 12 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in you | 123 mg | 81 mg | 54 mg | 35 mg |
So one had at 3 pm leaves about 61 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.
How it compares
Starbucks Peppermint Mocha is stronger than 70% of the 90 coffee-shop drinks we track, by caffeine per serving.
Per fluid ounce (11 mg) it is stronger than 68% of them.
To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 2½ of these.
Less caffeine
- Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte 170 mg, Grande
- Starbucks Gingerbread Latte 170 mg, Grande
- Starbucks Half-Caff Pike Place Roast 170 mg, Grande
More caffeine
- Starbucks Iced Coffee 185 mg, Grande
- Starbucks Pistachio Cream Cold Brew 185 mg, Grande
- Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew 185 mg, Grande
Same caffeine: Starbucks Caffè Mocha.
FAQ
Is Starbucks Peppermint Mocha high in caffeine?
Yes. A Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Peppermint Mocha has 175 mg, which is 1.8 times an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee (95 mg).
How much caffeine is in a Short Starbucks Peppermint Mocha?
A Short (8 fl oz) Starbucks Peppermint Mocha has 90 mg of caffeine, 85 mg less than a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Peppermint Mocha.
How much caffeine is in a Venti iced Starbucks Peppermint Mocha?
An iced Venti (24 fl oz) Starbucks Peppermint Mocha has 265 mg of caffeine, 90 mg more than a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Peppermint Mocha.
Can I drink Starbucks Peppermint Mocha at night?
Not if you want to sleep well. Had at 7 pm, it leaves about 107 mg in an average adult at an 11 pm bedtime, above the 50 mg most people sleep fine with. The latest time for an 11 pm bedtime is about 1:30 pm.
How long does the caffeine in Starbucks Peppermint Mocha last?
It peaks about 75 minutes after you start it. Of the 175 mg, about 81 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 35 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.
Does Starbucks Peppermint Mocha have more caffeine than Red Bull?
Yes. A Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Peppermint Mocha has 175 mg; an 8.4 fl oz can of Red Bull has 80 mg.
Method and limits
The caffeine figure comes from starbucks.com and the other sources listed above; recipes, brewing and batches vary, so a real serving can differ. The curves use a standard one-compartment model with an average 5-hour half-life and a sleep-friendly line of 50 mg; your own body may clear caffeine faster or slower. How it works has the details.
These are estimates for information, not medical advice.
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