Half coffee, half milk
Starbucks Caffè Misto
The quiet, low-calorie coffee on the Starbucks menu: brewed coffee and steamed milk, one to one. Here is what you get in each size, how it compares with a latte, how to order it your way, and how to make it at home.
Quick answer. Short answer: a caffè misto (cafe misto) is half fresh-brewed coffee and half steamed milk, topped with a little foam. Misto is Italian for “mixed.” A Starbucks Grande Caffè Misto with 2% milk has 110 calories and about 150 mg of caffeine, and costs about $4.99 on average in the US.
- Size in this answer: Grande
- Calories: 110
- Caffeine: 150 mg
- Average US price: $4.99
Checked October 2026. Prices are average US prices and vary by store.
Two Ingredients, One-to-One
Starbucks describes the misto as a one-to-one combination of fresh-brewed coffee and steamed milk, and its ingredient list is exactly that: brewed coffee, milk. Nothing is added until you ask for it.
| Part | In a Grande (16 oz) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Brewed coffee | About 8 oz | Full coffee flavor; the caffeine source |
| Steamed 2% milk | About 8 oz | Softens bitterness, adds creaminess and natural sweetness |
| Foam | A thin layer | Light, velvety top |
If that sounds like a café au lait, it is: the French name and the Italian name describe the same “half coffee, half milk” drink. Starbucks simply uses the Italian name, the way it does for the caffè latte and caffè Americano. You will also see it spelled cafe misto, caffe misto and, in the plural, cafe mistos (“cafe misti” in Italian).
Caffè Misto by Size
| Size | Calories | Sugar | Fat | Protein | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short (8 oz) | 50 | 5 g | 2 g | 4 g | 75 mg |
| Tall (12 oz) | 80 | 8 g | 3 g | 5 g | 115 mg |
| Grande (16 oz) | 110 | 10 g | 4 g | 7 g | 150 mg |
| Venti (20 oz) | 130 | 13 g | 5 g | 9 g | 195 mg |
The Venti is a 20 oz hot drink. For every cup size in ounces, see the Starbucks sizes page.
Why People Order a Misto
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Lighter than a latte | A Grande misto is 110 calories; a Grande Caffè Latte is 190. Less milk means fewer calories. |
| Usually cheaper | About $4.99 for a Grande versus about $6.48 for a Grande latte at average US prices. |
How to Order a Misto Your Way
Say the size and “caffè misto,” then add changes in this order: milk, roast, syrup, temperature.
| Change | What to say | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | “with whole milk” / “with soy” / “with almond milk” / “with oat milk” | Whole is richer; nonfat is lightest; oat is the creamiest plant milk; soy adds protein |
| Roast | “with Blonde” or “with dark roast” | A softer or a bolder coffee base |
| Decaf | “decaf misto” | Brewed decaf (availability can vary by time of day) |
| Flavor | “with 2 pumps vanilla” (or cinnamon dolce, caramel) | A sweet, latte-like drink |
| Temperature | “extra hot” or “kids temp/warm” | Hotter, or ready to sip right away |
| Foam | “no foam” or “extra foam” | More milk or a fluffier top |
Just want milk? Starbucks also serves plain Steamed Milk (a Grande is 200 calories and 0 mg of caffeine with 2% milk), a good option for kids or a late-night drink.
Misto vs. Latte vs. Flat White vs. Americano
| Drink | Coffee base | Milk | Grande calories | Grande caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caffè Misto | Brewed coffee | Half the cup, thin foam | 110 | 150 mg |
| Caffè Latte | Espresso (2 shots) | Most of the cup, thin foam | 190 | 150 mg |
| Flat White | Ristretto espresso | Whole milk, microfoam | Tall: 170 | Tall: 130 mg |
| Caffè Americano | Espresso + hot water | None (add your own) | 15 | 225 mg |
Caffè misto vs. latte
This is the most common question. A latte is espresso with lots of steamed milk; a misto is brewed coffee with an equal amount of milk. The misto tastes more like a cup of coffee, while a latte tastes more like milk with espresso. Read more in our caffè latte page.
Caffè misto vs. flat white
A flat white uses sweeter, more concentrated ristretto shots and whole milk with very fine foam, so it is richer and more intense. A misto is lighter and simpler.
What is an “Americano misto”?
It is an off-menu request: a Caffè Americano where some of the hot water is replaced by steamed milk. Ask for “an Americano with half water, half steamed milk.” It is close to a misto but made with espresso.
How to make Caffè Misto
Ingredients
- 1 cup (8 oz / 240 ml) freshly brewed medium or dark roast coffee (about 2 tablespoons / 10–12 g ground coffee)
- 1 cup (8 oz / 240 ml) 2% milk, or whole, oat, soy or almond milk
- Optional: 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, or 1 tablespoon vanilla or cinnamon dolce syrup
Instructions
- Brew the coffee. Brew 8 oz of medium or dark roast coffee a little stronger than usual (drip, pour-over or French press). Pike Place Roast or any medium roast works well.
- Heat the milk. Steam 8 oz of milk to 140–150°F (60–65°C). No steam wand: warm it in a small pot or microwave until steaming, not boiling, then froth briefly with a handheld frother or by shaking it in a lidded jar.
- Combine 1:1. Pour the hot coffee into a 16 oz mug. Pour the steamed milk in, holding back most of the foam, then spoon a thin layer of foam on top.
- Sweeten and serve. Stir in sugar or syrup if you like and serve right away.
Tips, substitutions and storage
- Brew a little strong. The milk dilutes the coffee by half, so use about 1 tablespoon more grounds than usual.
- Keep the 1:1 ratio for any size: 4 + 4 oz for a Short, 6 + 6 oz for a Tall, 10 + 10 oz for a Venti.
- Milk swaps: oat and soy milk steam best; almond milk is lighter and thinner.
- Make it iced: use chilled coffee and cold milk over ice, 1:1. (An iced misto is not on the Starbucks menu, but you can order an iced coffee with extra milk.)
- Storage: best fresh. Brewed coffee keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge; reheat and add freshly heated milk instead of reheating a mixed misto.
Watch: How to Make a Misto
Looking for more hot coffee? Browse the full Starbucks hot drinks menu or compare prices on our Starbucks menu prices page.
Caffè Misto FAQs
What is a caffè misto?
A caffè misto (or cafe misto) is a one-to-one mix of brewed coffee and steamed milk with a thin layer of foam. “Misto” means “mixed” in Italian. It is Starbucks’ version of the French café au lait.
What is a misto at Starbucks made of?
Just two ingredients: brewed coffee and milk. The standard version uses 2% milk, but you can choose whole, nonfat, oat, almond, soy or coconut milk.
How many calories are in a Starbucks Caffè Misto?
With 2% milk: 50 calories (Short), 80 (Tall), 110 (Grande) and 130 (Venti).
How much caffeine is in a caffè misto?
About 75 mg in a Short, 115 mg in a Tall, 150 mg in a Grande and 195 mg in a Venti, according to Starbucks.
Caffè misto vs. latte: what is the difference?
A misto uses brewed coffee and is half milk; a latte uses espresso and is mostly milk. A Grande misto has 110 calories versus 190 for a Grande latte, and usually costs less.
Is a caffè misto the same as a café au lait?
Yes, they are essentially the same drink: brewed coffee and hot milk in equal parts. Starbucks uses the Italian name.
What is an Americano misto?
An off-menu drink: a Caffè Americano where some of the hot water is replaced with steamed milk. It tastes like a misto made with espresso instead of brewed coffee.
What do you call coffee with steamed milk?
Brewed coffee with steamed milk is a caffè misto or café au lait. Espresso with steamed milk is a latte, cappuccino or flat white, depending on the milk and foam.
Nutrition and caffeine are from starbucks.com (checked October 2026), made with 2% milk. Prices are average US prices and vary by store. starbukmenu.com is not affiliated with Starbucks Corporation.
