Blonde roast, blonde espresso & Sunsera explained
Starbucks Blonde Roast
What “blonde” really means at Starbucks, how much caffeine blonde coffee and blonde espresso have, how it compares with Signature and dark roast, and how to make a Blonde Vanilla Latte at home.
Quick answer. Blonde is Starbucks’ name for its lightest roast. It shows up in two places: the Blonde Roast brewed coffee, which is now Starbucks® Sunsera (about 315 mg of caffeine in a Grande, $4.20), and Blonde Espresso, a lighter espresso with about 85 mg per shot versus 75 mg for Signature Espresso. Blonde coffee tastes smoother, brighter and sweeter than Starbucks’ classic roasts.
- Size in this answer: Grande
- Caffeine: 315 mg
- Average US price: $4.20
Checked October 2026. Prices are average US prices and vary by store.
Three Kinds of “Blonde” at Starbucks
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Blonde Espresso drinks | 85 mg per shot |
Blonde Roast Brewed Coffee: Starbucks Sunsera
The Blonde Roast you order at a US Starbucks today is Starbucks® Sunsera, a blonde roast blend Starbucks introduced in 2025 with coffees from Brazil and Colombia. Starbucks says it was designed to be balanced and approachable, and describes it with notes of bright citrus and toasted almond. Some packaged blonde coffees, such as Veranda Blend, are still sold in grocery stores.
| Size | Caffeine | Calories | Avg. price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short (8 oz) | 155 mg | 5 | $3.85 |
| Tall (12 oz) | 235 mg | 5 | $3.99 |
| Grande (16 oz) | 315 mg | 5 | $4.20 |
| Venti (20 oz) | 390 mg | 5 | $4.50 |
A Venti Blonde Roast brewed coffee has about 390 mg of caffeine, close to the 400 mg daily limit the FDA cites for most healthy adults. Compare it with the other roasts on our Starbucks hot drinks page.
What Is Blonde Espresso?
Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast was the company’s first new espresso in more than 40 years. It launched in Canada in 2017 and in US stores on January 9, 2018. It is roasted lighter than the Signature Espresso Roast used in most Starbucks drinks, so it tastes smoother and sweeter, with a lighter body and a brighter, citrusy finish. You can ask for any espresso drink to be made with Blonde shots.
| Shots | Blonde Espresso | Signature Espresso |
|---|---|---|
| 1 shot (Solo) | about 85 mg | about 75 mg |
| 2 shots (Doppio, Grande latte) | about 170 mg | about 150 mg |
| 3 shots (Grande shaken espresso) | about 255 mg | about 225 mg |
Blonde vs. Signature vs. Dark Roast
| Blonde | Signature / Medium | Dark | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roast | Lightest | Medium-dark espresso / Pike Place medium | Darkest |
| Flavor | Bright, citrusy, sweet, mellow | Balanced, caramelly, bold | Roasty, smoky, bittersweet |
| Body | Light | Medium to full | Full |
| Espresso caffeine | About 85 mg per shot | About 75 mg per shot | — |
| Brewed caffeine (Grande) | 315 mg (Sunsera) | 315 mg (Pike Place) | 315 mg (1971 Roast) |
| Best for | Lattes with flavored syrups, iced drinks, black coffee drinkers who dislike bitterness | Classic lattes, mochas, macchiatos | Black coffee lovers who want bold flavor |
Common blonde roast myths
- “Blonde is weaker.” Not in caffeine. Blonde espresso has a little more caffeine per shot, and Starbucks lists the same 315 mg for all three Grande brewed roasts. It is milder in flavor, not in kick.
- “Blonde is a different bean.” It is mostly about roast time and blend; the beans are roasted for a shorter time so more of their bright, fruity character comes through.
- “Blonde is sweeter.” It tastes sweeter because it has less roasty bitterness, but it has no added sugar.
Starbucks Drinks Made With Blonde Espresso
These drinks use Blonde Espresso by default (Grande, Starbucks figures). The Lavender Latte, Iced Lavender Latte and Aerocano are also made with Blonde Espresso.
| Drink | Calories | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte (hot) | 250 | 170 mg |
| Iced Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte | 190 | 170 mg |
| Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso | 150 | 255 mg |
| Pecan Crunch Latte | 260 | 170 mg |
| Cortado (Short) | 90 | 230 mg |
You can also order a blonde Americano, a blonde latte or a blonde cappuccino: just ask for Blonde Espresso. See every iced option on our Starbucks cold drinks page.
Make a Blonde Vanilla Latte at Home
The Blonde Vanilla Latte is an easy way to try blonde espresso. This home version makes one 16 oz latte, hot or iced; for every size, calories and the skinny version, see the Starbucks vanilla latte page.
Ingredients
- 2 shots (2 oz) Blonde espresso, or ½ cup very strong brewed Blonde Roast
- 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla syrup (store-bought, or homemade below)
- 1 ½ cups (12 oz) 2% milk
- For homemade vanilla syrup: ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Make the syrup (optional). Simmer the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Take off the heat and stir in the vanilla. Cool. It keeps 2 weeks in the fridge.
- Pull the shots. Brew 2 shots of Blonde espresso into a 16 oz mug, or use strong brewed Blonde Roast.
- Add vanilla. Stir the vanilla syrup into the hot espresso.
- Steam the milk. Steam or heat the milk to about 150°F (65°C) and froth until it has a thin layer of foam. Pour it over the espresso.
- Iced version. Fill a 16 oz glass with ice, add the syrup and 1 cup of cold milk, then pour the espresso over the top.
- Lighter: use nonfat or almond milk and sugar-free vanilla syrup.
- No espresso machine? Brew Blonde Roast at double strength (4 tablespoons per 6 oz of water) in a French press or moka pot.
- Stronger: add a third shot for about 255 mg of caffeine.
How to Brew Blonde Roast at Home
- Measure: 2 tablespoons (about 10 g) of ground coffee per 6 oz of water, the ratio Starbucks recommends.
- Grind to match your brewer: medium for drip and pour-over, coarse for French press, fine for espresso.
- Use hot, not boiling, water: 195 to 205°F (90 to 96°C). Lighter roasts like blonde taste best near the top of that range.
- Brew: 4 minutes for French press, 3 to 4 minutes total for pour-over.
- For iced blonde coffee: brew at double strength and pour straight over a full glass of ice.
Buying blonde beans, K-Cups and pods
Starbucks sells blonde coffee for home as Blonde Espresso Roast whole bean and ground coffee, Sunsera and Veranda Blend packaged coffee, blonde K-Cup pods, Starbucks by Nespresso Blonde Espresso Roast capsules and Premium Instant. Some holiday seasons also bring a limited Christmas Blonde Roast. When shopping for any light roast coffee beans, look for a recent roast date and buy whole beans if you can grind them at home.
Watch: Blonde Roast vs. Signature Roast
Find the Blonde Roast and Blonde Vanilla Latte with prices on the Starbucks menu.
Starbucks Blonde Roast FAQs
What is blonde espresso?
Starbucks Blonde Espresso is a lighter-roasted espresso that Starbucks introduced in Canada in 2017 and across the US in January 2018. It tastes smoother, sweeter and brighter than Starbucks’ darker Signature Espresso.
Does blonde espresso have more caffeine?
Yes, a little. A shot of Starbucks Blonde Espresso has about 85 mg of caffeine, compared with about 75 mg for a Signature Espresso shot. That is why a Grande Blonde Vanilla Latte has 170 mg and a regular Grande Caffè Latte has 150 mg.
Is blonde roast stronger than dark roast?
It is milder in flavor, not stronger. At Starbucks, a Grande brewed Blonde Roast (Sunsera) has about 315 mg of caffeine, the same as a Grande Pike Place or Dark Roast. Blonde espresso shots have slightly more caffeine than Signature shots.
Is blonde roast the same as light roast?
Yes. Blonde is Starbucks’ name for its lightest roast level; most coffee companies call it light roast.
What is Starbucks Sunsera?
Starbucks® Sunsera is the blonde roast blend Starbucks introduced in 2025, made with coffees from Brazil and Colombia. It is the Blonde Roast brewed coffee in US cafés, with notes of bright citrus and toasted almond.
How much caffeine is in 3 shots of blonde espresso?
About 255 mg, which is what you get in a Grande Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
What color is espresso?
A shot of espresso is a very dark brown liquid topped with a layer of golden-tan foam called crema. Blonde espresso usually has a lighter, more golden crema.
Caffeine and nutrition are from starbucks.com (checked October 2026). Launch details are from Starbucks and news coverage. The homemade latte is our own home recipe. Prices are average US prices and vary by store. starbukmenu.com is not affiliated with Starbucks Corporation.
