To answer the question, “can you get a caramel frappuccino without coffee?” I went to several coffee shops and tried my own home blend.
I prefer my coffee black. But to research this piece, I went around to several places to order caramel frappuccinos without coffee, which, in my view, is a sort of sacrilege. The short answer to the title question is yes: it is possible to get a caramel frappuccino, but it is not always easy.
What Is A Caramel Frappuccino?
A frappuccino is a frozen and blended drink that Starbucks trademarked in 1995. This particular variety contains ice and flavors like… caramel! It bears a striking similarity in look and taste to a milkshake. It may or may not have coffee in them. It also tends to have a big swirl of whipped cream on top.
Starbucks trademarked the name, but it has no monopoly on the ingredients. Other coffee shops serve the same kind of drink but call it blended coffee, frozen coffee, or frappe.
Read our guide Frappe vs Frappuncio.
Can You Get A Caramel Frappuccino Without Coffee?
The long list of hot and cold drinks offered by most coffee shops can overwhelm people who are not used to them. Just when you think you’ve got the list down, new offerings and permutations spring up.
Check out the list of the best Starbucks coffee!
I went to several coffee shops. I had roughly the same experience during each trip. Somewhere in the rich haze of coffee terms and flavors, I was, after a few moments, able to find what I was searching for: a caramel frappuccino.
The madness for coffee customization was key to getting one without coffee. Starbucks caramel frappuccinos have coffee in them—in the syrup.
If you want the taste of decaffeinated coffee, you must order a decaf frappuccino. The barista will simply leave out the syrup and put in decaf shots of espresso.
Nearly all variations of the frappuccino use caramel syrup with coffee in it. So, you must ask for decaf no matter which shop you go to.
Remember, even the best frappucinos don’t last forever. If you liked this post, you might also be interested in learning about what a cloud macchiato is.
Other Options
If you want the sweet taste of Frappuccinos without the caffeine, there are other menu options. At Starbucks, the Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino has no caffeine. You will also find no coffee and very little caffeine in tea frappuccinos.
You can also make your own caramel frappuccino without coffee at home. All you need do is put 1 cup of large ice cubes, 2/3 cup of milk, 3 tablespoons of regular caramel syrup, 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, and a finger full of Xanthan gum into a blender. Leave it going for about 30 seconds.
You can make decaf separately and mix it all together. Add whipped cream and caramel sauce or cinnamon for extra flavor.
