SUMMER is almost upon us and with the sunshine comes a raft of refreshing drinks on coffee shop menus.
They may taste delicious, but many of them are loaded with – up to 14 teaspoons in one go.
Dietitian Emma Shafqat described them as “desserts in disguise”;.
Over the past few months, we saw the launch of the Lavender Cream Frappuccino at , which contained a whopping 351 calories, 14.8g of fat and 47.3g of sugar – 12.3g more than a can of .
Even a Mango Smoothie at contains a worrying 29.8g of sugar – that’s about the same as a Cadbury Double Decker (30g).
The NHS recommends adults have no more than 30g of added sugar per day.
This is sugar that is not natural (such as in fruit – but not fruit juice – or milk).
“Many of these summer drinks are desserts in disguise,”; Emma, of Dietitian With a Difference, tells Sun Health.
“While they are often marketed as refreshing or energising, many are loaded with sugar and, offering little in the way of nutritional value.
“Most are low in and .
“These kinds of drinks can contribute significantly to our daily calorie intake, without offering satiety and therefore making them ’empty calories’.
“While there’s no issue in enjoying these occasionally, they can become problematic if consumed regularly, particularly for children or teenagers, and they can contribute to .
“They are also very easy to consume quickly, so you might not realise you have just drunk the equivalent of a slice of cake.”;
Here we look at some of the worst offenders for 2025...
Costa Chocolate Fudge Frappe, medium
- Calories: 392
- Fat: 13.1g
- Sugar: 47.1g
Anything with a name like this is going to be bursting with sugar.
In fact, this one from has 47.1g of the stuff when getting a medium-sized with (47.2g with whole milk).
Emma says: “At nearly 400 calories and 48g sugar, this is another dessert level drink. It’s a shocking amount of sugar – around 12tsp.
“It contains 167 more calories than a Mars bar and 5g more fat.”;
Pret Mango Smoothie
- Calories: 143
- Fat: 0.8g
- Sugar: 29.8g
You may go for a as an alternative to the dessert flavoured drinks. But be wary!
Emma says: “This smoothie gets its sweetness from fruit rather than added sugar, so it is a better choice nutritionally.
“However, it still contains nearly 30g of sugar per portion – around 7tsp!
“While naturally occurring, it is lacking the fibre you’d get from eating whole fruit.
“The smoothie is also low in protein (1.3g) and low in fibre (1.8g).”;
Costa White Chocolate Iced Whipped Latte, medium
- Calories: 200
- Fat: 3.2g
- Sugar: 30.5g
With skimmed milk, your daily sugar recommendation is breached with a medium-sized drink.
Emma says: “This is very high for a very small drink and the equivalent of 7tsp of sugar, and more than the NHS recommends an adult having in a whole day.
“It may taste like coffee but it offers little in the way of fibre or slow release energy, which means it can and leave you feeling hungry soon after.
“As it doesn’t taste overly sweet, it’s easy to forget how much sugar is hidden in a drink like this.”;
Some may choose to get syrups to make this drink even sweeter, adding on roughly 10g of sugar (unless getting the sugar-free option).
Caffe Nero Espresso and Caramel Luxury Frappe
- Calories: 469
- Fat: 21.2g
- Sugar: 53.4g
This creamy frappe from – with caramel sauce and whipped cream – is one of the less fussy drinks out there. But that’s not reflected in its nutritional values.
Emma says: “Over 53g of sugar in one drink is shocking given the daily recommendation for an adult is only 30g.”;
That’s almost 14tsp of sugar.
“And it contains more calories than a McDonald’s double cheeseburger [436],”; says Emma.
The Strawberry and White Chocolate Luxury Frappe and Millionaires Luxury Frappe are no better.
McDonald’s Frozen Strawberry Lemonade, regular
- Calories: 201
- Fat: 0.5g
- Sugar: 32g
This drink certainly falls into the ’empty calorie’ category.
Emma says: “This sounds like a light and fruity option, but with 32g of sugar (the equivalent of 8tsp) and almost no nutritional value, it’s essentially liquid sugar.
“It offers no fibre, barely any protein (0.3g) and no fat.
“It might feel refreshing on a hot day but it won’t keep you full, fuel your body or offer any lasting energy.”;
McDonald’s Mango and Pineapple Smoothie, regular
- Calories: 179
- Fat: 0.5g
- Sugar: 39g
Another McDonald’s fruit smoothie that, although may be lower in calories, really packs in the sugar.
Emma says: “Even though it’s made with fruit, this smoothie packs a huge 39g of sugar – around 9tsp, which is more than double the recommended intake for UK children.
“The sugar is naturally derived from fruit but there is still little fibre or protein in this drink.
“At 179 calories, it’s not the worst in terms of energy content but it offers minimal nutritional benefit.
“It’s a stark reminder that fruit-based doesn’t always mean healthy, especially when the fruit is blended and stripped of its natural fibre.”;
LEON Iced Chai Latte
- Calories: 189 calories
- Fat: 6.4g
- Sugar: 27g
You may go to LEON for something you hope is a little more ‘healthy’ – but not everything on the menu is nutritious.
Emma says: “Chai is known for its aromatic blend of spices and is often thought of as ‘healthy’. With this one from LEON though, you couldn’t be more wrong.
“With over 27g of sugar, it’s more of a dessert than a healthy, iced drink.
“The 6.4g fat likely comes from milk or cream, adding extra calories and fat.
“While the spices in chai can offer some health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory properties from cinnamon or ginger, this iced version lacks fibre and protein.”;
Starbucks Iced White Mocha, grande
- Calories: 401
- Fat: 0.3g
- Sugar: 45.7g
Emma says: “It may give you a caffeine boost but this drink has serious amounts of sugar, which is a major concern.
“It’s easy to overlook how sugary this is because it sounds like a coffee-based drink but it’s more like a pudding. Avoid.”;
Pret Iced Chocolate
- Calories: 197
- Fat: 3.7g
- Sugar: 29.1g
If you’re going for something with ‘chocolate’ in the name, it’s a given you’re looking for a treat.
And this one will do the job, with 29.1g of sugar – your total daily amount.
Emma says: “Whilst this is one of the lower calorie options, it still contains around 7tsp of sugar.
“It’s low in fibre and only offers 7.2g protein.
“If you are opting for an iced chocolate, consider sharing or choosing a smaller size to enjoy the flavour without over indulging.”;
INSTEAD GO FOR: Pret Cooler Raspberry Lemonade
- Calories: 68
- Fat: 0.1g
- Sugar: 13.9g
A blend of raspberry and lemon is perfect for a hot summer day – and it will also be your best bet if you’re gasping for a sweet drink.
Emma says: “One of the best picks you find if you are looking for something for refreshing is this one from Pret.
“At just 68 calories and 13.9g sugar, it’s significantly lower in energy and sweetness compared to many of the others on offer.
“It has a small amount of fibre (1.1g) and overall you get a burst of flavour and refreshment without the excess fat and calories hidden in other drinks.”;
