Review: Starbucks - Salted Caramel Mocha

Starbucks' Salted Caramel Mocha is a seasonal fall/winter drink first introduced last year. It features a blend of espresso, steamed milk, mocha sauce, and toffee nut syrup, topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce, turbinado (i.e. raw) sugar, and sea salt.

It's about a buck more than a Starbucks Latte at $3.75 for a 12-ounce "Tall" drink. I got mine without whipped cream.

The Salted Caramel Mocha is the coffee version of Starbucks' popular Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. If you've had the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate before, the Mocha version is a little less creamy and chocolaty, tinged with a light coffee flavor.

The Salted Caramel Mocha is fairly sweet and might be considered dessert for some. The warmth is nice on a cold day and there's an initial hit of salt and buttery caramel before you get to what's basically a toffee mocha i.e. nutty chocolate coffee.

Between the espresso/coffee and hot chocolate version, I prefer the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate for it's richer, creamier chocolate flavor. Both are pretty good though. There's also a Frappuccino version.

Nutritional Info - Starbucks Tall Salted Caramel Mocha with Whole Milk (12 fl oz)
Calories - 280 (from Fat - 80)
Fat - 9g (Saturated Fat - 5g)
Sodium - 210mg
Carbs - 46g (Sugar - 40g)
Protein - 9g

Caffeine - 95mg