Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Starbucks Caramel Macchiato ultra-processed?

750 ml Cappuccino Sold in the United Kingdom and Finland

Pack of Starbucks Caramel Macchiato

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 10 ingredients
  • 4 additives
  • Nutri-Score C

Less processed cappuccino

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

fat milk 1.8%, Starbucks Arabica coffee (water, coffee), sugar 4.7%, caramel flavouring, potassium carbonate, emulsifiers, carrageenan, guar gum

Additives: E407 Carrageenan , E412 Guar gum , E501 Potassium carbonates , E501i Potassium carbonate

As written on the pack

1.8% fat milk (75%), Starbucks Arabica coffee (water, coffee extract) (20%), sugar (4.7%), caramel flavouring (contains milk), acidity regulator (potassium carbonate), emulsifiers (mono - and diglycerides of fatty acids of vegetable origin), stabilisers (carrageenan, guar gum).

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
  • E412 Guar gum Guar gum is a thickener ground from the seeds of the guar plant.
  • Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
1 ingredient that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 14 cappuccino

From least to most processed, this one ranks 9th. 86% of the cappuccino here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 14 cappuccino, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4100290024758, last edited 27 March 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of C (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.