Shoppers checking total sugars
A black cold brew listed with 0g sugars is a different choice from a no-added-sugar latte that still contains sugars from milk or oats. Check both the claim and the nutrition panel.
Who is each option for?
Start with the requirement that matters most: total sugars, caffeine, ingredients or how you want to prepare the drink.
People seeking a decaffeinated drink
Nolo Decaf Classic Cold Brew Oat Latte is described by Sainsbury’s as decaffeinated. Do not assume that a black cold brew or a coffee concentrate is decaffeinated unless its label says so.
Shoppers comparing drink formats
A single-serve bottle is ready to drink, a larger bottle provides several pours, and a concentrate needs diluting. Compare the number and size of the drinks you will actually make.
What should you check?
Decide whether you need 0g total sugars, a particular ingredient profile or a decaffeinated drink before comparing pack sizes and preparation.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugars | Read “of which sugars” per 100ml and for the whole drink. “No added sugar” does not establish 0g total sugars: Tesco lists 3.7g per 100ml for Starbucks Skinny Latte, while Sainsbury’s lists 4.8g per 250ml can for Nolo. | I want to know how much sugar is in the drink I will finish, not just whether sugar was added. A retailer listing for Sandows black cold brew states 0g sugars per 100ml. |
| Caffeine | Look for an explicit decaffeinated label or a stated caffeine quantity and serving size. A Coffee Friend listing gives Sandows cold brew as 40.5mg caffeine per 100ml; Sainsbury’s describes Nolo’s oat cold brew latte as decaffeinated. | If caffeine matters to me, I need the status of the particular drink I am buying rather than an assumption based on the words “cold brew”. |
| Ingredients | Check the milk, oat, wheat-related and sweetener information on the pack. Tesco says its lactose-free Starbucks Skinny Latte is not suitable for people with a milk allergy and lists acesulfame K. | I may want dairy-free coffee, a lactose-free milk drink or one without sweeteners; those are different requirements. Sainsbury’s describes Nolo as dairy-free and without added sweeteners, but it contains oat. |
| Serving format | Compare bottle or can volume with the number of drinks in a multiserve pack. For concentrate, check the pouch size and dilution directions: Joybuy directs users to add about 200ml of water to each J.ZAO pouch. | On a regular shop, I might prefer a drink I can open immediately, several pours from one bottle, or individual pouches I can mix at home. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating “no added sugar” as “zero sugar”
Milk- and oat-based drinks can contain sugars even when labelled no added sugar. Tesco’s Starbucks Skinny Latte lists 3.7g sugars per 100ml, and Sainsbury’s Nolo lists 4.8g per 250ml can.
Read the total-sugars figure for the amount you plan to drink. If 0g total sugars is your requirement, confirm that figure on the specific product.
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Assuming lactose-free means milk-free
Tesco describes Starbucks Skinny Latte as lactose-free but says it is not suitable for people with a milk allergy. An oat drink presents different ingredient checks.
Read the full ingredient and allergen statement for milk, oats and any sweeteners relevant to you.
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Comparing packs without considering the finished drink
A ready-to-drink bottle and a pouch of concentrate are not equivalent servings. The J.ZAO directions call for one 25ml pouch to be diluted with about 200ml of water.
Compare the drinks you would prepare and count any milk or flavourings you normally add.
Concentrate also requires preparation rather than being ready to drink.
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Assuming cold brew is decaffeinated
Cold-brew preparation does not establish a drink’s caffeine status. Coffee Friend lists 40.5mg caffeine per 100ml for Sandows cold brew, whereas Sainsbury’s identifies Nolo’s oat cold brew latte as decaffeinated.
If you need decaf, check that the specific pack is labelled decaffeinated. If you are tracking caffeine, use the quantity and serving size stated for that drink.
Brand and product-line examples
These examples show how black cold brew, oat drinks and milk-based lattes differ; check the particular product rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Sandows
A ready-to-drink black cold brew for shoppers who want coffee without a latte’s milk or oat ingredients.
- Coffee Friend lists fresh coffee and filtered water as its ingredients, with 0g sugars per 100ml.
- The same listing states 40.5mg caffeine per 100ml, so it is not the decaf example here.
Nolo
Sainsbury’s lists a 250ml decaffeinated oat cold brew latte labelled dairy-free and no added sugar or sweeteners.
- The decaffeinated label distinguishes this drink when caffeine avoidance is the main requirement.
- It contains oat and lists 4.8g total sugars per can. The Sainsbury’s product information says it is not suitable for people with coeliac disease or a wheat allergy.
Starbucks
Its Skinny Latte No Added Sugar is a chilled, milk-based iced coffee, not a black cold brew.
- Tesco lists a 220ml bottle, while Waitrose lists a 750ml multiserve version for shoppers comparing serving formats.
- Tesco lists 3.7g sugars per 100ml and acesulfame K, and states that the lactose-free drink is not suitable for people with a milk allergy.
M&S
Its cold brew latte range includes dairy and oat versions with different ingredients and nutrition figures.
- M&S lists 1.5g sugars per 100g for its dairy-free Oat Latte Cold Brew.
- Its Classic Latte Cold Brew contains milk and added sugar. M&S says its Oat Latte Cold Brew is not suitable for people with coeliac disease or a wheat allergy.
J.ZAO
Joybuy lists a cold-brew coffee concentrate supplied as individual pouches for dilution at home.
- The Joybuy product information describes ten 25ml pouches and instructs users to dilute one with about 200ml of water.
- Joybuy describes the concentrate as zero sugar; check the delivered pack, and account for anything added to the prepared drink.
Cold-brew concentrate at Joybuy
This option is a portioned concentrate for making cold coffee at home, rather than a ready-to-drink black coffee or latte.
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J.ZAO Extra-Strong Americano Cold Brew Coffee Liquid, 10 × 25ml pouches
For a cold coffee prepared at home, dilute one pouch with about 200ml of water, as directed by Joybuy. The product is listed as zero sugar; check the pack’s nutrition information and any additions to your finished drink. Check its caffeine information if that affects your choice.
Cold coffee questions
Does “no added sugar” mean a cold coffee has no sugar?
No. Tesco lists 3.7g sugars per 100ml for its no-added-sugar Starbucks Skinny Latte, and Sainsbury’s lists 4.8g per 250ml can for Nolo, which is labelled no added sugar or sweeteners. Check “of which sugars” for the whole amount you plan to drink.
Which of these cold brew drinks is decaffeinated?
Sainsbury’s describes Nolo Decaf Classic Cold Brew Oat Latte as decaffeinated. It is an oat drink containing 4.8g total sugars per 250ml can, so also check its ingredients and nutrition if those affect your choice.
Is a lactose-free iced latte suitable for a milk allergy?
Not necessarily. Tesco specifically says its lactose-free Starbucks Skinny Latte is not suitable for people with a milk allergy. Check the full allergen statement on the particular drink; lactose-free does not mean milk-free.
How do I compare a concentrate with ready-to-drink coffee?
Compare the amount you will actually drink and whether you want to prepare it. Joybuy’s directions for J.ZAO call for one 25ml pouch and about 200ml of water; a ready-to-drink bottle needs no dilution. Milk or flavourings will change the finished drink.
What caffeine information matters during pregnancy?
Check the caffeine quantity for your serving and include other sources consumed that day. NHS guidance for pregnancy says not to have more than 200mg of caffeine a day. If choosing a decaffeinated drink, confirm that the specific product is labelled decaffeinated.