If you walk by a high school or middle school campus in the morning, you’ll notice a common sight: students carrying Starbucks cups or sipping on specialty coffee drinks. Pumpkin Spice Lattes, caramel frappuccinos, refreshers, and other seasonal or “fun” drinks have become part of the daily routine for many teens.

But here’s the problem—these drinks simply don’t serve young athletes (or families) well.

Why not?

• Sugar overload: Many specialty drinks contain more than double the recommended daily amount of sugar for young teens in a single cup. That’s not just an occasional indulgence-that’s a recipe for energy crashes, poor focus, and long-term health issues.
• Caffeine concerns: Health experts recommend that teens keep caffeine under 100 mg per day. Many coffeehouse drinks easily exceed that in just one serving, which can interfere with sleep, hydration, and recovery.
• Starts dependency patterns early instead of teaching natural energy management from sleep, hydration and nutrition.
• Hidden syrups and additives: Most of the flavors come from syrups, sweeteners, and emulsifiers-far from the fuel your body needs for performance.
• Sugary drinks, with these specialty coffee drinks being a perfect example, is a top reason for unwanted weight gain for youth when consumed regularly. 

Take the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) as an example:
A grande (16 oz) has around 50 grams of sugar—that’s more than 12 teaspoons in one drink. Pair that with nearly 400 calories and a heavy caffeine dose (150 mg), and it’s easy to see why these drinks are more like dessert than a source of real energy.

The takeaway:

• These coffeehouse drinks should be viewed as occasional treats, not daily habits.

• For young athletes, they don’t provide the nutrition, hydration, or steady energy needed for practice, games, or school.

• Families can set a better example by choosing water, electrolyte drinks with low sugar, or simple homemade smoothies instead.

Being mindful of what’s in your cup is just as important as what’s on your plate.