The Two Bagels
| Item | Calories | Sugar | Caffeine | Protein | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain Bagel | 250 | 5g | - | 9g | $3.65 |
| Everything Bagel | 270 | 5g | - | 10g | $3.85 |
Twenty calories and twenty cents separate them. The plain bagel declares Wheat only and is vegan as sold; the everything adds onion, garlic, salt, poppy and sesame, and declares Sesame, Wheat.
Plain Bagel
The Plain Bagel is soft, chewy and thick, with 9 g of protein and only 1 g of fat before anything goes on it. It is the one bakery item at Starbucks with no egg, milk or butter in it, which makes it the default vegan breakfast in the store.
- Why choose it: the least fat of any bake on the menu and the cheapest breakfast bread.
- Best for: toasted with avocado spread for a vegan order, or with cream cheese for the classic.
Everything Bagel
The Everything Bagel is the same dough under a seed and onion crust, 270 calories and 10 g of protein. The seeds bring a little more fat and the sesame allergen. It outsells the plain at most stores.
- Why choose it: more flavor, and it stands up to avocado better than the plain.
- Allergen note: sesame is a declared allergen and the seeds shed onto the shared shelf.
Cream Cheese, Butter and Avocado
Spreads are sold alongside. Cream cheese and butter come in sealed portions with the bagel; the Avocado Spread is a 90 calorie cup of avocado with lime, salt, garlic and a little chili, vegan, sold as an add-on. The reference store lists no separate pickup price for it. A plain bagel with avocado runs around 340 calories; with cream cheese closer to 350; with butter a little less.
| Build | Approximate calories | Vegan |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Bagel alone | 250 | Yes |
| Plain bagel with Avocado Spread | about 340 | Yes |
| Plain bagel with cream cheese | about 350 | No |
| Everything Bagel with butter | about 340 | No |
Bagel vs Croissant vs Breakfast Sandwich
A plain bagel and a Butter Croissant are the same calories, 250 against 250, but the bagel has 9 g of protein and 1 g of fat where the croissant has 5 g and 14 g. The bagel is the better breakfast; the croissant is the better treat. Against a Bacon, Gouda & Egg Sandwich at 360 calories and 18 g of protein the sandwich wins on fullness and the bagel on price.
Ordering a Bagel
- Toasted: ask for it; bagels are served untoasted unless you do.
- Spread on the side: cream cheese and butter come packaged, so you spread your own.
- Avocado: order the spread as a separate item in the app and pair it.
- Vegan: plain bagel, avocado spread, and a Refresher or black coffee.
- Both bagels are available all day, and the plain rarely sells out.
- Ask for it sliced and toasted with the spread on the side; stores will not spread it for you.