Stars + Honey
Espresso Vanilla Cinnamon
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A coffeehouse flavor built with real coffee and cinnamon, paired with a plant‑protein‑plus‑collagen blend that keeps it to 170 calories and 2 grams of sugar—often with a chewy, caramel‑like texture.
When to choose Stars + Honey Espresso Vanilla Cinnamon
Coffee lovers who want a lighter, low‑sugar protein snack for mid‑morning or afternoon, and who are comfortable with refined sweeteners and the inclusion of collagen (non‑vegetarian).
What's in the Stars + Honey bar?
Stars + Honey’s Espresso Vanilla Cinnamon bar reads like a coffee shop order tucked into your pocket. The protein comes from a plant-forward blend—pea protein and pea-protein crisps—paired with a bit of collagen, which helps with texture but makes the bar non-vegetarian.
Most of the sweetness is engineered rather than sugary: allulose (a low-calorie sugar), a touch of monk fruit, and just a little coconut sugar, all supported by soluble tapioca fiber and oat fiber to keep things steady.
Fats lean wholesome, led by almonds and a little cocoa butter for that creamy snap. The result: lower calories than most bars in the aisle, modest carbs with lots of “non-digestible” help, and just 2 grams of sugar—without tasting like a science project.
Flavor-wise, real coffee and cinnamon do the heavy lifting, with natural flavors supplying the vanilla note and cacao nibs adding toasty, roasty pops that play beautifully with espresso.
- Protein
- 14 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 18 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 170
Protein
1415MIDThe 14 grams of protein come mainly from pea protein and pea-protein crisps, with a supporting role from collagen. Pea is a high-quality, complete plant protein; collagen is animal-derived and incomplete on its own, so the pairing helps round out the amino acids while improving chew. Overall, this lands in the middle of the pack for protein, with a plant-first profile that isn’t vegetarian because of the collagen.
Fat
89MIDMost of the 8 grams of fat come from almonds (rich in heart-friendly monounsaturated fats and vitamin E) and cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is saturated but heavy in stearic acid, which is considered relatively neutral for LDL compared with other saturated fats; there are no industrial seed oils here beyond a tiny emulsifying touch of sunflower lecithin. Expect a stable, satisfying fat profile without feeling greasy.
Carbs
1820MIDThe 18 grams of carbs are a blend of whole and engineered sources: oats and oat bran for true grain carbs, plus soluble tapioca fiber and oat fiber to keep net impact lower. Allulose (a low-calorie sugar) and a little vegetable glycerin provide sweetness and softness with less of a blood-sugar surge than regular sugar, while a small amount of coconut sugar and rice starch in the crisps add some fast fuel. Net effect: steadier energy for most people, though sensitive stomachs may notice fiber/allulose if they have multiple servings close together.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 2 grams of sugar—because sweetness leans on allulose (a low-calorie sugar) and monk fruit (a high-potency sweetener), with just a small amount of coconut sugar. These refined sweeteners deliver sweetness with minimal blood-sugar impact compared with regular sugar. If you have a sensitive gut, remember that high single intakes of allulose or glycerin can be gurgly for some people.
Calories
170210LOWAt 170 calories, this bar sits on the lighter end for protein bars. Most calories come from the almonds/cocoa butter (fat) and the 14 grams of protein; a portion of the listed carbs is from fiber and low-calorie allulose, which helps keep the calorie count down. It’s a tidy snack when you want protein without committing to a full-meal bar.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t standout micronutrients above 10% Daily Value on the label. You’ll get small, incidental amounts from almonds (vitamin E) and oats/cacao nibs (iron and magnesium), while added vitamin E and C are here primarily as antioxidants to help keep the fats fresh, not as significant vitamin sources.
Additives
This recipe uses a modern toolkit—soluble tapioca fiber, allulose, monk fruit, vegetable glycerin, and sunflower lecithin—to keep the bar soft, sweet, and stable with fewer digestible sugars. Rosemary extract, plus tiny amounts of vitamins E and C, act as antioxidants to protect the fats. It’s a moderate number of refined but common ingredients; most people tolerate them well, though those with sensitive digestion may prefer to start with a single bar and see how they feel.
Ingredient List
Almond tree seeds
Yellow pea seeds
Bovine, porcine, poultry, or fish skins/bones
Rice grain endosperm
Corn or beet fructose syrups
Cassava root starch
Coconut palm sap
Sunflower seeds
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Seeds of Theobroma cacao
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“ordered the Peanut butter and jelly one and really like it”
“I’ve only tried the Cacao Salt Caramel Peanut, which is fairly tasty. The texture is kind of chewy, sort of like caramel. I like that it is low sugar, lower carb than some bars and has a decent amount of protein plus collagen”
“The limited edition (cherry chocolate waffle cone) was pretty good - but I should mention I don't really have a sweet tooth.”
Main Praise
Fans point to flavor as the standout: the roast‑y espresso and warm cinnamon read more café treat than candy‑bar cosplay. The texture gets love too—several reviewers describe it as chewy in a pleasant, almost caramel way rather than gritty or taffy‑hard.
Macro‑minded eaters like the balance: 170 calories with 14 grams of protein makes it a satisfying snack instead of a stealth meal, and the 2 grams of sugar help keep energy steadier.
Collagen earns bonus points from some for satiety and a better chew, a sentiment echoed by Redditor SubstantialLocal9437. And across the brand, even mixed reviewers tend to find at least one flavor they’d happily repeat—encouraging if you live on bars during busy weeks.
Main Criticism
Taste consistency is the sore spot. A few reviewers say certain flavors—Espresso Vanilla Cinnamon included—didn’t live up to the dessert‑y names, with a chalky note or a familiar “protein bar” aftertaste (chsmi, vinoveritas_88).
ConfettiBowl loved Raspberry Donut but passed on Spiced Vanilla Espresso, which is a useful signal if your palate runs picky. Value comes up too: at around $3.
50 a bar in some buys, a subset of folks doesn’t feel the taste justifies the price, especially without easy single‑bar sampling. Outside the bite itself, some Trustpilot comments highlight customer support frustrations, which can sour the experience no matter how clean the ingredient list looks.
The Middle Ground
The nutrition strategy here—plant protein plus a bit of collagen, sweetness from allulose and monk fruit, softness from glycerin, and fibers from tapioca and oats—explains both the praise and the pushback.
That toolkit keeps sugar low and calories modest, and it generally produces a softer, less gritty chew; it can also create a slight aftertaste for sensitive palates. Espresso Vanilla Cinnamon leans aromatic and toasty rather than frosting‑sweet, which is great if you want a grown‑up flavor and disappointing if your brain expects “espresso milkshake.
” Collagen is a double‑edged sword: it helps the texture, but it also makes the bar non‑vegetarian—a dealbreaker for some. Texture comparisons to Zing bars and “soft caramel” suggest it won’t break your jaw, but if you’re used to nougat‑style candy bars, the chew will feel different.
And while Redditor Saviche888’s “the company needs to go under” is…a take, the more measured throughline is simple: some flavors slap, some miss. The truth likely sits in the middle—coffee‑and‑cinnamon people will get what they came for; everyone else should try before buying a case if possible.
What's the bottom line?
Stars + Honey’s Espresso Vanilla Cinnamon is a modern coffee‑shop‑inspired bar: 14 grams of protein, 170 calories, and 2 grams of sugar, delivered via a plant‑forward blend plus collagen and a sweetener/fiber mix designed for steadier energy. When it lands, it’s a satisfying, not‑too‑sweet chew with real roasty notes and a cinnamon halo—an easy win for the afternoon slump or a pre‑meeting hold‑over. It’s not for strict vegetarians, and taste fidelity varies by flavor across the brand.
If you’re sensitive to allulose or glycerin, start with one and see how you feel. But if your sweet spot is “coffee first, candy second,” this one threads the needle: grown‑up flavor, reasonable protein, and no sugar bomb—more café counter than candy aisle, with just enough swagger to keep you reaching back into the box.