How Many Calories Are In A Cup Of Coffee?

You may have asked yourself, “How many calories are in a cup of coffee?”. This article explores how calories can change based on what you put in your coffee.

How many calories are in a cup of coffee?
Plain coffee has low-calorie content

Coffee in its simplest form is one of the best things you can drink if you are attempting weight loss due to its low-calorie content. You can even drink plain coffee when you are fasting without it breaking your fast. After all, a cup of black coffee only contains two calories per cup.

However, the rise of various espresso options and frozen coffee drinks has produced different coffee drinks that vary in calorie count. If one is not careful, you could easily surpass your required daily calorie intake just by going to your local coffee shop. So, let’s look at how the number of calories in a cup of coffee can change.

How Many Calories Do Creamer And Sweeteners Add?

How do you add flavor to ground coffee?
There are many options you can add to your coffee

Many people need to add something to spice up the taste of black coffee. There are various creamers you can add, such as half-and-half, whole milk, and fat-free milk.

Coffee drinkers may also use popular non-dairy options like oat milk and almond milk. Of course, the type of milk you use affects the calorie count as well as the nutritional value of the drink.

When you add whole milk to black coffee, your beverage goes from 2 calories to about 33 calories per cup. Each teaspoon of sugar adds 16 calories.

Half-and-half adds 37 calories per 2 tablespoons, while the same number of tablespoons of skim milk up your calorie intake by only ten digits.

Agave is sweeter than sugar, so you’ll use less of it to get the same level of sweetness. However, it has 21 calories per teaspoon, more than table sugar. Another benefit of agave is that it dissolves easily in cold caffeinated drinks like your 5-calorie cold brew.

How Many Calories Are In Espresso Drinks?

Cold brew coffee In the glass, milk, and ice
You can opt for low-calorie drinks

Daily trips to Starbucks may not only be demanding on your wallet, but they may also be tough on the waistline due to all the extra calories and carbs you will easily consume.

Starbucks won’t impede your weight loss if you opt for a one-calorie drink such as an iced coffee, a 5-calorie cold brew, or a shot of espresso that only contains three calories. But, of course, the problem with espresso is those delicious drinks that come with added milk, sweeteners, or syrups.

Popular barista concoctions such as an Americano only have 15 calories, while a 16oz latte has 190 calories. When you ask your barista to make your latte with almond milk, the calorie count goes down to 100.

If you must treat yourself to a frappuccino, be aware of the fact that topping it off with whipping cream adds more than a delicious taste. It can also add a whopping 101 calories per 2 tablespoons.

Latte calories can add up quickly. The grande version of a latte without any syrups can have as many as 206 calories. For fewer calories, order a Cappuccino instead. It only has about 130 calories.

Mocha can be the best of both worlds – a combination between hot chocolate and espresso. However, while our tongues may love it, our waistlines may have regret as a medium-size regular mocha latte can have 370 calories along with 35 grams of sugar. If you like to indulge in these, try holding the whipped cream and ask for skim milk or non-dairy milk to ease your calorie burden.

How Many Calories Are In A Cup Of Coffee FAQ

How Many Calories Are In A Coffee With Cream?

If you enjoy the taste of cream in your coffee, you will be adding 41 calories per 2 tablespoons.

How Many Calories Are In An Average Cup Of Coffee?

Remember, an average cup of coffee can mean different things to different people. If you can drink plain coffee without adding sugar or creamer, the number of calories you consume won’t go over five calories. You will also avoid fat. If a regular cup of coffee means adding milk or cream, bear in mind that non-dairy options have fewer calories than full-fat dairy. 
Contrary to popular belief, brown sugar does not have any real health benefits over white sugar. However, it can taste better and has one less calorie per teaspoon. So you can slightly reduce the number of sweetener calories with brown sugar.

Author

  • Aisling O'Connor

    Aisling is an Irish food and drinks writer and journalist fueled by coffee and herbal tea. She followed up her journalism degree with nutrition studies. Find Aisling on LinkedIn.