While coffee itself has virtually no nutritional impact, the things we add to our coffee will, in turn, dial up those numbers. And, if what we're really doing is adding a little bit of coffee to a large cup of steamed milk (with a few tablespoons of flavored syrups on top!) the results can be pretty dramatic. Dieters beware the trendy cup!
So is coffee the new health food? Perhaps. What's increasingly clear, as we continue to learn about coffee and its complex constituent components and compounds, we find far more benefits than risks. For most people — in moderation — coffee is good for you. Abundantly so.
Coffee has gone beyond basic black. Whether you make it yourself or sip it at your favorite coffee bar, you can choose from plain, flavored, whipped, topped, iced and even frozen versions. A plain cup of brewed coffee contains zero fat and only a couple of calories. But it's how you "dress up" your coffee with "extras" that can make a difference in its fat, sugar and calorie count.
| Coffee "extras" | Fat (grams) | Carbs (grams) | Calories |
| Cream | 6 | 0 | 52 |
| Half-and-half | 2 | 0 | 20 |
| Plain nondairy creamer (liquid) | 1.5 | 2 | 20 |
| Plain, light nondairy creamer (liquid) | 0.5 | 2 | 10 |
| Flavored nondairy creamer (liquid) | 1.5 | 5 | 35 |
| Flavored, reduced-fat nondairy creamer (liquid) | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| Plain nondairy creamer (powder) | 5 | 3 | 33 |
| Plain, light nondairy creamer (powder) | 1 | 4 | 25 |
| Flavored nondairy creamer (powder) | 2.5 | 7 | 45 |
| Flavored, reduced-fat nondairy creamer (powder) | 0 | 7 | 40 |
| Whole milk | 0.5 | 1 | 9 |
| Fat-free milk | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Sugar | 0 | 12 | 48 |
Note: Values shown are an average of several brands.
Source:
What goes into the brew that you buy at your local coffee bar also matters. For example, here's how your choice of milk affects the calories, fat and carbohydrate content of a 16-ounce cup of latte at one popular coffee franchise.
| Starbucks caffe latte espresso | Fat | Carbs | Calories |
| Made with whole milk | 14 grams | 21 grams | 260 |
| Made with fat-free milk | 0 grams | 24 grams | 160 |
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