Blog
A Healthy Way to Sweeten Coffee
An effective and healthy way to sweeten coffee is using natural or sugar-free ingredients, such as fruit purees. Some are even rich in nutrients and add an additional dimension of flavor; others have more subtle tastes that make them suitable for those trying to reduce added sugar without giving up flavor or health benefits.
Finding a healthy sweetener for your coffee requires trial-and-error. Everyone’s tastebuds differ, and it may take time to get used to new sweeteners. Also be mindful that many alternatives may be sweeter by volume; too much might overpower your coffee’s flavors!
Coffee shops often provide customers with alternative sweeteners such as honey, agave syrup, maple syrup, brown rice syrup, stevia and xylitol for use in their beverages as sugar replacement options. Although these alternatives contain less calories than refined sugar alternatives, they should still be limited as sugar consumption remains.
Maple syrup is a classic and straightforward solution for sweetening coffee, offering natural sweetness with lower glycemic index levels than regular white sugar. When adding maple syrup, be mindful to only use small amounts at once as its sweetness can quickly overpower other sweeteners.
Stevia is another natural sweetener derived from the stevia plant and should only be used in small doses to avoid overwhelming your coffee with sweetness. You can find both powder and liquid versions available. As with stevia, use only small amounts in order to avoid overwhelming its flavors.
Other low-calorie sweeteners include xylitol and monk fruit extract, both made from plants that provide similar sweetness as sugar but with 40% fewer calories. Although both options may cause unpleasant aftertastes for some users,
Just a few drops of vanilla extract will add delicate, natural sweetness that pairs beautifully with many flavors, not to mention providing antioxidant protection and health benefits. Furthermore, butter or coconut oil can add mildly sweet nutty notes for even greater filling effects, which is important when trying to lose weight.