My friends know that I am a coffee addict! I take countless amounts of coffees and this is my one and only dilemma whenever I am following a diet.
So today I searched the web to know the actual truth about how many calories I’m downing with every cup of coffee I take!
Well surprise surprise… I found it is much less than what I was actually fearing! 🙂 (Considering the coffees I take are not exactly like the one pictured above ;))
We should be cautious however of the coffees we take from cafeterias! We all know how delicious they are; but the calories in them are ‘slightly’ on the high side!
Well I solve that problem by actually taking a Mc Donalds cappuccino, which has 130 calories, as a dessert!
Have a look at the tables below and work out for yourself how you will be managing your coffees!!!
Enjoy…
NB: Please be aware of other issues concerned with coffee apart from calories! 😉
How Many Calories in Coffee?
By Jim F.
There is considerable confusion over the caloric content of coffee. Not all coffee drinks are high in calories. Coffee (without additives) is almost a zero calorie drink.
Here is a complete guide to understanding coffee calories.
Coffee is almost Zero Calorie
According to the USDA nutrient database – an 8 ounce cup of coffee (brewed from grounds) has just 2 (yes two) Calories. The calories come from a tiny amount of protein and some mono-unsaturated oils.
So: coffee beans + water = virtually calorie-free.
It’s about Milk and Sugar
When we talk about about a coffee high in calories – we are really talking about the additives we put in it. Caffeine is a bitter chemical and products containing caffeine are bitter – so we tend to sweeten them up – with milk, sugar, or syrups.
Add in cream, a pump of flavored syrup, and some sugar – and you are in for a very calorie-dense drink – more like sweetened milk than coffee.
Calories in Common Coffee Drinks
|
Beverage
|
Volume (oz) |
Calories
|
|
Instant coffee
|
1 rounded tsp dry powder
|
4
|
| Instant coffee |
8
|
4
|
| Espresso Coffee |
1
|
1
|
| Brewed Coffee |
8
|
2
|
| |
|
|
| McDonald’s Cappuccino |
16
|
130
|
| McDonald’s Latte |
16
|
180
|
| McDonald’s Mocha |
16
|
330
|
| McDonald’s Brewed Coffee (Large) |
16
|
0
|
| Starbucks Brewed Coffee |
16
|
5
|
| Starbucks Caffè Americano |
16
|
15
|
| Starbucks Caffè Latte |
16
|
220
|
| Starbucks Caffè Mocha (no whip) |
16
|
290
|
| Starbucks Caffè Mocha (whip) |
16
|
360
|
| Starbucks Cappucino |
16
|
140
|
| Starbucks Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha (whip) |
16
|
560
|
| Starbucks Caffe Vanilla Frappucino Blended Coffee (whip) |
16
|
430
|
| Starbucks Hot Chocolate (no whip) |
16
|
330
|
Coffee Extras
Many people use non-dairy creamers in their coffee. However, as the chart below shows – these still contain Calories.
|
Extras
|
Calories (per Tablespoon)
|
| Cream |
52
|
| Half-and-half |
20
|
| Whole milk |
9
|
| Fat-free milk |
5
|
| Sugar |
48
|
| McDonald’s Coffee Cream (liquid) |
20
|
| Plain nondairy creamer (powder) |
33
|
| Plain, light nondairy creamer (powder) |
25
|
| Flavored nondairy creamer (powder) |
45
|
| Flavored, reduced-fat nondairy creamer (powder) |
40
|
| Plain nondairy creamer (liquid) |
20
|
| Plain, light nondairy creamer (liquid) |
10
|
| Flavored nondairy creamer (liquid) |
35
|
| Flavored, reduced-fat nondairy creamer (liquid) |
20
|
The Bottom Line
If you are looking at reducing the amount of calories in your diet and coffee is your thing: It’s time to work on that sweet tooth. The best option is to drink an Americano (espresso + water). Believe it or not, espresso drinks have less caffeine than brewed drinks (where the water is in contact with the coffee grounds for a longer time).
Minimize the amount of extras you put into your coffee – and you may well remove a significant amount of Calories from your diet.
Adapted from http://www.diet-blog.com/08/how_many_calories_in_coffee.php
... and all things nice! 