As soon as the topic of diets comes up, disputes immediately arise about what to eat. And no less heated discussions about what to drink. For some reason, priority is always given to green or black tea. What about coffee? And coffee is considered high in calories. It’s interesting that few people have tested this, and many people believe it. Where is the truth? Let's look in the coffee grounds.
And so, there are about 200 species of coffee trees. But you need to understand that only 2 of them are used to prepare the drink. These are Arabica and Robusta. You may come across many different names for coffee. But this only means that the variety bears the name of a country, locality, port or other object associated with its origin. For example, Colombian coffee. And it will still be Arabica or Robusta. Go Arabica and Robusta. Then this is a mixed variety. Coffee beans can be collected from different trees, in different areas, at different times of the year. Then they are mixed and the finished product is obtained. So, the calorie content of coffee depends on what you get and how you get it.
How many calories are in coffee without sugar?
Coffee is an extremely low calorie product; on average, it does not exceed 5-6 kcal per 100 grams. Even if you drink 5 cups of 200 ml, the total amount of calories will be about 50-60. With an average rate of 1700 (for women) and about 2000 (for men), 50 is a very small number that will not have a serious impact. That is, you can drink almost liters of coffee without sugar and other additives, and it will not cause obesity. Another thing is that more than 5-6 cups a day is not recommended by doctors due to an excess of caffeine, fatty acids and other components.
Calorie table for coffee and coffee drinks without sugar and other additives
| Drink | Portion, ml | Calories per serving |
| Ristretto | 15 | 1 |
| Espresso | 30 | 2 |
| Americano | 180 | 2,2 |
| Americano double | 240 | 4,4 |
| Filter coffee in a drip coffee maker (regular) | 220 | 2 |
| Filter coffee in Chemex | 240 | 3 |
| Filter coffee in an AeroPress | 220 | 3,5 |
| Filter coffee in French press | 200 | 4 |
| Coffee brewed with cold water | 240 | 6 |
| In Turkish, in cezve | 200 | 4 |
| Soluble granular | 200 | 12 |
| Soluble freeze-dried | 200 | 24 |
| Chicory | 240 | 46 |
| Green coffee | 220 | 0 |
| Decaffeinated coffee | 220 | 5 |
Carbohydrate content of popular coffee drinks
Drinks made with just espresso and hot water, such as Americanos, contain no carbohydrates.
However, coffee or espresso made with ingredients other than water usually contains carbohydrates. Milk and flavored syrups are two common sources.
Most coffee drinks can be customized and their carbohydrate levels depend on what ingredients are added to them. For example, whole milk contains more carbohydrates than unsweetened almond milk.
Here are some popular coffee and espresso drinks and their potential carbohydrate levels:
- Coffee with milk (ratio of black coffee and milk 1:1) . Your drink will contain 6 grams of carbohydrates if it is made with 120 ml of whole milk or only 1 gram if it is made with unsweetened almond milk (,).
- Cappuccino (ratio of espresso to milk and milk foam 1:1:1) . A 480ml cappuccino made with 2% milk contains 12 grams of carbohydrates ().
- Latte (espresso to milk ratio 1:3) . This drink will contain more carbohydrates since it is mostly milk. If you choose to add a flavored syrup such as vanilla, just 30 ml can add 24 grams of carbs.
- Flat white (ratio of espresso to milk and milk foam 1:3:2) . This drink contains about the same amount of milk as a latte and therefore contains the same amount of carbohydrates.
- Mochaccino (chocolate cappuccino) . This drink is made from milk and chocolate syrup, which contains carbohydrates. A 480ml mochaccino made with 2% milk contains 44 grams of carbohydrates ().
Many coffee shop drinks are also topped with whipped cream. Just 6 grams (2 tablespoons) of whipping cream can add at least 1 gram of carbohydrates to your drink ().
As you can see, the carbohydrate content of coffee or espresso drinks can vary significantly.
Summary:
Many popular coffee drinks contain ingredients that increase carbohydrate levels. These include milk, whipping cream and sugar-containing flavored syrups.
Calorie content of natural black coffee without sugar
Natural grains contain natural sugars and fats, as well as some protein, and the fresher the roast, the more of them. During long-term storage, they partially evaporate, especially if you buy already ground coffee and store it in unsealed packaging. If you grind freshly roasted beans immediately before drinking and prepare coffee, its calorie content can increase by 0.5-1 kcal per 200 ml cup.
The longer the grains are in contact with water, the more nutrients are released and transferred into the drink. Therefore, in espresso or ristretto, which are prepared quickly in coffee machines, the number of calories is minimal - usually 1 kcal per serving. A drink prepared in a filter contains more calories, about 3-5 per 200-240 ml cup. French press or Turkish coffee takes the longest to brew and contains about 4 calories per 200 ml.
Calorie content of Arabica and Robusta
Different types of coffee beans have their own characteristics. The most commonly found on the market are Arabica and Robusta; mixtures of them are often sold (60% Arabica + 40% Robusta).
| Arabica | Robusta | |
| Fats | 15-17% | 10-11% |
| Acids | 5-8% | 7-10% |
| Sahara | 6-9% | 3-7% |
We see that Arabica contains a little more fat and sugar, which will be transferred into the drink when cooked. And the longer your coffee brews, the more calories you'll get. However, for a cup of coffee the difference will be 0.5 - 1 kcal, which for most people, even those who carefully count calories, is not so significant. If you like Arabica, there is no point in switching to Robusta just because this will reduce your diet by 4-5 kcal per day.
Possible harm
If you abuse the drink, exceeding all permitted daily limits, then the bad effect on the body will become noticeable to every person. First of all, brain function will deteriorate significantly, memory will become weaker, excessive sweating will appear, and the person will also be terribly inattentive.
Also, women are not recommended to drink large amounts of the drink, as it can affect hormonal levels, knocking them down. Some women's diseases may appear that are not very pleasant.
Also, the small calorie content of 1 cup of instant coffee without sugar can quickly change with the addition of various sweeteners. The calorie content will immediately double, so you need to monitor the amount of sugar in the drink.
Calorie content of instant coffee without sugar
Soluble granules or powders contain minimal caffeine, acids, sugars and fats. They are washed out and dissolved during the production process. But the share of natural coffee in instant coffee is often only 15-20%, the rest is additives (thickeners, dyes, concentrates, the addition of corn flour or something similar is often found). Due to the additives, the calorie content increases, and per 100 grams of the finished drink you get 6 kcal in granulated coffee, and 12 kcal in freeze-dried coffee, if you add about 10 grams of dry matter (a heaped teaspoon).
If you add more, or brew a larger cup, the caloric intake will increase proportionally.
Calorie table for different brands of instant coffee
| Per 100 grams | In one teaspoon | |
| Carte Noire | 100 | 10 |
| Egoiste | 90 | 9 |
| Moscow coffee shop on shares | 223 | 22,3 |
| Jardin | 92 | 9,2 |
| Jacobs Monarch | 100 | 10 |
| Tchibo Exclusive | 264 | 26,4 |
| Nescafe Classic | 56 | 5,6 |
| Nescafe Gold | 45 | 4,5 |
| Maxwell House | 100 | 10 |
Benefits for the body
Many claim that the drink has antioxidant and vasodilating properties. Many scientists, after the popularization of instant coffee, came to the conclusion that it has an excellent effect on all thought processes, increasing intelligence and composure. This is due to the tonic properties of coffee.
It can also be beneficial during diets, because the calorie content of instant coffee without sugar is very low.
Calorie content of coffee with spices
If you add spices to your coffee drink, be prepared that even 1 gram of calories can increase significantly. The table shows the number of calories in 1 gram of spices, this is about half a teaspoon, without a slide, or 2-3 pieces of spices.
Calorie table of popular spices in coffee
| Spices and seasonings | kcal in 1 g. |
| Cinnamon | 2,5 |
| Carnation | 3 |
| Nutmeg | 5 |
| Dry ginger | 1 |
| A piece of fresh ginger | 3,5 |
| Vanilla | 3 |
| Cardamom | 3 |
Summarize
- Black coffee and straight espresso contain almost no carbohydrates, typically containing less than 1 gram in a traditional serving size. However, adding other ingredients can quickly increase this amount.
- Luckily, whether you're on a low-carb diet or just watching your carb intake, you can still enjoy a delicious latte, cappuccino, or mochaccino.
- Just ask your barista to make a few simple adjustments.
Tags: Coffee, carbohydrates
About the author: Alexander Fedorov
Candidate of Biological Sciences, biologist, nutrition expert. Graduated from Stavropol State University with a degree in Biology at the Faculty of Biology and Chemistry.
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Calorie content of pure drink
A natural energizing drink made from ground grains and low in calories. All substances that make up coffee are easily digestible and benefit the human body. Caffeine stimulates the process of absorption and digestion of drink.
100 ml of sugar-free drink contains: 0.2 g of protein, 0.6 g of fat and 0.1 g of carbohydrates. Other components: 0.6 mg vitamin B3, 5 mg calcium, 7 mg phosphorus, 9 mg potassium, 2 mg iron. The energy value of 100 ml of the drink without sweeteners is 2-3 calories.
What can you drink coffee with?
The drink contains a considerable amount of acids, which is why heartburn may occur after drinking it. All due to increased acidity in the stomach. Also, these substances negatively affect the entire oral cavity, over time destroying tooth enamel, after which it will become very sensitive.
Milk is a well-known alkaline product, so adding it to instant coffee is even necessary. This helps reduce acidity. This ingredient will not change the calorie content of instant coffee without sugar. A couple of drops of milk will help protect against unpleasant consequences, and they will change the calorie content by a maximum of 2-5 kcal.
When a drink is consumed without sugar during a diet, the body becomes susceptible to such effects due to lack of food, so heartburn is the “best” outcome. Adding milk to this coffee will brighten up the taste of the drink and also prevent an increase in acidity in the stomach.
Calorie content of coffee (per 100 grams of product)
| Coffee type | Calories, kcal | Squirrels | Fats | Carbohydrates |
| Granular, soluble | 94 | 15 | 3,5 | |
| In beans | 223 | 13,9 | 14,4 | 15,6 |
| Ground | 201 | 13,9 | 14,4 | 4,1 |
So, these are the indicators of the raw materials. Let's calculate the required values.
As you can see from these data, the lowest calorie coffee is granulated (see how freeze-dried coffee is made). Until now, many people continue to drink this drink. On average, take 2 tablespoons of coffee for one 200 ml cup. In our case, one spoon is approximately 8 grams of raw material.
As a result, we get 15 grams for one finished mug.
Go ahead. Let's calculate how much energy a mug of drink made from beans or ground coffee will give us.
For calculations, we will again take 2 spoons of raw materials per cup. These indicators are adhered to in most recipes - for Turkish coffee (see Oriental coffee), in coffee machines, etc. Accordingly, we will need 15 grams of coffee. We carry out simple calculations and get the result.
You can see other indicators in the table. What can be noted. Natural bean coffee can be safely consumed before sports training (see why it is not recommended to drink a lot of coffee). They contain proteins necessary for muscle growth, as well as carbohydrates that saturate our body with energy. This is a completely acceptable energy drink.
Now you have everything you need for the calculation.
Chemical composition of coffee
Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. It belongs to the group of alkaloids. Caffeine has a tonic effect and increases physical and mental performance. There are requirements for the chemical composition of the drink. The percentage of caffeine in a cup of aromatic drink should be more than 0.7 points.
Coffee contains tasteless trigonelline. During heat treatment, the alkaloid transforms into a substance that gives espresso, bicherin, macchiato and Americano a specific odor. The drink contains vitamin B3. It improves metabolism and stimulates the nervous system.
The drink contains vitamins: A, E, D. Proteins and amino acids are responsible for vigor and energy replenishment. Raw grains contain more than 50% carbohydrates by weight. The grains contain more than 800 essential compounds.
