Cream and sugar complement coffee as seamlessly as peanut butter goes with jelly—a classic pairing. For coffee drinkers who have grown accustomed to the sweet taste of coffee with sugar, drinking a black cup of coffee doesn’t seem to hit the spot. However, sugar in your coffee can quickly add up, causing your weight to creep up over time (along with the many other dangers of consuming too much sugar).
Switching to natural, healthier coffee sweeteners is a great option — but where do you start? Discover the best healthy ways to sweeten coffee below, with insight from MariElena Raya, Co-founder of Tippleman’s, a natural, allulose-based sweetener for coffee.
Making coffee taste better without sugar
“It’s all about the type of coffee you brew and the roast,” says Raya. “You can adjust the brewing time and temperature to help balance the coffee. You can also add spices and flavors like cinnamon, vanilla, or even a lemon twist to enhance the coffee’s natural sweetness.” Using natural sweeteners and those that are not ultra-processed is the healthiest way to make your coffee sweet without adding sugar. Consider using natural sweeteners such as allulose, stevia, or monk fruit over artificial sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose.
Additionally, don’t forget that adding milk or cream to your coffee can add hidden sugar. Many flavored coffee creamers contain corn syrups, artificial flavors and colors, and gums as thickeners. Personally, I love using natural liquid sweeteners as a quick, easy way to add a subtle, healthy sweetness to my morning coffee, such as Truvia’s liquid stevia.
Raya also recommends checking out chicory coffee as another enjoyable substitute for healthy coffee, which has a high inulin content that, when roasted, caramelizes and adds sweetness. “You could swap out some or all of your regular coffee with chicory coffee to have a slightly sweeter coffee, naturally. One big difference, though, is that it does not contain caffeine.”
Dates, honey, or brown sugar
If using natural sugar alternatives isn’t your thing, there are healthy ways to sweeten coffee with other natural sweeteners, like honey, dates, or brown sugar. While these are healthy alternatives, they still need to be consumed in moderation and contain high amounts of sugar when used in excess.
“You can try options like dates, which are a good source of natural sweetness but can mask the flavor of the coffee, and can be hard to combine. Same with honey, which has more health benefits, including antioxidants and nutrients, but honey has a very unique flavor,” she shares. “If using flavorful sweeteners, I would suggest exploring coffee options from different regions where one can match the flavor profile of the beans with a sweetener that will complement the natural coffee flavor. For example, Ethiopian beans, which are fruity and floral, may work well with a touch of honey. Brazilian beans have a nutty, chocolatey flavor that may work well with a darker turbinado or brown sugar.”
If you can’t seem to give up sugar in your coffee entirely, start slowly reducing how much you use to let your taste buds adapt over time.
How to make healthy but sweet coffee
Making healthy, but sweet coffee starts by selecting your sweetener of choice. Many sugar-free syrups are available, making it easy to sweeten your coffee without sugar. However, it’s essential to read labels and be aware that many of these contain artificial sweeteners. Options like Tippleman’s handcrafted syrups are made in small batches using all-natural ingredients, giving a depth of flavor you can’t get from mass-produced sweeteners. Raya shares her favorites, which include the sugar-free caramel and vanilla—rich, smooth, and perfect for coffee without adding any artificial notes.
Other options for sweeteners for healthy, but sweet coffee include:
- Stevia: Plant-based, calorie-free, and comes in liquid, granule, or powder to easily add to your coffee. Many chain coffee shops, like Starbucks and Dunkin’, now offer this as an option for your coffee order.
- Monk Fruit: Plant-based, calorie-free, and can be found in health food stores or online (also in granule, powder, or liquid form)
- Coconut sugar: Lower glycemic index (less effect on blood sugar), but it is not calorie-free
- Sugar alcohols: Can be used in moderation, but these are not naturally occurring and may cause side effects in some people
Unhealthy ways to sweeten coffee
“Regular sugar spikes your blood sugar, which can result in an energy crash and increased hunger and mood swings,” says Raya. “Sugar can also mask the nuances of the actual coffee flavor…that is, if you actually enjoy drinking coffee for the coffee itself rather than the idea of a morning ritual with a cup of joe.
“If possible, adjust how you brew the coffee, the type of beans, and the darkness of roast to increase natural sweetness in your brew. Try these techniques first before adding loads of sugar to your coffee. And if you still don’t enjoy your cup of coffee, try adding a little less sugar.”
