It depends on the type of coffee you drink. A plain cup of brewed coffee has less than 5 calories — and no fat. But if you dress up your coffee with extras, whether at home or your favorite coffee shop, you also add extra calories.
See how many calories these extras can add to your coffee:
- Sugar: 16 calories for 1 teaspoon (4 grams)
- Heavy whipping cream: 101 calories for 2 tablespoons (1 ounce, or about 30 milliliters)
- Half-and-half: 37 calories for 2 tablespoons (1 ounce, or about 30 milliliters)
- Fat-free milk: 10 calories for 2 tablespoons (1 ounce, or about 30 milliliters)
When you're at your local coffee shop, check out the nutrition information before you order. Some coffee drinks can have hundreds of calories.
Occasional indulgence is fine. But remember that when it comes to weight loss, all calories count — even calories in liquid form.
March 19, 2022
- Rethink your drink. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/drinks.html. Accessed March 10, 2020.
- Zeratsky KA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 13, 2020.
- Bawadi H, et al. Sugar-sweetened beverages contribute significantly to college students' daily caloric intake in Jordan: Soft drinks are not the major contributor. 2019; Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu11051058.
- Pallazola VA, et al. A clinician's guide to healthy eating for cardiovascular disease prevention. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2019.05.001.