Looking for ways to reduce your sugar intake? Luckily there are many ways to sweeten coffee without using the glucose-spiking substance. Keep reading to find our ultimate list of healthy ways to sweeten coffee without sugar.
If you love coffee but want to cut back on the sugar it brings to your daily routine, there are plenty of natural alternatives worth exploring. Those spoonfuls of sugar—whether white, cane, or brown—can quickly add up, especially if you’re someone who enjoys two or three cups a day. Luckily, there are sweeteners and additions that can complement your coffee without piling on the sugar.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with various ways to sweeten my coffee. As someone who loves the natural, bold flavor of coffee, I dislike sweeteners that overpower or alter its taste. I’ve tested a range of options to find those that enhance rather than mask the coffee’s natural flavor.
Whether you’re looking for subtle sweetness or an entirely new twist, the options I’ve discovered might just be the perfect fit for your cup.
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Health Benefits of Coffee Without Sugar
Coffee certainly has its fair share of benefits. Many studies like this one show that a moderate intake of coffee can be healthful and can lower the likelihood of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancers as well as depression. Coffee is also an antioxidant and can be a great boost of energy.
However, chances are you’re not getting any of these benefits if you’re loading white sugar into each cup of coffee. Large amounts of sugar, even natural cane sugar can have negative effects on short and long-term health.
Sugar can have adverse health effects on our bodies including weight gain, a plethora of different diseases, and premature aging. Sugar has a very high glycemic index and therefore leads to glucose spikes and crashes in the body leaving you wanting more.
While the healthiest way is to just have your coffee black, this perhaps isn’t an alternative for many of us out there. Luckily there are many different sugar replacements that add a sweet taste to your morning cup without all the negative health effects of sugar.
These healthy ways to sweeten coffee are a great way to enjoy a cup of coffee while also supporting our long-term health.
Healthy Ways to Sweeten Coffee Without Sugar
The following are some of the best healthy alternatives to sugar in coffee. All of these products are generally readily available in supermarkets and health food stores in the US, Canada, and Europe. Even though they are natural, some may slightly adjust the taste of coffee, not in a bad way, and could need getting used to.
Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar is one of the best ways to sweeten coffee in a healthy and natural way. It has quite little to do with actual coconut, however. Coconut sugar comes from the sap that’s produced by the flower on a coconut palm tree. It’s a naturally occurring sugar, similar to maple syrup.
Because it doesn’t come from the actual coconut, it tastes different from coconut, so, even if you’re not a fan of the taste of coconut, you might like coconut sugar.
Coconut sugar is crystallized but not refined and while it is still sugar it’s much healthier than your standard white table sugar. It has a low glycemic index and doesn’t cause sugar spikes and crashes.
Raw Honey or Manuka Honey
Manuka or Raw Honey is just a great alternative to sugar, offering many health benefits. Manuka honey especially is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial and is full of potassium and magnesium. It works to build up your immune system and is great for the gut and digestion. The benefits of Manuka or raw honey far outweigh any other alternative sweetener on this list.
You might need to adapt your taste buds but honey tastes great in coffee, giving a slight caramel taste. Considering the benefits of honey and coffee you have yourself a powerhouse of a morning drink when combined together.
Monk fruit
Monk fruit is one of the newest sweeter additions to the US market. It’s a small fruit that originates from the south of China. Monk fruit sweetener is actually extracted from the mogroside which is over 100 times sweeter than sugar and it’s empty of calories.
This makes it a great option and a healthy way to sweeten coffee for those wanting to lose weight or not consume any empty calories. Monk fruit is also said to be high in antioxidants.
Make sure to read the ingredients list on the packet when buying monk fruit sweetener. You want to buy a pure monk fruit sweetener that doesn’t contain any other added sweeteners or sugar.
Date paste
Dates are another great healthy way to sweeten coffee and add a touch of sweetness to foods and drinks. Dates are a natural fruit that grows in hot and dry climates, predominately native to the Middle East.
They are rich in antioxidants and essential minerals such as potassium, phosphorus and calcium. They are also pretty darn tasty and we love to add them to smoothies and oatmeal.
If you like the taste of dates then why not try date paste or date syrup in your morning coffee? They have a lovely caramel flavor. Make sure to choose a date paste or syrup with no added sugar or other nasties. I love this brand.
Agave Nectar
Agave is a popular sweetener known as a good vegan alternative to honey. Agave nectar comes from the agave plant grown in Mexico- the same plant used to make tequila. Agave has a very sweet, caramel-like taste that can be a great addition to coffee.
However, while it is healthier than sugar due to its low glycemic index, agave contains a lot of fructose. Consuming a high amount of fructose does have its own bag of negative side effects. This Healthline article sums them up well.
If you are going to choose agave make sure to use it in small amounts. Other alternatives to sugar on this list like stevia and coconut sugar are healthier.
Pure Vanilla Extract
Vanilla might not be a type of sweeter but pure vanilla extract does have a slightly sweet taste. The vanilla taste can also be a great addition to coffee especially if you’re someone who already likes the taste of vanilla. A few drops of pure vanilla extract can mean that you won’t need any other type of sweetener at all.
When choosing a vanilla extract, always go for pure organic vanilla extract and make sure to read the labels. Too many brands add sugar or put in fillers to make it taste better. I recommend this one.
Plant-Based Milk
Plant-based milks are another healthier alternative to sugar as they do offer a different, creamer texture and taste which might mean you don’t miss the sweetener at all.
I personally don’t like recommending plant-based milk all that much and I think we really need to be careful when using it unless it’s homemade. Most store-bought brands of plant-based milk use gums, fillers and flavors that just aren’t healthy. There’s little point in taking out sugar from your coffee if you’re going to replace it with something equally bad for your health.
When shopping for plant-based milk, make sure to always read the labels and go for the cleanest brands. I recommend this one. Alternatively, you can also make your own plant milk. The Almond Cow makes this so so easy.
READ MORE: How To Make Vegan Milk at Home for Cheap
Raw Milk
If dairy isn’t an issue for you, another alternative might be just adding milk rather than a sweetener.
Slightly different from your regular milk, raw milk is the unpasteurized, natural state of milk that comes from grass-fed cows. While unpasteurized products have been labeled unsafe for quite a long time in America, consuming them is quite normal in countries like France. The truth is that the chances of getting sick from raw milk are really, really low.
The consumption of raw milk has also been linked to better skin health and a reduction in allergies.
Coconut Cream
Another great alternative to milk is coconut cream or coconut milk and if you like the taste of coconut and a creamy coffee then this is another great option. By adding coconut cream you might realise that it could be enough to take out the bitterness of coffee.
Coconut is high in healthy fats, and it’s a great source of potassium and antioxidants. Consuming foods high in healthy fats in the morning can help us curb sugar cravings later in the day.
Many gums and preservatives are added to conventional brands of coconut cream so you’ll want to avoid these at all costs. This brand is one I’d go for. Coconut cream is also available in powdered form too for easy blending into coffee.
Stevia
Stevia is one of the most popular zero-calorie sweeteners and while many others can be artificial, stevia is completely natural. It comes from the stevia plant. As it’s super powerful and concentrated all you need is just a few drops.
While many believe that stevia isn’t an acquired taste, I personally could taste it and wasn’t a fan but perhaps I tried the wrong brand. I know others that swear by stevia in their coffee. It’s worth noting that stevia shouldn’t have a bitter taste. To avoid it you might need to try a few different brands. My stevia-loving friends swear by this brand.
Maple Syrup
100% Pure Maple Syrup isn’t just for pancakes. It also takes great in coffee. Maple syrup might already be in your pantry and is a great, sugar-free way to sweeten coffee. You don’t need much of it to add a bit of sweetness either.
Maple syrup does have some antioxidant potential and it does contain minerals such as iron and magnesium. Unfortunately, many cheaper brands will mix maple syrup with high fructose corn syrup which is something you really want to avoid. Make sure to go for 100% pure maple syrup like this one.
Blackstrap Molasses
A by-product of the sugar extraction process, blackstrap molasses is another sugar alternative that might work for you.
Blackstrap molasses is the dark or amber thick, sticky syrup that’s left after the extraction of sugar from raw cane sugar. Unlike sugar, it’s actually full of essential vitamins and minerals. It’s high in iron, B vitamins, calcium and magnesium which can help to relieve PMS symptoms and combat stress, among other benefits.
Blackstrap molasses isn’t the healthiest sweetener on this list as it does have a medium glycemic load. It also has quite a distinct bittersweet taste which may take some time to get used to.
Erythritol
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that’s widely used as a low-calorie sweetener in the food industry. It’s one of many artificial sweeteners. It tastes almost exactly like sugar just without the calories. It’s also a great option, like most polyols, for diabetics.
There is quite a bit of debate however about whether erythritol is healthy. It’s known to be able to cause gut issues when consumed in excess and recently hit headlines when new studies linked the artificial sweetener to a higher risk of a heart attack.
Many do believe it to be safe, however. Health guru Dave Asprey says that Erythritol can improve endothelial function or the function of small blood vessels. It can also help with decreasing blood pressure.
At the end of the day, Erythritol is an artificial sweetener so if you prefer to stick to something natural you might prefer to use stevia.
Coconut Oil
A tiny amount of coconut oil in coffee can not only take away that bitter taste but coconut oil is full of healthy fat recommended for a healthy body.
You might already be aware of its beauty benefits but coconut oil can also improve energy, stave off cravings and speed up the metabolism. Adding a little healthy fat to your morning coffee is a great way to start the day.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is no newcomer when it comes to coffee additions. Cinnamon latte anyone? Not only does it taste great, cinnamon actually has many health benefits such as boosting the metabolism and immune system as well as potentially helping to reduce blood sugar levels.
In fact, if you’re a fan of spices in your coffee you might also want to try this Golden Latte Creamer Mix (with functional mushrooms) for a really warming morning beverage. Adding milk or coconut cream and spices to your morning coffee might mean you don’t need any sweeteners at all.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Adding essentially chocolate to your morning coffee can be the boost you need without adding any extra sugar. Using unsweetened cocoa power here might just add that touch of sweetness and a different flavor profile to fool you into consuming a sugar-rich coffee.
Raw cocoa powder is often the best choice when choosing cocoa powder and it has a slightly richer flavor that’s perfect for coffee. All the cocoa benefits are still intact too. Cocoa is also a natural anti-inflammatory but you’ll need to definitely choose an unsweetened version to reap the benefits.
I personally like to combine a little unsweetened, raw cocoa powder with an unsweetened coconut creamer for a perfectly rich morning coffee without any sugar.
Bonus: Try Bulletproof Coffee
You may already have heard of Bulletproof coffee that’s becoming more and more popular in the wellness world. It’s essential black coffee mixed with grass-fed, unsalted butter and MCT oil using a hand whisk or blender. This mix of coffee and healthy fats means steady energy levels throughout the morning or day. It also helps you to feel full, satisfied and alert.
Bulletproof coffee also supports many different diets like keto, low-carb as well as not interrupting intermittent fasting.
Perhaps this is the ultimate coffee combination you need to try. Get Bulletproof coffee creamer here.
Which healthy way to sweeten coffee appeals to you the most? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you.
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