If you’re looking to cut calories, it might be time to look at the milk in your coffee cup. You can switch to low-calorie milk in your coffee to cut calories while enjoying your cup of joe.
The top five lowest-calorie milk options for your coffee are almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, non-fat milk, and 2% milk. Or, avoid whole-fat milk and half and half to cut calories.
This article will explain the pros and cons of these low-calorie milk options. By the end of the article, you will know which one you want to use in your next cup of coffee.
Table of Contents
Lowest Calorie Milk for Coffee
1. Almond Milk
Almond milk is an excellent low-calorie milk option. And for those who are dairy intolerant, it tends to be the top choice.
One 8-oz cup of unsweetened almond milk will only cost you 40 calories. Even sweetened variations of almond milk will only have about 60 calories per cup.
Almond milk also does not have any saturated fats like some other milk. Saturated fats have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. So you don’t want to consume them in large amounts.
One of the major drawbacks of almond milk is that it isn’t as creamy as dairy milk. Some people complain that almond milk tastes too watery in their coffee.
On the other hand, many love flavored variations of almond milk in their coffee. You can add a splash of vanilla or chocolate-flavored almond milk to your coffee without excessive calories.
2. Coconut Milk
Another great low-calorie milk option is unsweetened coconut milk. Like almond milk, coconut milk is dairy-free, making it great for people intolerant of lactose.
One 8-oz cup of unsweetened coconut milk will have approximately 45 calories. Sweetened variations of coconut milk can have up to 75 calories per cup.
Because coconut milk is higher in fat than almond milk, it will give a creamier taste and texture. So folks who want to ditch dairy but like the creaminess of dairy milk may appreciate this option.
Coconut milk has also been found to be protective against damage to proteins and DNA in your body. You’re simultaneously reaping health benefits by adding it to your coffee.
A potential downside of coconut milk is it does tend to have a strong coconut flavor. So if you’re not a fan of coconut, this may not be the best low-calorie milk for you.
3. Soy Milk
Soy milk is the plant-based milk that has been around the longest in the coffee world.
One cup of unsweetened soy milk will have around 80 calories. However, sweetened variations can have up to 120 calories per cup, so it’s best to opt for unsweetened.
The benefit of adding soy milk to your coffee is its high protein content. You get 8 grams of protein per cup, and research shows it’s a complete protein with all amino acids.
Using soy milk in your coffee is an easy way to sneak in more protein without adding tons of calories. And unlike coconut milk, it tastes pretty neutral, making it an easy milk swap.
Like almond milk, you can buy vanilla and chocolate versions of soy milk. While they could add a nice flavor to your coffee, these variations will be higher in calories than similarly flavored almond milk.
4. Non-Fat Milk
If you don’t want to use non-dairy milk, don’t worry. You still have low-calorie dairy milk choices for your coffee.
The most obvious low-calorie milk is non-fat or skim milk. One cup of skim milk will have about 90 calories.
As its name implies, it will also have significantly less saturated fats. This means it will be healthier for your overall cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health.
Like almond milk, non-fat milk won’t give your coffee as much of a creamy taste or texture. But it will still froth up better than some of the plant-based milk.
Unfortunately, skim and non-fat milk will typically have more sugar than higher-fat milk. So while it is lower-calorie milk, it may spike your blood sugar more than higher-fat milk.
5. 2% Fat Milk
If all the other low-calorie milk options sound like a bust, you can still have 2% fat milk. But this will be the highest-calorie milk on the list.
One cup of 2% milk will have 122 calories. And this milk will contain saturated fats, but in lower amounts relative to whole milk.
2% fat milk will certainly be a better choice than whole milk when it comes to calories. But using a lot in your coffee will still add up fast.
One pro of 2% fat milk is it will give you that smooth and creamy flavor with a great frothing foam. If you just add a bit of plain 2% milk to your coffee, it’s probably not a problem.
High-Calorie Milks You May Want to Avoid in Your Coffee
Now that you know which milks have the lowest calories, let’s talk about some of the highest. You may want to avoid adding these kinds of milk to your daily coffee.
1. Whole Milk
Whole milk is used in many popular coffee drinks. And if you ask any barista, most will say it’s their favorite milk to use in coffee.
Unfortunately, using whole milk will come at a cost. One cup of whole milk will have about 149 calories, and it will also have a whopping eight grams of fat.
Many coffee recipes, like lattes. use one to two cups of whole milk. You can see how that adds up fast calorically. And if you’re a daily latte drinker, this could be a problem.
So you can still treat yourself to a fancy latte with whole milk here and there. But using it daily in your cup of joe may add too many calories to your diet.
2. Half and Half
Another popular milk option when it comes to coffee is half and half. As its name implies, it’s half cream and half whole milk.
One cup of half and half has 315 calories and contains about 10% fat. Ouch!
Odds are no one is adding a whole cup of half and half to their coffee. But many folks will pour it in large amounts without measuring.
Like all kinds of milk, it’s probably okay to consume half and half in smaller amounts. But if you drown your coffee with half and half, it might be time to pull out the measuring spoons.
Final Thoughts
Many enjoy adding milk to our coffee because it enhances the entire experience. However, you don’t want to add too many calories from milk at a cost to your health.
The lowest calorie milk options for your coffee are almond, coconut, soy, nonfat, and 2% fat milk.
Each of these kinds of milk has its pros and cons. Experimenting with these milk options will help you find the best low-calorie fit for your coffee cup.
If you want to avoid high-calorie milk in your coffee, it’s time to say goodbye to whole milk and half and half. These kinds of milk will add significant calories to your coffee with high amounts of fat.
At the end of the day, any milk consumed in small amounts is probably okay for your health. But if you want to enjoy milk in your coffee daily, it’s time to switch to low-calorie milk.
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