This drink is not only one of the most consumed around the world but also has multiple benefits for physical and mental health. Today you will learn if coffee is fattening and how many calories are hidden behind a cup of this delicious brew. So if you are one of those who drink coffee every day, keep reading.
One of the great advantages of coffee is that it can be prepared in multiple ways. From a black coffee to one with milk (either animal or vegetable), and drink it without sweetener to enjoy its bitter flavor or use sugar, caramel, or whipped cream to add a bit of sweetness. Characteristics make it a very versatile drink for all tastes.
How many calories does coffee have?
Various studies have confirmed that caffeine consumed both in drinks and in supplements helps people perform 5% more. Thanks to the fact that it is a stimulating drink, it is capable of affecting the nervous system, allowing the release of hormones and promoting the mobilization of body fat. However, when taken as a ritual, it can make you gain weight up to 3 kilos per year.
The calories in a cup of coffee dissolved in water and without any additives are practically nil. According to the Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN), 100 gr of coffee is equivalent to 4 kcal. However, when milk, sugar, candies, and other toppings are added, things change, and controlling your consumption becomes key. A balanced diet is essential to have a healthy diet and avoiding large sugar intakes is crucial.
When you eat more calories than you consume, you gain weight. And if you eat more than you eat, you lose weight. Because of this, it is important to know how many calories are hidden behind the delicious lattes. Taking into account that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), a man with moderate physical activity needs an average of between 2,000 and 2,500 kcal daily and women between 1,500 and 2,000 kcal.
Why does coffee make you fat? These are the calories of each type
At present, thanks to the multiple coffee makers that exist on the market, this drink has managed to reach a new level of consumption; due to the ease of preparing delicious varieties. For example, automatic coffee machines allow you to make many coffee specialties with foamy milk. If you are interested, you can see a summary here on Arne Preuβ’s blog about the best ones you can buy and thus surprise your palate with new ways of making it.
And it is that, although it is true that consuming several cups of coffee with milk and sugar every day can have an impact on body weight, once in a while there is nothing wrong with it. Next, we will explain how many calories are in each type of coffee to help you be more aware of your eating habits.
1. Coffee with whole milk
We already know that 100 gr of coffee is equivalent to 4 kcal, but now we have to add the calories of a 250 ml glass of milk. If it is whole milk it would be 150 kcal; if it is semi-skimmed milk it would be 108 kcal, and if it is skimmed milk it would be 88 kcal. In addition, if the coffee is sweetened with an 8 or 10-gr packet of sugar, between 32 and 40 kcal must be added and, if two are used, up to 80 kcal.
For its part, if condensed milk is added, it must be taken into account that 50 ml of this delicacy represents 160 kcal. Therefore, drinking a 250 ml cup of coffee per day made with whole milk and two packets of sugar means consuming 234 kcal per day. And to gain weight by drinking coffee, you need 7,200 calories.
2. Coffee with vegetable milk
Using vegetable milk to make coffee usually has a lower caloric intake than whole milk. In addition, it is a great vegan alternative, since in automatic coffee machines you can also foam and make delicious preparations. In general, any non-dairy milk can achieve nearly the same results as whole milk.
A 250 ml cup of almond milk has approximately 60 kcal; in one of oat milk, 120 kcal; and in one of soy milk, there is 135 kcal. Therefore, if you do not use any type of sugar, making coffee with vegetable milk is a better option to reduce caloric intake.
3. Coffee with milk cut
Cortado coffee is one that only has a little evaporated milk in its preparation and the rest is pure water. However, despite the fact that the calorie content of milk is reduced, this type of drink is usually consumed with a packet of sugar. So a 60 ml cup could represent up to 50 kcal.
It is important to note that some studies have investigated the efficacy of caffeine in accelerating the metabolic process. This means that when you drink espresso coffee or latte without sugar, you can take advantage of this benefit in the body.
In conclusion, does coffee make you fat?
Despite the fact that a 100 gr cup of black coffee in water and without sugar only represents 4 kcal, the same does not happen when we talk about coffee with milk and sweetened with different products. So a single cup of coffee with whole milk and sugar from time to time may not be alarming, but it can have consequences for those who drink several a day.
So, answering the initial question, coffee does not make you fat, but the way it is prepared to make it more delicious can. Because of this, if you’re trying to diet, you don’t have to be self-conscious and treat yourself once in a while, but consuming sweet lattes every day isn’t a good idea for weight loss.