What is healthy coffee?
One of the most common questions in regards to coffee is, is drinking coffee good or bad? This seems to be an ongoing debate, but the latest research shows support for drinking coffee daily. Researchers have been exploring the health benefits of coffee consumption, finding that it may reduce the risk of certain diseases. Additionally, coffee is rich in antioxidants, which can help combat oxidative stress in the body. Many studies suggest that moderate coffee intake can lead to improved cognitive function and a lower risk of depression. Research has also highlighted the health advantages of caffeine consumption, suggesting that it can enhance physical performance during exercise. Additionally, caffeine may play a role in boosting metabolism, which could aid in weight management. As more studies emerge, the potential benefits of moderate caffeine intake continue to become clearer, prompting many to reconsider their coffee habits.
Let’s be honest – we love coffee… a lot! It’s part of our morning ritual, tt’s what makes our day, and it’s what keeps us going late at night when we’re trying to meet a last-minute deadline. It’s a great alternative to an energy drink and tastes infinitely better.
However, there are other things we can do to take our coffee from beneficial to entirely healthy. There are nine different ways to make your coffee healthier and five supplements that you can add for extra benefits.
9 Ways to Make Your Coffee Healthier
One way to make your coffee habit healthier is by simply adding some extra ingredients to make a healthier coffee. Here are 9 simple ways to make your coffee healthier.
1) Drink black coffee
One easy way to make your coffee healthier is by taking out all the added ingredients. One obvious health benefit of drinking your coffee black is that there is no added sugar nor any other calories in your cup of coffee.
Black coffee typically has less than 10 calories in total. Adding only 2 ounces of creamer to your coffee will add 120 calories, which adds up quickly.
Of course, drinking black coffee can be a challenge at first. Getting used to the taste might take a few weeks. However, once you get used to the flavor, it will be one of the healthiest ways to drink coffee. Also, it’ll make your coffee much simpler and less expensive since you won’t add anything to it.
2) Don’t use commercial creamers
Commercial coffee creamers are loaded with sugar, so stopping the use of them is extremely important in creating a healthy coffee.
If you can’t drink your coffee black and want something to sweeten your coffee, try coconut milk. You can add a teaspoon of vanilla, or a teaspoon of honey for a sweet, natural, and healthy coffee.
3) Use organic beans
If you’re a health lover, the word “organic” is probably at the top of your vocabulary. Just like for fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, and other foods, use organic coffee beans for a healthier coffee.
As with any organic food, it’s more natural and free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
Just be sure to buy certified organic coffee. Take the time to be sure that you’re getting the right product as some producers tend to be deceitful or outright fraudulent and claim their coffee beans are organic when they’re not. See the organic pick below.
4) Try out some almond milk
Unless your allergic to nuts, almond milk is one of the healthiest alternative kinds of milk to drink. Unlike regular milk, which is loaded with calories, almond milk is light to drink and healthy for the body. If you miss the sweetness of a traditional creamer, add in a spoonful of stevia, or natural honey.
5) Add chocolate
Adding chocolate to your coffee is both a brilliant and delicious idea. When you add cocoa powder to your coffee, you will get the cocoa benefits while getting a creamy drink. Cocoa is known for being rich in minerals and being a great antioxidant. It can also balance your cholesterol and can even help you prevent cancer.
If you are wanting to try something new, try melting 100% dark chocolate into your coffee. It will give you a sweet flavor while still keeping the coffee healthy.
6) Add cinnamon
Cinnamon is known for helping your heart health, stabilizing blood sugar, and helping to reduce inflammation throughout your body. Adding a little cinnamon can give you these benefits, but also add a great flavor to your coffee.
7) Don’t drink with an empty stomach
Drinking coffee when your stomach is empty is unhealthy. It can lead to some health risks such as increased anxiety and damaged stomach lining. This one isn’t about adding to your coffee cup, but instead being more mindful of when you are consuming it.
8) Try drinking a “golden latte”
If you’re into social media, you have probably seen this golden-colored coffee grace your feed once or twice. Golden lattes are packed full of health benefits – thanks to turmeric, which is the key ingredient that makes it “gold”.
Turmeric contains anti-inflammatory properties, and can also help in increasing your memory. Adding one teaspoon of turmeric to your coffee is a great way to start your day.
9) Consider which mug you’ll use
This might sound a little out there, but in 2014, a study found that the color of your mug can potentially influence your perception of how sweet or bitter the coffee will taste.
Specifically, white mugs can make you think that your coffee is bitter, whereas drinking from a transparent mug makes you think that your coffee is sweeter.
This is a relatively new study, though, so the accuracy of the results should be taken with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, it is worth trying out to see how your brain works.
5 Superfoods You Can Add to Your Coffee
Adding superfoods to your coffee is a great way to experience numerous health benefits as well. We mentioned some of these superfoods above already, but let’s recap what foods you can add to make your coffee healthier and find out what they can do for you.
1) Raw cocoa powder
Despite what you may think, not all chocolates are filled with processed sugar. The unsweetened raw cocoa powder contains a plethora of benefits – so, in its raw form, chocolate is healthy!
Cocoa powder is filled with antioxidants as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium. If you add cacao powders without any processed add-ons, you may experience some of its health benefits ranging from helping you in weight control, to reduced high blood pressure, to a lowered risk of heart attack, to aiding in improving your mood and brain function.
2) Turmeric
The key ingredient to the infamous “golden latte,” turmeric is considered a superfood because it is packed with health benefits!
Turmeric is great for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral purposes. It is also great for your skin health as well!
If you’re wondering about the taste, its flavor profile can be described between cinnamon and ginger.
3) Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a great addition to your cup of coffee, too, but not all cinnamon is healthy. For the best, use Ceylon cinnamon. Cinnamons like cassia, which most North Americans use, have high levels of coumarin, which makes it dangerous for your liver.
Ceylon cinnamon is great to help you with weight loss, gut health, blood pressure, oral health, and improving your mood.
4) Grass-fed butter
Grass-fed butter is way more nutritious and healthy than the typical ones you buy at the grocery store. The main nutritional benefit of grass-fed butter is its Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio, which is very important if you want to fight inflammation in your body.
Also, since grass-fed butter is organic, you’ll get more benefits such as reduced or eliminated chemical content and more natural properties as well.
Blend your grass-fed butter into your coffee for a sweet and healthy delight.
5) Cardamom
If you have ever tried Turkish coffee, then you are familiar with this flavor profile. Cardamom is packed with plenty of nutrients, such as Vitamin C, fiber, iron, and other medicinal properties.
Not only it is amazing for digestion, as are many of the other superfoods on this list, but it is also said to be great for fighting cancer and depression. It’s worth a try!
4 Healthy Coffee Recipes
Now that we’ve covered a variety of ways to make your coffee more healthy and beneficial for your body, it’s time to learn some simple, but healthy, recipes that you can make at home. Coffee’s health benefits and risks can vary greatly depending on the type of brew and individual consumption habits. Understanding these factors can help you make informed choices about your daily cup. By balancing quantity and quality, you can maximize the positive effects while minimizing any potential downsides.
1) Honey Cinnamon Iced Latte
A honey cinnamon iced latte is a great way to start your day. Simply add cinnamon to your coffee for the taste, honey for sweetness (substitute for sugar), and if you don’t like coconut milk, non-dairy milk like almond milk can be your creamer.
Ingredients →
- 1 cup of cold-brewed coffee depending on the brew strength you prefer
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1 tsp honey
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
How to make it →
- Brew a cup of your favorite coffee and pour it into your favorite mug.
- Stir in the coconut milk, honey, and cinnamon.
- Enjoy!
2) Low Carb Iced Café Mocha
Are you on a low carb diet? No problem! If you’re counting carbs instead of fats, you should try out this Low Carb Café Mocha recipe.
It’s simple: just use unsweetened almond milk and sugar substitutes like honey or stevia to have the same sweetness as you’d like without adding any actual sugar.
Ingredients →
- 1 cup of chilled coffee
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- Stevia to taste
- Ice
Note: Try using low-fat milk and unsweetened cocoa powder to cut the calories in your drink
How to make it →
- Brew a cup of your favorite coffee and refrigerate it until it is chilled.
- Grab your favorite glass, fill with ice, and top with chilled coffee.
- Blend the almond milk, cocoa powder, and stevia then pour over the coffee and enjoy!
3) Coffee Banana Smoothie
For this smoothie, simply blend frozen banana, chilled coffee, and a few other ingredients to get the perfect smoothie.
Ingredients →
- 1 cup of cold-brewed coffee depending on the brew strength you prefer
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp natural peanut butter
How to make it →
- Brew a cup of your favorite coffee and refrigerate it until it is chilled.
- Add your coffee, almond milk, frozen banana, cocoa powder, and peanut butter to your blender and blend until consistently smooth.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy!
4) Almond Iced Coffee
For cold coffee lovers, you may want to try this: Almond Iced Coffee.
Just create your coffee and mix it with almond milk, then store it in your fridge for later drinks. Add ice for a cooler taste!
Ingredients →
- 1 cup of cold-brewed coffee depending on the brew strength you prefer
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1 tsp honey
How to make it →
- Brew a cup of your favorite coffee and refrigerate it until it is chilled.
- Grab your favorite glass and add the ice.
- Add the chilled coffee, almond milk, and honey.
- To finish, sprinkle some cinnamon powder on top and enjoy!
We matched one coffee to each mood and moment below. Tap the image or the coffee name to see it on Amazon. We chose these from each roaster’s published details rather than from brewing them ourselves yet, so both are labeled research-rated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Feeling clean and simple: an organic black cup
Our pick: Volcanica Coffee Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, USDA Organic, medium-light roast, whole bean, 16 oz. Certified organic beans for the black-coffee habit this guide recommends. Research-rated, not yet brewed by our team.
Feeling earthy and fair: a medium Fairtrade roast
Our pick: Kicking Horse Coffee Three Sisters, Medium Roast, Whole Bean, 10 oz. Organic and Fairtrade, for a healthier everyday mug. Research-rated, not yet brewed by our team.