How much sugar and cream to put in coffee? (effects of sugar and cream in coffee)

In this article, we are going to answer the question “How much sugar and cream to put in coffee?” and discuss how the addition of sugar and cream affects the properties of coffee, the nutritional profile of coffee added sugar and cream and the benefits and drawbacks of adding sugar and cream to coffee.

How much sugar and cream to put in coffee?

There is no particular standard for sugar and cream in regular coffee. People prefer to add sugar and cream to their coffee according to their personal preferences, although the organoleptic as well as nutritional properties of the coffee are significantly affected by the added ingredients (1, 2).

The addition of sugar and cream to coffee is a common practice in many countries and a study to investigate coffee consumption behaviours conducted in South Africa showed that 90 % of the consumers had a least 2 servings of coffee during the day.

Moreover, 65 % of the individuals consuming coffee added sugar and milk or cream to their coffee drinks (3).

How does sugar and cream affect the properties of coffee?

Sugar and cream can affect the properties of coffee. In addition to the changes in the flavour and nutritional profile of the coffee, sugar and cream can change the accessibility of the phenolic compounds of the coffee, such as chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid, thus changing the antioxidant properties of the beverage (1).

According to studies, milk proteins can bind to the antioxidant molecules in coffee and reduce their immediate antioxidant properties. However, due to the chemical interactions between these compounds, there is a protective effect of the milk properties on the phenolics during digestion, which favours the release of the antioxidant in the plasma.

However, this effect changes depending on the chemical composition of the coffee and the amount of milk proteins or milk lipids added to the coffee. These positive effects will be possible when half cream, containing milk proteins, is used, and not heavy cream.

A study showed that adding sugar to coffee can improve the risk of developing endometrial cancer in women, as the antioxidant properties of the coffee change, while adding milk to coffee would have the opposite effect and reduce the risks of cancer. These effects are, however, dose-dependent (2).

The main effect of adding sugar and cream to coffee is related to the flavour. The cream improves the mouthfeel and texture of the drink, while sugar attenuates the bitterness and astringency of coffee.

Therefore, adding sugar and cream to coffee can increase the acceptability of the coffee by consumers (3).

What are the nutritional properties of coffee with sugar and cream?

The nutritional properties of 1 cup of coffee (240 g) with sugar and cream are shown in the table below and compared to plain coffee (4):

Plain coffee (1 cup) coffee with sugar and cream (1 teaspoon sugar and 1 tablespoon heavy cream) coffee with sugar and half-and-half cream (1 teaspoon sugar and one tablespoon half-and-half)
energy 2.4 kcal 77.4 kcal 37 kcal
protein 0.28 g 0.28 g 0.75 g
lipid 0.04 g 6.04 g 1.76 g
sugar 0 g 4 g 4.62
calcium 4.0 mg 4.0 mg 20 mg

What are the benefits of adding sugar and cream to coffee?

The benefit of adding sugar and cream is the improvement of the flavour and the acceptance of the coffee (1, 3). Adding sugar and cream to coffee can improve the caloric amount of coffee, which is very poor in nutrients (4). 

Because of the interaction between the milk proteins and lipids with the phenolic compounds in the coffee, the antioxidant properties of the coffee can be improved, according to some studies (1).

In addition, cream is a source of lipids. Although it contains a high amount of saturated fatty acids, studies showed that the saturated fats from dairy sources do not pose a health risk and are not related to increased risks of heart diseases (5).

What are the drawbacks of adding sugar and cream to coffee?

The drawbacks of adding sugar and cream to coffee are related to health issues, as the ingestion of refined sugar can lead to increased risks of heart disease (5).

According to studies, the frequent ingestion of refined carbohydrates can increase the risks of cardiovascular diseases in 3-fold. 

Other FAQs about Sugar that you may be interested in.

Does sugar expire?

Can diabetics eat brown sugar?

How to caramelize brown sugar and butter?

Conclusion:

In this article, we answered the question “How much sugar and cream to put in coffee?” and discussed what is the effect of adding sugar and cream to coffee, the nutritional properties of coffee added sugar and cream and what are the benefits and drawbacks of adding sugar and cream to coffee.  

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References

1.-

Rashidinejad A, Tarhan O, Rezaei A, Capanoglu E, Boostani S, Khoshnoudi-Nia S, Samborska K, Garavand F, Shaddel R, Akbari-Alavijeh S, Jafari SM. Addition of milk to coffee beverages; the effect on functional, nutritional, and sensorial properties. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2022 Jul 23;62(22):6132-52.

2.-

Bandera EV, Williams-King MG, Sima C, Bayuga-Miller S, Pulick K, Wilcox H, Zauber AG, Olson SH. Coffee and tea consumption and endometrial cancer risk in a population-based study in New Jersey. Cancer causes & control. 2010 Sep;21:1467-73.

3.-

Geel L, Kinnear M, De Kock HL. Relating consumer preferences to sensory attributes of instant coffee. Food Quality and Preference. 2005 Apr 1;16(3):237-44.

4.-

FoodData central [Internet]. Usda.gov. [cited 2023 Sep 4]. Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html

5.-

DiNicolantonio JJ, Lucan SC, O’Keefe JH. The evidence for saturated fat and for sugar related to coronary heart disease. Progress in cardiovascular diseases. 2016 Mar 1;58(5):464-72.