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Worried your Keto diet means saying goodbye to your beloved pumpkin spice coffee? Or maybe you’re trying to cut down on sugar but can’t resist chocolate coffee. Hold on, though – does flavored coffee actually contain carbs?
Flavored coffee beans are a great choice for those on a keto diet since they don’t contain carbs, whether their flavor comes from natural or artificial sources. They’re a healthier swap for sugary syrups often mixed into coffee drinks.
Next, we’ll explore how coffee gets its flavors, reveal why many are surprisingly carb-free, and guide you on which flavors to steer clear of.
A Brief Intro to Carbs
Diving into carbs, there are two types to know: simple and complex. Let’s explore both!
Ever felt that burst of energy from a sweet treat? That’s the power of simple carbohydrates at work. These quick-digesting carbs are in natural foods like milk and also in many of our favorite snacks and drinks, including syrups, cereals, and sodas, often as refined sugars.
Complex carbs give you energy that lasts because they take time to break down in your body. They’re healthier than sugars and can even help manage blood sugar levels, which is great for those with type 2 diabetes. Foods like bread, pasta, potatoes, beans, and lentils are packed with these good carbs.
Does Coffee Have Carbs?
A plain black coffee is almost carb-free, with less than 1 gram per cup. But remember, this changes if you add milk, sugar, or any sweeteners – those definitely pack in the carbs.
It’s surprising, but your favorite coffee beans are super keto-friendly because they have no carbs! This is unexpected, as most natural foods do. Let’s dive into why coffee fits so well with a keto diet.
Coffee Beans Have Natural Carbs
Before becoming the star of your morning, coffee beans start as seeds inside coffee cherries – the fruit of the coffee plant. Just like many fruits, these cherries are rich in simple carbs. Interestingly, the beans themselves pack 31 grams of complex carbs, making them quite unique in their natural state.
Coffee beans go through special steps before landing in your cup, not just picked and packed.
First, we strip away the outer flesh, leaving only the coffee bean. Next, we dry the seeds, reducing their moisture by 90%. But the true magic unfolds in the following step.
Roasting and brewing
Once picked, coffee beans are roasted, unlocking their natural oils and flavors. This step also often introduces added flavors, creating those delicious flavored coffees we love.
Did you know eating roasted coffee beans gives you around 13 grams of carbs per ounce? Interestingly, none of those carbs end up in your morning cup of coffee.
When coffee beans are roasted and then ground to brew your coffee, all the carbs and calories are removed. So, instead of worrying about carbs, you’re enjoying a drink that’s perfect for a keto diet – completely carb-free!
Do Flavored Coffees Have Carbs?
When you pick flavored coffee beans, they often have no carbs. But, it’s important to know there are two kinds: natural and artificial flavors, plus flavored coffee drinks to explore.
Artificially-flavored coffee beans
Flavored coffee beans don’t add any extra carbs, calories, or sugars. So, when you enjoy them, it’s just like sipping on pure black coffee—no hidden extras.
Always remember to peek at your coffee’s packaging. Why? To ensure there are no sneaky sugars added during the flavoring of the beans. If sugars or any carbs were mixed in, they must be listed on the label. So, always double-check!
Adding flavor to your coffee without piling on sugar, calories, or carbs sounds great, right? But, there’s a catch. Sometimes, to make coffee beans taste extra yummy, companies use something called Propylene glycol. While it makes beans taste good, it’s a chemical that can be harmful. So, it’s important to know what’s in your flavored coffee.
While it’s usually safe in tiny amounts, propylene glycol can bother your skin and the inside of your nose and mouth if you’re around it a lot. Also, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, found in some foods and drinks, could be risky and lead to cancer if you have too much of them.
Naturally-flavored coffee beans
Enjoy zero carbs and calories with naturally-flavored coffee beans, perfect for a healthy, keto-friendly brew.
Always check the label to ensure your go-to coffee isn’t sneaking in extra sugars or carbs – though, this isn’t usually a problem.
Finding your favorite flavors in natural coffee can be tough. Sometimes, natural tastes just don’t pack enough punch to stand out in your cup.
Flavored coffee drinks
Your favorite coffee shop’s tasty lattes don’t use flavored beans for that delicious taste.
Flavored coffees might taste great, but watch out! They’re often packed with sugar, carbs, and calories. Many use coffee syrups for flavor, which can add over 8 grams of carbs in just one serving.
Did you know that a tiny ounce of simple syrup packs 14 grams of sugar? And in a grande Starbucks vanilla latte, those four pumps of syrup pour in a massive 28 grams of sugar! That’s a lot from just the syrup!
Adding milk to your coffee? Watch out for carbs! The milk you choose can pack up to 47 grams of carbs in a latte – not the best for keto lovers!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is flavored coffee keto?
Flavored coffee beans are keto-friendly as long as you don’t add non-keto sweeteners. Most flavored coffee drinks in coffee shops, though, are made with coffee syrups rather than flavored beans. Most flavored coffee syrups are not keto-friendly.
What’s Next?
Swap your sugary Starbucks for flavored coffee beans! They’re keto-friendly and delicious. Need more sweetness? Check out these sugar-free ways to sweeten your coffee. Perfect for beginners exploring healthier options.
Discover the pure joy of black coffee, even if you’ve already found a keto-friendly sweetener and carb-free flavored coffee you enjoy. Diving into black coffee opens up a world of flavors, especially with premium options like Kona coffee beans. Adding extras can mask their delicate and unique tastes.
Here’s my final tip for you: Treat yourself to an AeroPress or an automatic pour-over coffee maker. You’ll quickly realize what you’ve been missing out on with your old drip coffee maker. But don’t stop there! Invest in a quality coffee grinder to experience the game-changing taste of freshly ground beans. Sure, you might still love your flavored coffees—I sure do—but you’ll open up a whole new world of delicious possibilities.
