17 Best Sweeteners for Coffee

For the coffee purists, coffee should only be taken black without adding anything because any additives can ruin the taste and experience. But, for the majority of coffee drinkers, coffee is never complete without some sweetener.

However, when it comes to choosing the best coffee sweetener, everyone seems to have their specific preferences, and so there is no one universal sweetener that works for all coffee lovers.

From sugar to other natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup, there are various things that you can use to make your coffee less bitter, and what you choose will depend on the specific taste you are looking for.

Here we explain what to expect from some of the most popular coffee sweeteners to help you decide which will work best for you.

1. Sugar

3. Agave

If you have not tried out agave nectar, you are missing out on one of the most flavorful natural coffee sweeteners, and once you put some in your coffee, you will probably never use anything else. This sweetener is derived from cacti and it has a low glycemic index.

Agave is perfect for the strongest coffee as it is very effective at diluting the bitterness, and many people will also use it on their strong teas. Its taste is somewhere in between molasses and honey, and while some people might find it a little overpowering, for most it only takes some getting used to.

But because agave comes in a liquid state, it seems to work best for iced coffee and cold brews, but you can still use it effectively in all other kinds of coffee.

To get the best flavors from agave, it is vital to make sure that whatever you buy is as natural as possible with no added artificial ingredients. For this, Madhava Naturally Sweet Organic Blue Agave is a good recommendation.

4. Molasses

While molasses is also a product of sugar production, it will not provide the same taste. Its taste is not always the best, but it should be okay once you get used to it.

Molasses is a more natural sweetener, and it is available in two main options which are blackstrap and dark, and it has some of the highest antioxidant properties which makes it relatively healthier when compared to refined sugar.

But, as you go for molasses, it will be important to note that its strong and spicy flavor will not only sweeten the coffee but can change its taste completely. Hence, you need to be very keen on the quantity that you add. Also, molasses tends to have a lingering aftertaste that is not very good.

However, the quality of the molasses that you use also determines the experience that you get, and you can be sure of a much better tasting brew if you go for something high-quality and all-natural like the Plantation Organic Blackstrap Molasses.

5. Stevia

Stevia looks exactly like sugar, and many people might not even tell them apart when looking at them side by side. However, it is up to 300 times sweeter than regular refined sugar which means a little of it goes a long way.

Also, unlike sugar, this natural sweetener will not have the same effects on your blood, and so you can add it to your coffee without worrying about blood sugar spikes. This makes it ideal even for those with health issues like diabetes.

There are even some proponents of stevia that claim that its use can lower both diastolic and systolic blood pressure for individuals that have high blood pressure issues. Better yet, stevia is an antioxidant and also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

When it comes to the flavor, stevia is a smooth sweetener but some users might find the aftertaste a little overpowering. And because it is calorie-free it is also one of the best coffee sweeteners for weight loss.

And while there are now several companies that make and sell stevia, it is good to stick with those that are known to use all-natural ingredients. Some good recommendations are CCnature Organic Stevia Powder Extract, Sugar in the Raw Stevia in the Raw Sweetener and the Truvia Natural Stevia Sweetener Packets.

6. Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is one of the healthiest sweeteners for coffee as it is a naturally occurring sweetener which means it will not have any unnatural or artificial ingredients added.

Although it is typically used for pancakes, maple syrup has been gaining more popularity as a coffee sweetener over the years as more and more people prefer it for its health benefits. Maple syrup contains the same antioxidant compounds that you get on fruits like berries which are known for their anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties.

But when picking up your maple syrup, it is important to make sure that you go for something all-natural because the artificial versions will not only give your coffee a bad taste but will also not come with the health benefits.

However, you cannot go wrong with Runamok Bourbon Barrel-Aged Organic Vermont Maple Syrup as is an all-natural product that will give your coffee an amazing flavor.

7. Splenda

Splenda is the brand name for a popular sucralose sweetener. It is an all-purpose sweetener that you can use anywhere you would use refined sugar, and so it will be useful for much more than just sweetening your coffee.

This sweetener is made from refined sugar through chlorination which is a process that involves adding sugar to chlorine molecules. Chlorination renders the sugar completely useless to the body as it will not be broken down.

And while Splenda ends up being up to 600 times sweeter than regular refined sugar, it will not contain any calories which means a little of it goes a long way, and it is also healthier.

This sweetener will be perfect for diabetics and individuals on a weight management program, and if you want to be sure that you are getting the real thing and not cheap knockoffs and counterfeits, go for the Splenda Naturals Stevia Sweetener.

8. Equal and Nutrasweet

Equal and Nutrasweet are two common brands for artificial sweeteners made from Aspartame which unlike the sucralose used to make other sweeteners is a completely artificial product.

However, despite being an artificial product, the base molecules on these sweeteners are protein molecules that you can get in many dairy and meat products.

When using Equal and Nutrasweet sweeteners, you will not need to add a lot because Aspartame is up to 200 times sweeter than refined sugar. Also, these sweeteners will not contain any calories which makes them healthier and great for weight management. However, there is still some debate on the potential health risks associated with these compounds.

9. Sweet’n Low

Sweet’n Low is an artificial sweetener that is made by mixing dextrose and saccharin, and it can be up to 500 times sweeter than regular sugar.

In this sweetener, the saccharin is the actual sweetening agent while dextrose is used for dilution. And in many instances, the sweetener will also contain other substances like cream of tartar and an anti-caking agent like calcium silicate.

Because the body cannot digest these compounds, they will not provide any calories which makes them relatively healthier than refined sugar. And while a few decades ago there was a debate on whether it causes bladder cancer, it has since been declared safe to use.

Sweet’n Low mostly comes in small packets which makes it easier to manage your portions and also makes it easier to carry around for use on the go. And although it might still not be the best tasting artificial sweetener for some coffee lovers, it is highly effective in reducing coffee bitterness.

10. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is another fantastic coffee sweetener that will allow you to shave off a few calories from your brew while still enjoying some bold and highly flavorful coffee.

With cinnamon, you will make your coffee both sweet and spicy, and it will also come with several health properties such as boosting the immune system and reducing inflammations.

While in many instances cinnamon will be used to top decadent lattes, it can still work well for plain black coffee. But for maximum benefits and flavor, it is important to make sure that you buy good quality cinnamon because many stores stock the wrong type.

Also, if you prefer to use cinnamon to sweeten your coffee, you can take things a notch higher by brewing it with a stick of cinnamon to make the brew even spicier. A good example of a fantastic cinnamon coffee sweetener for coffee is the Vimerson Health True Ceylon Cinnamon Supplement.

11. Almond Milk

Vanilla makes everything taste better, and so it should not come as a surprise that it is one of the best natural sweeteners for coffee out there.

While adding vanilla to coffee might not make it as sweet as other sweeteners like honey and sugar would, the aroma that you get will be heavenly and the taste will also be quite elegant which will make your coffee even more refreshing.

A few drops of vanilla extract usually do the trick, and you should be careful not to add too much as this can easily ruin the coffee and make it undrinkable.

13. Dates

Although dates are typically used as ingredients in baking and when making sweet snacks, they can still work as a coffee sweetener thanks to their unique and strong flavor.

Dates are filled with sugars, but the good news is that they are all-natural and healthy sugars that will not cause harm to the body, and they will also contain lots of nutrients and other healthy compounds such as fiber, magnesium, and iron.

For the best flavor when using dates to sweeten coffee, you should first make a paste by blending them with water. You should then stir a little of this paste into your coffee.

Also, you can use date syrup to sweeten your coffee which you can either make at home or buy at your local store.

14. Cocoa Powder

Chocolate is a perfect coffee sweetener for those with a sweet tooth. The chocolate and coffee combination also brings out an exquisite taste that you will always look forward to every morning.

Some coffee types already have some hints of chocolate notes and adding chocolate to them makes these notes shine more leaving you with a distinct chocolate taste.

With chocolate, you can use almost any kind on your coffee because it will still be effective at subduing the bitterness in coffee. However, milk, white and dark chocolate will have the most effect.

And when using chocolate, you will only need to place a couple of bars at the bottom of your mug, and then pour in the coffee to melt them before stirring them in.

16. Fresh or Frozen Fruit

Fresh or frozen fruits are some of the best sweeteners for coffee. Besides giving your brew a sweeter taste, they are also packed with several healthy compounds, and unlike many other sweeteners, they will not contain any empty calories.

You can use almost any fruit that you want, but just make sure it does not overpower the coffee with too much sweetness or annoying lumps.

Also, you will not need anything very elaborate because even oranges will work just fine. Oranges will be perfect when taking coffee in warm weather while other fruits like raspberries will provide a rich and tangy taste that goes perfectly well with the natural fruity components in coffee.

Other fruits like blueberries will provide a subtly sweet but tasty flavor while brewing your coffee with dried banana chips can give it a nice punch of sweetness.

17. Ice Cream

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