Cutting back on sugar is an admirable goal, but what if you don't like black coffee? You might be so used to reaching for sugar or your favorite flavored syrup that it's a really tough habit to break. Fortunately, there are lots of healthy ways to sweeten coffee with natural flavorings, spices, and artificial sweeteners. Get your coffee brewing, because we've got a sweet list that you'll want to try!

Things You Should Know

  • Try honey, syrup, or molasses for sweet options with more health benefits than regular refined sugar.
  • Use cinnamon, vanilla, or cocoa if you prefer to avoid anything sugary.
  • Mix in monk fruit or artificial sweeteners if you are aiming for zero-calorie options.
1

Honey

  1. Add honey for a natural sweetener that has health benefits. Although honey is just as sweet as granulated sugar, it's got health benefits that make it a better choice. Raw honey has antioxidants, prebiotics, and vitamins.[1]
    • Honey is naturally really sweet and high in calories, so add a little at a time.
    • If you're trying to cut back on sugar to reduce inflammation, honey is a great option since it has anti-inflammatory properties.[2]
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3

Maple syrup

  1. Maple syrup has nutrients and a distinctive taste. You've probably heard that sugar is just empty calories, but that's not the case with maple syrup. While it tends to be sweeter than sugar, it's got antioxidants and a lower glycemic index which means it takes longer for your body to digest it—good news if you don't want to have a sugar crash![4]
    • Use a light hand when you add maple syrup to your coffee; it's so sweet that a little goes a long way.
    • Go for pure maple syrup products instead of pancake or breakfast syrups that are labeled "maple flavor." These usually contain highly processed forms of sugar.
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9

Cinnamon or cocoa

  1. Ingredients like cinnamon or cocoa add flavor without the need for sugar. Add a dash of cinnamon for a warm spice flavor or whisk in a dash of cocoa powder if you like mochas or chocolate. Just use a light hand with the cocoa or your coffee might taste bitter.[10]
    • Experiment with other spices in your coffee—ground cardamom adds a light, naturally sweet taste or you might enjoy the mild licorice taste of star anise.
    • Cinnamon can stabilize your blood sugar and improve your bad cholesterol, while cocoa is a good source of protein and magnesium.
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10

Artificial sweeteners

  1. Use an artificial sweetener if you're cutting calories. If you're trying to eat less sugar because you're watching your weight, switch to a sweetener like aspartame, sucralose, or saccharin. These are 200 to 600 times sweeter than granulated sugar, so you don't need very much to make your coffee sweet.[11]
    • Choose an artificial sweetener that has a pleasant taste to you—some people notice a bitter or metallic aftertaste after eating artificial sweeteners like Splenda.
    • Sugar alcohols like xylitol, erythritol, and sorbitol are another popular low-calorie replacement although they're not as sweet as artificial sweeteners.[12] Sugar alcohols naturally occur in plants, although most products are artificial.[13]

About This Article

Jessica Gibson
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jessica Gibson. Jessica Gibson is a Writer and Editor who's been with wikiHow since 2014. After completing a year of art studies at the Emily Carr University in Vancouver, she graduated from Columbia College with a BA in History. Jessica also completed an MA in History from The University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 8,634 times.
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Co-authors: 3
Updated: October 25, 2022
Views: 8,634
Categories: Coffee
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