Calories in Coffee
There is considerable confusion over the caloric content of coffee. Not all coffee drinks are high in calories. Coffee - without additives - is almost a zero-calorie drink.
Here is a complete guide to understanding coffee calories.
Coffee is almost Zero Calorie
According to the USDA nutrient database - an 8 ounce cup of coffee (brewed from grounds) has just 2 (yes two) Calories. The calories come from a tiny amount of protein and some mono-unsaturated oils.
The coffee bean has oils in it (which is why a barista often needs to clean their espresso machine to prevent an oily build up). Sometimes a really bad coffee can be due to the oils in it becoming rancid (this often occurs from dark roasts, which cause a subsequent release of oils - if the beans are stored for a long time the oils may go slightly rancid).
So: coffee beans + water = virtually calorie-free.
It’s about Milk and Sugar
When we talk about about a coffee high in calories - we are really talking about the additives we put in it. Caffeine is a bitter chemical and products containing caffeine are bitter - so we tend to sweeten them up - with milk, sugar, or syrups.
The larger the drink volume - the more milk you will be getting. With espresso-based drinks (latte, cappuccino) - the amount of water in the drink is minimal (typically 45mls / 1.5 fl. ounces per espresso shot). You do the math: a 16 ounces Grande Latte from Starbucks will have two espresso shots (~ 3 oz) — that leaves around 13 ounces of milk (depending on how much foam tops the drink) - so there’s 198 Calories already (if the milk is 2% reduced fat).
Add in cream, a pump of flavored syrup, and some sugar - and you are in for a very calorie-dense drink - more like sweetened milk than coffee.
Article Source: http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2008/05/28/how_many_calories_in_coffee.php
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