Coffee and diet — what you need to know

Calories and coffee types

These days, it is not just connoisseurs who regularly enjoy different versions of their favourite drink. Many cafés offer not only popular cappuccino but latte, espresso and latte macchiato too. At home, some people choose ready-made instant mixes, usually containing powdered milk and sugar. Each version has a different calorie content. Unfortunately, ready-made mixes are not the best foundation for this aromatic drink. Choose natural whole-bean or ground coffee and prepare it your favourite way. Espresso has the fewest calories: just two per 100 grams! Coffee with milk has slightly more, at twelve per 100 grams. If you usually sweeten your drink, the news is less good: with one teaspoon of sugar, the figure rises to thirty calories. And aromatic cappuccino? Even without milk and sugar, it comes to ninety calories, a lot compared with a drink without additions. Latte macchiato is another calorie-heavy option at 66 kcal per 100 grams. Black coffee is therefore the best choice: fewer calories and a chance to appreciate the drink's pure flavour!

Which coffee additions should you avoid?

Do you often choose coffee with sweet additions? Unfortunately, these raise its calorie content. Some can also negatively affect important health markers. High-fat cream, for example, turns the drink into a calorie bomb and can raise cholesterol. Whipped cream has similar effects. Cannot imagine your favourite drink without a milky note? Replace ordinary milk with a lower-calorie plant-based alternative. People trying to lose weight should also avoid chocolate or limit it to tiny pieces of dark chocolate.

That does not mean giving up every addition in pursuit of a slimmer figure. Instead of sweet ingredients, choose spices such as cinnamon. A pinch can stimulate digestion. You could also try coffee with chilli: its heat can help boost metabolism and support losing unwanted weight. Cardamom is a good choice for more sophisticated tastes. If you usually drink sweetened coffee, use coffee syrup instead of sugar. It will make your favourite ground or whole-bean coffee sweet while being less fattening.

Caffeine — an effective fat burner

Coffee's weight-management qualities mainly come down to caffeine. This important compound stimulates faster adrenaline release, directly supporting fat burning. The breakdown process is not merely momentary: its effects can last several hours. Tasty whole-bean or ground coffee can also help maintain a slimmer figure by stimulating metabolism. Many coffee drinkers say their favourite beverage supports weight loss by improving circulation. Digestion speeds up, helping prevent the accumulation of fat cells.

Coffee as part of a healthy diet

This aromatic black drink has other qualities that can make it a useful part of a balanced diet. Its high antioxidant content is worth mentioning. Whole-bean coffees from Ethiopia, Kenya and Brazil are particularly recommended in this regard because shrubs in these regions grow in volcanic soil. Antioxidants can help the body combat inflammation and free radicals and support immunity. Coffee is also a welcome energy boost, important for an active lifestyle. It can fit into various diets, including vegetarian and ketogenic diets. For the latter, there is so-called bulletproof coffee, a drink with added fat.

Coffee can be an important component of many diets aimed at losing unwanted weight. Discover its distinctive qualities and consider which form best suits your daily menu. Explore whole-bean and ground coffee as a way to support your body's fat-burning processes.