Your Guide To Alternative Coffee Sweeteners

If you are looking for a natural and healthier sweetener or something that will add a new flavor profile to your coffee, here are seven different sugar substitutes for coffee. But first, let’s take a look at why you might choose natural sweeteners for coffee instead of sugar.

Why Switch Out Sugar for Alternatives? 

While sugar is the most common type of sweetener to be added to a person’s coffee or tea, it is one of the unhealthiest options. The dangers of sugar consumption are many, including increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, inflammation, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and a panoply of other ailments.

Worse yet, sugar is added to almost everything we eat, meaning you are likely already consuming copious amounts of sugar.

Therefore, finding a sugar substitute for coffee that you like is a wise decision. 

How to Sweeten Your Coffee Without Sugar: Seven Natural Substitutes

There are tons of sweeteners available today. Some natural and healthy ways to sweeten coffee include:

1. Honey

Raw honey is a great natural sweetener for coffee as it contains amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that are all great for you. However, this only pertains to raw honey, as processing honey destroys many of these nutrients.

2. Agave

Agave is similar to honey in its consistency with a mild caramel flavor profile. However, it has a lower glycemic index, which means it is a better option for those who are diabetic or watch their blood glucose levels closely.

Agave is high in fructose and should be used sparingly.

3. Vanilla

While vanilla itself is not sweet, it is often used in making sweet treats. Therefore, our minds tend to associate vanilla with sweetness, which can trick you into thinking your coffee is sweeter than it actually is. Vanilla also adds a wonderful boost of flavor.

4. Cinnamon

Like vanilla, cinnamon itself is not sweet, but is associated with sweetness. This makes cinnamon a great option for spicing up coffee and adding a subtle sweet kick to make coffee less bitter. Cinnamon also contains health benefits like lowering your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It is a very good addition for diabetic patients!

Unsweetened cocoa can also be used to achieve a similar effect or even combined with cinnamon for a boldly flavored brew.

5. Maple Syrup

Like raw honey, pure maple syrup is packed with healthy nutrients and antioxidants. It also comes with fewer calories than honey.

Side note: beware of imitation maple syrup, pancake syrup, and other imitations, as these are basically maple-flavored sugar and are devoid of health benefits.

If you want something that’s packed with flavor, you can go the extra mile and combine cinnamon and maple syrup to make a delicious maple cinnamon latte.

6. Date Syrup

Date syrup is another natural sweetener (albeit more obscure) option that has caramel notes of sweet dried dates. It’s high in nutrients like vitamin B, fiber, potassium, iron, and other beneficial compounds. Date syrup is thinner than honey, but can be reduced for a slightly more sticky texture.

7. Stevia

One of today’s most popular natural sweeteners for coffee is stevia.

While being 300 times sweeter than sugar, Stevia does not impact blood glucose levels in the same way, meaning it is a great option for diabetics. In fact, research on stevia has shown that it may even reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure, possess antioxidant properties, and boast a myriad of other benefits.

No matter if are looking to make the perfect latte at home or just want something to take the place of sugar in your morning coffee, these are all fantastic sugar substitutes

Just like you aren’t stuck with sugar as your only option for sweetening your coffee, you also aren’t stuck with a gradually cooling cup of brew. Keep your cup of perfectly sweetened coffee at the ideal temperature with the Ember Mug².