15 Best Sweeteners for Coffee (Weight Loss, Diabetes & Keto)

This piece is an overview of all the best sweeteners and other ingredients to add to coffee for a better taste. Keep reading to learn more.

I’ve experimented with a lot of funky ingredients over the years I’ve been drinking coffee. And I want to use this guide to surface some of my findings.

I’ll list all the best sweeteners under different groups. For instance, zero-calorie and artificial sweeteners. From there, I’ll explain how much of each sweetener to add and whether they have variations.

Let’s go.

Key Takeaways

• Granulated sugar is the most common sweetener.
• Other ingredients such as cinnamon and creamers could also add flavors to your coffee.
• Artificial sweeteners (e.g., aspartame) could irritate your stomach.
• Monk fruit extract is the best sweetener for anyone on a keto diet.

15 Best Sweeteners for Coffee

Throughout the following sections, I’ll cover these great sweeteners for coffee and espresso:

• Sugar: Most common
• Sugar substitutes: Best for weight loss
• Simple sugar: Easier to dissolve sugar
• Honey: Best natural sweetener
• Maple syrup: Best for high-quality taste
• Vanilla extract: Best for subtle sweetness
• Monk fruit extract: Healthiest
• Cocoa powder: Best for chocolate lovers
• Agave nectar: Best for mixing
• Dates: Best for low-cholesterol
• Yacon syrup: Best for diabetics
• Lucuma powder: Hardest to find: 
• Non-dairy milks & creamers: Alternative to sweeteners
• Cinnamon: Another alternative to sweeteners

I’ll explain how much of each sweetener to add to your beverage, what they are, and variations if applicable.

Let’s dive in.

1. Sugar: The Most Common Sweetener

White sugar has a clean, pure sweetness that complements the bitterness of coffee without masking its natural flavors. It’s best for anyone who wants an affordable sweetener.

What if you don’t want to use white sugar?

You have other options like:

• Brown sugar: Has a molasses flavor that can add a hint of caramel or toffee to your coffee.
• Turbinado sugar: It has a slightly more pronounced molasses flavor and a slightly coarser texture.
• Coconut sugar: Coconut sugar has a slightly sweet and nutty flavor.
• Raw sugar: The least processed type of sugar and has a slightly earthy flavor.
• Beet sugar: Adds an earthy taste.

A study suggests that 49% of folks in a survey responded and said that white sugar is their favorite sweetener [1]. Zero-calorie sweetener came in second place at around 33.7%. Making it the most popular sweetener people will add to coffee.

Here are sweeteners to consider if you don’t want any type of sugar.

2. Sugar Substitutes: Best for Weight Loss

You may not want to add sugar or all the other “weird” ingredients I mention later in this list. Here are a bunch of sugar substitutes you could consider:

Technically, everything else on this list is a “sugar substitute.” However, I thought I’d list all the main culprits here. All of these substitutes are safe for diabetics and will integrate well with a keto diet.

Almost all these alternatives to sugar have no bitter aftertaste and don’t have many calories. Except for saccharin and stevia—they’re a bit bitter. However, they’re all excellent picks for anyone trying to lose weight.

3. Simple Syrup: Sugar & Water

Simple syrup is a solution of equal parts sugar and water that’s heated until the sugar dissolves. It  has a sweeter and more intense flavor than sugar, and it also dissolves more easily in liquids. It also has a slightly caramel-like flavor.

It’s an excellent choice for anyone who wants a sweetener with a granulated sugar taste that dissolves easier. It’s not ideal for anyone wanting to lose weight.

Consider this over sugar if you want a sweetener that dissolves easily and has a more intense taste.

4. Honey: Best Natural Sweetener

Honey adds a sweetness and floral flavor to coffee that’s delicate and complex. It can also add a hint of earthiness or spice, depending on the type of honey. It’s great for adding to hot coffee. Otherwise, it’s difficult for honey to dissolve in coffee.

Here are some variations of honey and how they’ll affect your coffee’s taste:

• Clover honey: A light and sweet honey with a delicate floral flavor.
• Wildflower honey: Has a more complex flavor than clover honey, with notes of flowers, herbs, and spices. 
• Buckwheat honey: Has a dark, strong flavor with notes of molasses and earth.
• Manuka honey: A more intense caramel(ish) taste with slightly bitter undertones.

Honey’s susceptible to Botulism, a nasty bacterial illness, if left stored in hot weather. Ensure you store it between 50 and 70 °F [2]. If you live in a hot and humid place, keep this thought in mind.

5. Maple Syrup: Best Premium Sweetener

It has a rich, caramel-like flavor with notes of vanilla and toffee. It’s also a good source of antioxidants such as flavonoids that help reduce inflammation.

Maple syrup is a more complex sweetener than sugar, and it can add a depth of flavor to your coffee that sugar cannot. However, it’s also much more expensive. It’s a great option for folks wanting a natural sweetener.

6. Vanilla Extract: Best for Subtle Sweetness

Vanilla extract adds a sweet, warm, and slightly woody flavor to coffee. It can also add a hint of spice and depth of flavor.

It’s a natural flavoring made from vanilla beans. And a common ingredient in baking and desserts, but you can also use it to flavor coffee, tea, and other beverages. I do this all the time.

Vanilla extract is a good sweetener for people who like a subtle sweetness with a complex flavor profile. It’s also a good choice for people who are looking for a natural sweetener.

7. Monk Fruit Extract: Best for Weight Loss

Monk fruit isn’t bitter like saccharin or stevia. And it has a slightly fruitier flavor than sucrose.

This type of extract is derived from a small, round fruit from China.

Monk fruit extract is a good choice for people who are looking for a natural, sugar-free sweetener that’s safe for diabetics. It’s also a good choice for people who are looking to lose weight or improve their overall health.

8. Cocoa Powder: Best for Chocolate Lovers

Cocoa powder has a rich, chocolate(y) flavor that can add a depth of flavor to coffee. It can also help to mask the bitterness of coffee. Making it more palatable for people who find coffee too bitter.

It’s a good source of antioxidants like procyanidins, which can help to protect your cells from damage. Furthermore, it also contains theobromine, a stimulant that can help to boost energy levels and improve mood.

This sweetener is a great choice for chocolate lovers who want to add a tiny bit of caffeine (4.1 mg) to their beverage.

9. Agave Nectar: Best for Mixing

Different types of agave nectar will have different flavor profiles:

• Light agave: Mild, nearly-neutral flavor
• Amber agave: A mild-ish caramel flavor
• Dark agave: Strong caramel flavor similar to molasses

I recommend using agave nectar if you want something that’s sweeter than sugar and will mix in your drink without much effort. Because unlike many other sweeteners (honey), this one won’t stay at the bottom of your cup.

10. Dates: Best for Avoiding Cholesterol

Choose between date sugar and date syrup. Both will add a butterscotch and fruity flavor to your drink.

You’d make the latter by blending dates and pressing the mixture through a strain. And the former from granulated, dried dates.

This sweetener doesn’t have as low of a low-glycemic index as other options (GI of 44–53), but it’s cholesterol-free. Making it a great option for anyone watching their cholesterol intake. It’s also a great source of fiber, which will help you feel fuller.

11. Yacon Syrup: Great for Diabetics

Yacon syrup has a sweet, caramel-like flavor with a slightly earthy aftertaste. It’s about 30–40% as sweet as sugar. Meaning, you’ll need to use more of it to sweeten your coffee.

However:

With less sweetness, it also has a third of the calories white sugar has.

Yacon syrup is a healthy alternative to sugar for people with diabetes or those who are watching their blood sugar levels. That’s thanks to its low glycemic index (GI of 1). It’s also a good source of prebiotics, which can promote gut health by stimulating gut bacteria.

12. Blackstrap Molasses: Best for Flavor Variety

Blackstrap molasses is a great way to add an earthy flavor to your coffee. Adding a lighter molasses will result in a sweeter taste that resembles caramel. Darker molasses will often taste more bitter.

If you opt for the darker variation, you may want to add a bit of sugar to balance tame the bitter flavor.

13. Lucuma Powder: Hardest to Find

This plant’s powder has varying flavor notes. Sometimes it’ll taste like maple syrup or caramel. Others, it’ll taste like butterscotch. It’s an excellent alternative to stevia if you find it too bitter.

What is lucuma powder? It’s an ingredient derived from the lucuma fruit in South America. However, this sweetener is not typically found in grocery stores. You’ll likely find it online or in Latin markets.

Health food stores may also have it.

14. Non-dairy Milks & Coffee Creamers: Alternatives to Sweeteners

You could skip sweeteners and opt for only using coffee creamers, regular milk, or non-dairy milk. Most creamers will have added sugar, which eliminates the need for additional sweeteners. The same goes for whole milk.

Whether you have dietary restrictions or want a lighter-tasting drink, these dairy-free milks also typically have added or natural sugars:

• Cashew milk: Rich taste with a slightly nutty flavor.
• Oat milk: Creamy texture and sweet flavor similar to whole milk.
• Soy milk: Sometimes has a sweet flavor that resembles that found in milk.

Milks and creamers will overpower your coffee’s bitter taste while giving it a creamier texture. Which will also make it easier on your stomach.

15. Cinnamon: Not Really a “sweetener”

Cinnamon has a warm, spicy flavor that compliments the bitterness of coffee. It can also add a hint of sweetness without the added calories of sugar. It’s great for adventurous coffee drinkers looking for a unique flavor.

Or you could mix in ginger and gloves to create a pumpkin pie spice. Throw in some milk and you’ll have a pumpkin spice latte—technically.

Does the cinnamon taste too bitter? Consider Ceylon cinnamon. It’s a milder variation that has less coumarin content, a compound that gives cinnamon its bitter taste

Best Artificial Sweeteners for Coffee

Artificial sweeteners you could consider include:

I don’t recommend these sweeteners to all people because studies suggest they can negatively affect stomach bacteria [3]. Potentially leading to digestive issues and headaches.

Do you want to avoid calories without resorting to artificial sweeteners? Let’s look into other options.

Best Zero-Calorie Sweeteners for Coffee

Don’t want any calories in your coffee? Here are some sweeteners to consider:

I covered all these sweeteners earlier. Thus, there’s nothing else to cover here.

You may want to add flavors to your coffee without sweetening it. Here are some options.

What Else Can I Put in My Coffee?

Here are other ingredients you could add to your coffee to improve its taste:

• Spices: A teaspoon of nutmeg, cardamom, and others can add an earthy flavor to your drink.
• Protein powder: 1–2 scoops increases its protein content and makes your drink more filling.
• Liqueurs: An ounce gives your drink an extra kick.
• Syrups: 2 tablespoons will make your coffee taste however you want.
• Fats: Adding a tablespoon of MCT oil, ghee, or butter will create bulletproof coffee.
• Salt: Adding a pinch of salt will dampen your coffee’s bitterness.
• Ice cream: One scoop cools your beverage and doesn’t require additional creamer or sweeteners.

You could also add lemon and lime juice, coconut oil, bananas, and more. But that would require me writing a separate article to list all the ingredients you could add. Use what I mentioned to help you get started.

Otherwise, I’m signing off.

Ensure you stick around for frequently asked questions.

FAQs for Sweeteners in Coffee

Keep reading to find frequently asked questions on putting sweeteners in coffee.

What Is the Best Way to Sweeten Coffee on a Keto Diet?

Monk fruit extract is the best way to sweeten your coffee while on a keto diet since it has no calories or carbohydrates.

Conclusion

Granulated sugar is the cheapest and most common sweetener to use for coffee. However, it’s not the healthiest. In that case, you’ll want to opt for monk fruit extract or lucuma powder. Or you could avoid sweeteners entirely and stick to using creamers or other ingredients.

Want to learn more about how to make other coffee drinks? Check out our other guides.