Coffee Calories Can Stretch Your Waistline

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Oct 2nd 2009 3:00PM

Photo: pierofix, Flickr

A cup of coffee usually has fewer than 10 calories, so why is recent research finding that our afternoon coffee breaks might be making us fat? OK, it doesn't take a genius to figure that one out -- while black coffee or tea on their own are practically calorie-free, not many people actually drink them this way, and all the add-ons can send the calorie count soaring.

Researchers from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene set out to find out just how we like our coffee and followed the habits of afternoon coffee drinkers at Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts for 11 weeks. They found that while 78 percent of patrons at Dunkin' Donuts stuck to regular coffee with milk or sugar (averaging around 69 calories a cup), two-thirds of Starbucks addicts opted for fancier coffees, which upped the calorie count drastically.

Researchers determined that more than half of the people who ordered milk-based coffee drinks at Starbucks, such as lattes and macchiatos, ended up with a drink that had more than 200 calories. And those who opted for ice-blended drinks often consumed over 300 calories -- if they were lucky. Those who ordered a Venti Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino Blended Crème were looking at 750 calories. Ouch. Dunkin' Donuts fared a bit better -- their milk-based drinks averaged 162 calories -- but their Vanilla Bean Coolatta registered even higher at 860 calories. Double ouch.

So what does all this mean? Well, your afternoon coffee habit could cause you to gain an extra 20 pounds in one year, and nobody wants that. But you don't have to go without -- just drink smarter. Opting for skim milk instead of whole will save you around 76 calories, and ordering the small version instead of the extra large could save you hundreds. And, obviously, skip the whipped cream.

Does your latte have more calories than a slice of apple pie? Find out for yourself.

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Comments (8)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Sick&Tired 10-03-2009 @ 7:19AM

4 post prior to me looking at this article and all 4 is an advertisement! Why don't you set up your own site? No one wants to read your crap, especially when not related to the article. And for the dating site....obviously, you are not a member, as you are constantly posting in every blog and not out on a date!!! One can say to you..."how's that working for you"??? Ha,ha...it's not! If the site is so great, why haven't you found your wealthy soul-mate and why are you bugging us with your garbage???? ~~ As far as the article....I do drink my coffee black! I make up extra coffee in the mornings and will have a glass of coffee (still black) over ice in the afternoon. No calories in my drink, but I always have to have something chocolate to go with it, whether that be a piece of chocolate or a brownie. Nothing better though, than a chocolate covered caramel. What a wonderful combination of the two. I can afford to do this....only 98lbs.!

KSLamar2 10-03-2009 @ 9:22AM

I agree with all the advertising junk, I also enjoy my coffee black and drink lots of it. only difference is I do gain weight, but I doubt very seriously its from the coffee. More from the junk food I end up eating, I drive a truck and there are not many healthy restaurants that allow truck parking across the U.S.

Beauf 10-03-2009 @ 10:00AM

I have been drinking COFFEE sence I was 16. I'm now 49. I weigh the same as I did back then. At one time I was drinking 50 cup a day. [Yes I said 50 ] Now I drink about 15 cups a day. I work a LOT, maybe that is why I don't gain weight.

LillieFaerie 10-03-2009 @ 11:58AM

What misleading headlines. So full of lies. I drank coffee my entire life, weigning in on the lean side well into my late 40's. Some life events occurred and I gained wait, but most of my life I hovered around the 100 pound range. Does coffee make one gain weight? Not a chance. Working out with weights does, and a few other things, but coffee drinking, only if ya put in a cup of cream and a pound of sugar.

J Katz 10-03-2009 @ 1:40PM

I had 2 get away from excessive calorie coffee drinks. So now I put Javanu protein creamer in my coffee only 80 cal. & luv it same as high cal coffee drinks

joevill 10-03-2009 @ 3:38PM

I used to add 15 sugar packets and 5 creamers to my coffee almost 10 years ago. Since it wasted too much time preparing I decided to try drinking my coffee black. It was very bitter but the caffeine buzz was great! I guess the old saying is true... once you go black you don't go back!

haha!

md 10-03-2009 @ 10:15PM

i just started using Javanu too. i used to put a lot of sugar and milk in my coffee. then i tried drinking it black when i realized how many calories i was consuming, but i just didnt like the taste. so i started using javanu and its tastes really good; i absolutly love it.

Ankit 10-04-2009 @ 10:28AM

I miss both starbucks and Tim Hortons coffee in india......specially Double Double(called as DD) from TH

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