Coffee 101: Calories in Coffee and Instant Coffee

Curious to learn how many calories are there in your cup of joe? Well, there are many factors that go into determining just that. Let's explore.

What are calories?

calories are units of energy that measure the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water to one degree of Celsius. 

Additionally, there’s a difference between calories and Calories (apart from the capital C). Calories, also known as kilocalories (kcal) is how we measure the energy in food. There are 1,000 calories in a Calorie, hence the kilocalories. Calories (kcal) are what we count and keep track of in our food. 

Are there Calories in coffee?

Yes, but coffee generally has very little Calories. How many Calories are in coffee, exactly? According to Harvard’s Nutrition Source, an 8-ounce cup of plain black coffee contains only 2 Calories (kcal), and Mayo Clinic says a plain cup of brewed coffee has less than 5 calories.

Plain espresso, which is just coffee and water, is also low in calories. Of course, the amount of Calories can range greatly on the additives, sugars, and toppings you have with your coffee. There are significantly more calories in coffee with milk, for example. A Cappuccino, which has steamed milk foam, and a latte with steamed milk and foam get most of their calories from the milk, and Mayo Clinic notes that some coffee drinks can have hundreds of calories.

How many Calories in instant coffee?

Like brewed coffee, a plain cup of instant coffee made with just water is very low in calories. 1 tsp. of coffee powder can yield a cup of coffee when mixed with about 6 fl oz of water, so the amount of calories in your cup of instant coffee will mainly be based on what else is in the coffee, e.g. milk, sugar or other additives. Also worth noting that this amount might be slightly different in different instant coffee products, so check the nutrition label.

How many Calories in 1 cup of whipped instant coffee? 

Let's follow the basic recipe for 2 cups of whipped coffee (Dalgona Coffee) and add up the calories for all the ingredients. Then, divide it by to 2 for 1 serving.

• 2 tbsp instant coffee (approx. 4.5 tsp instant coffee): a small amount, check your product's label
• 2 tbsp of white sugar: ~96 kcal (Mayo Clinic lists sugar at 16 calories per teaspoon)
• 2 tbsp of water: 0 kcal
• 2 cups of almond milk: ~120 kcal (~300 kcal in 2 cups of farmland 100% cow milk)

Total Calories per 1 cup of Dalgona Coffee/whipped coffee: roughly 108 kcal for the almond milk version and roughly 198 kcal for the cow milk version, plus the small amount from the instant coffee itself. This amount will change if you add additional ingredients, such as cookie crumbles or chocolate syrup. 

Do calories matter? 

That depends on you and your goals. The FDA uses 2,000 calories a day as a general guide for nutrition advice, but your calorie needs may be higher or lower depending on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level.

Of course, calories aren’t everything. If you have specific diet or weight goals, your doctor or a registered dietitian can help you figure out what is right for you.

What nutrients are found in coffee? 

Coffee is best known for its caffeine. If you are curious about what else is in your cup, Harvard’s Nutrition Source lists an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee as a source of caffeine, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and magnesium. You can also read more in our post about instant coffee.

How to calculate calories?

Each body is different, meaning the recommended calorie intake is different. There are various online calculators to determine how many calories you should consume a day based on your gender, height, weight, age, and exercise habits. 

If you want to calculate the calories in your food, you should probably use a calculator as well. Most if not all packaged foods and drinks are required to include a list of their nutrition facts. 

Will the brewing method change the amount?

The way you brew coffee shouldn’t affect the amount of calories your coffee has. Adding sugars, creamers, milk, and other additions significantly increases the amount of calories. If you want to limit the amount of calories in your cup, consider drinking your coffee black or using less of your additives. Checking the labels on your milk (whether that is cow milk, almond milk or oat milk) and your sweetener (sugar or honey), or just adding less sweetener, are simple ways to keep track of your calorie intake. 

Bottomline

Some people count calories, some people count carbs, and some don’t count at all. Whatever your approach, the biggest factor in how many calories are in your coffee is what you add to it, since a plain cup of coffee on its own has very few. 

 

Try our quality instant coffee today. Get it here.

This article is for general information only and isn't medical or nutritional advice. If you have questions about caffeine, your diet or a health condition, talk to your doctor.