It's easier than you think to make delicious, healthy, low-calorie coffee drinks at home. While delicious taste and healthy habits don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Drinking coffee and managing your weight is possible when you make smart coffee decisions.
The Link Between Coffee and Weight Loss
There is research that points to coffee aiding weight loss. Caffeine can promote weight loss in adults by improving your energy and boosting your metabolism. One study found that coffee consumption can be linked to lower body fat in men. We know that more physical activity leads to weight loss. Coffee also contains a variety of nutrients, including potassium and magnesium. However, adults shouldn’t be drinking more than four cups of coffee per day. According to Mayo Clinic, drinking a large amount of unfiltered coffee can lead to an increase in cholesterol. However, it’s theorized that drinking a small amount of coffee daily can have some benefits.
Making Smart Coffee Choices
If I don’t get my morning coffee, well, maybe just avoid me until I do. It’s not that I need the caffeine (okay, I probably do), it just makes me happy. I feel like coffee can get a bad rap, though, and I’ve noticed more and more people removing it from their diets or cutting out caffeine altogether. But, as long as you’re not overdoing it, experimenting with healthy coffee recipes packed with good-for-you ingredients can actually be really beneficial to your health (phew!).
Adipocytes are the cells that compose body fat and specialize in storing energy as fat. These coffee recipes are low in calories, but high in caffeine. Always drink coffee in moderation. Choosing high-quality coffee can make all the difference. People are on the fence about the effect of pesticides on humans, but if you prefer to avoid them, buy organic coffee. If you buy locally, that’s even better. Your healthy choices can support the economy in your area.
Simple Add-Ins for Flavor and Health
If drinking it black isn’t your cup of tea-er, coffee-we have two simple add-ins to recommend: almond extract and vanilla.
Read also: Protein Coffee Smoothie Recipe
- Vanilla extract: Add one to two tablespoons of vanilla extract. This delicious recipe has only four calories, as it doesn’t require any added sugars.
- Cocoa Powder: Another way you can make your coffee healthier is by adding cocoa. Cocoa has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon is an excellent, natural way to add some flavor to your coffee. As we said before, cinnamon is a great way to add spice and flavor to coffee without having to add any calories. The added kick of spice will lead to a smoother taste and cut down on the bitterness. Plus, it boosts your metabolism! Adding cinnamon to your morning cup can help reduce hyperglycemia, increase fat burning, and decrease inflammation. In one recent study, when researchers added cinnamaldehyde-the phytonutrient responsible for cinnamon’s spicy taste and smell-to human fat cells (called adipocytes), the fat cells began making genes and enzymes to increase fat metabolism. An increase in fat metabolism means your cells will burn instead of store extra fat. It’s an age-old barista secret to sprinkle cinnamon on coffee beans before brewing.
Recipes to Try
Here are some customized coffee recipes for weight loss.
Cinnamon Coconut Collagen Coffee
Making coffee to boost fat burning and increase weight loss is easy, and only takes a few steps.
Ingredients:
- Coffee (or tea)
- Coconut oil
- Cinnamon
- Collagen powder
Instructions:
- In a large mug with your coffee (or tea), stir in coconut oil and cinnamon.
- While stirring, sprinkle in collagen powder and keep stirring until fully dissolved.
- *You can substitute pure MCT oil for coconut oil for maximum benefit. If this is the case, adjust the amount to the serving recommended on the MCT product itself.
This coffee (or tea) is perfect for enjoying in a daily diet, or a few times a week when you need more energy. Set the tone for a great day with a jumpstart of holistic nutrients to boost your metabolism. Cinnamon and coconut oil in your coffee or tea help reduce inflammation and balance blood sugar levels. You can also try collagen peptides.
Iced Hazelnut Latte
With less than 150 calories, this version of an iced hazelnut latte is far healthier than one you could order in a coffee shop.
Honey Spiced Coffee
For a fall drink with rich flavor and creamy texture, skip the pumpkin spiced latte and try this honey spiced version. By swapping heavy cream for regular milk, it’s a bit lighter than your typical PSL-but the added sweetness of molasses and honey create an indulgent taste.
Read also: Weight-Loss Trend: Coffee Loophole Diet
Homemade Creamer
If you’re still going to use a creamer, try making one yourself instead of going with store-bought. That way, you can customize the sweetness and know exactly what’s inside!
Whipped Banana Latte
Believe it or not, you can get a serving of fruit from your morning drink! This decadent whipped banana latte recipe tastes just like a Starbucks Protein-Blended Cold Brew, with half the calories.
Bulletproof Coffee
Never heard of bulletproof coffee? It’s basically just coffee with butter and coconut oil, popular because it fits into a ketogenic diet and claims to boost your brain in the morning.
Healthier Homemade Latte
If your go-to Starbucks order is a latte, opt for a healthier (and cheaper!) version at home! This easy latte recipe is simple enough for coffee beginners but allows you to use any milk. Substitute full-fat for almond milk, skim or whichever milk you prefer!
Cinnamon Mocha
Cinnamon mocha with only 2 grams of fat? Sign us up! This simple, wintery recipe combines the rich taste of hot chocolate with freshly-brewed coffee-with a bit of sugar to sweeten things up.
Read also: The Truth About Baking Soda and Coffee for Weight Loss
Camille’s “Grown-Up, Healthified Frappuccino”
You can’t get more accurate than Camille’s description of this smoothie as a “grown-up, healthified frappuccino.” It’s the perfect morning/afternoon drink and is so easy to make- you don’t even have to brew the coffee, just use bottled cold brew.
Almond and Vanilla Extract Coffee
Alright black-coffee lovers, this one’s for you. It essentially just adds some almond and vanilla extract to black coffee to give it a bit more flavor, and that’s it.
"Adult" Mocha
Any mocha fanatics out there? When I started drinking coffee, my first ever drink was a mocha from Starbucks. I loved it because it was basically half hot chocolate, half coffee, and this is the “adult” version of that.
Coffee Smoothie
I’ve finally found the ultimate coffee smoothie recipe. As a student, it’s hard to make time for both my morning coffee and breakfast when I’m on the go, so this has been my savior. It has a banana, some peanut butter (which I sub for almond), collagen peptides and even cauliflower, making it a healthy and balanced meal.
Honey-Sweetened Coffee
This recipe will add no more than two minutes to your normal coffee routine, and I promise you that it is worth it. As someone who shies away from artificial sweeteners, I love that this coffee is naturally sweetened with honey.
Bulletproof Coffee (Variant)
If you’ve never heard of bulletproof coffee, you’re about to think I’m crazy. The recipe uses butter and MCT oil to give your body healthy fats in hopes of providing longer energy boosts and weight loss benefits. It’s also great for people on a keto diet.
Butter and Coconut Oil Coffee
Like the bulletproof coffee, this recipe utilizes a small amount of butter to add some healthy fats and vitamins to your morning coffee. It also has a small amount of coconut oil for both flavor and additional energy. One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it lists out the ingredient benefits.
Cashew Coffee
Cashew milk is my nut milk of choice, so I love this recipe. Gums are a common ingredient in nut milks so if you’re looking to avoid them, this recipe blends the cashews directly into the coffee, eliminating any nasties. Of course, this would be equally flavorful just using cashew milk, but there’s something about doing it yourself that’s so satisfying! Cashews are high in fiber, full of protein, and overflowing with healthy fats. They also have vitamins and minerals which may help with weight loss. Use a powerful handheld milk frother to froth your milk. If you prefer to start your day with an iced coffee, we have the perfect recommendation for you.
Creamy Chocolatey Coffee Smoothie
This coffee smoothie is more than just a cup of coffee. It’s creamy, chocolatey, naturally sweetened, and delicious. It has one frozen banana and a teaspoon of maple syrup to give the ideal creamy, smooth texture and flavor.
Healthy Frappuccino
If you’re a Starbucks Frappuccino lover, this is the healthy coffee recipe for you, especially if you want to avoid the calories and sugar but still wanting an indulgent coffee drink. Although it takes a little more work, in that you have to prep almond milk ice cubes and date caramel, it’s so worth it.
Protein Coffee
On busy days when I don’t have time to sit down for breakfast, I sneak in some protein with this healthy coffee recipe. This is almost a no recipe recipe because all you have to do is mix your protein powder of choice with either hot water or milk.
Hero Ingredient: Protein powder!
Additional Tips for Weight Loss
You don’t have to spend hours in the gym or go on a restrictive diet to boost your metabolism. All you need are 3 ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen (or can get at the grocery store) to use your morning coffee for weight loss. Your body’s metabolism is based on three things: basal metabolic rate (BMR), your physical activity, and the thermogenic effect of food (1). If you’re struggling with stubborn belly fat, hormone balance should be the first place to start. For years now, we know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And the right breakfast can be the key to helping you adopt healthy habits whenever you feel like your morning routine needs a makeover. But what about your coffee? Could you actually use coffee for weight loss in addition to a healthy diet? When you don’t have time for a hearty breakfast, you likely find yourself relying on a coffee or other drink to get you through to lunchtime. If so, make your otherwise empty coffee into a metabolic superpower to help control appetite, boost antioxidants, and burn fat. Coffee contains caffeine, which studies show can increase metabolic function temporarily (2). The problem with drinking coffee is that as you get into your 30s and 40s (or have hormone imbalance symptoms) coffee can spell trouble for your adrenals. Caffeine can elevate stress hormones in some people, making you feel tired-but-wired, and increasing the likelihood you’ll store belly fat. Berberine vs. Coconut oil contains a high ratio of medium chain fatty acids or MCTs for short. MCTs are digested and then shuttled directly to the liver, where they promote the burning of other fat cells, as well as contribute to the overall thermogenic effect of food (5). A 2015 meta-analysis looked at body fat and weight in adults consuming either long-chain fats (like those found in your everyday diet) or MCTs. Collagen (and gelatin) are a major dietary source of glycine, an amino acid that’s often lacking in Western diets. Glycine helps with methylation, a crucial step in converting nutrients from food into fuel.
The Importance of Balance
Of course, it’s not all just about coffee. Balance is the key to a healthy life, and we’ve got you covered in that regard.