Nutrition Diet: What coffee drink has the lowest calories?

October 21, 2025 •

4 min read

While a cup of black coffee contains a mere 2 to 5 calories, the average caramel macchiato can contain over 100 calories. Knowing what coffee drink has the lowest calories is essential for managing your daily intake and making healthier choices.

Quick Summary

Black coffee is the lowest-calorie option, containing virtually no calories. The calorie count increases dramatically with the addition of sugar, milk, and creamers found in specialty coffee shop beverages.

Key Points

Black coffee is the lowest-calorie option: Containing only 2-5 calories per cup, black coffee is the most diet-friendly choice.
Additions are the primary source of calories: Milk, sugar, and flavored syrups are responsible for turning coffee into a high-calorie beverage.
Choose healthier milk alternatives: Skim milk or unsweetened plant-based milks like almond milk are lower in calories than whole milk or cream.
Use spices or sugar-free sweeteners: Enhance flavor with zero-calorie options like cinnamon or monk fruit sweetener instead of high-calorie sugar and syrups.
Smaller sizes mean fewer calories: Ordering a small or regular size, especially for specialty drinks, can help manage calorie intake.
Plain cold brew and Americano are also very low in calories: These drinks, made with just coffee and water, are great choices for low-calorie iced options.

The Lowest-Calorie Coffee Options

At its most basic, coffee is an exceptionally low-calorie beverage, with nearly all the calories coming from additions rather than the coffee itself. The simplest, and therefore lowest-calorie, preparations are those with nothing added.

Black Coffee: This is the champion of low-calorie coffee. Whether brewed through a drip machine, pour-over, or French press, a standard 8-ounce cup of black coffee contains only 2 to 5 calories. This makes it an ideal base for any low-calorie coffee drink.
Espresso: A single shot of espresso is a concentrated, low-calorie option, with just 1 to 3 calories. Consumed on its own, it provides a quick and flavorful caffeine boost without any caloric guilt. Even a double shot contains only about 5 calories.
Americano: Made by diluting a shot of espresso with hot water, a black Americano is also extremely low in calories, typically 5 to 10 calories per cup. The iced version is equally low-calorie, offering a refreshing drink without the sugar found in many other iced options.
Cold Brew: Prepared by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period, cold brew is known for its smooth, less acidic flavor. A standard serving of plain cold brew contains around 5 calories. Its natural sweetness often means you need fewer or no additions.

The Culprits Behind High-Calorie Coffee

The most significant contributors to a coffee drink's calorie count are the added ingredients. Sugars, syrups, milks, and creamers quickly transform a low-calorie base into a high-calorie treat. Flavored lattes, mochas, and frappuccinos can easily contain hundreds of calories per serving, rivaling or exceeding the calorie count of a meal. A single pump of flavored syrup can add 20-30 calories and 5g of sugar.

How to Keep Your Coffee Low-Calorie

It's possible to enjoy a creamy, sweet coffee drink without the excessive calories by making smart substitutions. Here are some tips for healthier coffee habits:

Choose the Right Milk: Opt for skim milk over whole milk to significantly cut calories. For dairy-free options, unsweetened almond milk is one of the lowest-calorie alternatives. Frothed low-fat or plant-based milk can add a creamy texture without the extra calories.
Use Calorie-Free Sweeteners: Replace sugar with low-calorie alternatives like stevia or monk fruit sweetener. Sugar-free syrups are also widely available at coffee shops and for home use, mimicking flavors like vanilla or caramel without the sugar.
Spice it Up: Enhance flavor with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or a dash of cocoa powder. These additions are calorie-free and can offer additional health benefits.
Order Smaller Sizes: A large drink can contain many more calories than a small one, even with healthier substitutions. Sizing down is a simple way to reduce your calorie intake.
Watch for Hidden Extras: Be mindful of extras like whipped cream, chocolate drizzles, and other high-calorie toppings that are often found in specialty coffee drinks.

The Added Health Benefits of Coffee

Beyond its low-calorie nature, black coffee offers several health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants, which help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. Coffee consumption has also been associated with a lower risk of certain diseases, including type 2 diabetes.

Caffeine itself provides benefits by stimulating the central nervous system, boosting metabolism, and potentially aiding in fat oxidation during exercise. However, it is important to consume coffee in moderation, as excessive intake can lead to unwanted side effects like jitters or sleep disruption. The optimal dosage is generally considered to be 200-400 mg of caffeine per day, equivalent to about 2 to 4 cups of coffee. To minimize risk factors associated with unfiltered coffee, such as diterpenes that can raise cholesterol, filter coffee is a safer option.

Low-Calorie Coffee Drink Comparison


Drink Type	Primary Ingredients	Approximate Calories (8 oz / 250 ml)	Common Calorie Additions
Black Coffee	Coffee, Water	2–5 calories	Milk, Sugar, Syrups
Espresso Shot	Espresso	1–3 calories	Milk, Sugar
Americano	Espresso, Water	5–10 calories	Milk, Sugar, Cream
Cold Brew	Coffee, Water	5 calories	Milk, Cream, Syrups
Cappuccino	Espresso, Steamed Milk, Foam	60–90 calories (with skim milk)	Whole Milk, Sugar, Syrups
Latte	Espresso, Steamed Milk	130–150 calories (with 2% milk)	Whole Milk, Syrups, Sugar
Mocha	Espresso, Milk, Chocolate	200–400+ calories	Whole Milk, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Syrup

Conclusion

Ultimately, what coffee drink has the lowest calories is any type of coffee with minimal or no additions. Black coffee, espresso, and americanos are the clear winners, offering a calorie-free or near-calorie-free experience while providing a range of health benefits. By being mindful of your milk choices, sweetening options, and portion sizes, you can significantly reduce the calorie content of your favorite coffee beverages and align your coffee habit with your nutritional goals. For more detailed information on balancing coffee consumption with your overall health, sources like this one from Healthline offer a helpful resource.(https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-increase-metabolism)

Frequently Asked Questions

The lowest-calorie coffee at Starbucks is a simple black coffee, which has about 5 calories in a Grande size. A black Caffe Americano is also a low-calorie choice, at 15 calories for a Grande.

Yes, adding milk significantly increases the calorie count. For example, while black coffee has only 2-5 calories, a latte with 2% milk can have over 130 calories.

Yes, standard flavored syrups are a major source of calories. One pump of syrup can add 20-30 calories and around 5 grams of sugar.

Yes, you can drink coffee while on a diet, especially if you stick to black coffee. The caffeine in coffee may even boost your metabolism slightly.

Plain iced coffee and plain cold brew have roughly the same low-calorie count, around 5 calories per 16 oz. The healthfulness depends on what you add to them.

Yes, decaffeinated coffee has slightly fewer calories than regular coffee because the decaffeination process removes some of the oils. Brewed black decaf is virtually calorie-free.

You can use a small splash of low-fat or unsweetened non-dairy milk, or froth it to create a creamy topping. Opting for a cappuccino made with skim milk offers more foam and fewer calories than a standard latte.