Coffee is known to not only give you energy but for its many health benefits too. With so many different options available, it can be difficult to know which type of coffee is the healthiest.
Coffee helps to lower blood pressure, support heart and brain health, and potentially increase longevity.
Knowing the healthiest way to drink coffee helps you avoid unnecessary calories, sugars, and fats.
Whether you're ordering a coffee at your local coffee shop or making healthy coffee at home, knowing which ingredients are healthy is important.
It’s also important to know the healthiest method of brewing and which coffee beans are best to use.
In this article, we discuss what makes coffee healthy, which coffee beans to use, and what the healthiest method of brewing is.
What this article covers:
- What Determines if Coffee Is Healthy or Not?
- The Healthiest Way to Drink Coffee
- The Healthiest Coffee Bean
- The Healthiest Method of Brewing Coffee
- Nutrients and Calories in Different Types of Coffees
What Determines if Coffee is Healthy or not?
Certain factors determine how healthy your coffee is. These include:
- Added cream or milk,
- Added sweeteners,
- Method of the brewing (drip-brewed, french press, espresso machine, etc.),
- Antioxidant content,
It doesn't necessarily matter if you’re drinking an americano or a latte when it comes to how healthy a cup of coffee is.
The effects of coffee vary greatly depending on the type of bean, the brand of coffee, the roast, and the brewing process. The most important factor to take into account is the quantity of ingredients you’re using, regardless of how you choose to enjoy it.
Any coffee should be consumed in moderation, especially if it contains milk, cream, or sugar, as these ingredients are where you tend to run into issues.
The Healthiest way to Drink Coffee
The healthiest coffee type is ultimately black coffee. This is because it contains no sugar, milk, or cream, so you’re just drinking extracted coffee and water.
Sweeteners are a zero-calorie alternative to sugar. Despite common beliefs, most sugar substitutes are completely healthy in moderation and have no adverse side effects over sugar. However, people with diabetes need to be careful as some types of sweeteners can trigger an insulin response.
If you’re using a high-quality, flavorful coffee bean, then it’ll be easy to cut back on sugar and milk.
Lifeboost Coffee offers high-quality coffee beans. This hand-picked coffee comes in a variety of different flavors, so there’s no need for added sweeteners.
The Healthiest Coffee Bean
Coffee is known to be healthy. One of the reasons that it’s healthy is because it contains polyphenols.
Polyphenols protect against heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. They also support digestive and brain health.
The roast of your bean is also important. Roasting beans enhances the flavor of the bean, but the levels of roast can change its healthy properties. Heat breaks down antioxidants and polyphenols, which are the healthy substances in the bean.
As a result, light roasts tend to be better for you.
Additionally, light roasts have higher quantities of chlorogenic acid. This is a component of coffee that can help the body fight inflammation and cell deterioration.
The Healthiest Method of Brewing Coffee
When you grind the beans yourself, you can control how finely you grind them. This influences the number of compounds in your cup that are good for your health.
The aim of brewing is to get the maximum polyphenols out of the beans. The finer you grind the beans, the more polyphenols you extract during brewing. It also enhances the flavor of your drink. However, the finer you grind your coffee, the more caffeine you extract, so you have to take that into consideration.
According to a recent study, people who drink filtered coffee had a lower rate of cardiovascular disease.
This could be because coffee brewed without a filter contains up to 30 times more cholesterol-raising compounds than filtered coffee, putting stress on your heart.
The temperature of the water also plays a role in the nutrients in your cup. If the water is colder, less of the coffee is extracted and you don’t get as many key nutrients. If the water is too hot, it burns away many of the compounds and chemicals we’re looking for.
Nutrients and Calories in Different Types of Coffees
Different types of coffee contain different ingredients in differing proportions. The amount and type of milk and sugar used determines how healthy the coffee is.
All of the following information is based on a standard serving size.
Long Black
Long black coffee is perhaps the most popular type of healthy coffee. Long black is a shot of espresso topped off with little hot water. Some people think that black coffee is unhealthy because of its acid levels, but this just isn’t true.
There are only approximately 4 calories per serving, excluding any sugar or additives, which makes black coffee one of the most healthy options.
Look for some good low-acid coffee beans if you want to make a delicious long black coffee that’s as healthy as it is delicious.
Almond Milk Latte
Almond milk is a great low-calorie milk alternative. It does, however, have fewer nutrients in terms of protein and calcium. It may sometimes contain added sugar and oils, which are worth looking out for if you want to keep things low-cal.
Although it’s often a preferred choice for people who are lactose intolerant, it’s a great option for everyone. Almond milk has a different flavor that pairs deliciously with savory, nutty coffee.
Macchiato
A macchiato is a shot of espresso with a dash of milk. It contains very few calories, around 13 to 18 depending on the type of milk used.
The healthier way to drink a macchiato is without sugar, so it’s preferred by people who like a bitter drink.
Cappuccino, Latte, Flat White
Cappuccinos, lattes, and flat white all contain the same proportion of ingredients prepared in different ways. In all three, milk is steamed or frothed to change its texture. It’s then layered into a shot of espresso in different ways to give three different drinks.
The proportion of espresso to milk in all three drinks is around 1:3, but this can change slightly depending on your barista.
If you use full cream milk, each drink contains around 110 calories and 6 grams of fat.
If you’re looking to reduce your calories, we’ve got plenty of low-calorie latte recipes for you to try.
Choosing low-fat milk with your coffee reduces the calories. This might sound attractive, but full-cream milk also keeps you full for longer, so it’s not as clear-cut.
Chai Latte
Chai lattes are often perceived as a healthier option because of the health benefits of chai.
Chai has many benefits such as improving heart health, improving digestion, and it’s rich in antioxidants.
However, most chai lattes contain lots of sugar. A small chai latte contains around 130 calories and 2 grams of fat, including around 20g of sugar in one serving. That is equivalent to 4 teaspoons of sugar.
Key Takeaways
The healthiest coffee type for you depends on your personal preferences and dietary requirements.
There are many healthy coffee drink recipes available online.
If you’re looking for the lowest calorie option then a long black coffee is the best choice. The healthiest option is almost always the one that contains no milk and sugar. You can still enjoy a sweet, low-calorie option by using sweeteners.
Milk alternatives such as almond and oat milk are also healthy alternatives if you’re lactose intolerant or even just trying to cut down on dairy.
If you have a sensitive stomach then low-acid coffee beans are the best option as they won’t upset your stomach and decrease gastrointestinal distress.
Essentially it comes down to the quantity of coffee you are drinking and the added milk, cream, and sugar. Remember to choose a coffee that you enjoy, and drink it in moderation.
Did you find our blog helpful? Then consider checking:
- Healthy Whipped Coffee
- Healthy Instant Coffee
- Healthy Vanilla Latte
- Healthy Cold Brew Coffee
- Healthy Blended Coffee Recipe
- Healthy Caramel Iced Coffee
- How Much Coffee Is Healthy
- How to Make Healthy Coffee
- Healthy Iced Matcha Latte Recipe
- Healthiest Iced Coffee
- Best Low Acid Coffee
- What Is Low Acid Coffee
- Is Low Acid Coffee Better for You?
- Best Organic Coffee
- Organic Iced Coffee
