How to cut down on sugar in my coffee?

Monklady123
Monklady123 Posts: 512 Member
edited November 19 in Food and Nutrition
Can we talk about coffee? (I did a search but didn't see my exact question...not sure that search feature works well)

Anyway, I use the International Delights creamers, various flavors depending on my mood. I like my coffee creamy and sweet. I know I could cut out some calories and sugar if I could cut this down. I can't imagine EVER drinking it totally black, but maybe with half-and-half and a lesser amount of regular sugar? But I do like the flavors...

For those of you who started out loving sweet and creamy coffee what have been your success stories to cut back on the sugar in your coffee?

Oh and p.s., no I'm not giving up coffee! For a few days I tried hot tea, because for some reason I don't mind tea with just a little bit of sugar. But no... I love tea, but its place is later in the day NOT first thing in the morning. lol
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Replies

  • markiend
    markiend Posts: 461 Member
    I got down from 2.5 teaspoons of sugar to 1 and a sweetener. I always have had a very small dash of full cream milk but my coffee is good quality and important. I don't have many treats.. my coffees are part of the few though
  • isulo_kura
    isulo_kura Posts: 818 Member
    Just go cold Turkey. Years ago when I was at University in the house I used to share we used to constantly run out of sugar. So in the end I just stopped using it. It'd weird to start with but after a while you just get used to it and don't go back. I personally think the 'cutting down' idea doesn't get you off the idea of sweet coffee so you still always want it.

    Alternatively just work it into your daily calories
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    edited June 2015
    I used to put 2 heaped spoons of sugar in my coffee, then about 8 years ago I decided to cut it out completely. I got used to it really fast. Now I just have coffee with a small bit of milk. You really start to appreciate coffee more when you don't have it sweet. I make sure I have decent coffee. We have Nescafé Azera or Carte Noire instinct. I can't stand cheap coffee.
  • rachelbouc
    rachelbouc Posts: 65 Member
    If you don't mind try switching to a fat free and sugar free creamer. International Delight makes a line of them. Usually I use 2 splendas (for 16 oz) and about 1/4 c of either whole milk or 1% milk depending on if I'm out somewhere or at home. I did get to the point where I could use 1 sugar packet and 1/4 c milk.
  • Monklady123
    Monklady123 Posts: 512 Member
    rachelbouc wrote: »
    If you don't mind try switching to a fat free and sugar free creamer. International Delight makes a line of them. Usually I use 2 splendas (for 16 oz) and about 1/4 c of either whole milk or 1% milk depending on if I'm out somewhere or at home. I did get to the point where I could use 1 sugar packet and 1/4 c milk.

    I've tried those sugar-free/fat-free creamers and don't like them at all. But your idea about using whole milk plus splenda is good, I might try that. I think I need the creaminess as much as the sweetness which is why the fat-free creamers don't work for me. But whole milk or even half-and-half plus the splenda could work. I've never used splenda... does it have a real artificial sweetener aftertaste? I'm not sure what all the different artificial sweeteners are but the one that's in Diet Coke is good - I have one of those every once in awhile especially in the hot summer and it tastes pretty good. :)

  • jonnybhoy
    jonnybhoy Posts: 84 Member
    isulo_kura wrote: »
    Just go cold Turkey. Years ago when I was at University in the house I used to share we used to constantly run out of sugar. So in the end I just stopped using it. It'd weird to start with but after a while you just get used to it and don't go back. I personally think the 'cutting down' idea doesn't get you off the idea of sweet coffee so you still always want it.

    Alternatively just work it into your daily calories

    I would second this, I got myself to love good black coffee - means minimal hassle when out and about and I get the full flavour of the coffee.

    Best thing I have bought in last 5 years is my bean to cup machine
  • GalaxyPants
    GalaxyPants Posts: 16 Member
    People are recommending sweeteners, but make sure you go for the natural ones if you do.. i.e stevia. Oooor you could look into other coffee beans which say they have more caramel like tones (they seem sweeter!)
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    No idea, I can't do this and retain my quality of life.
  • professionalHobbyist
    professionalHobbyist Posts: 1,316 Member
    I use a half teaspoon of refined coconut oil and a half teaspoon of heavy cream, and some apple pie spice added to the coffee grounds when making the coffee. It just takes a bit of the bite off. It does not really taste like apple pie.

    I have used some Splenda

    But I quit and that was about 6 months ago.

    I do notice cheap bitter coffee is unbearable. I just don't drink coffee if it is old gas station coffee that had been sitting for 2 hours and needs flavored creamer and sugar injection to choke it down!
  • rachelbouc
    rachelbouc Posts: 65 Member
    Monklady123 wrote: »
    rachelbouc wrote: »
    If you don't mind try switching to a fat free and sugar free creamer. International Delight makes a line of them. Usually I use 2 splendas (for 16 oz) and about 1/4 c of either whole milk or 1% milk depending on if I'm out somewhere or at home. I did get to the point where I could use 1 sugar packet and 1/4 c milk.

    I've tried those sugar-free/fat-free creamers and don't like them at all. But your idea about using whole milk plus splenda is good, I might try that. I think I need the creaminess as much as the sweetness which is why the fat-free creamers don't work for me. But whole milk or even half-and-half plus the splenda could work. I've never used splenda... does it have a real artificial sweetener aftertaste? I'm not sure what all the different artificial sweeteners are but the one that's in Diet Coke is good - I have one of those every once in awhile especially in the hot summer and it tastes pretty good. :)
    Honestly at this point I'm too accustomed to Splenda to really know that it does. When I suspect really sugar in something I have to have someone else taste it. But to me it's the one that tastes closest to sugar. Stevia and sweet n low have a pretty bad aftertaste and I can only use about half the packet in my coffee which sometimes doesn't make it sweet enough. I sweetener that's in diet coke is aspartame which is basically equal so you may want to try that. You can probably go to a gas station and pick up a few packs of each to try. I was also doing a splenda/sugar mixture for awhile. Believe it or not there is low fat half and half out there. Or make your own by blending some milk and light cream together.
  • Snip8241
    Snip8241 Posts: 767 Member
    We buy 100% arabica coffee...medium roast. (Dunkin donuts). We gradually reduced the amount of sugar and use half and half. It is an acquired taste but you can do it. Dark roast coffee is too bitter for us.
    Logging all the calories from sugar and coffee creamers, we realized the calories were better spent elsewhere.
    You can do this. ☕️
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    I was the original triple-triple girl, and giving up that morning cuppa was so NOT an option. Dem's fightin' words! ;)

    First week I went from 3 t of sugar to 2 plus one packet of Stevia in the Raw. Reduced my cream from 3 glugs of Table Cream to 3 of 1/2 and 1/2.

    Each week I gradually cut down until I now take it with no sugar at all, but with 2 packets of Stevia and I small glug of Light Cream.

    I've absolutely *hated* the taste of artificial sweeteners in the past and refused to use them. The Stevia is definitely a big improvement, and it's plant-derived. I keep some in my purse when we go out, because restaurants still only offer the "other" sugar substitutes.

    I never thought it would happen, but my taste buds have definitely adjusted. Had a sip of coffee made my old way last week, and it didn't taste as amazing as I thought it would. Yay!

    I think it comes down to how you want to spend some of your caloric allotment each day. I quickly discovered that I'd much rather eat my calories than drink them, so this has worked well for me. :)



  • courtneylykins5
    courtneylykins5 Posts: 168 Member
    You sound like me. My whole day goes wrong without my morning cup. I fully agree with drinking only good coffee, whatever your definition of good happens to be. I have gone from four or five cups a day to one. The quality is important. Then cut your amounts of creamer and sugar down to what you consider acceptable right away. You'd be amazed how quickly even that becomes almost too sweet.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    I bought myself a carton of half and half and just started using that. Within a couple of days, I didn't even want the other stuff. No reason to go for it gradually, just do it and get used to it.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    > you can drink less cups a day.
    > just start using less and less sugar.

    I started using less sugar when I worked in construction b/c it was to hard to stir the sugar- so I sort of transitioned to milk/creamer- then at some point I just gave up on that to because quiet honestly- I'm lazy.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I went to black cold turkey, and it wasn't as bad as I thought. I need my coffee, and I want more calories to eat my food, not drink it. It's all about what you want to spend your calories on.
  • Toadstool_
    Toadstool_ Posts: 120 Member
    edited June 2015
    I cut down gradually - from 2 spoons to 1 spoon, when used to that cut down to half a spoon and when used to that just cut it out. Can't stand coffee / tea with sugar in now! I've always had my coffee black anyway.
  • Leslierussell4134
    Leslierussell4134 Posts: 376 Member
    I use a liquid stevia I bought from whole foods, it was on sale for $6. The bottle is lasting forever because I only use about 6 drops in something hot, a little more in cold stuff. Hoesntly no bad aftertaste. The powders were terrible and bitter, couldn't stand it. I'm used to it now and successfully gave up suagr in my coffe. (Used to put 2 to3 sugar in the raw packs for each cup.) And I drink coffee all times of the day, about 2 to 3 cups/day.
  • sixxpoint
    sixxpoint Posts: 3,529 Member
    Use less sugar or sucralose instead.
  • ScreeField
    ScreeField Posts: 180 Member
    Heat the milk or half and half (microwave or stovetop) before adding it to your coffee to bring out its natural sweetness.
  • maineapple
    maineapple Posts: 133 Member
    tomatoey wrote: »
    No idea, I can't do this and retain my quality of life.

    Agree 100%. One thing I will NOT give up is coffee with half & half in it. I have tried to drink black coffee in the past and it really upset my stomach, and started staining my teeth. I cannot stand the fat free half & half so I just count the calories for this daily. I have 2 cups in the morning with 2 Tbsns in each cup and this amounts to 80 calories. For me it is not something I am willing to give up. I can easily incorporate these calories into my daily caloric intake as well. Good luck.
  • T_X_L
    T_X_L Posts: 140 Member
    Like others, I recommend just going cold turkey. I think one has to deprogram themselves into thinking coffee is a sweet beverage. You certainly have far less tolerance for crap coffee. Having said that, I did put some 18% cream and real sugar in coffee yesterday, but I did try it black first. As well, it was a reset day (gotta keep fooling your body), so I wasn't worried about calories.
  • emlynley
    emlynley Posts: 7 Member
    I used to love those creamers too, till I realized it's mostly chemicals. Now I add a non-dairy milk like coconut milk or cashew milk (soy milk isn't creamy enough to feel satisfying). I use a little bit of raw sugar or agave nectar. I think it's less important to cut out sugar than to cut out the fake stuff in those creamers. Try mixing half your creamer with half of cashew milk or a vanilla nut milk for a couple of days, then maybe 1/4 to 3/4, then try to cut out your creamer entirely. Even some regular milk is healthier than the flavored creamers.

    Since I do like the flavors, I find it better to use a coffee with a bit of flavor like gingerbread spice or cinnabon. You could also try adding some chai to your coffee (say a Tazo chai tea bag for a minute or two) to get some natural sources of flavoring. When I do that I add less raw sugar.

    Maybe one of those ideas will work for you.
  • 3AAnn3
    3AAnn3 Posts: 3,054 Member
    Sweeten it with Xylitol - can't tell a difference taste wise and less calories and gylcemic impact than sugar. Then you can switch over to erythritol - it's less sweet but doesn't have calories and has a pretty good flavor.
  • kalislim
    kalislim Posts: 58 Member
    Im like you, I like it sweet too but hate the artificial sweeteners. I recently stopped the added sugar since the flavored creamers have sugar in it already. Your taste buds will acclimate, you'll see.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    edited June 2015
    First I stopped using the flavored syrup and used 3 packets of sugar in the raw. Then I just eliminated one and said "enough is enough". I have nothing against sugar, but really I don't NEED 3. You get used to how sweet something tastes. Now two tastes plenty sweet and honestly it only took me about 5 days to get used to it. I aim for two tablespoons of half and half. I don't always get to measure, but I have, and eyeball it okay now. Sometimes when I feel like I'm getting out of control with it I'll give it a measure to make sure I'm staying on track.

    Also sometimes I will just get this compulsion to grab the simple syrup after I've added my sugar. When I'm doing it I'm usually thinking I'm not going to log it, it's fine. But I end up always going back into my diary and adding a bit for it. Just keeps me on track as far as logging goes, more than anything.

    Also, since I've been doing this, if I were to add the flavored creamer you mentioned, there is no WAY I would need sugar added as well. Trust me, I added sugar with it when I was younger so I know how it goes, but really that stuff is very very sweet.
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    I prefer my coffee with about two tablespoons of Coffeemate. I will also sometimes drink it with just half n half or black. But it just isn't right without my extra sweet n creamy. So instead of giving up what I love I just don't drink as much coffee. I usually have 1-2 cups a day and then stick to water or tea which I like without any added sugar or cream.
  • rushfive
    rushfive Posts: 603 Member
    4 cups every morning here !!!! Love my coffee.
    I take it with 2% and 1t sugar. I have cut down on the sugar.
    Just do a little less each week.
    I will refill my cup and sometimes skip the milk and sugar...warm up refill
    To me the calories are worth it... it has to be something I can do forever, not just during weight loss. I tried the sugar substitutes and they were ok but not for me.
    I find myself refilling my cup and not adding anything to it, which is helping cut down on the sugar. But the first cup is full on.
  • brendak76
    brendak76 Posts: 241 Member
    I went from using a flavored creamer every day to half and half with sugar. I did that for a long time then elimated the sugar and just used half and half. Then I got a Keurig one year for Xmas and the coffee was so much better than my generic brew coffee that I switched to black. I quit using the Keurig and now grind my own beans and have been drinking only black coffee for years now. It was a gradual transition.
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    Go to your local roaster and get the good stuff! It'll be easier to drink without all the extra stuff in it.

    I used to like that stuff too but I just stopped buying it. You get used to it eventually, then you start to like it ;) I use coconut creamer in mine now. It's like 10 calories/teaspoon.
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