Your Daily Coffee May Contain More Calories Than Before, and Sugar Isn't the Biggest Reason: Study

Could the creamer added to your daily coffee be contributing more calories than sugar? A new study suggests that non-dairy creamers have become the largest source of added calories in coffee among American adults, contributing to a nearly 40% increase in coffee-related calorie intake despite relatively stable consumption.

Published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the study conducted by researchers at Tufts University examined changing coffee consumption patterns among approximately 30,000 American adults aged 20 years and older.

Researchers analysed data from eight cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003 and 2018. Participants completed dietary recall questionnaires detailing their coffee consumption and commonly added ingredients, including milk, creamers, sugar and syrups.

The findings revealed that average coffee consumption remained relatively unchanged at approximately 13 ounces daily. However, average calorie intake from coffee increased from 43 calories per day in 2003 to 60 calories in 2018, representing a rise of nearly 40%.

Interestingly, non-dairy creamer emerged as the leading contributor to added coffee calories, surpassing both sugar and dairy milk.

By 2018, non-dairy creamer contributed an average of 18.5 calories daily, compared with 16 calories from sugar and 11 calories from dairy milk.

The amount of non-dairy creamer consumed also increased substantially, rising from 3.37 grams per day in 2003 to approximately 8 grams in 2018.

Researchers suggested that the growing popularity of non-dairy alternatives may explain this shift. Certain non-dairy creamers contain substantial amounts of saturated fat, increasing their calorie contribution.

The study also found that individuals reporting shorter sleep duration and longer working hours generally consumed more coffee.

The findings highlight the importance of considering ingredients added to coffee, as these can significantly influence daily calorie intake even when overall coffee consumption remains unchanged.

REFERENCE: Yongyi Pan, Bingjie Zhou, Fang Fang Zhang. Trends in the Consumption of Coffee and Coffee Additions Among U.S. Adults Aged 20 Years, The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2018. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2026; 156908 DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2026.156908