Coffee, pre-sweetened with sugar
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a classic cup of brewed coffee that has been pre-sweetened with sugar, offering a smooth, warm, and slightly bitter base note that is immediately rounded out by a clean, sweet finish. The texture is thin and watery, characteristic of black coffee, but with a subtle syrupy quality from the dissolved sugar. Nutritionally, it is a very low-calorie beverage, with nearly all its 16 kcal per 100g coming from the 3.36g of simple carbohydrates in the sugar.
Calorie split: 2% protein · 96% carbs · 1% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for the immediate, familiar comfort it brings—a perfect balance of bitter coffee and sweet sugar that makes the drink more approachable and enjoyable. It's a versatile staple, equally at home in a morning routine, an afternoon break, or as a social beverage.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The primary downside is the added sugar, which can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes and contribute to empty calories, making it less ideal for those managing diabetes or watching sugar intake. To counteract this, consider using a smaller amount of sugar, pairing it with a source of protein or fat (like a handful of nuts or a piece of cheese) to slow glucose absorption, or gradually reducing the sugar content over time.
Key benefits
- Provides a quick source of energy from simple carbohydrates.
- Contains antioxidants like chlorogenic acid from coffee beans.
- May enhance alertness and concentration due to caffeine.
- Offers a comforting, ritualistic ritual for many people.
- Extremely low in fat and protein.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The practice of adding sugar to coffee is credited to the 16th-century Ottoman Turks, who also used it to mask the bitterness of beans that were often over-roasted for long sea voyages.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 95.8 g |
| Energy | 16.0 kcal |
| Protein | 0.10 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.02 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 4.0 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 3.4 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 4.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.04 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 4.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 2.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 29.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 4.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.01 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.01 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.00 mg |
| Niacin | 0.23 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.00 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Choline, total | 0.80 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 25.0 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.00 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Cream, fluid, light (coffee cream or table cream) — USDA does not publish this profile for Coffee.
| Tryptophan | 0.07 g |
| Threonine | 0.13 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.15 g |
| Leucine | 0.24 g |
| Lysine | 0.13 g |
| Methionine | 0.07 g |
| Cystine | 0.01 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.14 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.14 g |
| Valine | 0.18 g |
| Arginine | 0.07 g |
| Histidine | 0.07 g |
| Alanine | 0.09 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.22 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.59 g |
| Glycine | 0.07 g |
| Proline | 0.31 g |
| Serine | 0.10 g |
FAQ
How much sugar is typically in a pre-sweetened coffee?
It varies widely by recipe and region, but a typical serving might contain 1-2 teaspoons (4-8 grams) of added sugar. The nutritional data here (3.36g per 100g) suggests a moderately sweetened version.
Is pre-sweetened coffee worse than adding sugar yourself?
Nutritionally, they are similar if the same amount of sugar is used. The main difference is control—pre-sweetened versions have a fixed amount, while adding your own allows you to adjust to your taste and reduce intake over time.
Can I make this healthier?
Absolutely. You can reduce the sugar amount, switch to a natural zero-calorie sweetener, or try a 'half-sweet' version. Another strategy is to enjoy the coffee black or with a splash of milk to appreciate the bean's flavor, using sugar only occasionally as a treat.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.16 kcal/g · 3% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 3.4 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.14 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.