Americans' daily coffee is nearly 40% more calorie-dense than it was 15 years ago, and sugar isn't the main culprit. A Tufts University study of 30,000 adults found that non-dairy creamer has surpassed both sugar and dairy milk as the top source of added coffee calories. The rise of plant-based and dairy-alternative creamers — which tend to be high in saturated fat — is largely driving the trend.
That innocent-looking splash of creamer in your morning cup may be doing more damage than you think. A new Tufts University study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics tracked the coffee habits of 30,000 American adults over 15 years and found that while the amount of coffee people drink has barely budged, the calories packed into each cup have climbed nearly 40% — from an average of 43 calories per day in 2003 to 60 calories in 2018.
The surprise finding? Non-dairy creamer has overtaken both sugar and dairy milk as the leading source of added coffee calories. Researchers attribute the surge to growing consumer interest in plant-based and dairy-free alternatives — though many non-dairy creamers are dense in saturated fat, making them more calorie-heavy than people might expect.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: As coffee culture grows and dairy-alternative products flood the market, clinicians and public health professionals should be aware that seemingly healthier swaps like non-dairy creamers may quietly add calories and saturated fat to patients' daily diets — making it a worthwhile conversation point in nutrition counseling.
