Flavoured coffee not a calorie worry, says dietitian

Paul Smithson

26/10/2011 11:54:53

Coffee drinkers have been advised that flavoured versions of the hot drink tend to be similar in terms of calorie content.

Responding to a reader question in The Globe and Mail, dietitian Leslie Beck noted people should always check the product’s nutritional information if they are worried about the issue, but generally there will not be any calorific difference.

She said: “Flavoured coffee is made by adding flavouring oils - natural or synthetic - to coffee beans. Coffee beans are coated with these compounds to enhance taste. Natural flavouring oils are extracted from vanilla, cocoa beans (chocolate!), nuts and berries.”

Ms Beck explained that the calories usually come via the spoonfuls of sugar added when using a coffee machine at home, or from artificial sweeteners and syrups used in cafés.

If people are having a coffee with a meal they may be particularly wary of nutritional differences, but a recent article by Ed Crowley in Foodepedia suggested they would do better to watch out for the quality of their drink.

Mr Crowley remarked on the website that the calibre of coffee served in restaurants appears to be in decline. He noted that staff employed to make the drinks will often not have the specialist knowledge required to make a perfect brew.

In his view, this is a “travesty” considering how much you can pay for drinks in such eateries.