Why I Stopped Using Coffee Creamers (And What I Use Instead)
Like many Americans, I'm addicted to my morning cup of coffee—three cups, to be exact. I've gone through more coffee makers in my life than I care to admit.
Lately, I've adopted a more "hipster" approach to my coffee routine, alternating between French press and pour-over methods. I find that the slight effort required by these "hand-crafted" methods brings out more flavor than any machine I've used over the years.
Beyond the energy boost, flavor is the primary reason most of us drink coffee… and also why many of us keep one or two bottles of flavored coffee creamer in the refrigerator door. I went through that phase, too.
I never really cared for flavored coffee, but I certainly enjoyed adding a little cream once it was brewed.
However, my affection for non-dairy coffee creamers ended abruptly the day I decided to read the label on the back of the bottle.
I'm not sure why I expected anything different, but I was disappointed nonetheless.
I would never tolerate eating foods with such unhealthy and unnatural ingredients… so why was I allowing myself to pour them into my cup of coffee?
What’s Really in Your Coffee Creamer?
My own laziness is what kept me from doing something as simple as reading the list of ingredients on that bottle of coffee creamer.
When I finally did, here’s a sample of the common ingredients I found in the creamers I had accumulated in my fridge:
Unhealthy Coffee Creamer Ingredients
- Corn Syrup
- Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
- Cottonseed Oil
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Sodium Caseinate (a milk derivative)
- Dipotassium Phosphate
- Sugar
- Mono and Diglycerides
- Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
- Artificial Flavor (which could be anything)
- Artificial Color (again, it could be anything)
Who in their right mind would take something as simple and pure as coffee and pour all that junk into it? Once you see what is in coffee creamer, it's easy to understand why store-bought coffee creamer is bad for your health.
For me, there was no going back. I dumped all my store-bought coffee creamers down the kitchen sink and started investigating healthier options to flavor my coffee.
The Best Healthy Coffee Creamers
Read these Healthier, Natural Ways to Flavor Coffee
Skipping the non-dairy coffee creamers (and their potentially toxic ingredients) is not only the healthy choice; it also encourages creativity and saves money.
Consider what all those flavored Starbucks drinks contain… they’re dumping the same unhealthy ingredients used to make those store-bought creamers and flavored syrups. So, skip the drive-through coffee joints as well. Instead, try these ideas to add some natural flavor to your home-brewed coffee.
Use Natural Spices
It may seem obvious once mentioned, but you can add spices directly to the grounds when brewing to naturally flavor your coffee.
For decaf drinkers, this method is a godsend, as the typical selection of decaf coffee at the store often lacks flavor.
Try these go-to spices for starters: cinnamon, pumpkin spice (think pumpkin spice lattes!), nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger.
Add a Drop of Your Favorite Extract
Similar to spices, liquid extracts like vanilla, peppermint, and maple are an effortless way to add flavor without artificial ingredients.
You can add these extracts to the grounds before brewing, or to the cup after the coffee is ready. And don’t hesitate to combine flavors—maple and cinnamon make a great combination.
Make Your Own (Natural) Coffee Creamer
If you’re not ready to completely give up on creamers, you can make your own natural version at home.
All you need are equal parts organic sweetened condensed milk and organic whole milk, mixed with a few drops of your favorite liquid extract (or a combination of flavors). To keep it non-dairy, simply use extracts with organic almond milk or coconut milk.
Looking for another way to use your coconut oil? Try making coconut oil coffee! Or, if you’re interested in a fast path to delicious coconut coffee, try this new coconut oil coffee creamer.
Use Natural Sweeteners
If satisfying your sweet tooth is all you need, you can skip worrying about flavor combinations and stick with natural sweeteners like honey, stevia, or maple syrup. My favorite is stevia coffee creamer.
Understanding what’s inside those bottles of non-dairy creamers should be enough to convince you to leave them on the store shelves… but knowing how easy it is to still add the right flavor and sweetness to your morning cup of Joe definitely seals the deal.
Say goodbye to artificial ingredients and embrace the healthy, natural flavors provided by Mother Nature.
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