Calories in Coffee: Black, With Milk, Sugar and Lattes

Coffee is how millions of people start the day. On its own, it has almost no calories. But milk, cream, sugar, syrups and whipped cream can turn a cup of coffee into a drink with as many calories as a meal. Here’s what your coffee really adds.

The short answer: an 8 oz cup of black coffee has about 2 calories, and a shot of espresso about 3. A teaspoon of sugar adds 16 calories and a tablespoon of half-and-half about 20. A 16 oz latte has about 205 calories, a flavored latte about 265 and a frozen coffee drink with whipped cream about 400.

Calories in black coffee and espresso

Values are from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA FoodData Central):

Coffee	Amount	Calories	Caffeine
Brewed black coffee	8 fl oz (237 ml)	2 kcal	95 mg
Brewed black coffee	12 fl oz	4 kcal	142 mg
Brewed black coffee	16 fl oz	5 kcal	190 mg
Espresso, single shot	1 fl oz (30 ml)	3 kcal	63 mg
Americano (2 shots + water)	12 fl oz	about 5⁠–⁠10 kcal	about 125 mg
Cold brew, black	16 fl oz	about 5 kcal	about 150⁠–⁠250 mg

Black coffee is about 99% water. It has a little potassium (about 116 mg per cup) and almost no fat, carbs or protein. Caffeine in cold brew depends a lot on the recipe.

Calories in coffee add-ins

Add-in	Amount	Calories
Sugar	1 tsp (4 g)	16 kcal
2% milk	2 tbsp (30 ml)	15 kcal
Whole milk	2 tbsp (30 ml)	18 kcal
Half-and-half	1 tbsp (15 ml)	20 kcal
Liquid coffee creamer	1 tbsp (15 ml)	20 kcal
Flavored liquid creamer	1 tbsp (15 ml)	38 kcal
Heavy cream	1 tbsp (15 ml)	about 50 kcal
Flavored syrup	1 pump	about 20 kcal
Whipped cream topping	1 serving	about 70⁠–⁠100 kcal
Butter (“bulletproof” coffee)	1 tbsp	102 kcal

Most people don’t use just one tablespoon. Flavored creamers are the easiest to overdo: three tablespoons add over 110 calories and about 15 g of sugar. Many also contain oils, thickeners and flavorings. Read the label on the back, not just the front of the bottle.

Calories in coffee drinks

These are USDA averages for 16 fl oz (a “grande” size at many coffee shops). Chains use their own recipes, so check their nutrition info for exact numbers.

Drink (16 fl oz)	Calories	Sugar
Cappuccino	about 130 kcal	about 12 g
Latte, nonfat milk	about 145 kcal	about 20 g
Iced latte	about 130 kcal	about 12 g
Latte	about 205 kcal	about 19 g
Flavored iced latte	about 190 kcal	about 28 g
Flavored latte (vanilla, caramel)	about 265 kcal	about 35 g
Café mocha, no whipped cream	about 305 kcal	about 45 g
Frozen blended coffee with whipped cream	about 400 kcal	about 60 g

The sugar in a plain latte comes from the milk itself. Flavored lattes, mochas and frozen drinks add syrup and sauce – a 16 oz mocha has more sugar than a can of soda.

Is coffee good for weight loss?

Black coffee, yes. It has almost no calories, and the caffeine can slightly reduce hunger for a short time. It fits intermittent fasting and the keto diet. Coffee drinks are a different story: two flavored lattes a day add over 500 calories.

How to keep your coffee light:

• Drink it black, or add a splash of milk instead of creamer.
• Cut the sugar step by step – half a teaspoon less each week.
• Order a smaller size and ask for fewer pumps of syrup.
• Skip the whipped cream – it saves about 70–100 calories.
• Treat frozen coffee drinks as dessert, not as your morning coffee.

Remember that you lose weight only when you eat fewer calories than you burn. Read more about the calorie deficit and find your number with our calorie calculator.

How much caffeine is safe?

The US Food and Drug Administration says up to 400 mg of caffeine a day is generally safe for healthy adults – about four 8 oz cups of brewed coffee. During pregnancy, the advice is to stay under 200 mg a day. Caffeine late in the day can hurt your sleep, and poor sleep makes it harder to control your appetite.

Count the calories in your coffee without guesswork. With NutriSmart, you snap a photo of what you eat and drink, and the app counts your calories, protein, carbs and fat and shows how much you have left for the day.Get the app free

You can also read how many calories are in butter and our guide to artificial sweeteners.

The bottom line

Black coffee has about 2 calories per cup and espresso about 3 per shot. The calories come from what you add: sugar, cream, creamer, syrup and whipped cream. A 16 oz latte has about 205 calories and a frozen coffee drink about 400. Drink it black or with a splash of milk, and keep sweet coffee drinks for treats.