There are many different coffee drinks, and the nutritional profile of each variety can vary significantly.
As coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, some people may consume it multiple times daily. For this reason, it’s important to know exactly what we’re getting nutritionally when we choose a coffee.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the most commonly consumed coffee beverages and examine their typical nutritional profile.
Please note:For coffee drinks that contain milk, we have assumed 2% milk is used. Nutritional values are typical values based on reputable nutrition data, and they may vary depending on the specific type of milk in the drink, with dairy and plant-based milks of variable fat content affecting this variance.
An Americano is a simple coffee drink made by mixing espresso with hot water.
While the exact ratio of espresso to hot water can vary, it’s typically around two parts water to one part espresso.
A typical 12-ounce (oz) (360-ml) Americano has the following nutritional values (1):
Calories: 10 kcal
Carbohydrates: 1.0 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 0 g
Fat: 0 g
Saturated fat: 0 g
Protein: 1.0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 10 mg
2. Café con leche
Café con leche is a coffee variety made by mixing espresso and hot milk in a 1:1 ratio.
In this regard, it shares similarities with a latte and flat white but has a stronger coffee flavor due to the higher proportion of coffee. The drink is often sweetened with sugar.
Since it is half milk by weight, café con leche provides some fat, sugar, and protein. Here are its typical nutritional values per 12-oz (360-ml) cup (2):
Calories: 149 kcal
Carbohydrates: 20.88 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 18.0 g
Fat: 4.2 g
Saturated fat: 2.41 g
Protein: 6.22 g
Cholesterol: 15 mg
Sodium: 97 mg
3. Caffé Latte
A caffé latte is a milky coffee drink that typically contains at least 2-3 parts steamed milk to 1 part espresso.
It is a relatively mild coffee drink compared to options with less milk and a higher proportion of espresso.
A typical 12-oz (360-ml) caffé latte provides the following nutritional profile (3):
Calories: 155 kcal
Carbohydrates: 15.7 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 14.6 g
Fat: 5.8 g
Saturated fat: 3.38 g
Protein: 10.1 g
Cholesterol: 25 mg
Sodium: 126 mg
4. Caffè Mocha
Caffè mocha is a popular coffee drink that combines espresso, milk, cocoa, and sugar, resulting in a sweet, chocolatey flavor.
Since it contains milk and enough added sugar to balance the bitterness of cocoa, it tends to be quite high in sugar.
Here’s the nutritional profile for a typical 12-oz (360-ml) cup of caffè mocha (4):
Calories: 238 kcal
Carbohydrates: 38.04 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 34.56 g
Fat: 5.47 g
Saturated fat: 3.18 g
Protein: 9.53 g
Cholesterol: 22 mg
Sodium: 172 mg
5. Cappuccino
Cappuccino is one of the most popular coffee varieties. It’s made by combining steamed milk, espresso and foam, typically in a 1:1:1 ratio.
Nutritionally, cappuccino is similar to a caffè latte but slightly lighter since it contains less milk.
A typical 12-oz (360-ml) cup of cappuccino offers the following nutritional values (5):
Calories: 97 kcal
Carbohydrates: 9.9 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 8.86 g
Fat: 3.56 g
Saturated fat: 2.07 g
Protein: 6.16 g
Cholesterol: 14 mg
Sodium: 83 mg
6. Espresso
Espresso is a small, strong shot of coffee served in an espresso cup.
Espressos contain minimal water and have an intense coffee flavor due to their high concentration of coffee.
With no added milk or sweeteners, espressos are a concentrated form of black coffee.
Here are the typical nutritional values provided by a 2-fl oz (60-ml) cup of espresso (6):
Calories: 5 kcal
Carbohydrates: 1.0 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 0 g
Fat: 0.11 g
Saturated fat: 0.06 g
Protein: 0.07 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 8 mg
7. Flat White
A flat white is similar to a caffè latte but contains less milk, a higher concentration of espresso, and is typically served in a smaller cup.
Flat whites are usually unsweetened and offer the following nutritional profile per 8-oz (240-ml) cup (7):
Calories: 110 kcal
Carbohydrates: 9.02 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 8.02 g
Fat: 5.01 g
Saturated fat: 3.01 g
Protein: 6.01 g
Cholesterol: 15 mg
Sodium: 70 mg
8. Frappuccino (Frozen Coffee Drink)
A frappuccino is an iced coffee drink made by combining espresso, milk, and ice.
Frappuccinos are most commonly flavored and heavily sweetened with syrup. They may also be topped with cream and various sweet toppings.
As a result, frappuccinos—often called frappes for short—are sweet coffee-based drink with a high sugar and calorie content.
Here’s what their typical nutritional profile looks like per 12-fl oz (360-ml) cup, topped with whipped cream (8):
Calories: 308 kcal
Carbohydrates: 48.0 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 46.92 g
Fat: 10.31 g
Saturated fat: 5.87 g
Protein: 5.88 g
Cholesterol: 33 mg
Sodium: 78 mg
9. Iced Americano
When you drink iced coffee, the added ice dilutes the quantity of the other ingredients, such as milk, in the drink.
However, for a standard Americano (black coffee), which consists of espresso mixed with hot water, adding ice does not alter the nutritional profile.
Here’s what a 12-oz (360-ml) cup of iced Americano provides nutritionally (9).
Calories: 10 kcal
Carbohydrates: 1.0 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 0 g
Fat: 0 g
Saturated fat: 0 g
Protein: 1.0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 10 mg
10. Iced Caffé Latte
A cup of iced latte contains slightly fewer calories and macronutrients than a regular hot latte. This is because it contains less milk to accomodate the added ice.
Sometimes, latte drinks can be sweetened with various flavored syrups, which will affect the nutritional values.
For regular, unsweetened iced latte, here is the typical nutritional profile per 12-oz (360-ml) cup (10):
Calories: 97 kcal
Carbohydrates: 10.1 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 9.04 g
Fat: 3.64 g
Saturated fat: 2.11 g
Protein: 6.3 g
Cholesterol: 14 mg
Sodium: 83 mg
11. Iced Caffé Mocha
An iced caffè mocha has slightly fewer calories, carbohydrates, fat, and protein than a regular hot caffè mocha.
Again, this is because the drink contains less of all other ingredients to make room for the ice.
A typical iced caffè mocha provides the following nutritional values per 12-oz (360-ml) cup (11):
Calories: 186 kcal
Carbohydrates: 33.24 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 29.76 g
Fat: 3.38 g
Saturated fat: 1.98 g
Protein: 5.88 g
Cholesterol: 15 mg
Sodium: 130 mg
12. Macchiato
Macchiato is a small-serve coffee drink that usually comes in an espresso cup.
The drink is made by adding a small amount of steamed milk to an espresso, giving it a strong, intense coffee flavor.
Macchiato can sometimes be sweetened, but it is traditionally served unsweetened.
The nutritional profile of a typical 2-oz (60-ml) cup of macchiato is as follows (12):
Calories: 23 kcal
Carbohydrates: 2.71 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 1.61 g
Fat: 0.83 g
Saturated fat: 0.47 g
Protein: 1.18 g
Cholesterol: 3 mg
Sodium: 22 mg
Other Coffee Drinks
There are various other coffee drinks available to buy, with instant coffee and ready-to-drink products making up the bulk of these.
However, the nutritional values of these drinks can vary significantly depending on the ingredients used to make them.
There are also coffee products with additional ingredients marketed as health drinks, though the supposed benefits of these can sometimes be overhyped.
Lastly, for those who don’t enjoy coffee or are sensitive to caffeine, here are some coffee alternatives worth checking out.
Is Coffee Good For You?
Coffee is a rich source of polyphenols such as chlorogenic acid, a type of phytonutrient (plant chemical) associated with potential health benefits (13).
Black coffee drinks such as Americano also contain virtually no calories, making them a good option for those who are trying to limit their calorie intake.
However, heavily sweetened coffee topped with cream or coffee with butter probably shouldn’t play a frequent part in a healthy diet.
Coffee also contains the stimulant caffeine, which can potentially have both positive and negative effects. While caffeine is perceived as being relatively mild, it can affect heart rate and focus and may even cause withdrawal symptoms (14).
Thus, the idea of whether coffee is “good” or “bad” very much depends on the individual and the context.
For more on coffee’s potential benefits, please refer to this guide:
Michael works as a nutritionist in a community setting and holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Nutrition. He is a Registered Associate Nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition.
