Unless you take your coffee black, you’ll need a splash of something light and creamy to make your morning brew magical. As delightful as silky caramel macchiato or triple-mocha-flavored concoctions are, they tend to be packed with sugar. But not to fear, fellow java lover: There are plenty of better-for-you options to turn to. Here are 15 of the healthiest coffee creamers out there, plus a dietician’s advice for making a more nutritious cup of joe.
Looking for the Healthiest Coffee Creamer? Here Are 15 to Try
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Published Aug 7, 2021
How To Find The Healthiest Coffee Creamer
It all comes down to the ingredients used. “So often, the products on the market have way too many ingredients that just don't belong in a healthy beverage,” says Dr. Felicia Stoler, DCN, a registered dietitian, nutritionist and exercise physiologist. “Even the non-dairy options have so many added chemicals to give products the mouthfeel or texture of regular cream or half-and-half.”
Sugar-free or low-sugar creamers are also often made with artificial sweeteners, which Stoler can’t really get behind either: “They don’t contribute in a favorable manner towards helping people reduce their sugar or sweet cravings, and instead only continue to satisfy that urge.” That’s why Stoler is partial to using regular milk (whether it be skim or whole) or cream to lighten her coffee. (She also suggests powdered milk as a shelf-stable creamer.)
It all comes down to your needs and lifestyle: If drinks are the last place you want to rack up calories, it may be worth it to you to sip artificial sweeteners over sugar. Just be sure to read the label carefully before buying. And don’t assume that non-dairy creamers are healthy by default. “Many of those products are ultra-processed,” says Stoler. “They don't get an automatic health halo when laden with so many added ingredients to mimic the real thing.”
Our Picks For The Healthiest Coffee Creamers
1. Coffeemate Natural Bliss Sweet Cream Coffee Creamer
Per one-tablespoon serving: 35 calories, 1½g fat, 5g carbs, 0g protein, 5g sugar
Ingredients: nonfat milk, heavy cream, cane sugar, natural flavor
If non-dairy creamers aren’t your thing, your options don’t get much better than this all-natural pick made with non-GMO ingredients and no added hormones. Its ingredients are so plain that it essentially just saves you a step if you usually add half-and-half and sugar to your coffee.
2. Natonics English Toffee Super Creamer
Per one-tablespoon serving: 45 calories, 7g fat, 9g carbs, 0g protein, 6g sugar
Ingredients: organic coconut milk powder, organic cane sugar, organic natural flavorings
Bust out your milk frother to whip this vegan powdered creamer into your coffee. It’s loaded with natural MCTs (aka medium chain triglycerides, which can help you burn fat), as well as English toffee extract that’s bursting with the flavors of caramelized sugar and butter.
3. Picnik Unsweetened Plant-based Creamer
Per ¼-cup serving: 40 calories, 4g fat, 1g carbs, 0g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: cashew milk, coconut cream, MCT oil; contains 1.5 percent or less of acacia gum, potassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, sunflower lecithin, sodium citrate, tara gum, gellan gum
This dairy-free blend is vegan, paleo, keto and shockingly creamy. Not only does it offer a silky mouthfeel to coffee and tea (the MCT oil helps with that, too), but it also holds up beautifully in smoothies and baked goods. Note: There are natural additives in the ingredients, but it may be worth it to you to have a plant-based creamer with a dairy-like texture.
4. Pacific Foods Barista Series Oat Original
Per one-cup serving: 180 calories, 8g fat, 23g carbs, 4g protein, 3g sugar
Ingredients: water, oats, organic canola oil; contains 1 percent or less of dipotassium phosphate, sea salt, sodium citrate, tricalcium phosphate
Step aside, soy and almond milks: Oats are having a moment. This creamer’s luxurious texture is all thanks to canola oil and oats, which are beloved among other plant-based milks for their natural creaminess.
5. Califia Farms Better Half Coffee Creamer, Unsweetened
Per two-tablespoon serving: 15 calories, 1½g fat, 0g carbs, 0g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: almond milk, coconut cream, sunflower lecithin, natural flavors, calcium carbonate, sea salt, potassium citrate, locust bean gum, gellan gum
We love coconut cream for thickening soups, sauces and curries. But it’s also the key to this creamer’s silky, rich consistency. Pairing it with almond milk keeps the calories low and offers a boost of healthy fats.
6. Prymal Salted Caramel Coffee Creamer
Per four-teaspoon serving: 45 calories, 4g fat, 5g carbs, 0g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: coconut oil, ketosweet blend (erythritol, chicory root extract, monk fruit extract, stevia leaf extract), MCTs, natural flavor, organic coconut milk powder, inulin, erythritol; contains 2 percent or less of sodium caseinate, Himalayan pink salt, silicon dioxide, sunflower lecithin, vegetable juice color
We love this non-GMO, keto, gluten-free brand for its naturally sweetened creamers. They’re all sugar-free, thanks to monk fruit and stevia, but still delicious. Of all the flavors, we’re big fans of the Salted Caramel, Red Velvet and Cinnamon Dolce varieties. Despite its long list of ingredients (some of which are anticaking agents), this is a solid pick for those who only like flavored, sweet coffee.
7. Elmhurst Almond Milk, Barista Edition
Per one-cup serving: 90 calories, 7g fat, 5g carbs, 3g protein, 4g sugar
Ingredients: filtered water, almonds, rice; contains 2 percent or less of cane sugar, dipotassium phosphate, salt
If you’re looking for a silky-smooth creamer that’s free of flavors, oils, gums and emulsifiers, look no further than this non-dairy gem. It foams and steams just like regular milk, but you’ll need to add sugar or an alternative if you like your coffee sweet.
8. Milkadamia Unsweetened Latte Da Barista Blend
Per one-cup serving: 45 calories, 4g fat, 1g carbs, 1g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: filtered macadamia milk, pea protein, calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, potassium phosphate, natural flavor, locust bean gum, salt, sunflower lecithin, gellan gum
If almond milk just doesn’t excite you anymore, it’s time to branch out. Macadamia nuts make for a richer, silkier, less chalky product than almonds. If you prefer flavored creamers, try Milkadamia’s Unsweetened Vanilla variety.
9. Almond Breeze Vanilla Almondmilk Creamer
Per one-tablespoon serving: 25 calories, 1g fat, 4g carbs, 0g protein, 4g sugar
Ingredients: almond milk, cane sugar, almond oil, sunflower oil, sunflower lecithin, natural flavors, dipotassium phosphate, pea protein, baking soda, sea salt, vitamin C, gellan gum
Sure, artificial sweeteners save you calories and sugar. But if you’re only adding a modest splash of creamer to your morning joe and it’s safe for you to consume real sugar, go for this smooth non-dairy option. It’s sweetened with cane sugar and bursting with almond-based nuttiness.
10. Silk Dairy-free Soy Creamer
Per one-tablespoon serving: 20 calories, 1½g fat, 2g carbs, 0g protein, 1g sugar
Ingredients: soymilk, cane sugar, palm oil, maltodextrin; contains 2 percent or less of soy lecithin, natural flavor, tapioca starch, locust bean gum, dipotassium phosphate
Silk is the O.G. of non-dairy milk brands, and this creamy pick will show you why it’s stood the test of time—especially if soy milk is your plant-based bev of choice. It’s non-GMO and free of dairy, gluten, cholesterol and artificial flavors.
11. Mud\wtr Creamer
Per one-tablespoon serving: 45 calories, 4½g fat, 3g carbs, 0g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: organic coconut milk powder, organic MCT powder, organic acacia fiber, organic tapioca maltodextrin (derived from organic yuca root)
By the creators of MUD\WTR, a coffee alternative made from chai, organic mushrooms, cacao, black tea powder and spices. It offers a fraction of the caffeine found in your morning joe, plus the bonus of antioxidants, immunity boosters and more that are supposed to help you stay calm and focused. Not only is the creamer vegan and free of gluten and sugar, but it’s also packed with functional fats, thanks to coconut and MCT powders.
12. International Delight Zero Sugar French Vanilla
Per one-tablespoon serving: 20 calories, 2g fat, <1g carbs, 0g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: water, palm oil, maltodextrin; contains 2 percent or less of sodium caseinate, dipotassium phosphate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, mono and diglycerides, carrageenan, polysorbate 60, sucralose, gellan gum, acesulfame potassium, natural and artificial flavors
This one goes out to all of you who don’t mind artificial flavorings in your sugar-free creamer—whatever makes it taste good while keeping the calories low, right? The new recipe is now free of corn syrup and sweetened with sucralose, a sugar alcohol.
13. So Delicious Dairy-free Organic Coconut Milk Creamer
Per one-tablespoon serving: 15 calories, 1g fat, 0g carbs, 0g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: organic coconut milk, potassium citrate, sodium citrate, gellan gum
Meet our top pick for coffee drinkers who are new to the world of non-dairy creamers. It has a simple, clean flavor with subtle notes of coconut and a silky mouthfeel that will make converting to non-dairy milk a breeze.
14. Nutpods Unsweetened Non-dairy Creamer French Vanilla
Per one-tablespoon serving: 10 calories, 1g fat, 0g carbs, 0g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: purified water, coconut cream, almonds, natural flavors, acacia gum, sunflower lecithin, dipotassium phosphate, gellan gum, sea salt
Heart-healthy almonds + MCT-rich coconut cream = a solid alternative to standard half-and-half—especially when it’s free of corn syrup and refined sugars. Feel free to pour your heart out if you’re keto or paleo.
15. Thrive Market Original Coconut Creamer
Per one-tablespoon serving: 35 calories, 2g fat, 5g carbs, 0g protein, 3g sugar
Ingredients: coconut oil, organic coconut sugar, natural flavors, MCT oil, silicon dioxide
Attention, sustainable shoppers: We’ve found your new favorite powdered creamer. It boasts lots of healthy fats (meaning it’s a great choice for keto dieters) and MCT oil for extra energy. It’s also low in sugar and carbs, but there’s an unsweetened variety if you’d prefer your creamer to be sugar-free. In case you aren’t convinced, it’s made with non-GMO, ethically sourced ingredients.
