Coffee is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide. There are different levels of roasts that people can choose from – dark, medium and light roasts. You can also enjoy coffee in many ways, not just for the benefits of drinking coffee, but also for its delicious flavor. Black coffee is a popular way, but there are several milk-based versions of coffee like cappuccino, latte and more that are enjoyed by people around the world. Brazil is the largest producer of coffee in the world producing approximately 2,595,000 metric tons of coffee beans. Indian produces about 3.19 lakh tonnes of coffee every year.
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Calories in Black Coffee
Regular consumption of coffee has many benefits. Did you also know that black coffee is also very low on calories? This is particularly beneficial for people who are on low-calorie diets but still want that caffeine kick. A cup of black coffee of a capacity of about 236 milliliters has just 2 calories. If the same cup of black coffee is brewed from decaffeinated coffee beans then the calorie count can go down to zero.
While black coffee is very low on calories, most people tend to add some extra sweeteners and flavors which can significantly increase the calorie count. Additions like soy milk, sugar, chocolate syrup, and vanilla can increase the calorie count. Usually, a cup of black coffee contains 0% carbs, cholesterol, sugar, sodium and fat, and about 4% potassium.
There are significant differences in the calorie content of black coffee versus other popular forms of coffee like a latte or a cappuccino. To understand the difference in calorie count, you should first know the difference between the many popular types of coffees.
Calories in Different Forms of Coffee
A latte is a brew with some foam on top. A cup of latte has about 136 calories.
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Cappuccino is also pretty much similar to a latte, but a latte has more milk content in it. A cup of cappuccino has about 90 calories.
A Mocha is traditionally made using Mocha coffee beans that originated from Yemen. These coffee beans have a naturally sweeter, chocolaty flavor. Most coffee shops just add some chocolate sauce to enhance the chocolaty flavor. A mocha is, however, a stronger coffee-based drink compared to a latte. A cup of mocha has 197 calories.
A Macchiato is a middle ground between an espresso shot and a cappuccino. It is one full shot of espresso with some steamed milk and a little milk foam on top. A cup of macchiato is also low on calories, giving about 10 calories in a single serving.
Regular coffee with some soy milk instead of regular milk has about 55 calories and a coffee with almond milk has approximately 60 calories.
Black Coffee for Weight Loss
Black coffee is not just low in calories, but it also aids weight loss. Black coffee can easily increase your metabolic rate. This higher metabolic rate can help the body burn off excess fat easily and at a much faster rate.
Coffee is also known to have Chlorogenic acid, which is an element that helps in speeding up the weight loss process. Chlorogenic acid decreases the production of fat cells in the body and also slows down the production of glucose in the body, especially if consumed after a meal. Coffee also allows you to make use of non-dairy products so you reduce fat a little more of the calories.
The caffeine in black coffee also helps in weight loss. Caffeine increases the metabolism rate of the body by about 10-29%, and also boosts energy levels in the body. Adding sugar to black coffee will only increase its calorific value so it is best to avoid sugars and sweeteners. The combination of increased energy levels and increased metabolic rate helps in curbing your appetite. Nut milk or natural sweeteners like jaggery can be a better substitute to add to your black coffee since they provide fewer calories.
Caffeine also stimulates the central nervous system, which leads to the release of a hormone known as epinephrine. Epinephrine, commonly also known as adrenaline, travels through the blood to your fat tissues and directs the fat cells in the body to begin the breakdown process. Fatty acids from these cells are released into the blood but are not expended until the body is in a negative energy balance. This negative energy balance could be achieved by reducing the amount of food you consume or by exercising to expend more energy.
Black coffee has numerous benefits. If prepared in the right manner, black coffee also has a very pleasant taste. Although bitter to a certain extent, black coffee has a refreshing effect that can definitely wake you up and give you a good start for the day. The strength and bitterness of the coffee depends entirely on the way it was processed and/or brewed.