As coffee lovers, we all like our coffee in our unique way. Some of us like our coffee black, but some of you might take yours with creamer and add some sugar or other sweetening agents to it.
To get all the health benefits of coffee, you need to consume it black. Yes, by black we mean no cream, no milk, no white sugar, no artificial sweetener, and nothing else that could make your coffee’s calorie count higher.
Unfortunately, people are not fans of black coffee. While ardent coffee drinkers love the taste of black coffee, most coffee peeps will add something that’ll make your cup of joe less bitter.
Today we’ll discuss how to get used to coffee without sugar so that you can reap all the benefits of consuming coffee.
Tip #1: Lose Sugar Gradually
If you’re someone who adds refined sugar to your coffee regularly, then this tip is for you. Going from 2 tsp of sugar (or your quantity of sugar ) to zero in a day or two can be very difficult.
Instead of trying to completely cut off sugar, you should try to gradually reduce the sugar going into your coffee. If you take 2 tsp of sugar per cup of coffee, here’s something you can try.
- Day 1-5: 2 tsp of sugar
- Day 6-15: 1.5 tsp of sugar
- Day 16-25: 1 tsp of sugar
- Day 26-35: 0.5 tsp of sugar
- Day 36-45: 0.25 tsp of sugar
- Day 46 onwards: No sugar
If you follow this, you can cut your sugar input in your coffee completely in just 45 days i.e. 1.5 months. It might look like a tough challenge, but this is very possible.
If you want to take it slow, you can do that as well. You can try sticking to one portion of sugar for 2 weeks then gradually reduce it over time.
The good thing here is that you will lose sugar in your coffee over time, and every small crystal of added sugar you don’t take is a step in the right direction.
Tip #2: Replace Sugar
You can try replacing sugar with something else that is a lot better. In this case, you are still trying to avoid drinking your coffee black, but at least you don’t have to deal with the negative effects of sugar.
We have written a post on the healthy ways to sweeten coffee and it discusses 17 alternatives to sugar that will give you a better deal.
While there are artificial sweeteners in that list, you can also take the natural sweetener route by using some of the following ingredients.
- Honey
- Dates
- Butter
- Cinnamon
- Coconut milk
- Almond milk
- Maple syrup
- Coconut sugar
- Cocoa powder
- and others mentioned in that list
Tip #3: Taste Your Coffee Black Before You Add Sugar
Try taking a sip of coffee before you add any sugar to it.
This might not sound like the most helpful tip, but trust us, this will make your appreciation for coffee better.
Just close your eyes and take a small sip of black coffee. Try to find out what comes into contact with your taste buds. Understand the flavor and see if you can tolerate it.
After you’ve taken your first sip, add your regular amount of sugar and see how the taste has changed.
Do this regularly and your appreciation for black coffee will increase over time.
One fine day, you might want to more than a few sips of black coffee. That’s when you decide to cut sugar completely from your coffee.
Tip #4: Try A Different Roast
If you can’t take your black coffee made from the medium roast or dark roast, then try a light roast coffee.
How your coffee beans are roasted is important when it comes to the final taste in your cup. The more roasted your coffee bean is, the more harsh the taste of coffee is and the more caffeine you’ll feel.
If you’re looking to have a coffee with a tinge of sweetness to it, then you might want to get light roasted coffee beans for your cup of joe.
If you’re not fans of light roasted coffee beans, then you might want to try the other tips mentioned in this post.
Tip #5: Try A Different Brewing Method
Sometimes, the brewing method you use can play a significant role in making your coffee blacker than it is.
Try playing with different brewing methods. Expand your horizon by using a French Press, an Aeropress, or something else than what you’re using now.
You might come across classic debates like French press vs Percolator or the Chemex vs V60. We’ve discussed these topics in detail so you’re good to find the one that’s better for you.
A lot of people who have tried cold brew coffee have found a better flavor, and it is easier to switch to cold brew coffee from a sugary drink. The good news is you can make cold brew coffee and later heat it whenever you want some. (Can you heat cold brew coffee?)
Or you can try making a whipped coffee or Dalgona coffee without sugar as a first step.
Tip #6: Measure Your Ingredients
If you’re making your coffee manually, then measuring all that goes in your coffee-making process can pay dividends.
Know how much water and coffee you are adding to the mix. If you’re adding creamer or sugar, then make a note of it as well. Drinking coffee with consistent ingredients will help.
Over time, slightly reduce the amount of creamer and sugar, and see how the black coffee tastes. If the taste isn’t up to your expectation, then start playing with the quantity of water and coffee to strike the right balance.
If you’re consuming a lot of sugar in the name of sweetening your coffee, this tip might help you to reconsider your coffee lifestyle.
Tip #7: Buy Fresh Coffee
If you’re trying to switch to black coffee, then source your coffee locally.
When you source your coffee locally, it is possible to buy something fresh which in turn will improve the overall taste of the coffee.
This tip is especially true if you’re using instant coffee or something that is not bought with the fresh factor in it.
You can even try grinding your coffee beans to get the best-tasting black coffee.
If you’re clueless about fresh coffee, you can always hit up a friendly local barista who might spill the beans on where you can get the freshest of coffee that finally converts you to black coffee.
Tip #8: Clean Your Coffee Maker
If your black coffee tastes weird, then you might want to check your coffee machine.
When was the last time, you gave your coffee machine a good, thorough cleaning?
Make sure you clean your coffee maker and see if the taste improves. If you use vinegar for cleaning your machine, then try cleaning your coffee machine without vinegar.
Tip #9: Change Your Mug
Did you know that the color of your coffee mug can make your coffee more bitter?
Well, not really. But that’s how the brain perceives it.
A study shows that the color of the mug can affect your coffee’s taste.
When drinking coffee from a white mug, you might perceive that your coffee is too bitter. Change your mug to a transparent one, and you may not feel the same way.
This is more of a mental trick and it may or may not work depending on the individual.
But if this one pushes you to the bright side of black coffee, then why not try it?
Wrap Up
Black coffee is how it is intended to consume coffee.
It is the purest and the best way to inject caffeine into your body Be it hot or iced coffee. We have nothing against milk, but black is better.
More than anything, the health benefits you get from drinking just black coffee can be a huge motivator for switching to it.
If you’re trying to lose weight, black coffee brings you the goodness of caffeine without adding any calories which is awesome. But again, if you’ve tried switching and failed. That’s okay. It’s not the end of the world. Drinking coffee without sugar is not as easy as it sounds.
If the switching process has helped you reduce the amount of sugar you add to your coffee, then that itself is a win, in our opinion.
We hope these 9 tips help you to get used to your coffee without sugar. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask us.