Quick Answer
The number of calories in a spiked cold brew coffee drink can vary greatly depending on the specific ingredients and quantities used. However, on average, a 16 oz spiked cold brew coffee drink made with 2 oz vodka contains approximately 300-350 calories. The cold brew coffee itself contributes minimal calories, while the 2 oz of vodka adds around 200 calories. Any added milk, cream, sweeteners, flavors or other mix-ins will further increase the calorie count.
Calories in Cold Brew Coffee
Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in room temperature or cold water for an extended period of time, usually 12-24 hours. This long steeping time extracts the flavors and caffeine from the coffee beans without adding much bitterness.
Cold brew coffee contains similar amounts of caffeine as regular coffee, but less acidity. It also has a naturally sweeter taste compared to hot brewed coffee.
On its own, cold brew coffee is a very low calorie beverage. An 8 oz serving of plain, black cold brew coffee only contains about 2 calories (1).
So in a typical 16 oz serving of plain cold brew, you would get just 4 calories. Even if you add a splash of milk or creamer, the calorie count will remain low.
Here are the calories for 16 oz of cold brew coffee prepared different ways:
– Plain black: 4 calories
– With 2 tbsp low fat (1%) milk: 17 calories
– With 2 tbsp whole milk: 31 calories
– With 2 tbsp half and half: 52 calories
– With 2 tbsp heavy cream: 103 calories
As you can see, even adding a couple tablespoons of higher fat cream or milk does not drastically increase the number of calories in a cold brew coffee.
Calories in Vodka
Distilled spirits like vodka contain minimal nutrients but are high in alcohol content.
A 1.5 oz (one shot) serving of 80 proof (40%) vodka contains about 97 calories (2).
All of those calories come from the alcohol itself. Since vodka has no carbs, protein, or fat, the calories are considered “empty” calories.
Here are the calories for different serving sizes of vodka:
– 1.5 oz shot (typical single serving): 97 calories
– 3 oz (double shot): 194 calories
– 1 cup (8 oz): 620 calories
– 750 ml (fifth) bottle: approximately 1700 calories
So in a 16 oz spiked cold brew coffee with 2 oz of vodka, the vodka alone would contribute about 200 calories.
Calories from Additional Ingredients
Spiked cold brew coffee drinks can also be made with various syrups, sweeteners, milk/cream, spices, and other add-ins that will increase the calorie content.
Here are some popular ingredients and how many calories they contain per typical serving:
– Flavored syrups (1-2 tbsp): 60-120 calories
– Whipped cream (2 tbsp): 50 calories
– Sweetened condensed milk (2 tbsp): 60 calories
– Simple syrup (2 tbsp): 52 calories
– Sugar (2 tbsp): 32 calories
– Honey (1 tbsp): 60 calories
– Pumpkin spice mix (2 tbsp): 30 calories
So even just adding a couple tbsp of flavored syrup and a splash of cream could add over 100 additional calories to your spiked cold brew.
Using full fat dairy products like whole milk and heavy cream will result in higher calories than using low fat or non-dairy milk. And calories will stack up quickly if you use multiple mix-ins.
Factors Affecting Calorie Content
There are a few main factors that determine how many calories are in a spiked cold brew coffee drink:
– Amount of vodka: Vodka packs about 100 calories per 1.5 oz, so the more vodka in a drink, the higher it will be in calories. Using just 1 oz vs 3 oz vodka could mean a difference of 200+ calories.
– Type of milk/cream: Higher fat dairy products like whole milk, half and half, and heavy cream add more calories than lower fat milks or non-dairy alternatives like almond milk.
– Sweeteners: Syrups, sugars, honey and other sweeteners quickly increase calorie content.
– Other mix-ins: Ingredients like flavored syrups, pumpkin spice mix, whipped cream, etc. can all pile on extra calories.
– Size: Larger coffee drinks (20+ oz) tend to have higher calorie counts than smaller (12-16 oz) versions.
So a spiked cold brew made with 2 oz vodka and just a splash of milk could have around 300 calories in a 16 oz serving. But a supersized 24 oz version made with 4 oz vodka, flavored syrup, whipped cream and whole milk could have 500+ calories.
Average Calories in a Spiked Cold Brew
Considering all these factors, here is an estimated calorie range for a typical medium-large spiked cold brew coffee drink:
– 16 oz drink with 2 oz (1-2 shots) of vodka: 300-350 calories
– 20 oz drink with 2-3 oz vodka: 350-450 calories
– 24 oz drink with 3-4 oz vodka: 400-550+ calories
These ranges are assuming the spiked cold brew contains some type of milk/cream and possibly a flavored syrup or sweetener.
Of course, recipes can vary widely, from a super simple cold brew and vodka to an elaborately layered and flavored milkshake-like concoction.
But on average, most medium-large sized spiked cold brew drinks made with a couple shots of vodka and some dairy/sweeteners will end up having 300-400 calories.
Lower Calorie Options
There are a few easy ways to cut back on calories in a spiked cold brew, if you want to lighten it up:
– Use skim or low fat milk instead of heavy cream.
– Skip the flavored syrups and sweeteners.
– Use a natural, zero-calorie sweetener like stevia instead of sugar.
– Limit yourself to 1 shot (1.5 oz) instead of 2-3 shots of vodka.
– Ask for less or no whipped cream on top.
– Stick with smaller 12-16 oz versions instead of supersized 20+ oz portions.
– Order it black and add your own splash of milk/cream on the side.
Using these tweaks, you could bring a spiked cold brew coffee down to 200 calories or less.
Highest Calorie Spiked Cold Brew Options
On the opposite end of the spectrum, here are some ways you could create an extremely high calorie spiked cold brew if you really want to indulge:
– Use heavy cream instead of milk
– Add in multiple flavored syrups
– Load it up with whipped cream on top
– Drizzle with caramel, chocolate syrup, etc.
– Add a few tablespoons of butter (Bulletproof coffee trend)
– Use a high fat milk like whole milk or sweetened condensed milk
– Add in a chocolate bar, cookies crumbles, donut chunks, etc.
– Use 4-6 oz vodka instead of 1-2 oz
– Make it an extra large 32-40 oz portion
Spiked cold brews made with these mix-ins could end up containing 700-1,000+ calories. While delicious, this would pretty much be an entire meal in one cup.
Calorie Difference Between Hot & Cold Coffee Drinks
In general, cold coffee-based drinks tend to be lower in calories than hot espresso drinks.
Some calorie comparisons:
– Plain black coffee (hot vs iced/cold brew): 0 calories vs 5 calories. Negligible difference.
– 16 oz latte: 190 calories vs. 16 oz cold brew with 2 tbsp half and half: 52 calories
– 16 oz mocha with 2 oz milk, 1 oz chocolate: 250 calories vs. 16 oz chocolate cold brew with 2 oz milk: 150 calories
– 20 oz Frappuccino: up to 500 calories vs. 20 oz cold brew frappe: around 300 calories
The main reasons cold coffee drinks have fewer calories are:
– They use cold brew or brewed coffee instead of espresso as the base. Espresso is more concentrated than regular coffee so packs more calories per ounce.
– Hot espresso drinks use steamed milk, which increases volume and lightens color. Cold drinks use milk/cream added after brewing.
– Blended cold coffee drinks rely more on ice than heavy cream for texture, vs hot latte drinks that use more heavy cream and sugar.
– Syrups and whipped cream in cold coffee add flavor, vs using high fat milk, heavy cream and sugary syrups in hot espresso drinks.
So while both types of drinks can be customized to be low or high calorie, cold brew and iced coffee drinks made the standard way tend to be lower in calories than a typical latte from an espresso bar.
Calories Based on Coffee Shop Brands
Calorie counts for spiked cold brews can also vary based on the coffee shop you get it from.
Here are some calorie estimates for a 16 oz spiked cold brew from popular coffee chains:
Starbucks:
– With 2 oz vodka, 2 oz milk: 340 calories
Dunkin’ Donuts:
– With 1.5 oz vodka, whole milk, caramel swirl: 450 calories
Peet’s:
– With 1.5 oz vodka, half & half: 290 calories
Panera:
– With 2 oz vodka, almond milk, 1 pump mocha swirl: 250 calories
Caribou:
– With 2 oz vodka, skim milk: 210 calories
These ranges demonstrate how ingredients, sweeteners and preparation can impact calories, even among similar-sized drinks at coffee shops. Checking calorie information online or asking at the counter can help you make an informed choice.
Typical Ingredient Amounts in Spiked Cold Brew
Spiked cold brew coffee drinks are endlessly customizable, but here is an example recipe with typical ingredient amounts for a 16 oz drink:
– 12-16 oz cold brewed coffee
– 1-2 oz (1-2 shots) vodka
– 1-2 tbsp milk or cream
– 1-2 tbsp flavored syrup (optional)
– Whipped cream for topping (optional)
You can adjust the ingredients based on your own preferences and calorie needs:
– Use less vodka for lower alcohol content/calories
– Substitute different types of milk/cream
– Add different flavored syrups, spices, sweeteners
– Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, etc.
No matter how you choose to customize your spiked cold brew, being aware of approximate calorie contents can help you balance the indulgence.
Conclusion
In summary, a typical medium-large sized spiked cold brew coffee drink made with 1-2 shots of vodka will generally contain 300-400 calories. This will increase depending on the amount of high calorie add-ins like cream, sweeteners and syrups. Those watching their calorie intake can ask for skinny versions with low fat milk and less syrups and cream to cut back on calories. But with so many ways to customize, most coffee lovers can find a deliciously indulgent spiked cold brew recipe that suits their calorie needs.
