A double double is a popular coffee order at Tim Hortons consisting of two creams and two sugars. But with rising health consciousness, many coffee drinkers are starting to pay closer attention to the calories and other nutritional content of their favorite drinks. So how many calories are actually in a double double coffee from Tim Hortons? Let’s take a closer look.
What’s in a Double Double?
A double double refers to a coffee with two creams and two sugars added. Specifically, a small double double at Tim Hortons contains:
– 10 oz small coffee
– 2 creamers (18 mL each)
– 2 sugars
The two creamers and two sugars are what turns a regular coffee into a double double. The cream adds a creamy, smooth texture and mellows out the coffee’s bitterness. The sugar adds sweetness to counter the coffee’s acidity. Adding cream and sugar makes the coffee more palatable and enjoyable for many people.
Calories in Tim Hortons Coffee
The base small coffee itself contains:
| Small Coffee | Calories |
|---|---|
| 10 oz | 10 |
A small 10 oz brewed coffee from Tim Hortons contains just 10 calories on its own, with 0g fat, 0g sugar, and 0g protein.
Black coffee is very low in calories because it contains no added cream, sugar, or flavorings. However, once you start adding in cream and sugar, the calorie count starts going up.
Calories in Cream
Each 18 mL creamer container that Tim Hortons provides contains:
| 1 Tim Hortons cream (18 mL) | Calories |
|---|---|
| 18 mL | 20 |
So each cream adds 20 calories to your coffee. With two creams in a double double, that’s an extra 40 calories from the cream alone.
The cream also contains 2g of fat, with 1.5g saturated fat. It has no fiber, protein, or sugar.
Calories in Sugar
Each standard sugar packet contains about 4 grams of white sucrose sugar.
| 1 Sugar Packet | Calories |
|---|---|
| 4 g sugar | 16 |
Since there are two sugar packets added to a double double, that tacks on another 32 calories from the sugar.
So in total, the two sugars add 16g of sugar and 32 calories.
Total Calories in a Double Double
Putting it all together:
| Double Double (Small) | Calories |
|---|---|
| Coffee (10 oz) | 10 |
| Cream (36 mL) | 40 |
| Sugar (8 g) | 32 |
| Total | 82 |
A small double double from Tim Hortons contains about 82 calories.
This is a significant calorie addition compared to a black coffee, which only contains 10 calories!
Other Tim Hortons Double Double Sizes
The calorie counts will change if you order a larger sized double double.
Here are the calories for other Tim Hortons double double sizes:
| Double Double Size | Calories |
|---|---|
| Small (10 oz) | 82 |
| Medium (14 oz) | 114 |
| Large (20 oz) | 164 |
| Extra Large (24 oz) | 196 |
As you can see, the calorie count scales up as the coffee size increases, because of the additional coffee and extra cream/sugar added. So be mindful of this if ordering larger sizes.
Nutrition Facts for a Double Double
Based on a small 10 oz double double, here is the full nutritional breakdown:
| Amount | Calories |
|---|---|
| Total Fat 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat 0g | – |
| Cholesterol 15mg | 5% |
| Sodium 15mg | 1% |
| Total Carbohydrate 16g | 5% |
| — Sugar 16g | – |
| Protein 1g | 2% |
Key takeaways:
– 82 calories
– 16g total carbohydrates, all from sugar
– 4g total fat, 3g saturated fat
– 15mg cholesterol
– 1g protein
As you can see, the double double gets the majority of its calories from sugar and saturated fat from the cream. There are minimal protein, fiber, vitamins, or minerals.
Ways to Reduce Calories in a Double Double
If you want to lighten up your double double, there are a few easy ways to cut back on calories:
– Order 1 cream & 1 sugar instead of 2 of each. This will save about 20 calories.
– Ask for half cream and half milk or non-dairy milk like almond or oat milk. The milk has fewer calories than cream.
– Use a sugar substitute like Splenda or Equal instead of regular sugar. Or add just 1 packet of sugar.
– Request a smaller coffee size like small or medium rather than large or extra large.
– Ask for light cream instead of regular cream. Light cream has about half the calories.
– Skip the cream and just add sugar to your coffee. Or vice versa – skip the sugar and just add cream.
Making some of these swaps can shave off anywhere from 20-50 calories from your double double. Small changes add up over time!
Health Impact of Double Doubles
While tasty, drinking coffee drinks loaded with cream and sugar every day can negatively impact your health if consumed in excess. Some downsides of double doubles include:
– Weight gain – At over 80 calories each, double doubles can contribute to excess calorie intake and weight gain over time, if consumed frequently throughout the day.
– Blood sugar spikes – The large amount of added sugar causes quick spikes in blood sugar, which can be problematic for diabetics or prediabetics.
– Inflammation – Chronic inflammation has been linked to high sugar intake. The added sugars in double doubles can contribute to inflammation.
– High cholesterol – The saturated fat in the cream can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
– Nutritional deficits – Heavily sweetened coffee drinks provide empty calories and displace healthier beverage options like water, milk, or unsweetened coffee or tea.
– Addiction – Some research indicates that regularly consuming very sweet drinks like double doubles can lead to sugar dependence.
Despite these risks, an occasional double double can be fine for most healthy adults. But moderation is key, and be mindful of size, cream/sugar amounts, and how often you indulge.
Healthier Alternatives to Double Doubles
If you want to cut calories but still enjoy your coffee, consider these healthier alternatives:
– Black coffee – Simple, zero calories, and provides antioxidants. Add just a splash of milk/cream or sweetener if needed.
– Coffee with milk – Lower in calories than cream. Choose non-fat or low-fat milk.
– Half-sweet – Order just 1 cream and 1 sugar. Saves you 20+ calories compared to a full double double.
– Sugar-free syrups – Flavor coffee with zero-calorie syrups like vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut.
– Cinnamon – Sprinkle on some cinnamon for flavor without added sugar.
– Stevia/Monk fruit – Zero-calorie natural sweeteners you can add to coffee.
– Light cream – Half the calories of regular cream if you still want some creaminess.
– Iced coffee – Cooler drink that allows you to get by with less cream/sugar.
– Coffee frappes – Blended iced coffee drinks made with milk instead of cream.
With some creativity, you can still enjoy your coffee while lowering the calorie count substantially compared to a loaded double double.
The Bottom Line
A small double double from Tim Hortons contains approximately 82 calories. This is significantly higher than plain black coffee, which only has 10 calories.
The extra calories in a double double come from the added cream and sugar. Specifically, the two creams add 40 calories while the two sugars add 32 calories.
Ordering smaller sizes, reducing the cream/sugar amounts, or switching up your coffee order are easy ways to lighten up your coffee drink. But an occasional double double can be incorporated into a healthy diet for most people.
As with any food or beverage, moderation and balance is key. Be mindful of your total daily caloric intake, and enjoy your coffee sensibly!
