Quick Answer
A small (12 oz) Caribou Blend coffee from Caribou Coffee contains approximately 5 calories. This is based on Caribou Coffee’s nutrition information for their regular brewed coffee. However, the exact calorie count can vary depending on size, added milk, cream or sugar, and preparation method.
Calories in Caribou Blend Coffee
Caribou Coffee’s nutrition information shows the following calorie counts for their Caribou Blend coffee:
| Size | Calories |
|---|---|
| Small (12 oz) | 5 |
| Medium (16 oz) | 10 |
| Large (20 oz) | 15 |
As you can see, a small 12 oz Caribou Blend coffee contains about 5 calories. The calorie count increases slightly for larger sizes.
However, this is just for black coffee on its own. Adding milk, cream, sugar or other flavorings will increase the calorie count.
Calories from added milk and cream
Adding 2 oz of whole milk to coffee adds about 17 calories. Non-fat milk has slightly fewer at around 12 calories per 2 oz. Half and half contains about 20 calories per ounce, while heavy cream has about 50 calories per ounce.
So adding milk, cream or dairy alternatives like almond or oat milk will increase the calorie count of your Caribou coffee drink.
Calories from added sugar
Each packet of sugar contains around 15 calories. So adding a couple packets of sugar to your coffee can add 30+ calories to your drink. Other caloric sweeteners like flavored syrups, honey, agave, etc will also increase the calories.
Using zero-calorie sweeteners like stevia or Splenda will not affect the calorie count.
Calories based on preparation method
The way your Caribou Blend coffee is prepared can also impact calories:
- Regular brewed coffee is the lowest calorie option, with just 5 calories per small cup.
- An Americano prepared with espresso shots contains slightly more at 10 calories for a small.
- A latte made with steamed milk and espresso contains about 100 calories for a small 12 oz size.
- Blended coffee drinks like frappes and mochas that contain milk, sweeteners and toppings contain 200+ calories for a small.
As you can see, blended coffee beverages tend to be much higher in calories than plain black coffee.
Does coffee have any calories?
Coffee beans themselves contain very minimal calories, about 2 calories per cup of brewed coffee before adding anything to it.
The natural compounds in coffee beans – namely caffeine, chlorogenic acids, quinic acid, trigonelline, and lignan – contain little to no calories.
So plain black coffee without any add-ins is very low calorie – around 2-5 calories per 8oz cup depending on the brewing method.
Why does coffee have so few calories?
There are a few reasons why plain black coffee is so low in calories:
- Coffee beans are naturally low calorie. The bean itself only contains about 2 calories per cup of brewed coffee.
- Brewed coffee is mostly water, which has zero calories.
- No milk, cream, sweeteners or other caloric add-ins are used in black coffee.
- The bean undergoes roasting which further reduces its caloric value through chemical reactions.
- Coffee preparation methods like drip brewing, French press, etc do not add any significant calories.
So the combination of a naturally low-calorie bean plus a low-calorie preparation method makes black coffee an essentially zero-calorie beverage.
Does the caffeine in coffee have calories?
No, the caffeine in coffee does not contain any calories. Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant found in over 60 plant species. The chemical structure of caffeine contains carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen but no actual energy calories.
Caffeine works mainly by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain which promotes increased neuron firing. This stimulant effect gives coffee drinkers more alertness and energy. But caffeine does not provide any usable energy in the form of calories.
A typical cup of coffee contains around 100mg of caffeine. Some key facts about caffeine and calories:
- Caffeine contains zero calories per gram.
- Drinking coffee for the caffeine stimulant effect does not provide calories.
- The caffeine content has no effect on the calorie count of brewed coffee.
- Decaf coffee has similar calories to regular despite containing little caffeine.
- You can consume caffeine without worrying about excess calorie intake.
So rest assured that the caffeine kick you get from coffee does not come with any extra calories!
Tips for ordering lower calorie Caribou coffee
If you want to keep the calorie count low in your Caribou coffee, here are some tips:
- Opt for small or medium sizes instead of large.
- Request your drink made with fat-free milk or almond/oat milk.
- Ask for less pumps of flavored syrups or use sugar-free versions.
- Choose plain black coffee some of the time.
- Ask for light or no whipped cream on blended coffee drinks.
- Skip the extra toppings like caramel drizzle, chocolate shavings, etc.
- Sweeten with zero-calorie sweeteners instead of sugar.
- Order an Americano made with espresso instead of a latte.
Making just a few simple modifications when ordering can help keep the calorie content reasonable while still enjoying your favorite Caribou coffeehouse drinks!
The nutritional content of Caribou Blend coffee
In addition to calories, Caribou Blend coffee contains:
Caffeine
Caribou Blend is a medium roast coffee that contains approximately 195-200mg caffeine per 16oz serving. Caffeine is a stimulant that promotes alertness, focus and energy.
Chlorogenic acids
Coffee is a source of antioxidant chlorogenic acids which have anti-inflammatory effects in the body. Caribou Blend likely contains 70-100mg chlorogenic acids per 6oz cup.
Diterpenes
Coffee oils contain diterpenes such as cafestol and kahweol which may impact cholesterol levels in some individuals. Using paper filters removes most diterpenes.
Trigonelline
A phytonutrient in coffee with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, trigonelline is found in amounts of approximately 60-80mg per 8oz cup.
Niacin
Caribou Blend provides around 2-5% of the RDI of niacin. This B-vitamin supports energy metabolism.
Potassium
With about 100-140mg per cup, Caribou Blend contributes 2-4% of the RDI of the essential mineral potassium which regulates heart rate and blood pressure.
Magnesium
Caribou Blend provides 5-10mg or 1-3% of the RDI of magnesium per cup which aids bone health and muscle function.
So in moderation, Caribou Blend can be part of healthy diet and lifestyle that provides energy, antioxidants and essential nutrients. Limiting added sugars, flavors and cream is best for reducing calories and avoiding overindulgence.
Does Caribou Coffee have any secret menu drinks?
Caribou Coffee doesn’t have an official “secret menu” like some other coffee chains. However, some popular customizations have emerged that customers order to replicate secret menu-style drinks:
Raspberry White Mocha
Order a white chocolate mocha with raspberry syrup added. Similar to the “cotton candy frappuccino” secret menu drink.
Caramel Apple Spice
Ask for a steamed apple cider with caramel syrup and cinnamon. Just like the Starbucks “caramel apple spice.”
Cookies and Cream
Request an iced mocha with java chips and mocha drizzle added. Like the “cookies and cream frappe” at other coffee shops.
Mint Mocha
Get a hot mocha with peppermint syrup pumped in to mimic the “mint mocha” secret drink.
Snickers Mocha
Order a mocha flavored with caramel and hazelnut syrup to replicate a “Snickers bar in a cup.”
So while not official menu items, you can customize your Caribou drink to create secret menu-style coffeehouse beverages!
Nutrition information for other Caribou drinks
In addition to the Caribou Blend regular coffee, Caribou Coffee has a wide selection of other drinks with the following approximate nutrition profiles:
Espresso
A single 1oz shot contains about 5 calories. Adding espresso shots increases calories slightly in coffeehouse beverages.
Americano
With 10 calories in a small, Americanos offer slightly more calories than drip coffee but less than a latte.
Latte
A small 12oz latte made with 2% milk has about 100 calories and 5g fat. Non-dairy milk reduces the calories slightly.
Mochas
The chocolate sauce and steamed milk give a small mocha about 130 calories. Using sugar-free chocolate lowers the calories to 100.
Chai tea
A 12oz chai tea latte contains 90 calories when made with 2% milk. Opting for non-dairy milk drops calories to 60.
Hot chocolate
A small hot chocolate has about 180 calories. Using fat-free milk instead of 2% reduces calories to 130.
Frappes
Blended coffee frappe drinks range from 150 calories for a small coffee frappe to 250+ calories for a mocha or vanilla creme.
Smoothies
A small 12oz strawberry smoothie made with low-fat yogurt contains around 190 calories and 5g protein.
So when choosing your drink from the many options at Caribou, being mindful of size, milk and flavorings can help manage your calorie intake!
Conclusion
To summarize key points:
- A small Caribou Blend coffee contains about 5 calories on its own.
- Added milk, cream, sugar and flavors increase the calories significantly.
- Caffeine does not provide any calories despite its stimulant effect.
- Customizing your drink with lower calorie options lets you enjoy Caribou while controlling calories.
- Caribou Coffee does not have an official secret menu, but you can create customized “secret” drinks.
So the calorie count of your Caribou coffee order ultimately comes down to your customizations. With some mindful choices, you can keep your coffeehouse drink from being too caloric while still getting your caffeine fix from Caribou!
