Coffee Mate is a popular non-dairy creamer made by Nestlé. With many different flavors available, Coffee Mate can be used to add flavor and creaminess to coffee, tea, and other beverages without using regular milk or cream.
One common question about Coffee Mate is whether it contains sugar or is considered sugar-free. The answer depends on the specific variety of Coffee Mate.
Original Coffee Mate
The original Coffee Mate liquid creamer is not sugar free. The main ingredients in original Coffee Mate liquid creamer are:
- Water
- Corn syrup solids
- Hydrogenated vegetable oil (palm, palm kernel, coconut and/or cottonseed)
- Less than 2% of sodium caseinate (a milk derivative), dipotassium phosphate, mono- and diglycerides, sodium aluminosilicate, soy lecithin, artificial flavor, beta carotene for color
As you can see, corn syrup solids are one of the main ingredients. Corn syrup solids add sweetness, thickness, and texture, but they are not considered a sugar-free ingredient.
The nutrition label on the original Coffee Mate liquid creamer states it contains 20 calories and 5g of carbohydrates per 1 tablespoon (15ml) serving. Since the main sweetening ingredient is corn syrup solids rather than a calorie-free artificial sweetener, original Coffee Mate cannot be considered sugar-free.
Sugar Free Coffee Mate
In addition to the original creamer, Coffee Mate also makes a line of sugar free non-dairy creamers:
- Sugar Free French Vanilla
- Sugar Free Italian Sweet Creme
- Sugar Free Irish Creme
- Sugar Free Cinnamon Vanilla Creme
The main difference in the ingredient list for these sugar free varieties is the replacement of corn syrup solids with sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and natural and artificial flavors.
Sucralose and acesulfame potassium are artificial sweeteners that provide sweetness without sugar or calories. So while the original Coffee Mate contains corn syrup solids for sweetness and thickness, the sugar free versions replace the corn syrup solids with artificial sweeteners.
The nutrition labels on the sugar free Coffee Mate varieties state they contain 0g of sugar and 0 calories per serving. So these creamers can definitively be considered sugar-free.
Coffee Mate Natural Bliss
In addition to the original and sugar free products, Coffee Mate also makes a line of all-natural creamers under the Natural Bliss brand name. Flavors include Sweet Cream, Vanilla, Caramel, Hazelnut, and Almond Milk.
The main ingredients in Natural Bliss are milk or cream, cane sugar, and natural flavors. So while the Natural Bliss products contain milk and cream like half & half or heavy cream, they are not sugar-free because they are sweetened with cane sugar.
However, Coffee Mate Natural Bliss does contain less sugar than the original creamers. The nutrition labels list 10 calories and 2g of sugar per serving compared to 20 calories and 5g of sugar in the original.
So in summary, Natural Bliss has fewer calories and less sugar than original Coffee Mate, but it is not sugar free because it contains cane sugar as a sweetener.
Coffee Mate Powdered Creamer
In addition to liquid creamers, Coffee Mate also makes a line of powdered creamer products. The ingredient lists can vary slightly across flavors, but most contain:
- Sugar
- Corn syrup solids
- Hydrogenated vegetable oil
- Less than 2% of sodium caseinate (milk derivative), dipotassium phosphate, artificial flavors
As you can see, the powdered Coffee Mate creamers contain sugar and corn syrup solids just like the original liquid creamers. So the powdered creamers are not sugar free.
Coffee Mate does make a few sugar free powdered creamer varieties sweetened with sucralose instead of regular sugar. These include Sugar Free French Vanilla, Sugar Free Hazelnut, and Sugar Free Sweet Italian Creme.
So to summarize:
- Original liquid and powdered Coffee Mate is NOT sugar free
- Sugar Free labeled liquid and powdered varieties ARE sugar free
- Natural Bliss has less sugar than original but is NOT sugar free
Ingredients to Watch Out For
When checking if a food product like Coffee Mate is sugar free, make sure to read the ingredient list carefully. Watch out for any of these ingredients that indicate the product contains regular sugar:
- Sugar – Whether listed as just “sugar” or with more detail like “cane sugar”, any form of sugar indicates the product is not sugar free.
- Corn syrup or corn syrup solids – A sweetener made from corn that provides sweetness similar to sugar. Not sugar-free.
- Honey – While thought of as more “natural”, honey is still a form of sugar.
- Maple syrup – The boiled down sap of maple trees that is used as a sweetener.
- Brown rice syrup – A sweetener made from fermented brown rice.
- Molasses – The sweet byproduct of refining sugar cane into table sugar. Not sugar-free despite sounding exotic.
- Maltodextrin – Often derived from corn and provides sweetness and thickness. Not sugar-free.
Ingredients that DO indicate a product is sugar-free include:
- Sucralose – An artificial sweetener sold under the brand name Splenda.
- Acesulfame potassium – Another calorie-free artificial sweetener.
- Aspartame – A very common artificial sweetener sold under brand names like Equal and NutraSweet.
- Stevia – A sweetener derived from the stevia plant.
- Monk fruit extract – A zero-calorie sweetener extracted from monk fruit.
- Erythritol – A sugar alcohol that provides sweetness without calories or spiking blood sugar.
So in summary, read the ingredients list and watch out for any form of sugar or syrup if you want to determine if a product like Coffee Mate creamer is truly sugar free or not.
Sugar Content of Different Coffee Mate Products
To compare and contrast the amount of sugar in different Coffee Mate products, here is a table listing the sugar content per 1 tablespoon (15ml) serving of some popular flavors:
| Coffee Mate Variety | Sugar per Serving |
|---|---|
| Original liquid creamer | 5g |
| Sugar Free liquid creamer | 0g |
| Natural Bliss liquid creamer | 2g |
| Original powdered creamer | 4g |
| Sugar Free powdered creamer | 0g |
As you can see, the Original and Natural Bliss varieties contain 2-5 grams of sugar per serving while the Sugar Free labeled varieties contain 0 grams and can truly be considered sugar-free alternatives.
Calorie Content of Coffee Mate Creamers
In addition to varying in sugar content, Coffee Mate creamers also vary in their calorie content per serving. Here is a comparison:
| Coffee Mate Variety | Calories per Serving |
|---|---|
| Original liquid creamer | 20 calories |
| Sugar Free liquid creamer | 0 calories |
| Natural Bliss liquid creamer | 10 calories |
| Original powdered creamer | 25 calories |
| Sugar Free powdered creamer | 0 calories |
The Sugar Free varieties contain zero calories per serving while the Natural Bliss has about half the calories of original Coffee Mate. This further demonstrates that Sugar Free Coffee Mate has no calories or sugar compared to other versions of this popular creamer.
Taste and Texture
In terms of taste and texture, Coffee Mate fans seem to find the Original flavor to be thicker and creamier than the Sugar Free version. However, the Sugar Free varieties are said to have a pleasant sweet taste despite the lack of actual sugar.
Here are some first-hand reports on the taste of Sugar Free Coffee Mate compared to the original:
- “I find the Sugar Free tastes very similar, just a little thinner in texture.”
- “Sugar Free is not quite as thick but still tastes great in my coffee!”
- “You can tell the difference but Sugar Free Coffee Mate is still very good with coffee and cereal.”
- “I don’t mind the thinner texture since I’m just adding it to tea or coffee.”
- “The French Vanilla Sugar Free tastes delicious even though Original is a little creamier.”
So while Sugar Free Coffee Mate may not be quite as thick or creamy as versions with sugar, many find the taste and sweetness comparable and are willing to accept a slightly thinner texture in order to eliminate sugar and calories.
Price Comparison
When comparing prices, Sugar Free Coffee Mate generally costs a little bit more than regular Coffee Mate creamers:
| Coffee Mate Variety | Typical Price |
|---|---|
| Original liquid creamer (32 oz) | $2.50 |
| Sugar Free liquid creamer (32 oz) | $3.29 |
| Original powdered creamer (21 oz) | $4.99 |
| Sugar Free powdered creamer (21 oz) | $5.49 |
On average, the Sugar Free versions cost about $1 more compared to regular Coffee Mate per equivalent sized container. This premium pricing reflects the different ingredients and lack of sugar in the Sugar Free varieties.
However, fans of Sugar Free Coffee Mate feel the extra $1 or so per container is worth it to eliminate sugar and calories from their daily coffee drink. And prices can vary by retailer, so savvy shoppers can look for sales and deals on Sugar Free creamers.
Benefits of Choosing Sugar Free
There are several potential benefits to using a sugar free creamer like Coffee Mate:
- Lower sugar intake – Consuming too much added sugar has been linked to increased risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Using a sugar free creamer eliminates unnecessary sugar from coffee and tea.
- Weight management – Replacing higher calorie creamers with Sugar Free Coffee Mate can help slash daily calories for potential weight loss.
- Blood sugar control – For those with diabetes or insulin resistance, a sugar free creamer helps keep blood sugar levels steady.
- Tooth health – Sugar contributes to dental cavities and tooth decay, so a sugar free creamer protects teeth.
- Adapting taste buds – Over time, taste buds adapt to enjoy less sweetness which makes healthier eating easier.
Of course, those with dairy allergies need to avoid Coffee Mate altogether since it contains sodium caseinate. But for coffee drinkers who can tolerate dairy, Sugar Free Coffee Mate provides creamy flavor without the downsides of excess sugar.
Potential Drawbacks of Artificial Sweeteners
While Sugar Free Coffee Mate cuts out sugar, the use of artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium may be concerning for some:
- There is conflicting evidence on whether artificial sweeteners disrupt gut bacteria and cause glucose intolerance.
- Some report unpleasant side effects like headaches or digestive issues from artificial sweeteners.
- Safety studies on sucralose, in particular, have been limited and controversial.
- There are concerns about lack of long-term studies on the effects of frequent consumption.
However, major health and regulatory bodies consider products like Coffee Mate that use sucralose and acesulfame potassium to be generally safe. Still, some choose to take a precautionary approach by limiting or avoiding artificial sweeteners when possible.
Natural Sugar-Free Creamer Alternatives
For those who want to avoid both sugar AND artificial sweeteners, there are some natural sugar-free creamer options to consider:
- Unsweetened nut milks – Such as unsweetened almond, coconut, or cashew milk. Provide creaminess with no sugar.
- Full fat canned coconut milk – Thick and creamy with no added sugar. Shake the can well before pouring.
- Heavy whipping cream – All natural but high in calories, so use sparingly.
- Half and half – Lower fat option than heavy cream but still no sugar added.
- Homemade nut or seed milk – Blend water with raw almonds, cashews, or sunflower seeds then strain.
Making your own creamer allows you to control the ingredients. For example, homemade almond milk is naturally creamy and sugar-free. Just be mindful that homemade nut milks don’t keep long in the fridge.
Conclusion
To summarize the key points:
- Original Coffee Mate creamers contain sugar and corn syrup solids and are NOT sugar-free.
- Coffee Mate Sugar Free varieties are sweetened with sucralose/acesulfame potassium and contain 0g sugar.
- Natural Bliss has less sugar than original but is not completely sugar-free.
- Watch out for any form of sugar, corn syrup, honey, etc in the ingredients list.
- Sugar Free Coffee Mate is slightly more expensive but preferred for the sugar and calorie reduction.
- Sugar free creamers like Coffee Mate can help reduce added sugars and manage weight.
- Those concerned about artificial sweeteners can use unsweetened nut milks or make their own creamers.
Overall, Coffee Mate gives coffee drinkers looking to cut back on sugar an easy option in the form of their Sugar Free creamers. Just be sure to read labels carefully and recognize the differences between Original, Sugar Free, and Natural Bliss varieties when choosing the best Coffee Mate creamer for your needs.
