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6 Healthy Additions for Better Coffee

Edited By: Shai K.

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Our beloved cup of coffee can occasionally be upgraded and receive an invigorating addition of unique flavor, beyond the familiar taste of coffee. People who abandon sweetening their coffee with white sugar find substitutes like honey, agave syrup, or date syrup, which add flavor but still increase the sugar content. According to various studies, moderate coffee consumption reduces the risk of heart disease, respiratory issues, cancer, stroke, and more, so we have no reason—nor desire—to give up our daily coffee. However, if we sometimes want to enhance and elevate its taste without adding unnecessary sugar, we can easily do so with the following 6 additions:

Coffee Upgrades: A latte with a heart-shaped foam design

1. Cinnamon

The next time you drink coffee, try replacing the teaspoon of sugar that sweetens the drink with a teaspoon of pure, ground cinnamon (without added sugar). Natural cinnamon not only enhances the flavor of your drink, but it also reduces your sensitivity to the insulin hormone, helping to balance blood sugar levels and aid in weight loss. Another option for incorporating cinnamon into the coffee flavor, if you don’t have ground cinnamon in large quantities at home, is to add a few cinnamon sticks to the container where you store your ground coffee or coffee beans.

2. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

Adding a bit of cocoa powder to your coffee is a great way to give it a chocolatey flavor and some flavonoids—antioxidants that combat premature aging and improve blood flow to the brain and heart. Additionally, natural cocoa can also affect our mood and serve as an antidepressant. For those concerned about the caloric addition, we note that two teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa contain only 25 calories, provided you use a natural product with minimal processing and no added sweeteners.

3. Vanilla Extract

The vanilla flavor we associate with ice creams, cakes, and puddings is often linked to sweet, sugary products, but real vanilla extract is simply a flavor addition derived from a plant. Adding 1-2 drops to a cup of coffee is enough to impact the drink’s flavor and give it a wonderful aroma. If desired, you can also add vanilla bean seeds directly to your drink and enjoy its benefits as a good source of B vitamins, which protect the skin and help prevent anxiety, depression, and hair loss.

Coffee Upgrades: Coffee with vanilla beans on the foam

4. Nutmeg

Nutmeg is mainly known to us from cooking, but it can also blend wonderfully with your coffee, especially when combined with cinnamon or cardamom. Nutmeg, with its bold flavor, is packed with health benefits such as boosting the immune system, improving memory, alleviating sleep disorders, joint pain, and more. To enrich your coffee with the flavor of nutmeg, you only need a small amount, between ¼ to ½ a teaspoon. Click here to read more about the health benefits of nutmeg.

5. Coconut Flakes

When we suggest adding coconut to your coffee, we don’t mean the sweetened coconut used in cakes and cookies, as that contains preservatives. Natural coconut flakes, extracted from fresh and dried coconuts, can be found in health food stores and added to your hot drinks without worrying about their sugar content. The coconut flakes and their many health benefits will blend wonderfully into your coffee and serve as a milder alternative to adding coconut oil to coffee—a habit that has gained popularity in recent years.

Coffee Upgrades: A coconut split in half

6. Orange Juice

It’s commonly believed that the surprising idea of combining oranges with coffee originated in Arizona, USA, and became a global hit. The common method is to pour orange juice into the bottom of a glass and add a shot of espresso on top. While this may sound like an odd flavor combination, it’s worth trying at least once. Orange juice contains its natural sugar content and a significant amount of vitamin C. However, if this combination intimidates you, we have an alternative suggestion reminiscent of the Italian tradition of serving coffee with a slice of lemon or orange. After preparing your coffee, rub an orange peel on the rim of the cup and add just a few drops of fresh orange juice.

Coffee Upgrades: A cup of coffee next to a glass of orange juice

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