Coffee: it’s the best part of any morning. And, let’s be honest: if you’re anything like us, it might actually be the only thing that gets you out of bed - especially in the winter, when mornings are dark and the floors are cooooold.
If you like your coffee to actually taste good, though, chances are you’re adding flavored syrups, sugary creamers, or half and half. While we hate to be the bearers of bad news, these things are all packed with sugar, fat, additives, and other icky things you probably don’t want to start your morning with.
So, what are your alternatives? Don’t worry - you’re not doomed to joyless black coffee forever. Here at 5 Sparrows, we make sugar-free, stevia sweetened coffee creamer alternatives that give you all the sweetness you want without the crud you don’t.
Today, we’re sharing a few of our favorite coffee recipes to give you alternatives to your usual creamers. Pick your favorite, mix it up, and enjoy the day!
First Things First - What’s The Deal With Regular Creamer?
In 2020, about 182.45 million Americans used some type of creamer. While we’re not quite sure how they got that info, experts project those figures to increase to 187.25 million by 2024.
Hey - we get it - black coffee just doesn’t taste great. And you’re a good, happy person who likes a comforting little ritual every day. And we all love the sweetness and flavor creamers offer. Unfortunately, dumping flavored syrups or traditional creamers into your coffee just adds a ton of sugar and artificial ingredients.
Take flavored creamers, for example, most traditional creamers don’t contain any actual dairy. Instead, they’re a hodge-podge of oil, sugar, and thickening agents. Yuck! And to make matters worse, lots of the oils in these mixes are partially hydrogenated - the really bad kind.
Sure - a one-tablespoon serving of creamer only contains about 0.5 grams of this unhealthy trans fat, but that adds up if you’re adding creamer to your coffee every morning.
And let’s talk about sugar for a second - some popular brands of creamer contain about 5 grams of added sugar in a single serving. That’s more than 1 teaspoon of sugar in each cup of coffee you drink. For reference, the American Heart Association recommends keeping your daily intake of added sugar to 6 teaspoons or less for women, and 9 teaspoons or less for men.
So, there you have it: creamer might seem innocent, but it can seriously screw up your health goals. Fortunately, there’s a better way.
Sugar-Free Sweetness With 5 Sparrows
Your morning is about to get a whole lot sweeter with coffee creamer alternatives you can actually feel good about. Unlike traditional creamers, our stevia-based powdered drink products are gluten-free, sugar-free, and low in calories, so they won’t mess up your waistline or your blood sugar.
With that in mind, here are our favorite recipes to try out:
1. Zero Sugar White Chocolate Mocha
You love the flavor of white mocha, but you’ve watched your barista dump three spoonfuls of powdered mix into your cup, you know it’s not exactly a healthy drink. Fortunately - you don’t have to sacrifice the taste of a white mocha just to save on sugar.
Here’s our tasty recipe featuring our sugar-free white chocolate drink mix.
- Pour 8 oz black coffee into a cup
- Mix in 1 tbsp. 5 Sparrows white chocolate powder
- Add cream to taste
- Mix well
Enjoy!
2. Stevia Sweetened Iced White Mocha
If you’re one of the people who likes cold drinks during a cold season (hey - no judgment here!), this recipe will quickly take the place of your traditional iced white mocha order:
- Boil water in a tea kettle.
- In a heatproof cup, mix 1 oz of boiling water with 1 tablespoon of instant espresso powder.
- Add 2 tablespoons of 5 Sparrows Sugar-Free Dark Cocoa Mix and stir well.
- Fill a larger cup with ice.
- Pour the espresso mixture over ice.
- Finish with 6 oz. of unsweetened coconut milk or your favorite milk alternative.
- Enjoy immediately!
There you have it - iced, refreshing deliciousness that you won’t feel bad about later.
Want something blended? Try this Mocha Chip Frappe.
3. Zero Sugar Salted Caramel Macchiato
We found a way to recreate salted caramel, so it offers all the flavor you love without any of the sugar shakes or crashes.
In fact, our sugar-free salted caramel mix is the base of this delicious, mouthwatering, diabetic-friendly salted caramel macchiato.
In the Italian tradition, a macchiato is an espresso with a dash of milk or foam. Because most people don’t have an at-home espresso machine, though, we made this version a little more DIY friendly.
- 8 oz. coffee
- 1 tablespoon Sugar Free Salted Caramel Drink Mix
Combine the ingredients in your favorite cup and mix well with a long-handled spoon. Then, sip and enjoy knowing that the finished product only has 25 calories, 0 grams of trans fat, 2 grams of net carbs, and NO SUGAR!
4. Zero Sugar Cookies & Creme Coffee
If you have a bit of a sweet tooth, indulge with this recipe. A favorite in the 5 Sparrows offices, this is a perfect afternoon pick-me-up or special treat for lazy weekend mornings.
Here’s how to make it:
- 8 oz coffee
- 1 tablespoon Sugar Free White Chocolate Coffee Creamer & Drink Mix
- 1 tablespoon Sugar Free Dark Cocoa Drink Mix
Tastes just like cookies and creme - without the sugar jitters.
5. Zero Sugar Dirty Chai
A dirty chai is a chai tea with coffee or espresso added. Whether you’re a long-time dirty chai lover or new to the whole scene, this delicious recipe will warm your bones and put a smile on your face:
- 8 oz black coffee
- 3 tbsp sugar-free 5 Sparrows Spiced Chai drink mix
- Stir. Taste. Moan with pleasure. (quietly if small children are home).
- Sorry. Sometimes I just have to amuse myself.
There is Life Beyond Coffee Creamer
If you’ve been in a long-term relationship with coffee creamer, the idea of dumping it can seem scary. After all, you don’t want to lose the taste, sweetness, or ritual of your morning coffee.
Great news, though: you don’t have to.
By swapping out your tried-and-true creamer for one of these delicious and sugar-free 5 Sparrows recipes, you can maintain your morning ritual (and the smile it creates) without compromising your daily sugar intake, health goals, or New Year’s intentions.
So, what are you waiting for? Learn more about us or shop our selection of delicious powdered drink mixes today!