What’s the Healthiest Coffee Creamer?

There was a time when coffee was simple. The only additions to a cup of joe were milk and sugar. Today, as you stand in front of the supermarket shelves sizing up the options, you couldn't be blamed for suffering a bout of decision fatigue. There are powders, pumps, all kinds of nondairy options, and flavors that run the gamut from classic vanilla and hazelnut to frosted gingerbread.

So, are any of these options actually better for you than cow’s milk? Even oat milk, which had a long reign as a health food, recently came under fire, with social media posts claiming it will spike your blood sugar. Flavored creamers can have lots of added sugars, and then there are the emulsifiers, stabilizers, and preservatives that keep these products fresh and uncurdled in hot coffee.

With so many coffee add-ins to choose from, it can be tricky to figure out which is the healthiest coffee creamer. Here’s a closer look at the options, plus two easy recipes for making your own coffee creamer and cold foam without all the junk.

Different Kinds of Coffee Creamers

Coffee creamers break down into four main categories:

• Basic dairy — milk, cream, and half-and-half
• Basic nondairy — unsweetened almond, oat, soy, and coconut milk
• Powders — nonperishable products, plain or flavored
• Liquids — coffee-specific flavored products made from either dairy or nondairy ingredients

In general, the simpler the product, the better, says Grace Derocha, a registered dietitian-nutritionist based in Detroit. “Basic dairy and nondairy options are best, meaning minimal ingredients and no added or very little added sugar,” she says. “Reading the ingredient list is very helpful in this process.”

What About Cold Foam?

If you’ve ever seen an eye-catching iced coffee drink topped with a fluffy white cloud on social media, you’re familiar with cold foam. Widely popularized by Starbucks when the company introduced it, in 2018, cold foam is now everywhere: coffee shops, home kitchens — Reddi-Wip even makes a version in a can.

Cold foam, at its simplest, is just milk that’s been made fluffy by forcing air into the liquid. You can do this with a handheld electric milk frother, French press, or even by shaking milk vigorously in a jar. It’s like the more traditional cappuccino foam, which is frothed with steam to make it hot. With cold foam, just air (no heat) is used to make it closer in temperature to iced or cold beverages.

Cold foam will be exactly as healthy as the ingredients used to make it, according to Derocha. Start with low-fat milk, and you’ve got a healthy creamer. Start with a sugar-filled packaged creamer, and it’s not so great. Your best bet is to use an affordable, healthy, homemade cold foam.

A Healthy Homemade Coffee Creamer Recipe

Whether you prefer a cold foam, a dairy-free creamer, or something a little sweet and flavored, it’s healthier to make your own. Not only will you avoid any suspect ingredients, you’ll also save money and avoid the plastic packaging that comes with buying creamers at the store.

Everyday Health’s own registered dietitian-nutritionist Kelly Kennedy came up with two simple DIY recipes for coffee creamer and cold foam, so you can enjoy your next cup worry free.

• Coffee creamers can contain unwanted additives and artificial ingredients.
• Check the ingredient list and choose creamers with minimal ingredients and little to no added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
• You can also try a DIY coffee creamer recipe to control what goes into it.