Balancing taste and health: The best coffee additives to use

Many people can't imagine a good morning without a hot, refreshing coffee. The popularity of this beverage is evident from the long lists of options on coffee shop menus. Coffee with milk, sweet syrups, or brewed in various ways is now standard. However, some of these additives can harm our health.

For many, the taste of pure coffee without any additives is almost impossible to swallow. Hence, white coffee is popular, with milk being the most common addition.

While opinions on this matter are divided, many nutritionists claim that fresh, low-fat milk added to coffee enhances its taste and provides health benefits.

Plant-based milks are becoming good alternatives to cow's milk. An oat milk latte or flat white with almond milk enhances the beverage's flavour and softens its characteristic bitterness. However, it is important to check whether the drink contains sugar.

It's also worth paying attention to once-popular powdered milk or powdered creamers. Due to their high degree of processing, they are not a valuable addition to coffee.

It is worth giving up sugar as an additive. Even one teaspoon significantly raises glucose levels, which can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. According to nutritionists, caution is also required with sweeteners or other sugar substitutes.

Seemingly healthier than sugar, these substitutes sometimes come with a long and complicated composition, which can be harmful.

It is worth using natural, sweet substitutes like erythritol, stevia, or xylitol, though in moderation. Other beneficial additives to our health include honey, spices (such as cardamom and cinnamon), and cocoa.