Does Low/No Sugar Cold Brew Exist?

We’ve read the stories. Coffee is good for us, and there’s plenty of evidence. Coffee is packed with health benefits, ranging from potential Alzheimer’s prevention to a possible inverse relationship with Type 2 Diabetes. 


That’s why we think of coffee as a healthy beverage. It can be. Coffee comes from the ground, after all—all we do is roast it and brew it. But the more we add to it, the further coffee gets from the health drink so many people enjoy.


What’s the main enemy? Sugar. 

 

WHY TRY NO SUGAR COLD BREW? 

Sugar has a way of slowly creeping up on us. It doesn’t look dangerous at first. 


On average, a coffee drinker adds about three teaspoons of sugar to their coffee every day. But that’s already one-third of the recommended daily intake from the American Heart Association, which amounts to about one 12-ounce can of soda. 


You’d be doing pretty good if you had nothing else remotely sweet that day. But any sugar intake adds up, creating a host of health risks:


  • Higher blood pressure
  • Inflammation
  • Weight gain
  • Fatty liver disease
  • Diabetes
  • Increased risk of heart attack and stroke

The result? Even one syrup-soaked, mega-sugar, cookies-and-cream cold brew from your favorite beverage chain is about as far removed from a healthy coffee beverage as a chocolate donut is from a cocoa bean. And it could put you well over your daily allotment of sugar, even if some part of you hopes that it’s healthier than a can of soda.


Cold brew coffee is tasty. It’s often more convenient than hot coffee. It’s perfect for getting your morning boost on the go. It’s just not worth trading your health over. Fortunately, you might not have to.

 

WHAT ABOUT COLD BREW WITH ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER? 

The easy solution is switching to a cold brew that doesn’t come from a drive-thru. When you take possession of the cold brew, you get to choose your own additives.


One possible alternative is using an artificial sweetener. Artificial sweeteners sweeten up cold brew coffee without the calories of sugar. According to the Mayo Clinic citing the National Cancer Institute:

“There's no sound scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the United States cause cancer or other serious health problems. Numerous studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are generally safe in limited quantities, even for pregnant women.”

You can also enjoy 100% organic cold brew without anything in it, and discover just how tasty it can be. In other words, you can have your sweet cold brew and drink it, too. Both low sugar cold brews and no sugar cold brews do exist—it just helps if you’re the one controlling what goes in them.

W. Bear