The Ultimate Guide to the Calories in Coffee

A morning cup of coffee is more than just emotionally pleasing — it's also a relatively healthy way to start the day, given that it's low in calories and comes with additional health perks.

Consider coffee's health benefits: The brew is linked to a lower risk of several diseases, from type 2 diabetes to depression, per the Cleveland Clinic.

But milk, cream and sugar can change the nutrition profile of your cup of coffee pretty quickly. Keep scrolling to learn about the number of calories, nutrition info and amount of caffeine in coffee and popular add-ins.

From flat whites in Australia to espresso in Italy, there are about as many types of and ways to drink coffee as there are people who drink it around the world. But your average cup (6 ounces) of regular black coffee offers the following calories and nutrition info, according to the USDA:

• ‌Calories:‌ 2
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 0 g, 0% Daily Value (DV)
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 0 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 3.6 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrates:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Dietary Fiber:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Sugar:‌ 0 g
• ‌Protein:‌ 0.2 g, 0% DV
• ‌Calcium:‌ 3.6 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Potassium:‌ 87.2 mg, 2% DV
• ‌Phosphorus:‌ 5.3 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Caffeine:‌ 71 mg

The amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee varies. So does the size: A "cup" of coffee may be defined as anything from 6 to 12 ounces, not just the actual 8-ounce size of a cup measurement — and, of course, sizing will vary from one café to another.

On average, an 8-ounce cup contains 95 milligrams of caffeine, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. That measures out to about 71 milligrams of caffeine in a 6-ounce pour or 143 milligrams in a 12-ounce serving. But that's just an average: Eight ounces of coffee from Starbucks (brewed with Pike's Blend) clocks in at 155 milligrams of caffeine, per the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Drinking decaf coffee provides the same taste without the side effects (think: jitteriness and inability to sleep) associated with caffeine. The nutritional content of the cup of joe will shift if you opt for decaf.

One cup of decaf coffee contains zero calories, according to the USDA. Of course, that's only the case if you drink black decaf coffee — milk, sugar and other add-ins will increase the calories in the beverage.

Here's a look at the other nutritional information for an 8-ounce cup of black decaf coffee:

• ‌​Calories:‌​ 0
• ​‌Total Fat:​‌ 0 g, 0% DV
• ‌​Cholesterol:‌​ 0 mg, 0% DV
• ‌​Sodium:‌​ 4.7 mg, 0% DV
• ‌​Total Carbohydrates:‌​ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌​Dietary Fiber:‌​ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌​Sugar:‌​ 0 g
• ​‌Protein:‌​ 0.2 g, 0% DV
• ‌​Calcium:‌​ 4.7 mg, 0% DV
• ‌​Potassium:‌​ 128 mg, 3% DV
• ‌​Phosphorus:‌​ 2.4 mg, 0% DV

The sodium in coffee increases slightly when you have decaf, instead of caffeinated, coffee. And despite the name, there is still some caffeine present: There's likely around 2 milligrams of caffeine in one cup of decaf coffee, according to the National Coffee Association — far less than the 95 milligrams of caffeine in a cup of regular coffee.

Think of an espresso as a concentrated blast of coffee: Unlike a typical cup, which is around 8 ounces or more, an espresso is served as either one or two shots, per Eldorado Coffee Roasters. A shot of espresso is an ounce.

Espresso can be made with any coffee bean, although it's common for the beans used for this concentrated beverage to be roasted longer, according to Eldorado Coffee Roasters. To qualify as espresso, the hot drink must be made in a dedicated machine that forces pressurized hot water through the finely ground beans, according to the Italian Espresso National Institute.

The result is a hot, thick drink that's strong in taste and caffeine. Like coffee, espresso does have calories — but very few. A 2-ounce espresso has 5.4 calories and 127 milligrams of caffeine, per the USDA. That means that drinking a two-shot serving of espresso delivers about the same amount of caffeine as a full cup of coffee, which might have between 95 and 155 milligrams of caffeine.

Espresso is a key component of other beverages at coffee shops, including lattes and macchiatos, which are higher in calories due to added milk and sugar.

Add a dash of milk or a sprinkle of something sweet to your cup of java and you'll change the drink's nutritional makeup.

The calories in coffee with milk are higher than when you drink it black.

Skim milk — or skimmed milk, as it's known in the United Kingdom — is whole milk with the fat removed. Semi-skimmed milk — which is common in the U.K. — has a fat content of 1.7 percent, according to the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland. Think of semi-skimmed milk as an in-between option, with half the fat content of whole milk.

Similar varieties of low-fat milk in the United States have either 1 or 2 percent fat content levels.

Here's a look at the nutritional breakdown of your cup of coffee if you add 1 fluid ounce (2 tablespoons) of 2 percent milk to your 6-ounce cup, according to the USDA:

• ‌Calories:‌ 17
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 0.6 g, 1% Daily Value (DV)
  • ‌Saturated Fat:‌ 0.4 g, 2% DV
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 2.4 mg, 1% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 15.9 mg, 1% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrates:‌ 1.5 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Dietary Fiber:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Sugar:‌ 1.5 g
• ‌Protein:‌ 1.2 g, 2% DV
• ‌Vitamin C:‌ 0.1 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Vitamin D:‌ 0.4 μg, 2% DV
• ‌Calcium:‌ 40.2 mg, 3% DV
• ‌Potassium:‌ 129.9 mg, 3% DV
• ‌Phosphorus:‌ 33.4 mg, 3% DV

Using 2 percent milk will deliver about the same calories and nutrition as semi-skimmed milk. You'll take in fewer calories if you choose to use 1 percent milk. Here's the nutritional breakdown for adding 1 fluid ounce (2 tablespoons) of 1 percent milk to your 6-ounce cup, per the USDA:

• ‌Calories:‌ 15
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 0.3 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Saturated Fat:‌ 0.2 g, 1% DV
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 1.5 mg, 1% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 17 mg, 1% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrates:‌ 1.5 g, 1% DV
  • ‌Dietary Fiber:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Sugar:‌ 1.6 g
• ‌Protein:‌ 1.2 g, 2% DV
• ‌Vitamin D:‌ 0.4 μg, 2% DV
• ‌Calcium:‌ 41.7 mg, 3% DV
• ‌Potassium:‌ 133 mg, 3% DV
• ‌Phosphorus:‌ 34.3 mg, 3% DV

As you might expect, the calories in coffee with milk ‌and‌ sugar are higher still than the calories in coffee with only milk added.

The precise breakdown of calories depends partially on which variety of milk you add to your cup and how much. That is, the calories in a cup of coffee with cream — or with half and half, flavored creamers or similar higher-fat milk options — will be higher than black coffee or coffee with a dash of skim milk.

Adding sugar leads to more calories. For instance, a single teaspoon of granulated sugar provides 16 calories, according to the USDA. Brown sugar offers comparable calories, at 17 calories in a teaspoon, per the USDA.

Here's how this plays out with some standard coffee preparations:

• A cup of coffee with 2 teaspoons of sugar and a quarter-cup of low-fat milk has 57 calories.
• A cup of coffee with 2 teaspoons of sugar and one serving of condensed milk has 155 calories.
• A 12-ounce cup of coffee with a tablespoon of light cream and a teaspoon of sugar has 49 calories.

The more fat content in your milk, the more calories you'll add. Putting light cream in your cup of coffee adds more calories than adding half and half to your cup. Choosing flavored creamers will also add additional fat and sugar calories.

You'll find many beverage options at coffee shops that are likely more complex than what you'd typically manage at home. Specific brands and blends will also have different values for calories and nutrition info. Scroll on for the calorie counts and nutrition facts for common coffee blends and café coffee varieties.

If you order a cup of coffee, chances are it's made with Arabic beans — they're the most common and popular beans, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In fact, Arabic or Arabica coffee, which is made with Arabica beans and originated in Ethiopia, makes up 75 to 80 percent of the coffee produced around the world, according to the Coffee Research Institute.

This bean is the likely starting point for the bag or tin of ground coffee that you pick up at the grocery store, as well as beverages that you order in coffee shops. And because Arabic coffee is the most common type of coffee in the word, the nutrition facts for your average cup mentioned above apply here: An 8-ounce pour of Arabic coffee contains 2 calories and around 95 milligrams of caffeine.

The other variety of coffee — Robusta — may be easier to grow and have higher levels of caffeine, but it's considered less delicious, per the Coffee Research Institute.

No matter which bean your coffee is made from, the beverage is rich in antioxidants (which help ward off the damage caused by free radicals), per the Mayo Clinic. The antioxidants may also have an anti-inflammatory effect, per the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Coffee also contains polyphenols (aka, micronutrients found in plants), including chlorogenic acid and quinic acid, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. These phytonutrients have antioxidant effects on the body and may also promote the destruction of abnormal cells for potential cancer prevention. There is what the American Institute for Cancer Research deems "probable" evidence that drinking coffee cuts the risk of endometrial and liver cancers, and "limited suggestive" evidence that it reduces the risk of mouth, pharynx, larynx and skin cancers.

Plus, you'll also get nutrients, such as potassium, niacin and magnesium, when you drink coffee, per the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Java lovers have been adding flavors to their coffee for generations, starting with adding nuts or spices to the beans. These days, flavored coffee usually relies on adding flavoring oils — such as vanilla, hazelnut or more unexpected flavors like banana almond — to the beans after they're roasted, according to Burman Coffee Traders.

While some coffees are flavored using natural flavors — for instance, vanilla can come from a vanilla bean — it's also possible for the flavors to come from a lab, where a flavor component is isolated and then reproduced. That's why some coffees are labeled as having "natural and artificial" flavoring.

Flavored coffee beans don't change the nutritional makeup of a cup of coffee much; these flavors are "non-nutritive," typically adding less than a calorie per cup, according to New England Coffee.

An 8-ounce cup of French vanilla coffee with no sugar has 2 calories. That's true for a serving of coffee made with hazelnut-flavored beans, too.

Vietnamese iced coffee is made by adding sweetened condensed milk and ice to strong, dark-roast brewed coffee. The coffee on its own has virtually no calories — it's that thick, luscious condensed milk that's the source of the calories in this beverage.

The calories in Vietnamese iced coffee vary based on how much canned milk is added to the cup. Between 2 and 4 tablespoons is typical. If you added 2 tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) of condensed milk to your 6-ounce cup of coffee, the beverage would have the following calories and nutritional information, per the USDA:

• ‌Calories:‌ 125
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 3.3 g, 5% Daily Value (DV)
  • ‌Saturated Fat:‌ 2.1 g, 10% DV
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 13 mg, 4% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 52.1 mg, 2% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrates:‌ 20.8 g, 7% DV
  • ‌Dietary Fiber:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Sugar:‌ 20.8 g
• ‌Protein:‌ 3.2 g, 6% DV
• ‌Calcium:‌ 112.1 mg, 8% DV
• ‌Potassium:‌ 228.9 mg, 4.8% DV
• ‌Phosphorus:‌ 101.9 mg, 8% DV
• ‌Vitamin C:‌ 1 mg, 1% DV
• ‌Vitamin D:‌ 0.1 μg, 0% DV
• ‌Iron:‌ 0.1 mg, 0% DV

Add steamed milk and chocolate to your everyday cup of coffee, and you've got yourself a mocha. It's a delicious option, but a mocha can easily become packed with sugar and calories, particularly if it's topped with whipped cream.

Many versions of mocha coffee are available, including hot and iced commercially prepared varieties that have low-fat or nonfat milk ingredients and instant powders for use at home.

Mocha-flavored instant powders are convenient. To prepare, all you have to do is add hot water. An 8-ounce mocha has the following calories and nutritional information, per the USDA:

• ‌Calories:‌ 14
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 0.6g, 1% DV
  • ‌Saturated fat:‌ 0.2g, 1% DV
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 0 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 9 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrates:‌ 2 g, 1% DV
  • ‌Dietary Fiber:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Sugar:‌ 1.3 g
• ‌Protein:‌ 0.1 g, 0% DV
• ‌Calcium:‌ 6.8 mg, 1% DV
• ‌Potassium:‌ 27 mg, 1% DV
• ‌Phosphorus:‌ 7.4 mg, 1% DV

A medium mocha latte from Dunkin' (with no sweetener and skim milk) has the following calories and nutrition:

• ‌Calories:‌ 250
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 4 g, 5% DV
  • ‌Saturated Fat:‌ 0.5 g, 3% DV
  • ‌Trans Fat:‌ 0 g
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 160 mg, 7% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrates:‌ 53 g, 19% DV
  • ‌Dietary Fiber:‌ 4 g, 14% DV
  • ‌Sugar:‌ 33 g
  • ‌Added Sugar:‌ 27 g, 54% DV
• ‌Protein:‌ 3 g, 6% DV
• ‌Vitamin D:‌ 4 mcg, 20% DV
• ‌Calcium:‌ 391 mg, 30% DV
• ‌Iron:‌ 1 mg, 6% DV
• ‌Potassium:‌ 496 mg, 10% DV

A cappuccino — hot or cold — is made with espresso and frothed milk or cream, according to Iowa State University.

Specific nutrition facts for a cappuccino may differ depending on where you purchase the drink and the variety of milk it's made with. The milk is the main source of calories in a cappuccino.

An 8-ounce cappuccino made with nonfat milk has 46 calories, according to the USDA. That same cappuccino delivers 4.1 grams of protein. But swap nonfat to whole milk, and the calories in a cappuccino will increase. An 8-ounce cappuccino made with whole milk has 70 calories, according to Starbucks. There are the same calories in a cappuccino made with almond milk as one with whole milk, per Starbucks.

Often, a cappuccino is served with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top; this doesn't increase the calories, because a full teaspoon of the spice contains just 6 calories, according to the USDA, so a sprinkle's worth is insignificant. More decadent toppings (think: shaved chocolate) will add more calories.

Flavored versions of cappuccinos rely on sugary syrups and other additives, which can shift your drink's nutritional makeup.

For instance, a small French vanilla cappuccino from McDonald's contains flavored syrup as well as the espresso and whole milk, and clocks in at 190 calories per serving, according to McDonald's. It also contains 5 grams of fat, 30 grams of carbohydrates and 6 grams of protein. A bigger size will deliver more calories: McDonald's large size has 310 calories.

A latte is a coffeehouse classic, traditionally made using espresso and steamed whole milk with a light topping of foam. You can typically substitute in other types of milk, such as 2 percent, nonfat or non-dairy options.

A latte is very similar to cappuccino, but contains more milk, according to Coffee Bros., a New York-based roasting company. Both a latte and cappuccino have caffeine, unless they're prepared with decaffeinated beans.

An 8-ounce coffee latte contains 103 calories, 4 grams of fat and 6.6 grams of protein, according to the USDA. A latte made with skim milk has just 9 calories, no fat and less than a gram of protein, per the USDA. An 8-ounce latte made with soy milk contains 100 calories, 3.5 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein, according to Starbucks.

The calories in a latte increase with the size of the beverage. For example, a 12-ounce Starbucks latte with soy milk has 150 calories.

The nutritional makeup of a latte will also change with add-ons such as whipped topping, sugar or a shot of flavored syrup. A latte without sugar will have fewer calories than one with a spoonful stirred in.

As with espresso, Turkish coffee has a specific brewing process and is served in a small cup. What makes this drink unique is that it's brewed with sugar.

The amount of sugar is up to your own personal preference, according to Turkish Coffee World, a purveyor of the supplies used to make this type of beverage. That means the calorie count will vary based on how much sugar is added. A single teaspoon of sugar has 16 calories, per the USDA.

The Italian coffee company illycaffè describes the process of brewing Turkish coffee: Water is boiled in a cezve, a small copper or brass pot, with sugar added. Once the sugar and water come to a boil, finely ground coffee beans are added, and the mixture is boiled twice, with foam skimmed off and thrown away after the first boil.

There are many coffee brands out there, from the ones sold solely in the grocery store to the bags and tins from familiar coffee shops, such as Dunkin' (formerly Dunkin' Donuts), Peet's Coffee and Starbucks.

When you grab a cup of coffee from a fast-food retailer or gas station, the calories can vary. Of course, a black cup of coffee will have the same calories regardless of where you purchase it. But custom caffeinated drinks can differ, depending on the add-ons.

Take a look at the calories in coffee from several brands and establishments you'll find across the United States.

This coffee shop first opened in Seattle, Washington, in 1971, according to the Starbucks website. Now, there are more than 30,000 locations, and Starbucks beverages, known for their unique flavors and sweet-tooth-satisfying combos, are ubiquitous worldwide.

‌Frappuccino‌

Starbucks' Frappuccinos are a trademarked beverage containing a blend of ice, coffee and milk mixed with each customer's preferred flavored syrup and a sweetened base. According to Starbucks, the beverage was created during a hot Los Angeles summer in the 1990s, and named after a slushy drink served at The Coffee Connection, a Boston coffee chain the company acquired in 1994.

You can have a Frappuccino made to order, and they're also sold in stories in bottled form. Frappuccinos are popular in part because you can customize the ingredients to suit your preferences. You can add espresso, adjust the type of milk it's made with and switch up toppings and syrup add-ins.

Based on Frappuccino nutritional facts, it's likely best to think of this beverage as being more like a dessert than a caffeinated pick-me-up. The calories in a Starbucks Frappuccino depend on the size of the beverage, the type of milk it's made with and the toppings and syrups that are added.

A 12-ounce Frappuccino made with nonfat milk has 160 calories, 2.5 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein, according to Starbucks. But many varieties of this beverage are far more involved, with additional ingredients that can increase calorie count or fat and sugar content. Order a 12-ounce Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino made with skimmed milk, and you'll get 350 calories. This beverage has 17 grams of fat and 4 grams of protein.

‌Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino‌

A Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino is another delicious treat. It combines rich coffee with smooth caramel and milk, topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel.

The default size of this beverage is 16 ounces (a grande). It contains 380 calories, 16 grams of fat, 54 grams of sugar and 4 grams of protein, per Starbucks. Due to the coffee, there's also 90 milligrams of caffeine.

As with many Starbucks beverages, you can adjust how it's made — doing so can change the drink's nutritional profile significantly. For instance, you could opt to use nonfat milk, reduce the pumps of flavored syrup or remove the whipped cream.

Starbucks offers other frosty beverages for caramel-lovers, too: Caramel Brulée Frappuccino Blended Beverage and Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino Blended Beverage.

‌White Chocolate Mocha‌

Starbucks also sells the white chocolate mocha, a delicious, high-calorie sip.

The 16-ounce espresso-based drink contains 430 calories and 18 grams of fat, according to Starbucks. A white chocolate mocha has 53 grams of sugar (that's about the same as a piece of chocolate cake, which has 55 grams of sugar, per the USDA).

You may be surprised to find that a white chocolate mocha is a protein source, with 15 grams. That's more protein than you'd get by eating two hard-boiled eggs, which contain 11 grams of protein, per the USDA.

The drink offers about the same caffeine as a standard cup of coffee, with 150 milligrams.

If you want to settle your white chocolate mocha craving but are looking to cut calories, you can adjust the ingredients. For instance, the default preparation includes whipped cream, which has 8 calories per tablespoon, per the USDA.

You could also switch to a lower-fat milk (the default is 2 percent).

‌Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte‌

A Pumpkin Spice Latte — affectionately abbreviated as PSL — is an iconic fall treat at Starbucks. It's only available seasonally, typically beginning in August, according to Starbucks.

The drink features espresso, pumpkin, spices, steamed milk and sweetened whipped cream. The pumpkin spice latte packs a lot of calories and sugar in a simple, comforting cup.

The standard order is a 16-ounce grande made with 2 percent milk and topped with whipped cream. The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte nutrition in this version contains:

• ‌Calories:‌ ​390
• ‌​Total Fat:​‌ 14 g, 18% DV
  • ​‌Saturated Fat:‌ ​9 g, 45% DV
  • ​‌Trans Fat:‌​ 0 g
• ​‌Cholesterol:​‌ 50 mg, 17% DV
• ​‌Sodium:‌​ 230 mg, 10% DV
• ‌​Total Carbohydrate:​‌ 52 g, 19% DV
  • ​‌Total Sugars:‌​ 50 g
• ‌Protein:​‌ 14 g, 28% DV

Adjusting your milk — to a nonfat version, or a non-dairy milk such as soy, almond or coconut milk — will shift the nutritional information for the beverage. The typical PSL also provides 14 grams of protein and 240 milligrams of sodium. Each drink contains 150 milligrams of caffeine.

If you're looking to keep calories in check, skip the whipped cream. Doing so will cut up to 110 calories, per Starbucks.​

The first Dunkin' Donuts opened in Massachusetts in 1950, but these days, the chain has spread far from its New England roots, with thousands of stores in the United States and internally, according to the Dunkin' website. (In January 2019, according to a news release on the Dunkin' website, the franchise followed the path of many celebrities, and dropped its last name, rebranding itself as simply Dunkin'.)

While donuts and other breakfast foods play an important role on the menu, caffeinated drinks are also a big draw for this franchise. Many of them are available, from flavored coffees to icy beverages that are closer to a milk shake in their flavors and nutritional profile.

Take a look at the calories and nutrition facts for several popular Dunkin' small-sized coffee drinks, per the Dunkin' nutrition guide:

As you can see, the calories vary a lot from one beverage to another. Plain coffee and lattes and cappuccinos prepared with skim milk are lower calories options. In fact, previously Dunkin' used to call out lattes as "lite" on the menu or label them as "DD Smart," given their nutritional profile.

The frozen coffee — formerly known as the coffee Coolatta — is a dessert-like treat, with a correspondingly high amount of calories.

Dunkin' drinks are typically available in small, medium and large sizes and can be prepared with many different types of milk, including dairy options, coconut milk and oat milk. As with all beverages, your choices when it comes to milk and sweeteners will affect the nutritional makeup of your order.

Maxwell House coffee comes in several varieties, including regular ground coffee, decaffeinated coffee, instant coffee, K-Cup pods, iced coffee and Cafe Style Flavors.

A 6-ounce cup of coffee made from Maxwell House Original Roast will have roughly the same calories and nutritional makeup as any cup of coffee (see above).

Maxwell House International Cafe coffee mixes come with creamer and sugar already added. Here is the nutritional makeup of a serving (1 1/3 tablespoons, or 17 grams) of Maxwell House International Cinnamon Dulce Cappuccino Cafe Beverage:

• ‌Calories:‌ 70
  • ‌Calories From Fat:‌ 15
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 2 g, 3% Daily Value (DV)
  • ‌Saturated Fat:‌ 2 g, 10% DV
  • ‌Trans Fat:‌ 0 g
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 0 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 65 mg, 3% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrates:‌ 14 g, 5% DV
  • ‌Dietary Fiber:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Sugar:‌ 11 g
• ‌Protein:‌ 0 g, 0% DV

The Maxwell House International Cafe coffees are available in both caffeinated and decaffeinated varieties.

McDonald's is a global chain that opened in the 1950s and has since been at the forefront of the fast-food industry ever since. The franchise serves more than just burgers and fries: McCafé beverages — from plain coffee to frappes and lattes — are also available.

‌Coffee‌

At McDonald's, you can order hot or iced coffee.

The premium roast coffee is made with 100 percent pure Arabica coffee beans, according to McDonald's. It's available in three sizes (small, medium and large) and contains zero calories when served black. Take a look at the nutrition facts for a small cup:

• ​‌Calories‌:​ 0
• ‌​Total Fat‌:​ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ​‌Saturated Fat‌: 0 g​, 0% DV
  • ‌​Trans Fat‌:​ 0 g
• ​‌Cholesterol:‌ 0 mg, 0% DV​
• ​‌Sodium:‌ 20 mg, 1% DV​
• ‌​Total Carbohydrate:‌ 1 g, 1% DV​
  • ​‌Total Sugars:​‌ 0 g
• ​‌Protein:‌ 2 g​, 4% DV

Adding milk or sweetener changes the nutritional profile of the beverage.

Another calorie-free hot coffee beverage available at McDonald's is an Americano, which is hot water poured over espresso.

Iced coffee is available plain or with added flavored syrups, including caramel, hazelnut, French vanilla and sugar-free French vanilla. An iced coffee at McDonald's is made with light cream and sugar. A small iced coffee contains 140 calories, 5 grams of fat, 22 grams of sugar and 2 grams of protein.

A small iced caramel coffee is made with caramel syrup in place of sugar, and the nutritional profile is similar: It has 140 calories, 5 grams of fat, 20 grams of sugar and 3 grams of protein.

‌Latte, Macchiato and Cappuccino‌

McDonald's also serves lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos — the latte and macchiato drinks are available hot or iced. Here is information on the nutritional makeup of these beverages in a small serving size:

‌Frappés‌

Frappés are flavored and blended coffee drinks topped with whipped cream and a drizzle to match the beverage's flavor. McDonald's serves two varieties: a mocha frappé and a caramel frappé, both available in the standard small, medium and large sizes.

A small caramel frappé has 420 calories, 17 grams of fat, 55 grams of sugar and 7 grams of protein. A mocha frappé in the same size has a very similar nutritional makeup, but with 54 grams of sugar.

Larger frappé sizes unsurprisingly have more calories: A large mocha frappé contains 670 calories. That's more calories than many desserts, including a regular-size McFlurry made with Oreos, which has 510 calories.

Tim Hortons is a bakery and coffee shop that originated in Canada. There are thousands of locations of this franchise in Canada, and several hundred in the United States, according to Tim Hortons.

Take a look at the nutritional information for several caffeinated beverages available at Tim Hortons.

‌Brewed Coffee‌

Tim Hortons' offers regular and decaf brewed coffee in four sizes, from small to extra large. Here's the nutrition info for a small cup of the original blend:

• ​‌Calories‌:​ 5
• ‌​Total Fat‌:​ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ​‌Saturated Fat‌: 0 g​, 0% DV
  • ‌​Trans Fat‌:​ 0 g
• ​‌Cholesterol:‌ 0 mg, 0% DV​
• ​‌Sodium:‌ 5 mg, <1% DV​
• ‌​Total Carbohydrate:‌ 0 g, 0% DV​
  • ​‌Total Sugars:​‌ 0 g
• ​‌Protein:‌ 0 g​, 0% DV

A small cup of coffee has 140 milligrams of caffeine, while an extra-large size of dark-roast coffee has 320 milligrams of caffeine, per Tim Hortons. A small cup of decaf coffee has 6 milligrams of caffeine.

‌The Double Double‌

Each Tim Hortons Double Double coffee contains two servings apiece of sugar and cream. A Double Double's calories vary based on the size of the coffee you order.

A small Double Double coffee contains 130 calories, 5 grams of fat, 16 grams of sugar and 1 gram of protein, per Tim Hortons. With a bigger cup comes more calories: An extra-large sized Double Double contains 300 calories, 18 grams of fat, 34 grams of sugar and 3 grams of protein.

‌Speciality Coffee Beverages‌

Tim Hortons also offers a variety of specialty beverages. Take a look at their nutritional makeup, including how much caffeine is present in a small-sized serving, according to Tim Hortons:

Burger King offers two types of iced coffee. A small size of the "plain" iced coffee from the chain has the following nutritional makeup, per the Burger King website:

• ​‌Calories‌:​ 153.8
• ‌​Total Fat‌:​ 7.6 g, 10% DV
  • ​‌Saturated Fat‌: ​4 g, 20% DV
  • ‌​Trans Fat‌:​ 0.3 g
• ​‌Cholesterol:‌​ 23.4 mg, 8% DV
• ​‌Sodium:‌​ 28.7 mg, 1% DV
• ‌​Total Carbohydrate:‌​ 20.6 g
  • ​‌Total Sugars:​‌ 20.6 g, 7% DV
• ​‌Protein:‌​ 1.2 g, 2% DV

Burger King also offers a plain cold brew coffee, which contains no calories, fat, sugar or protein. Hot coffee — both caffeinated and decaf — are also available at the chain.

A black coffee from 7-Eleven — or anywhere — is a low-calorie drink, but opting for the convenience store's flavored coffee drinks will add sugar and fat. For instance, an 8-ounce pumpkin spice latte contains 160 calories, 5 grams of fat, 17 grams of sugar and 1 gram of protein, according to 7-Eleven's Canadian website.

The convenience store chain offers many other flavored coffee beverages, with the following nutrition facts, per 7-Eleven:

Circle K is a chain of convenience stores originally founded in 1951 in El Paso, Texas. Now, there are Circle K locations around the world, selling fuel, snacks, food and many caffeinated beverages.

This includes the Circle K iced cappuccino, which has the following nutrition facts for a 13.7-ounce serving.

• ​‌Calories:​‌ 280
• ‌​Total Fat:​‌ 3.5 g, 5% DV
  • ​‌Saturated Fat:‌ ​2.5 g, 13% DV
  • ​‌Trans Fat:​‌ 0 g
• ‌​Cholesterol:​‌ 20 mg, 7% DV
• ‌​Sodium:‌​ 130 mg, 6% DV
• ‌​Total Carbohydrate:​‌ 52 g, 26% DV
  • ​‌Total Sugars:​‌ 39 g, 22% DV
• ‌Protein:​‌ 11 g, 7% DV

Another popular choice is the Circle K vending machine pumpkin spice cappuccino, which has 150 calories in a 12-ounce serving, along with 4.5 grams of fat, 27 grams of sugar and 1.5 grams of protein.

You'll find many options when it comes to instant coffee. In addition to old-guard brands such as Folgers, Taster's Choice and Nescafé, newer brands, such as Starbucks Via, are gaining ground.

With minimal prep and equipment needs, instant coffee provides immediate, low-effort, caffeinated gratification.

Instant black coffee has so few nutrients that it doesn't require any nutrition information on its packaging. The nutritional content for black instant coffee is just about the same as a cup of black coffee brewed from ground whole beans.

Here are the calories and nutrition facts for a cup (6 ounces) of instant coffee prepared with hot water, per the USDA:

• ‌Calories:‌ 4
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 0 g, 0% Daily Value (DV)
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 0 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 7.2 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrates:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Dietary Fiber:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Sugar:‌ 0 g
  • ‌Added Sugar:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
• ‌Protein:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
• ‌Iron:‌ 0.1 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Calcium:‌ 7.2 mg, 1% DV
• ‌Potassium:‌ 53.7 mg, 1% DV
• ‌Phosphorus:‌ 5.4 mg, 0% DV

Once you add milk to your coffee — whether it's instant or brewed — you've changed it from a beverage with virtually no calories or nutrients to one with a bit more nutritional substance.

If you have instant coffee with milk, here's how many calories you'll add:

• ‌Skim milk:‌ 1 fluid oz. (2 tbsp.) of skim milk has 10 calories, per the USDA.
• ‌1 percent milk:‌ 1 fluid oz. (2 tbsp.) of 1 percent milk has 13 calories, per the USDA.
• ‌2 percent milk:‌ 1 fluid oz. (2 tbsp.) of 2 percent milk has 15 calories, per the USDA.
• ‌Whole milk:‌ 1 fluid oz. (2 tbsp.) of whole milk has 19 calories, per the USDA.
• ‌Cream (half and half):‌ 1 fluid oz. (2 tbsp.) of half and half has 40 calories, per the USDA.

There are plenty of milk alternatives available, too. See how many calories will be added to your beverage when you splash in 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of the following:

• ‌Soy milk:‌ 9 calories, per the USDA.
• ‌Almond milk (unsweetened):‌ 4 calories, per the USDA.
• ‌Oat milk (low-fat):‌ 11 calories, per the USDA (varies by brand).

Nescafé coffee products can be found in most grocery stores and their products range from simple coffee beans to cappuccino mixes to frappuccinos and more.

It's the originator of instant coffee, launching in 1938, according to food manufacturer Nestle. Instant coffee has a long shelf-life, and is easy to serve.

Nescafé sells a variety of versions of instant coffee, including Nescafé Clasico, which is available in a jar or in individual pouches, in a variety of blends (French roast, Colombian, a house blend and so on), per the Nescafé website. It's available in caffeinated and decaffeinated forms.

A 6-ounce cup of Nescafé Clasico — regardless of whether it comes from an individual pouch or is scooped from a jar — will have the same nutritional makeup of any cup of black coffee, namely 2 calories and around 95 milligrams of caffeine. (Adding sweetener or milk will change the brew's nutrition facts.)

As well as regular ol' instant coffee, Nescafé also makes many other instant coffee-related products including espresso, café au lait, latte macchiato, americano, coretto, ristretto, romano, con panna, granita de caffe, mocha and frappe.

A serving of Nescafé Gold Cappuccino Instant Coffee has 3 tablespoons of the coffee, which is then mixed with hot water. The calories and nutritional information of a cup of Nescafé cappuccino are:

• ‌Calories:‌ 90
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 1.5 g, 2% DV
  • ‌Saturated Fat:‌ 1.5 g, 8% DV
  • ‌Trans Fat:‌ 0 g
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 0 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 75 mg, 3% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrates:‌ 19 g, 6% DV
  • ‌Dietary Fiber:‌ 1 g, 4% DV
  • ‌Sugar:‌ 13 g
• ‌Protein:‌ 2 g, 4% DV
• ‌Potassium:‌ 200 mg, 4% DV
• ‌Calcium:‌ 75 mg, 6% DV

Each serving of Nescafé instant coffee contains between 50 and 90 milligrams of caffeine, per the Nescafé website.

Van Houtte is a North American coffee roaster that produces a variety of regular and flavored coffees, such as the French vanilla flavor, according to the company's website.

Making Van Houtte coffee is easy, because it's available in bags or in single-serving pre-packaged K-cup pods. Brewing a K-cup of Van Houtte French vanilla coffee will lead to the same calories and nutritional makeup as a standard cup of black coffee, about 2 calories and 95 milligrams of caffeine.

Van Houtte also has franchise locations throughout Canada.

Folgers Instant Coffee comes in regular or decaf versions and as crystals and sticks. When you brew up a cup of this instant coffee, you'll get the same calories and general nutrition makeup as a standard cup of black coffee (see details above).

Shifting to the instant Folgers Cappuccino will add calories. Folgers French Vanilla Flavored Cappuccino, for instance, has both milk and sweetener added. Here's the nutritional information and calories for a 3-tablespoon serving:

• ‌Calories:‌ 130
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 3.5 g, 5% DV
  • ‌Saturated fat:‌ 3.5 g, 18% DV
  • ‌Trans fat:‌ 0 g
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 0 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 150 mg, 6% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrates:‌ 24 g, 9% DV
  • ‌Sugar:‌ 20 g
  • ‌Added sugar:‌ 16 g, 32% DV
• ‌Protein:‌ 1 g, 2% DV
• ‌Calcium:‌ 32 mg, 2% DV
• ‌Potassium:‌ 228 mg, 4% DV

When you're tired, in a hurry and don't want to spend a lot of money, coffee from a vending machine is appealing. Vending machine coffee is available all over, including workplaces, convenience stores and gas stations.

Vending machine "coffee" is a bit of a misnomer; typically, these machines have a touch screen or buttons allowing you select from a variety of beverage options. For instance, the USI Geneva coffee vending machine offers 34 possible drinks, from coffee to cappuccino to hot chocolate, according to Betson, a distribution company.

Calories will vary, depending on which beverage you select — a beverage with milk, like a vending machine latte, will have more calories than a black coffee.

‌Vending Machine French Vanilla Coffee‌

Along with black coffee, vending machines dispense more intricate fare, too, such as fragrant, sweet French vanilla cappuccino.

The calories and nutritional value of these vending machine flavored blends vary, depending on which product the machine dispenses. In general, you'll find that sugar is the first ingredient on the list, and these mixes typically include corn syrup and coconut oil as well.

Here's a look at the nutritional information and calories in one single-serving, 15-ounce cup of one type of French vanilla cappuccino, according to the USDA:

• ‌Calories:‌ 80
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 4.5g, 7% DV
  • ‌Saturated Fat:‌ 4g, 20% DV
  • ‌Trans Fat:‌ 0 g
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 0 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 170 mg, 7% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrates:‌ 9 g, 3% DV
  • ‌Dietary Fiber:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Sugar:‌ 5 g
  • ‌Added Sugar:‌ 5 g, 10% DV
• ‌Protein:‌ 1 g, 2% DV

As you've gathered, adding milk or cream to your coffee makes a big difference to the beverage's nutritional value.

This table shows the calories and nutrition facts for 1 fluid ounce (2 tablespoons) of a wide range of milk options, according to the USDA:

Along with regular milk, there are many tempting creamers available. These are often available in both powder or liquid form. At restaurants and hotels, you may also find individual, single-use creamer containers.

Look for creamer in your local supermarket, and you'll find many options, from standard flavors associated with coffee (think: hazelnut, French vanilla) to more whimsical options (like birthday cake, Snickers and other dessert-like varieties). Seasonal options like pumpkin spice and peppermint mocha are also available.

Corn syrup or sugar is typically one of the top ingredients in these sweet coffee add-ins. Vegetable oil, flavorings and anti-caking agents are also typically on the ingredient list.

Take a look at the calories and nutrition facts for a 15 milliliter serving (that's roughly 1 tablespoon) of Coffee Mate Original Coffee Creamer:

• ‌Calories:‌ 20
• ‌Total Fat:‌ 1 g, 1% DV
  • ‌Saturated Fat:‌ 0 g, 0% DV
  • ‌Trans Fat:‌ 0 g
  • ‌Polyunsaturated Fat:‌ 0 g
  • ‌Monounsaturated Fat:‌ 1 g
• ‌Cholesterol:‌ 0 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Sodium:‌ 5 mg, 0% DV
• ‌Total Carbohydrate:‌ 2 g, 1% DV
  • ‌Total Sugars:‌ 1 g
  • ‌Added Sugars:‌ 1 g, 2% DV
• ‌Protein:‌ 0 g, 0% DV

Other Coffee Mate varieties have more calories, such as the Funfetti creamer and Pumpkin Spice, which each clock in at 35 calories per tablespoon.

And then of course there are the mini-creamers, those single-serving little creamer cups. Each Coffee Mate Liquid Creamer Singles is 0​​.375 fluid ounces and is lactose-free and shelf-stable, according to Nestle Professional.

The calories in a creamer cup differ depending on the variety; the Original version has 10 calories, as well as 1 gram of fat. With flavoring comes more fat and increased calories: The hazelnut flavor, for instance, has 25 calories, 1.5 grams of fat and 3 grams of sugar. An M&Ms-flavored mini creamer from Coffee Mate contains 30 calories, 1.5 grams of fat and 4 grams of sugar.

Coffee Mate also has several sugar-free varieties available. Coffee Mate is prepared by the manufacturer and requires no preparation beyond pouring it into the cup.