Coffee is the go-to drink for most of us whenever we need an energy boost. Its amazing taste and aroma are what we crave when we wake up in the morning, after a meal, or anytime we need to feel more alert.
Despite how refreshing coffee is, it’s characterized by bitter flavors many of us can’t take. That’s why we add flavored syrups, milk, and creamer to coffee.
These substances add a lot of calories to coffee. People are slowly walking away from these coffee additives and replacing them with healthier options such as half-and-half coffee creamer.
What is Half-and-Half Coffee Creamer?
Half and half is a coffee flavoring ingredient made by mixing cream and milk. It gets its name from the fact that it’s made of half cream and half milk.
This creamer is different from processed creamers made of water, sugar, and vegetable oil. It gives coffee a creamy texture and rich flavor while sweetening it to cut down on its bitterness.
People also prefer half-and-half because it contains less sugar than what is in processed creamer, which contains about 5 grams of added sugar per pack.
Considering that most people have to add at least two packs of these creamers to coffee, using them adds many calories to their coffee.
Health experts recommend we limit our intake of sugar to 6 – 9 teaspoons a day. That means taking half-and-half is better for us than using processed creamers.
This coffee additive is also packed with minerals and vitamins that enrich any coffee beverage it is added to.
These reasons show you why people prefer to add half-and-half to coffee, soups, sauces, and desserts such as panna cotta instead of using heavy cream.
It’s essential to know just how many calories are in a serving of half-and-half, to ensure you monitor your calorie intake when using it in coffee.
How Many Calories are in Half-and-Half Creamer?
A cup of half-and-half contains 320 calories which translates to 20 calories a tablespoon. It has 11 percent milk fat which is significantly less than the fat content in heavy cream and processed coffee creamers.
People prefer to use this creamer over that made with artificial additives because it contains fewer calories than other coffee flavoring agents.
Processed creamers also contain a lot of additives known to cause inflammation, such as high-fructose corn syrup, gellan gum, and cellulose gum.
Half and half is a better option for people who are focused on lowering their calorie content.
Although you can buy this creamer from the stores, it’s easy to make at home by mixing half a cup of whole milk with light cream and blending them together.
You can also add some flavor to your half-and-half by adding ingredients such as cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and cinnamon.
How to Make Cappuccino Coffee With Half and Half
You can use half and half to make coffee, such as breve and cappuccino, which are supposed to have a creamy, foamy texture.
Here is a recipe for cappuccino made with half-and-half.
Ingredients
2 shots of Espresso
2 tsp of brown sugar
Steamed milk
Procedure
- Start by frothing the half-and-half in a milk jug. Fill the jug with milk and leave an inch of space at the top for it to froth.
- It’s possible to steam or froth half and half like you do with whole milk. Dip the steam wand into the milk and steam it until tiny bubbles appear on the surface and it doubles in size.
- Gently thump the jug of half-and-half on a flat surface to remove any large bubbles and set it aside.
- Pour the hot shots of Espresso into a coffee mug, and follow that up with some half-and-half making sure you pour the milk foam onto the coffee surface last.
- Add some brown sugar and stir. Garnish the coffee with chocolate shavings or cinnamon, and enjoy.
Conclusion
Half-and-half creamer is a great additive to use in coffee instead of other options, such as heavy cream or processed creamers.
You may feel half-and-half coffee creamer will not sweeten or improve the texture of your coffee because it contains less fat and sugar than processed creamers.
That’s not the case. It sweetens and thickens coffee just as well as other creamers, with the added benefit of containing fewer additives and calories.
If you suffer from milk allergies, half-and-half is not for you. Try using plant-based coffee creamers made from coconut, almonds, and oats, which are low in calories and unlikely to trigger allergic reactions.
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