Coffee is a well-loved beverage all over the world. According to statistics, Americans spend about $ 1,100 a year on coffee.
You would think the caffeine in coffee keeps people coming back for more, but that’s not the case.
People are now broadening their coffee preferences to other beverages besides strong black coffee.
We now enjoy milky and sweetened coffee beverages like lattes more than black coffee because they are less acidic and more flavorful. That may be because of the additives we use to enhance their texture and flavor.
An additive that most of us cannot avoid adding to a cup of coffee is creamer. It is slowly replacing milk in coffee recipes. Powdered coffee creamer is especially popular. Why is this?
Here is some information about it.
What is Powdered Coffee Creamer?
Powdered creamer is an additive used to sweeten or reduce the acidity in coffee. It comes in liquid or powdered form.
Most people prefer adding powdered sugar-free creamer to their coffee to reduce sugar intake. These creamers are also dairy free, which makes them ideal for lactose-intolerant people.
Powdered creamer is usually flavored to give coffee a different taste, cutting down some of its bitterness and giving it a smooth texture.
These products are usually vegan friendly too. They are made of healthy ingredients such as monk fruit, cocoa butter, and MCT oil powder that suit people on diets such as the Keto diet.
Powdered coffee creamer is also preferred over dairy creamers such as half and half because it has a long shelf life. There are those who buy it to ensure they have creamer for their coffee on days when they can’t buy milk, or their milk goes bad.
Some people avoid powdered creamer because it contains trans fats and is highly processed. It is also packed with calories, with a serving containing between 10 and 20 calories.
It is a tastier additive to have in coffee than milk, and many people use it to give their coffee an appealing creamy consistency and texture. Some popular powdered creamer flavors are hazelnut, caramel, vanilla, and chocolate.
Powdered coffee creamer is a good coffee additive to have once in a while instead of actual dairy or powdered milk to make your coffee taste amazing.
Some examples of powdered coffee creamer you can try are Nestle Coffee-mate and Cremora non-dairy creamer.
What is Used to Make Powdered Coffee Creamer?
Powdered coffee creamer is made of ingredients that can add flavor to coffee and give it a thick and creamy consistency. These are;
- Sodium aluminosilicate: It is an anti-caking ingredient used in food items that can cause respiratory irritation.
- Hydrogenated vegetable oils: These oils, such as hydrogenated soybean oil, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil give creamer its nice consistency but have a high saturated fat content that raises the risk of heart disease.
- Corn syrup: Corn syrup is a sweetening agent used to give powdered creamer its sweet flavor.
- Sodium casein: A lactose-free milk protein that’s used in creamers as a stabilizing emulsifier.
- Artificial flavoring and color: These ingredients add flavor to coffee creamer, which is absent from other components. Some examples of flavors used in powdered creamer are caramel, hazelnut, and mocha.
- Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate: A food additive used as an emulsifier to improve the volume of processed foods.
- Silicon Dioxide: An anti-caking ingredient used in creamers as a thickener and flavor agent.
- Dipotassium Phosphate: A digestive aid also referred to as phosphoric acid used to digest proteins, sugars, and fats.
- Mono- And Diglycerides: These are fatty acids with glycerol that give creamer the ability to enhance the texture of a beverage by bringing together the water and fat molecules in it.
- Soy Lecithin: A mixture of oils and phospholipids derived from soy that is used to improve the texture and flavor of coffee creamer.
Conclusion
Now you know what is in powdered coffee creamer. Most of the ingredients in it are used to add flavor and give it texture-enhancing capabilities.
Some digestive aids and ingredients are easier on the stomach, such as casein which makes this product suitable for people with food allergies.
It’s important to note that powdered coffee creamer is a highly processed product with ingredients that can raise cholesterol levels.
You should consume it in moderation or opt for unprocessed natural dairy products that contain natural ingredients.
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