Best Coffee Sweeteners (Top Picks) (2023)

FAQs

Which artificial sweetener tastes the most like sugar? ›

Erythritol Taste

Most people find that erythritol has a very similar taste to sugar and find the two indistinguishable. It even caramelizes like sugar.

Xylitol looks like sugar, tastes like sugar, and responds like sugar in baking. Among the sugar substitutes, xylitol is my favorite. Though it was not as sweet as the cake sweetened with sugar, the xylitol cake's texture was tender and cake-like and the flavor was pure.

Like the sugar alcohols xylitol and inulin, erythritol has a sweet flavor that closely resembles table sugar (sucrose), without the bitter aftertaste found in other sugar substitutes such as saccharin, sucralose (Splenda), and aspartame (NutraSweet).

Stevia. Stevia is one of the healthiest coffee sweeteners out there. It has zero calories like most artificial sweeteners, but is still considered a natural sugar substitute. It's a good choice then for diabetics watching their blood sugar levels or those watching their weight.

What sweetener is better than stevia? ›

Stevia and Sucralose Uses

Both can be used for anything; however, one is better for cooking than the other, and one is better for adding to drinks. Sucralose won't lose its sweetness when you put it in something hot, so it's best for cooking and baking.

Acesulfame-K — "safe

It's a good artificial sweetener to bake with, because it can retain its sweetness even at high temperatures. And it's 200 times sweeter than sugar. According to the FDA, more than 90 studies suggest that Acesulfame-K is safe for general use.

More than 90 studies support its safety. Sucralose is approved for use in food as a non-nutritive sweetener. Sucralose is sold under the brand name Splenda®. Sucralose is about 600 times sweeter than sugar.

Stevia is best used to sweeten beverages, desserts, and sauces, while Splenda is optimal for sweetening beverages.

Stevia and monk fruit extract each have a noticeable aftertaste, but monk fruit sweeteners have a milder residual flavor which most people find less objectionable than the somewhat-bitter aftertaste of stevia.

Aspartame Aspartame (also known as Equal) is one of the most popular artificial sweeteners, adding sweetness to diet sodas, desserts, cereals, and many other foods and beverages.

Monk fruit sweeteners taste different from regular table sugar, and some find the taste unusual or unpleasant. The sweeteners can also leave an aftertaste.

Refined (white) sugar is the most common coffee sweetener. Because it's refined, however, it's also bland (not much flavor besides the sweetness), and can also cause blood sugar spikes that can leave you feeling tired a short time after you've had your coffee (which rather defeats the purpose, if you ask us).

A high intake of coffee is linked to various health benefits. However, there are several ways you can improve these benefits even further. Most importantly, avoid loading your coffee with added sugar. Instead, you can flavor your coffee by adding a dash of cinnamon or cocoa.

Which coffee is best with sugar or no sugar? ›

Experts suggest that adults should drink at least two cups of black coffee without sugar every day, which is once in the morning after breakfast, and one cup in the evening. Black coffee also benefits the heart. The strong antioxidants in it aids in keeping the organ healthy and the beats regularly.

In general, there is no reason not to choose one of the natural sweeteners that don't affect blood sugar – Stevia, monk fruit, or allulose. They are all great for people with diabetes and you can choose whichever one you think tastes the best.

Adding sugar just corrupts this balance and results in a coffee that, in many cases, will taste horribly over-sweet (like drinking concentrated Ribena neat) or, in some cases, sour. The simplest analogy to make is to fine dining.

Grinder. If you're going to invest in any home brewing coffee equipment, the best place to spend is on a good grinder. Coffee tastes best just after it's been ground, so for the best flavours, freshly grinding whole beans is how you're going to perfect your coffee at home.

Grind your coffee immediately before brewing for maximum flavor. Experts say coffee begins to lose its flavor within 30 minutes of being ground. This being the case, it's best to grind on the spot, just before brewing a pot. Grind size and consistency matter quite a bit, as well.

You could try adding a little cinnamon or vanilla extract. Honey and agave syrup are also great ways to make your coffee taste better. These natural sweeteners have a different flavor than sugar and make for a unique-tasting coffee that you can customize to your liking!

Splenda is much sweeter than stevia

Stevia is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar and gets its sweetness from natural compounds in the stevia plant called steviol glycosides ( 9 , 10 ). Meanwhile, Splenda is 450–650 times sweeter than sugar.

Unlike stevia, which is known for a leafy licorice like aftertaste, Reb A has almost no aftertaste and is intensely sweet. Because it's present in Truvia in isolated form without the other stevia compounds, Truvia tastes nothing like stevia. Truvia contains erythritol, reb A, and natural flavors.

You can use dates, fruit purées, yacon syrup, honey, and maple syrup as alternatives to sugar. Although these sweeteners may offer limited health benefits compared with refined sweeteners, any sweetener should be used sparingly.

Which stevia brand tastes most like sugar? ›

Reb D and reb M are considered the "better-tasting" and "more sugar-like" stevia. Some brands that contain them include Splenda Naturals, Whole Earth, Wholesome, Stevita Naturals.

Stevia — in packet, drops or plant form — is a dietitian favorite. Not only does it contain zero calories, but stevia-based sweeteners are herbal as opposed to artificial. Stevia blended with a sugar alcohol called erythritol (Truvia®) works well in low-carb baked desserts, too.

The worst of the worst culprits include aspartame (found in Equal and NutraSweet), sucralose (found in Splenda), and Saccharin (found in Sweet 'N Low). Many people who cut artificial sugars out of their diets report the improvement of many health problems including migraines, depression, IBS, weight gain, and more.

Stevia may have antioxidant properties, but research shows that the mogrosides in monk fruit extract have much more powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The FDA has not approved stevia leaves or "crude stevia extracts" for use as food additives. These sweeteners do not raise blood sugars, but since they are relatively new products, it is advised to use them in moderation. Some studies have shown negative effects on the kidneys.

Both come from the stevia plant, but Truvia is a bit more processed and has additional ingredients including erythritol and natural sweeteners. Otherwise, there are minimal differences; both products are calorie-free and do not cause tooth decay seen with other sweeteners.

Stevia contains high quantities of diterpene glycosides, which cannot be broken down or absorbed by the digestive tract. Therefore, intake of stevia sweetener does not affect the blood glucose level.

Neither will affect your blood sugar levels. Nutritionally speaking, there is not much difference in these two products, so I can't say which is better. If you prefer something more natural, then you should choose Truvia.