Coffee Sweeteners - A Guide

Sugar and coffee have a shared history of being expensive imports from European colonies and trade posts. However, people have been mixing these two ingredients together for centuries, with many coffee drinkers today searching for new alternatives to flavoring their cup. Today’s coffee sweetener options include natural ingredients like honey and spices, and manufactured alternatives like sugar alcohols. But similar to other mix-ins like milk, coffee sweetener can drastically alter the drinking experience

Coffee Sweetener: A Guide

Specialty coffee gets its name from the care and attention it receives from harvest to roast, ultimately providing the consumer with a nuanced (and delicious) flavor experience. Once properly extracted, sweetness is one of the naturally-occurring notes you encounter in specialty coffees, but for some, their ideal cup leans more towards the sweeter side of things. This is where sweeteners come in.

Flavored coffee isn't a recent phenomenon. In fact, adding sugar to brewed coffee dates back 500 years when European traders brought home “exotic” foodstuffs from far away lands. Sugar and coffee were two of these exciting discoveries that quickly became luxury items.

In 16th century Europe, only wealthy elites had access to coffee beans and a heaping spoonful of sugar. Aside from their high prices, these two ingredients were also considered a delicious combination due to sugar's ability to balance out the bitterness in coffee.

However, it should be noted that these were different times when people didn't have today’s access to bean variety. For the most part, coffee beans were of lower quality, roasted very dark, and, as a result, quite bitter. When Italy's espresso culture flourished and spread across the Mediterranean, so did the demand for bitter coffee, particularly dark roasted Robusta. This only made adding sugar in coffee more desirable to those who didn't care for a strong, unsweetened doppio espresso.

Eventually, prices for both sugar and coffee dropped, making them more attainable for working-class people. And as one can imagine, those with newfound access to these foods didn't hesitate mixing them together. But the European tradition of stirring sugar in coffee isn't the only method for sweetening your cup. Many cultures use spices like cinnamon, cardamon, and clove to achieve a different flavor profile. Other traditions, like in Vietnam, use sweetened condensed milk to simultaneously thicken and flavor their brewed Robusta. And then there are the man-made and naturally sourced sweeteners found in today's supermarkets that have made their way into people's kitchens (and morning cup.)

Similar to other mix-ins like milk, coffee sweetener can drastically alter the drinking experience. Each type of sweetener brings a distinct flavor to your coffee, whether it’s manufactured or naturally sourced. And like your favorite store-bought creamer or milk brand, choosing a sweetener ultimately comes down to personal preference. Some might prefer a more neutral-tasting option to not overpower the coffee's natural properties. On the other hand, other coffee drinkers might not enjoy coffee on its own and prefer altering it to their liking. So whether you're looking to venture into the world of flavored coffee or are interested in changing your typical coffee sweetener, here is a comprehensive guide for adding some extra flavor to your cup.