Do Lattes Have Sugar? Unveil the Alarming, Hidden Sugars Now

Expert Consulted: Carl. Utilizing my 6 years of experience in the coffee industry, I’m able to provide accurate and concise information, helping you make informed choices about beans, brewing methods, and equipment, thereby elevating your coffee experience. In this article, I’ll be sharing my knowledge with you to answer the question: Do lattes have sugar?

---

I’m sure many of you have tried a classic latte and found it to be a very mild or “sweet” coffee, but could this have been due to the latte having sugar in it?

Caffè latte, commonly referred to simply as a latte, is crafted using espresso and steamed, textured milk which allows for a light layer of foam on top. In its pure form, a latte has no added sugar, but some people may choose to sweeten their drink. Although, it still contains about 18 grams of milk sugar in each 16-ounce serving.

If you’re looking for a more detailed explanation, I’ve expanded further upon this subject in the rest of this article so that you know if you should add any sugar to your cup.

Related Article: How To Practice Latte Art

Should You Add Sugar to a Latte?

Simply put, it’s completely up to you. Some people may prefer some extra sweetness in their coffee, but adding sugar is absolutely not a necessity.

If you happen to be one of these people who love a sweeter coffee or just someone who enjoys different flavors, you may be interested in experimenting with flavored syrups.

Added Sugar In Flavored Lattes

While milk itself naturally contains some sugar, lattes flavored using syrups will carry more sugar in them due to the syrups used. The typical syrup flavors you’ll find are vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut.

As expected, the amount of sugar in your flavored latte will depend mostly on the type of syrup used and the amount that you add.

Let’s take Starbucks for example, a grande vanilla latte from Starbucks contains roughly 24 grams of sugar, while a grande caramel latte contains about 33 grams of sugar.

In conclusion, lattes can contain both natural and added sugar. The quantity of sugar you’ll find in your latte will solely depend on the type of milk and syrup used, as well as the amount added.

However, if you’re someone who’s looking to cut down on sugar, you should consider ordering your favorite latte with a milk alternative, or if you’re a syrup lover, less syrup and perhaps trying a sugar-free syrup.

Comparing Sugar Content: Lattes vs Other Beverages

As a fellow latte lover, you might be curious about how much sugar you’re consuming from your latte when you compare it to other popular beverages. So why don’t we take a look at the sugar content of some common drinks?

• Soda: A 12-ounce can of soda can contain up to 40 grams of sugar, which comes out to more than double the amount of sugar in a standard latte, depending on which soda you’re drinking.

• Fruit Juice: A 12-ounce serving of fruit juice can contain up to 36 grams of sugar, meaning this is also more than double the amount of sugar in your standard latte. This will also depend on the brand.

• Energy Drinks: A 16-ounce energy drink can have up to a whopping 54 grams of sugar, that’s equivalent to roughly 13.5 teaspoons! This means your energy drink may contain more than triple the amount of sugar found in a standard latte. Of course, this depends on the energy drink.

Alternatives to Sugar In Lattes

So, now that we know lattes will always contain some form of sugar, let’s talk about some alternatives to sugar that you could use to sweeten your latte without adding extra calories to your cup.

Sugar-Free Syrups

This type of syrup is typically made with artificial sweeteners like sucralose or aspartame. You will find that most syrup flavors will also be available in the form of a sugar-free one.

These are great options for you if you’re trying to cut back on sugar, so maybe think about asking your barista if they offer any sugar-free options.

Honey

You may have already heard of putting honey in coffee, and that’s because honey is a natural sweetener that you could use to elevate your coffee experience.

Honey contains antioxidants and also has a lower glycemic index than sugar, which means it won’t cause your blood sugar levels to rapidly spike.

However, it’s worth mentioning that honey is still a form of sugar and should always be used in moderation.

Stevia

Stevia is a natural sweetener that is created from the leaves of the stevia plant. It is roughly 100-300 times sweeter than sugar, so a little really goes a long way.

Stevia is also calorie-free and has no carbohydrates or artificial ingredients. You will be able to find stevia in almost any store that you visit.

It’s worth noting that the taste of stevia is not for everyone.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a very potent yet tasty spice that many use to add a little bit of extra flavor to their coffee.

Cinnamon has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels and could even have some anti-inflammatory components.

All you need is just a pinch of cinnamon sprinkled over your latte for a lovely warm and spicy flavor.

Summary

So, now you know that all lattes will contain some form of sugar and the sugar content will vary depending on the type of latte and where you are purchasing it from.

Thankfully I have listed some alternatives for you to cut back on your sugar intake or if you just want to change things up a little. Those alternatives are sugar-free syrups, honey, stevia, cinnamon, and different types of milk.

Also, if you were wondering, I listed the sugar content in the following beverages: Energy Drinks, Fruit Juice, and soda. But of course, the values listed could change significantly depending on the brands of each one.

Finally, get out there and indulge in your favorite latte, you deserve it.

Image Attribution and Licensing

Main image: ‘Woman pouring sugar into Coffee Cup’ by ARTFULLY79 (Canva Pro).

#1: ‘Coffee Sugar’ by pixelshot (Canva Pro).

#2: ‘Honey’ (Canva Pro)

#3: ‘Stevia’ (Canva Pro)

#4: ‘Cinnamon’ (Canva Pro)