Coffee creamer is an add-on ingredient to coffee that can greatly improve the flavor and decrease its bitterness. However, what happens if you decide to take a sip of coffee creamer by itself instead of adding it to your java? Before you fill up your mug with creamer, it’s important to understand what the effects may be when consuming this dairy-based product on its own.
Coffee creamer is made up of three distinct components; dehydrated milk, sugar, and special oils. This combination gives it a creamy, rich feel. Although in certain brands, preservatives and emulsifiers may also be used. The resulting liquid has a caloric density of 19 to22 calories per tablespoon and contains 2.7 to 2.9 grams of total fat. It is also an important source of dietary calcium.
If you decide to consume a cup of coffee creamer by itself, the most obvious effects are going to be its caloric density and creamy texture. Since it already contains significant levels of fat and calories, it can lead to weight gain when consumed on its own. This can be especially true if you look for flavored creamers that contain large amounts of sugar. Additionally, since creamer merely contains dairy products and vegetable oils, there are high chances that you can suffer from certain levels of lactose intolerance.
It is worth noting that the nutritional information of creamer can heavily depend on the brand or type you choose. You might find that some creamers include extra sweeteners or even hydrogenated oils. The latter type might cause some problems with your health, as studies indicate that consuming such ingredients can increase the rate of coronary heart disease.
While drinking coffee creamer on its own may lead to a few physical effects, it can also lead to different psychological occurrences. For instance, since creamer is usually reserved for coffee, drinking it alone might be a way of trying to substitute our feelings for something else. Specifically, the person might be looking for a way to feel elevated, either because the other person used to provide a company, or because of their habitual consumption of the product.
Having said that, the ultimate effect of drinking coffee creamer on its own depends on the amount that you consume at one time. If it’s a small quantity in one single cup, the effects might be limited to the calories and the presence of polyunsaturated fats. However, if you decide to drink larger quantities in a single sitting, it can lead to a surge of sugar, which might give you a momentary sugar high and mood elevation, while later leading to sugar crash or of course, weight gain.
What are the Other Alternatives to Coffee Creamer?
If you’re trying to avoid the possible effects associated with coffee creamer and still want to improve your coffee’s flavor, there are a few alternatives you can consider. For example, you might want to opt for a non-dairy creamer. These alternatives such as coconut, soy and almond can be better options for those with lactose intolerance. They are also usually made of all-natural ingredients.
If you don’t want to add anything to your coffee and still want to avoid the bitterness associated, you can attempt to use alternative cooking methods to make the coffee. For example, when using a moka pot, you can end up with a smoother cup of coffee that requires less “fixing.” Other methods you might consider are “cold brew”, with which you can create mild, sweeter coffee that also requires less filing.
What Else Can You Include In Your Coffee Instead of Creamer?
If you don’t want to opt for a non-dairy creamer, there are some other ingredients that you can add to your java in order to improve the flavor. One option is to add a bit of honey to the cup, which can give it a hint of sweetness. You can also add some cinnamon, which as long as it is in small amounts, can end up enhancing the flavor of the coffee.
Another alternative can be adding sugar. This classic ingredient can give a nice and subtle flavor to the coffee depending on the type you choose, and the residual heat can help the sweetness bloom. Moreover, you can also add almond extract or vanilla to your cup, which can give it a fantastic aroma.
Does Coffee Creamer Need to be Stirred?
Finally, when adding coffee creamer to our coffees, an important detail to take into consideration is the fact that it needs to be stirred. This is because coffee creamer is made up of dairy and fats that, when put into coffee, tend to float to the top instead of mixing up with the liquid.
For this reason, stirring the creamer in your cup is important, as it will properly mix up with the coffee and enhance the flavor. If the creamer is not stirred properly, it can result in weak layers of creamer and different degrees of intensity of flavor in the cup.
What can Happen if you Don’t Stir your Coffee Correctly
When coffee creamer is not streamed properly, it can drastically affect the taste of the beverage. This is because some parts might be less concentrated and have an inadequate dose of the creamer taste, while others areas can have an unmixed concentration of creamer that has not properly interacted with the other ingredients in the coffee.
Moreover, depending on the brand of creamer you use, you run the risk of finding unmixed oils floating in the coffee. This can result in a texture that is not pleasant to the palate. Lastly, this can also give us an indication of how perishable the creamer can be once it is part of the beverage.
Are there Any Disadvantages to Drinking Coffee Creamer on its Own?
In conclusion, drinking coffee creamer on its own can have a few consequences. Aside from the fact that is potentially harmful to consume in excess due to its fat content, drinking it on its own can lead to psychological effects. This can happen if the consumption of creamer serves as a way to supplant the company of someone or fill a void. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that each individual will have a different reaction when drinking it on its own.
If you want to enhance the flavor of your coffee, you can always look for alternatives to creamer, such as non-dairy creamers or natural ingredients. However, make sure to take into consideration the fact that when you opt for adding creamers to your coffee, you need to properly stir it in order to avoid unpleasant flavors and textures.
