This post has been updated since its initial publish date to include more expert insight.
If you find yourself buying your coffee more often than making it yourself, you’re not the only one. Popular coffee chains like Starbucks and Dunkin, offer plenty of different coffee orders from lattes and mochas to cappuccinos and americanos. While a lot of these orders end up hindering weight loss goals, there are plenty of ways to take your coffee that could help you shed some pounds, whether that’s drinking it plain black, lightly sweetened, or with alternative milk.
Many of us see the plethora of drink options on these menus and become tempted by their seasonal drinks or new beverages, and trendy ones usually contain lots of fat and sugar. The white chocolate mocha, a popular mainstay on Starbucks’ menu, and the iconic Starbucks Frappuccino are undeniably delicious, but experts warn that their saturated contents can seriously impact your health if consumed frequently. We spoke to Daniel Maman, a health coach, Karisa Karmali, a certified nutrition coach, Nataly Komova, a registered dietitian and fitness expert, and Trista Best, a registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements, to learn more.
1. White Chocolate Mocha: 430 Calories
Starbucks’ white chocolate mocha beverage, as written on their website, is a "signature espresso meets white chocolate sauce and steamed milk, and then is finished off with sweetened whipped cream to create this supreme white chocolate delight." While this sounds (and tastes) amazing, Maman says that this drink is just not worth it.
"Starbucks' White Mocha Frappuccino with whole milk has 500 calories and 12 grams of saturated fat, which is 60 percent of the daily maximum recommended amount," he notes. Maman explains that this drink can lead to "serious cardiovascular effects such as arterial obstruction." Yikes!
"[White chocolate mochas] contains two and three times the optimum amount of added sugars that a healthy individual should drink per day," Maman notes. Even if you have a sweet tooth, that's a lot of sugar.
Karmali stresses that "while everything in moderation is fine," this beverage is "a bit excessive," it's "very calorie-heavy with no nutritional value." Even if it is a delicious drink, we have to agree. If you want to lose weight, don't even think about getting the Frappuccino version of this drink.
2. Frappuccinos: 360-500 Calories
Despite the fact that these drinks are absolutely delicious, frozen coffee drinks–such as Starbucks Frappucinos– are loaded with refined sugar and full-fat dairy creamers that are terrible for your metabolism. If consumed regularly, Frappuccinos will eventually lead to weight gain.
"Unfortunately, for those wanting to lose weight, these coffee habits might be stalling their efforts," Best adds. This daily frozen coffee habit is detrimental to weight loss goals because they're practically milkshakes!
"Taking a cup of frozen coffee with creams and lattes, especially from coffee shops, can significantly slow down metabolism and trigger weight gain," Komova says. While black coffee is generally low in calories, frozen coffees are typically loaded with sugars from an abundance of syrup, full-fat milk, and whipped cream.
"Frozen coffee is high in sugars and calories, ranging from 400 to 1200," Kamova notes. "When you consume all of these calories as soon as you wake up, you're starting your body off on the wrong track for the rest of the day. Komova warns that this can "slow down digestion and metabolism while stripping you any natural effort of the body to cut weight."
"Consider using honey or cinnamon to flavor your coffee rather than refined sugars. These two ingredients are natural, [and] anti-inflammatory, and cinnamon can help to boost metabolism and stabilize blood sugar," Best recommends. "All of which," she adds, can improve "weight loss efforts and reduce bloating." Cinnamon can also improve memory and mood.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, coffee is generally okay to drink, even if you're trying to lose weight. However, it's crucial that you leave out sugary ingredients if you want to maintain a fast metabolism and lose weight. Unfortunately, that means removing Starbucks favorites like white chocolate mochas and Frappuccinos from your diet. Your body will thank you!
