We all love the convenience of a Keurig coffee maker, especially in those early morning rush hours or during a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. But have you ever wondered whether that quick and delicious cup of coffee comes with a hidden calorie count?
Keurig K-Cups contain a minimal amount of calories. A standard K-Cup, which holds approximately 9-12 grams of ground coffee, typically contains around 2-4 calories. If a K Cup is flavored with milk or sugar, it can have a calorie count of up to 150.
The small calorie count in a K-Cup is unlikely to have a huge impact on your daily caloric intake unless you're drinking multiple cups throughout the day with added cream, sugar, or flavorings, which can add in more calories. But, we’ll break it down for you below so you can get an accurate calorie count with each drink.
Table of Contents
- Do Keurig K Cups Have Calories in Them?
- Where the Calories in Keurig K Cups Come From
- How Many Calories are in Popular Keurig K Cups
- How Many Calories are in…
- Starbucks K Cups
- Cinnabon K Cups
- Green Mountain K Cups
- Dunkin K Cups
- Donut Shop K Cups
- Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate K Cups
- Starbucks Peppermint Mocha K Cups
- How Many Calories are in…
- Do Flavored K Cups Have Calories?
- How the Calories are in K Cups Compared to Other Coffee Methods
- Do Keurig K Cups Have Sugar in
Do Keurig K Cups Have Calories in Them?
Yes, Keurig K-Cups do contain calories, typically around 2-4 calories per serving. Keep in mind that this estimate is for a plain black cup of coffee with no added creamer or sugar in it. When you start adding these items, the calories can quickly add up.
Personally, I’m one of those people who like flavored creamers (especially seasonal ones!), so I really have to watch how much I put in if I’m tracking my calories because they can take a simple cup of coffee and skyrocket the calorie count very fast.
If you do count calories, the amount in plain black coffee is so miniscule I recommend just ignoring it and only counting added calories from milk, cream, or sugar.
Related: Check out our in-depth article on the quality of Keurig coffee here.
Where the Calories in Keurig K Cups Come From
The calories in Keurig K-Cups come from the coffee grounds contained within the pod. When you brew a K-Cup, hot water passes through the ground coffee, extracting both the flavors and the natural oils present in the coffee beans. These oils are responsible for the rich aroma and taste of your brewed coffee. Along with the flavors, a small number of calories also get extracted from these oils and solubles.
These calories are a result of the energy content stored in the oils and compounds within the coffee beans. While the exact calorie count can vary slightly depending on the type of coffee and the specific brand of K-Cup you use, it typically ranges from 2 to 4 calories per serving. This calorie content is quite low and shouldn't be a huge concern for most people, especially if they're drinking it without additional calorie-heavy additives like sugar, cream, or syrups. So, you can safely savor your Keurig-brewed coffee with the knowledge that the calorie impact is relatively low.
How Many Calories are in Popular Keurig K Cups
If you're a Keurig enthusiast, you'll be delighted to know that many of your favorite K-Cup varieties come with a relatively low-calorie count. However, it's essential to keep in mind that the calorie content can vary depending on the specific flavor and any added ingredients.
Below, we've compiled a table with some popular Keurig K-Cups and their approximate calorie counts per serving to help you make informed choices. Please note that the calorie values listed are estimates and can vary slightly based on factors like serving size and preparation.
How Many Calories are in Cinnabon K-Cups?
Cinnabon Keurig K-Cups have 1-2 calories per serving.
How Many Calories are in Donut Shop K-Cups?
Donut Shop Keurig K-Cups have 1-2 calories per serving.
How Many Calories are in Dunkin K-Cups?
Dunkin Keurig K-Cups have 2-4 calories per serving.
How Many Calories are in Green Mountain K-Cups?
Green Mountain Keurig K-Cups have 2-4 calories per serving.
How Many Calories are in Starbucks K-Cups?
Starbucks K-Cups contain about 10 calories per serving.
How Many Calories are in Starbucks Peppermint Mocha K-Cups?
Starbucks Peppermint Mocha K-Cups have 150 calories per serving.
How Many Calories are in Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate K-Cups
Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate K-Cups have about 60 calories per serving.
Do Flavored K Cups Have Calories?
Yes, flavored K-Cups do have calories, but the calorie count can vary depending on the specific flavor and brand. Flavored K-Cups are typically infused with various natural or artificial flavorings to enhance the taste and aroma of your coffee. These flavorings can add a small number of calories to your brew, generally ranging from 5 to 20 calories per serving.
The exact calorie content in flavored K-Cups is influenced by factors such as the type and amount of flavorings used. Some flavors may contain a bit more sugar or other ingredients that contribute to a slightly higher calorie count. For example, mocha-flavored K-Cups are likely to have more calories (60, on average) than a standard black coffee K-Cup (2 to 4).
Additionally, if you add cream, sugar, or other toppings to your flavored coffee brewed from K-Cups, those ingredients will add even more calories to your cup.
If you're concerned about calorie intake, it's a good practice to check the packaging or product information to get a good idea of the calorie content of your specific flavored K-Cup variety.
Related: How to Make the Perfect Keurig Hot Chocolate
How the Calories are in K Cups Compared to Other Coffee Methods
The calorie content in coffee, including K-Cups, is primarily determined by the coffee itself and any additives you choose to include, such as sugar, cream, syrups, or flavored creamers. Here's how the calorie content in K-Cups compares to other common coffee brewing methods:
Do Keurig K Cups Have Sugar in Them?
Keurig K-Cups themselves typically do not have sugar as one of their primary ingredients. The main contents of a K-Cup are ground coffee, tea leaves, or other flavoring for drinks like hot chocolate or cider. However, it's essential to note that the flavorings and ingredients added to certain K-Cup varieties may include sugar.
Flavored K-Cups, for example, often have artificial or natural flavorings that can contain sugar or sweeteners to enhance the taste of the coffee. These additional sugars might vary depending on the taste, so it's important to check the package or product information to see if a certain K-Cup has sugar and how much.
In general, if you're concerned about the sugar level of your coffee, read the ingredients and nutritional information on the box of the exact K-Cup kind you want to use. There's rarely any nutrition info on the actual K-cup so you'll have to have the box available. This can help you decide if sugar is present and how much you may be drinking with each cup.
Related: Do K-Cups expire? And What Happens if you Drink them after they do? Check out our article here.
This article was written by Sara. You can learn more about Sara on our About the Team page.
