When I first decided to eat low carb, my coffee was my biggest stumbling block.
I used to drink my coffee with 2% milk and a couple tablespoons of sugar.
Yes, a couple of tablespoons. 😯
I experimented with several combinations for low carb coffee including Splenda (blech!), no cream (blech!), half & half, you name it.
Splenda is 1 carb per packet.
Many of the cream options were at least 1 carb per serving as well.
My biggest issue was that I started by limiting my intake to 20 net carbs a day.
I surely didn’t want to waste carbs in my coffee, considering how many cups I might like to drink in a day! That could add up quick, using up to half my daily limit on my coffee alone.
I’d much rather save my 20 carbs for good stuff! 😛 Fortunately I found a carb free coffee creamer, and a combination for my coffee that I absolutely love…
I switched to Heavy Whipping Cream and vanilla sugar-free coffee syrup.
(The photo to the right is from my recent camping trip.)
You want to check the labels when buying Heavy Whipping Cream, as some of them have 1 carb per serving. I always choose the zero carb brands such as Kroger brand or Purity.
Like I said, I don’t want to waste carbs in my coffee when there are better ways to spend them for the day! 😉
The Torani sugar-free syrups are fabulous. They use Splenda, but they don’t taste anything like using straight Splenda. They come in hazelnut, vanilla, french vanilla, chocolate, raspberry – and probably other flavors. I’ve found other uses for the syrups as well, including creating fun little desserts.
When ordering from coffee shops – including Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, and even McDonald’s – I often get an iced coffee “with whipping cream and sugar free vanilla syrup”.
I’m careful to specify “whipping cream” instead of “whipped cream” (big difference, lol).
If you’re looking for a carb free coffee creamer, go with Heavy Whipping Cream. It only takes a little (around a teaspoon per cup) to lighten your coffee. It’s very smooth, and makes a great creamer!
I used to buy the Da Vinci brand gourmet syrups. They have a ton of flavors and some really interesting recipes; not just for coffee.
http://www.mydrinkworks.com/DaVinci/Products/Sugar-Free-Flavored-Syrups
Thank you for the link, Pam – I’ll try them out! I use my syrups for various recipes as well, but look forward to browsing through some new ideas. π
I need to look for these syrups when we go shopping this weekend! I just looked at the label on my usual coffee creamer and there’s a ton of sugar in there.
It’s amazing what you discover when you start looking at labels… π― lol
Cheapest I have found them is on Amazon, they are plastic bottles so no worries on breaking in delivery and they sell a 4 bottle pack for around $20-$22 if you catch it right (price monitoring is always advisable on Amazon, they change practically daily) with free 2 day shipping if you have a Prime membership. Regular free shipping is about 4-5 days, right to the front door π
They have them at World Market, too!
Dollar Tree sells them at one dollar per bottle.
Here’s the 4-pack on Amazon for $33.14 + Free Shipping:
Torani Sugar Free Syrup, Vanilla, 25.4 Ounce (Pack of 4)
You can get the same sized bottles on Netrition for 7.99 each:
Torani Syrups on Netrition
which comes out to $31.96 (for 4) + $5.99 flat rate shipping.
So Amazon IS slightly cheaper – unless you are going to order some other things at Netrition – then the flat rate shipping covers everything you order anyway. π
Splenda is very bad for our bodies. Pls. educate yourselves
i vote for Splenda over rudeness, superiority and judgement! Anybody with me?
I didn’t think she was being rude at all! She is right. Artificial sweeteners of ALL types have been implicated in causing this current day epidemic of type II diabetes.
I was just thinking the same thing. Since when does Splenda get a pass when it is suspected of causing type II diabetes??
She isn’t right. Suspected isn’t evidence, there’s no medical or scientific consensus that they cause harm, so perhaps you 2 should educate yourselves before acting rudely on the internet. If you’re truly interested, here’s a good starting point: http://www.nyas.org/Publications/Ebriefings/Detail.aspx?cid=a1d17546-49f1-4841-b246-576a9d84d811
there is no scientific evidence of such claims
I concur. I was pre-diabetic and now my numbers are fabulous. However, I use Splenda drops which have zero carbs per serving.
I use stevia. From a plant. Not artificial. There are many liquid flavor available. Amazone has it.
Stevia -in high doses may cause Kidney, and reproductive problems as well as mutate genes. That is why the FDA will not allow unrefined or whole leaf Stevia in foods. Stevia has sugar alcohols added. Read the ingredients or contact the manufactures.
I’ve been buying these syrups in Cafe Alfresco brand at Dollar Tree for about a year now they only seem to have french vanilla and hazelnut but that’s good enough for me they are 12 oz bottles and I find them all over the country as I travel so try Dollar Tree coffee aisle very cheap zero carb syrup
Sam’s Club carries a limited supply of SF DaVinci syrups at least here in Georgia (Vanilla, Hazelnut, French Vanilla, Caramel) for a big savings over most online. Ours is $4.69 for a 25.4 oz bottle!
Good to know! I’m paying that for a much smaller bottle π
I think I may order some online as it’s a 2 hour round trip to the nearest Sam’s for me – not including shop time…
Hey Lynn Terry and Deb Mesa……. If you live close to a Dollar Tree you can also get (12.7 fl oz) Cafe al Fresco brand O cal Sugar Free Syrups for just a dollar……. π
love that Dollar Tree!
I concur. I was pre-diabetic and now my numbers are fabulous. However, I use Splenda drops which have zero carbs per serving.
It’s always cool when someone figure’s out a better way to make any food or snack product into a low carb or in this case carb free. Good Job. I’ll give this a try. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you – and thank you for the share on Facebook! π I found you there just yesterday and enjoy the finds you share. Good stuff!
I’m having trouble figuring out what a good ratio of cream to SF syrup is.
Hi Jennifer π I just have to go by taste. I use about a tablespoon of heavy whipping cream and a couple tablespoons of sugar free syrup – but that’s personal preference. It took me a little time to get the perfect combination.
I have been searching every blog there is bc I drink 4-5 cups of coffee a day and I have to have it with some type of sweetener and creamer. Do u think cream and SF syrups are the best? My coffee and lots of it is my guilty pleasure. I need help bc the cream ends up being lots of calories
Hi Terri,
I drink about the same amount of coffee. π I am currently using Coffee-Mate sugar free hazelnut powdered creamer, one carb per tbsp.
The powdered is creamier than the liquid, less carbs per serving, and takes less than the liquid – plus you can take it with you without needing refrigeration.
You don’t have to worry about calories if you’re eating a ketogenic low carb diet. Just stick to 20 net carbs max and 70% fat minimum and keep it that simple to start. π
I have been using unsweetened almond milk (0 net carbs and only 35 calories per cup) with Davinci SF vanilla syrup for coffee and vanilla chai tea…..it’s delicious!! Great consistency and flavor with no carbs and fewer calories/fat.
I’ve tried the unsweetened almond milk with other things, but haven’t tried it in my coffee yet. I may do that – just to see if I like it better than the heavy whipping cream. π
Unsweetened Almond Milk has 2 g carbs per tablespoon
I was just trying to prepare my espresso this morning and was discouraged by the same dilemma…and I lent my Atkin’s Book to a co-worker this week (week 1 of diet). I had the idea of using the heavy cream – but wasn’t certina it’d work – but, now I know – thanks.
However, I cannot see a difference between Splenda & sugar – I LOVE Splenda – although, you are correct – 1g per packet.
Thanks again.
Sugar has a much higher carb count than Splenda. π
I also like the sugar free syrups. Yum! See:
http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/1585/davinci-syrup-vs-torani-sugar-free-syrup/
folks please order on line and get….LIQUID SPLENDA.. 2 drops = 1 pkg and no carbs… been using it for years now.. even when i can my sweet pickles.. works great.. just like sugar… and 1/4 tsp = 1 cup sugar…
I use heavy cream too, but know that it does have carbs – just that if it is less .5 – they are allowed to round it off to 0 – so .4 = 0 and it can add up. Not sure about SB sugar free hazelnut and hidden carbs, was good into ketosis this afternnon and then had an iced coffee- ice, syrup, 2 TBS heavy cream and checked my ketones 10 minutes later- TRACE – really! Something is fishy.
I’m going to try this I have done the low carb in the past and it was successful but one of the problems I had was I missed my coffee and would break over.
Just tried this and love it!!!!!
Oh thank you! thank you! thank you! I think you may have saved my low-carb diet! Like you, I did well except for my morning coffee routine. I already used the sugar free syrups from Torani, but never thought about the whipping cream! I will try it tomorrow! Again…Thank you!
How did you go with it, Carolyn? π
I’m on my 4th day of the ideal protein diet…My family owns and operates as an Independent coffee roaster, and I thought I might perish from lack of creamy coffee. Now…I know I will survive! Thanks
I have been using powdered coffee, not realizing the carb amount is HORRIBLE, and I was adding honey. π I am running to the store and trying this! thanks so much for the idea
coffee mate makes a sf creamer and it is low carb….I use Italian Sweet Cream…also have Caramel Vanilla…has 1 carb per serving
Atkins vanilla shakes makes a wonderful coffee creamer
I actually found your article because Im looking for ideas to make my own coffee creamer too…however I see you use splenda. Have you ever experimented with Stevia? They have them in the liquid flavors too. Im not to keen on using those heavy chemicals like splenda and the like.
Hi Skai π
I am no longer using Splenda. Stevia is definitely a healthier option for a sweetener. I’m in the process of working away from ALL artificial sweeteners at the moment.
Wow! That was the fastest reply. I actually found this recipe that I like…check it out: http://thevintagefern.blogspot.com/2012/02/organic-sugar-free-low-carb-gluten-free.html?showComment=1429918909531#c4757572332443482736
You caught me sitting here having dinner. π lol. Grilled tenderloin. Thanks for the link! Looks good actually. I’m working down to heavy cream only in my coffee – and then to black. That’s my goal. π *cheers*
Please give Ideal sweetener a try. It’s much better that Splenda and Stevia. It’s made in Lebanon Indiana and a bit hard to find, however you can find on Amazon, although I am not a fan of Amazon. You can go to the Ideal website and they provide links for a site much less expensive. My dentist actually recommends that I chew on stick a gum daily with the active ingredient that Ideal has so when I found this product I changed to it about 3 years ago and used it in coffee and tea.
Like everyone I try to stay away from these sweetness but Ideal seems to be a better choice.
Ideal is the best sweetener in the whole entire world. It is fabulous in everything! It is the only sweetener that I buy.
I’m glad you mentioned the sweeteners because they are just as bad as the carbs! Organic Stevia leaf extract (not processed stevia, there’s a difference) is a much better option.
Good for you!!! There is a LOT of evident that all artificial sweaters are very bad for us! Face it they are “artificial” and 99% of them are nothing but chemicals. When I FINALLY broke my husband from ALL diet sodas and ALL artificial sweeteners – by the end of 30 days his daily BS had improved by 40 points!!! AND his BP was down and his A1C was way down on his next blood test, another 30 days later. That stuff is poison!
I have used Torani syrups for years, but going low carb I will be switching back to sugar free (I did low carb before and it worked… ask me why I stopped and I honestly can’t tell you. Won’t happen again!). I am a hopeless iced tea addict and I use Torani in it to make peach tea. It is SO good! The peach, raspberry, strawberry, lime and other fruit flavors are excellent in iced tea, maybe give it a try π
I’ve used them in tea too, Melissa. I agree, it’s delicious!! π
I buy my sugar free flavored syrups at Gordman’s….they are $2.99 and $3.99. Best deal I’ve found.
World Market also carries the torani syrups. They are regularly $7.99 each, but every so often they put them on sale for $3.99 each. Just have to keep an eye out for those sales. I love these syrups and use them for all sorts of goodies!! ;~)
http://www.worldmarket.com/search.do?query=torani%20sugar%20free%20syrups&keyword=torani sugar free syrups
I stumbled across your post and just wanted to point out that heavy cream actually contains as many carbs as regular milk or half and half. The big difference is the serving size. The carbs per serving are a little less than one. The FDA allows companies to put a zero count for anything less than one. So,it can literally be 0.9999 and it can be listed as no carb. Not that it’s a huge difference, just want you to be well informed:)
That’s true, Ren. Except the carb count is not the same for heavy whipping cream, half & half and milk. Heavy whipping cream is 7 carbs per cup. See: https://www.facebook.com/lowcarbtraveler/photos/pb.226460087382594.-2207520000.1442600416./1090118067683454/?type=3&theater for the accurate carb count for tracking. *cheers*
Smart & Final has so many of these in sugar free and they are yummy and cost about $5 each…
For those of you that want to try sugar free syrups without a big expense, Dollar Tree sells a limited selection of flavors, by Orchard Park; they only cost $1.00 per 12 oz bottle.
Heavy whipping cream in hot coffee? Wouldn’t that make it curdle?
It doesn’t, Emmy. It just makes it nice & creamy. π
I loooovvvee a creamy coffee and have been using Great Value coffee creamer because it says it only has 1 carb. I plan to switch over to heavy whipping cream as soon as I get to the store. Heres hoping it works.
After seeing the prices mentioned above from Amazon, etc. I had to add my 2 cents. ORCHARD PARK GOURMET FLAVORED SYRUP (I have caramel) with zero calories, fat, carbs, sugar, EVERYTHING ZERO for $1.00 (12 oz.) at Dollar Tree. Also sold at Walmart but more than $1.00. Can’t remember price there. Hazelnut and French Vanilla too. π
We buy orchard Park brand flavored sugar free syrups. Dollar tree carries them for $1 for 12 oz. Not sure they have all those other flavors, but they do carry vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut. They taste just like the Torani brand only way cheaper!
Thanks Susan! We are thrilled at Orchard Park Foods when we hear that customers love our syrups. A cinnamon flavor is in development:)
Can we have a SF raspberry
Oh my gosh that’s sounds yummy!
I hope Dollar Tree gets that flavor soon!
What sweetener do they use? If, maltitol, probably 2/3 of sugar glycemic.
I’ve been pouring a little bit of a French vanilla Atkins shake into my coffee, it’s pretty good! Now I have to try this too!! Thank you!
I found your post via google search.
I’m new to low carb, and realized that since I drink 5 mugs of decaf a day, I use up my carb allowance just with the Half& Half I’ve been using. I only get 35% Whip cream around here, and it has 1 carb per tbsp as well. Sigh. What am I going to do. I don’t want to give up my coffee! I don’t like drinking it black, then I’d rather have nothing. Oh the problems I have! :o)
Hi Monika,
I get it. My coffee was my biggest hurdle when I first started eating low carb. π I now use Coffee-Mate Sugar Free Powdered Hazelnut Creamer. The powdered hazelnut (sugar free) is only 1 carb per TBSP – and a tablespoon goes a long way!!
Do they have that in plain.
I really don’t like hazelnut.
Would prefer just plain instead of flavors.
I’ve looked and looked at my Walmart but no luck so far. And Walmart is the only bug store we have besides the new Dollar Tree lol.
You can use Half & Half or HWC (Heavy Whipping Cream) – both are plain and creamy. π
Thanks for the response. I can’t find the ingredient list of what Coffee-Mate is made of, found an article on another blog, and it doesn’t sound like something I want to drink.
I think I found a solution for now, and have my coffee too. I’m only drinking decaf, and will make it weaker, so 1 tbsp whip cream (1 carb) will be enough per mug (5 a day).
Thankfully I never used sugar in my coffee, so that’s not a problem for me.
all heavy cream has carbs aprox 1g per tablespoon. the reason some show it on the label and others don’t is honesty, and serving size. If a serving is .9g of carbs, they can say 0.
OMgoodness!! This is just for me! I’m attempting once again to live the lowcarb lifestyle but Coffee is a stumbling block for me. I absolutely love my coffee with about 6 tsp dry nestle creamer, 1tbsp of liquid sweet cream creamer, 5 stevia plus 2 tsps of regular sugar to give it the taste I desire. So I’m going to try this new idea and come back and let it be known how I like it. Thanks again!
That’s a seriously sweet & creamy coffee, Deidre! lol… Wowsa π It turns out that Heavy Whipping Cream has about half a carb per TBSP, so 2 tablespoons is 1 carb. I think 7 carbs per cup is how it comes out.
Right now I am using Coffee-Mate Powdered Sugar Free Hazelnut coffee creamer, it’s very sweet and creamy and only 1 carb per TBSP. Try that! π
I am new to this, what is the nutrient info? Anyone know?
Hi Ashley!
All Heavy Whipping Cream (HWC) is .4 carbs per tablespoon, or 1 carb per 2 TBSP. Even if the label says zero carbs, which is simply because it’s “less than one” you should count each tablespoon as half a carb.
We love whipping cream in our coffee! i gradually weaned myself off Stevia in my coffee. Now I just use a small splash of whipping cream. :). So delicious!, I wish others weren’t so afraid of fat. Family, friends, and coffee baristas look so horrified when seeing us put whipping cream in our coffee!
I tried the heavy whipping cream today with some vanilla extract, coconut extract, and butter extract, with coco. Found it on Pinterest, Somas, mmmmm…. thanks for the suggestions. Loving my coffee, not so many carbs!
You just changed my mornings for the better. Thanks so much
Thank you so much!! I had the same thought as you.. I do NOT want to give up my coffee. I’ll switch to splenda, cut out pop, cut carbs, and dial the sugar WAY back., but please give me my coffee! Currently I live on sugar and caffeine so cutting out both would just be too drastic. I also drink moderately and am even OK giving that up.. just not the coffee! I searched around the web and your post has been the most helpful. Heading to walmart tonight for the Torani sugar-free syrups!!
Hi Crystal π I am now using Coffee-Mate powdered hazelnut sugar-free creamer. The powdered hazelnut is only 1 carb per TBSP and SO creamy & delicious!! The other flavors have more carbs – and they don’t taste as great as the hazelnut. And I wasn’t even a hazelnut fan before!
The added bonus of using the powdered, besides lower carbs, is that you can take it with you on the go. I keep it in the car, take it on road trips, even fly with it! But if you’re flying, take an unsealed (new) bottle – and take it out of your bag when you go through security. π
I’ve recently changed to almond milk, vanilla, to avoid regular milk. Then one morning I looked at the label…14 grams of carbs per serving! OUCH! Now I’m frantic!
I’ve been getting all my carbs in the morning, yuk!
Really watch my carbs throughout the day, eating clean on all sides. But I sure like a creamy coffee to start my day. I despise sweeteners, love honey (but there I go with the carbs again).
Maybe I’ll just start drinking it black. Lol
Land O Lakes Mini Moos Half and Half have .4 grams of carbs per tub
https://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/land-olakes/mini-moos-half-and-half-creamers
I had to quit. I was spending $80-100 per MONTH on just coffee and my additives. Really killing me to give this up. I loved my coffee….but not black. I’m on a very low, fixed income. It had to go.
Wow Ronnie… I think I would give up coffee, or get an acquired taste for black coffee, before I would give up on my health. That’s my next big goal btw: to go black. I drink a lot of coffee too and LOVE my coffee – but the stuff I put in it isn’t something I want to continue long term. π
Just FYI, I found that mixing 3 packets of Stevia In The Raw, 3 packets of Splenda, and 2 packets of Truvia (or the Natural Earth version) in a 40oz thermos of coffee and it comes out perfect virtually every time. The problem is finding creamer, and I go with the unflavored versions which tend to be 1 – 2 carbs per tbsp. Not a perfect solution, but for someone like me who just has to reduce their sugar instead of strictly monitor it, it’s made a huge difference in my diet.
Try Walden Farms Coffee Creamer @ netrition.com
Splenda is not the best choice, My doctor who is straight out genius and has a staff the researches the purity of foods supplement and drugs . He has a line created by a company up to his standards of purity, non-gmo organic ect.. so he is totally in the know and told me only decaf was safe for me that is if I could find it without mycotoxins in it he was not a coffee fan at all in general but mycotoxins increases toxicity levels ! Yikes who knew? Xylitol it what he considered safe. Then of course there is Stevia. I think the one thing low carb made me realize is how sick sugar was making me . I had ten pounds to lose and I have lost it and kept it off.
Lynn, I used to LOVE going to Starbucks for their coffee frappuccino’s. I always added an extra shot to the grande cup, and could suck down a couple of those a day if I allowed myself. BUT, I started the LCHF WOE May 23 this year, and have now lost 58 lbs, I have 22 lbs to go! Here is what I order now:
A Grande iced coffee, NO classic syrup, an extra shot of espresso, heavy whipping cream, and 2 packets of stevia, double blended and poured into a Venti cup.
When they blend the grande iced coffee, it GROWS! you will get almost a full Venti cup, depending on the barista, because when the ice is blended down so super fine it takes up more room in the cup, and it tastes AMAZING!
One of the barista’s at my Starbucks took the time to help me make a beverage similar to my Coffee Frappuccino, but using much lower calorie ingredients. I wrote it all down, and now when I go to SB, I just hand them this little 2×2 inch piece of a 3×5 card that has the specific instructions written down as Mike helped me design this beverage.
I get very strange looks from some of those very young barista’s, and I have had some of them tell me I’m ordering a frappuccino, and try to charge me for a frappuccino. However, I have been told by the central office in no uncertain terms that I can order my beverage exactly the way I want it, and that when I order my drink this way, it is NOT a frappuccino, but a blended iced coffee, and if they charge me for a frappuccino, I can call the central office and they will refund my money.
For the grande coffee with 1 oz HWC, an extra shot of espresso, 2 stevia packets and the ice they add, MFP gave me 99 calories, 10 g total fat, 0 g carbs, and 0 g protein. I CAN drink that once in a while!