Plenty of people stir sugar into their coffee every morning without thinking about it. Honey is a popular alternative: it brings its own flavor, it comes from a single whole ingredient, and a little goes a long way. But honey behaves differently from sugar, especially in cold drinks. Here is how to get it right.
Honey vs sugar in coffee
A teaspoon of honey has about 21 calories, compared with about 16 for a teaspoon of granulated sugar. That sounds like honey loses, but honey tastes sweeter than sugar per spoonful because it contains a higher proportion of fructose. Many people find they use a bit less honey than they would sugar.
Honey also adds flavor. A mild honey like clover or acacia disappears into the coffee, while a darker honey adds caramel or malty notes. That is a feature if you like it and a surprise if you don't, so start with a light variety.
Does hot coffee "ruin" honey?
You may have seen claims that hot coffee destroys honey or makes it harmful. There is no good evidence that adding honey to a hot drink makes it unsafe. What is true is that prolonged high heat can break down some of honey's naturally occurring enzymes and delicate aromatic compounds.
If that matters to you, the fix is simple: let your coffee sit for a minute or two after brewing, then stir in the honey. You will keep more of the flavor too.
How to add honey to hot coffee
- Brew your coffee as usual.
- Let it cool slightly, just below scalding.
- Add about 1 teaspoon of honey per 8 ounces, then taste and adjust.
- Stir well. Honey is dense and sinks, so give it a good stir rather than a quick swirl.
The iced coffee problem
Pour honey straight into iced coffee and it will sink to the bottom and harden into a sticky clump. Cold liquid makes honey thicker and slower to dissolve. You have a few options:
- Make a honey syrup. Mix equal parts honey and warm water, stir until smooth, and keep it in the fridge for up to a couple of weeks. It blends into cold drinks instantly.
- Mix before you chill. Stir the honey into a shot of hot espresso or a small splash of hot coffee first, then pour it over ice and add cold brew or milk.
- Shake it. Add honey, coffee and milk to a jar with a lid, shake hard, then pour over ice.
Flavor pairings that work
- Honey + cinnamon in a hot latte.
- Honey + vanilla in iced cold brew with oat milk.
- Honey + cacao for a mocha without chocolate syrup.
- Honey + a pinch of sea salt to round out bitter roasts.
How much is enough?
Honey is still an added sugar, so it counts toward your daily total. The American Heart Association suggests limiting added sugar to about 25 grams a day for most women and 36 grams for most men. One teaspoon of honey has roughly 6 grams of sugar, so a teaspoon or two in your coffee fits comfortably for most people.
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Not for infants under 12 months or anyone with bee or bee-product allergies.
