Last Updated on March 10, 2025 by Karen
Discover delicious keto-friendly coffee drinks! From cold brew to keto crack coffee, this guide helps you enjoy low-carb, flavorful brews while staying in ketosis.
If you’re a coffee lover following the keto diet, crafting the perfect cup of coffee can feel tricky, especially with so many drinks and recipes out there. However, finding the right keto-friendly coffee drinks is easier than you think, and with a few key ingredients, you can enjoy your favorite brew without breaking your low carb diet. Whether you’re a fan of instant coffee, cold brew coffee, or a frothy keto crack coffee, this comprehensive guide will show you how to make your coffee both delicious and supportive of your high-fat foods diet.
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Why Keto Coffee is a Great Option
The ketogenic diet is all about fueling your body with healthy fats and keeping your carb count low to maintain ketosis. By replacing sugar-filled coffee drinks from a local coffee shop or major coffee chain, you can enjoy coffee without disrupting your ketosis. Recent studies have shown that healthy fats, like MCT oil, grass fed butter, and unsalted butter, are great for your body and can help burn fat, promote weight loss, and improve cognitive function over a long time. With the right ingredients, coffee is the best way to kickstart your day while staying true to your keto meal plan.
You can also feel good about cutting out added sugars or sugary syrups that often hide in coffee drinks from coffee shops, which contribute to heart disease and spikes in blood sugar. Instead, try a homemade coffee with sugar-free syrup or a free sweetener like monk fruit extract. This will allow you to enjoy your cup of coffee without all the unwanted carbs and extra calories.
What Can You Put in Your Coffee on Keto Diet
Let’s break down the perfect ingredients for keto-friendly, low-carb coffee drinks. These ingredients help you enjoy the flavors you love while staying aligned with your low-carb diet.
Coffee and Espresso
What You Can Have: Black coffee, espresso shots, or instant coffee. These are naturally low-carb, have no added sugars, and provide that much-needed caffeine boost.
Why: A cup of coffee contains only a negligible amount of net carbs, making it the perfect base for any keto drink. You can also brew your coffee with hot water or use it as a base for unsweetened iced coffee.
Milk and Milk Alternatives
What You Can Have:
Unsweetened almond milk: This low-carb milk alternative is perfect for making keto-friendly lattes or coffee drinks.
Coconut milk: Another low-carb option that’s high in healthy fats and adds a rich, creamy texture to your coffee.
Heavy whipping cream: Adds richness and creaminess, while being low in carbs and high in fat—ideal for making frothy drinks.
Nut milks: Nut-based milks, like macadamia milk or cashew milk, are also great for a low-carb diet. They have fewer grams of carbs than regular dairy milk and are often free from added sugars.
Why: These low-carb milk alternatives keep your coffee creamy without the added sugars or carbs found in regular milk.
Healthy Fats
What You Can Have:
Grass-fed butter: This type of butter is rich in healthy fats and medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which provide your body with a quick source of energy and promote fat loss.
MCT oil: A great way to get the benefits of medium-chain triglycerides, which are known for their ability to help the body burn fat efficiently.
Coconut oil: Like MCT oil, coconut oil is rich in healthy fats that help keep you full and fuel your body without spiking your blood sugar.
Unsalted butter: If you don’t have grass-fed butter, unsalted butter works fine to add that creamy texture.
Why: These fats help maintain ketosis and provide sustained energy. They also support the fat burning process, making your coffee an ideal part of a high-fat diet.
Sweeteners
What You Can Have:
Monk fruit extract: A zero-carb sweetener that’s perfect for anyone following a keto meal plan. It’s a great idea for those who want to add a little sweetness without the carbs.
Stevia: A sugar-free and zero-carb sweetener that won’t spike your blood sugar levels.
Erythritol: Another sugar alcohol that doesn’t impact insulin or blood sugar, making it ideal for keto coffee.
Sugar-free syrup: Many coffee shops now offer sugar-free syrup, like vanilla or caramel, which can add flavor without the carbs.
Why: These sweeteners allow you to enjoy a sweet coffee without the danger of added sugars that would knock you out of ketosis.
Flavorings and Extras
What You Can Have:
Cinnamon: Not only does it add flavor, but cinnamon may also help balance blood sugar levels, according to scientific studies.
Vanilla extract: A few drops of pure vanilla extract add rich flavor without added sugars.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: A great way to make a chocolatey cold brew coffee recipe that’s both satisfying and keto-friendly.
Cold foam: If you love a frothy drink, using a milk frother with heavy cream or unsweetened almond milk can give your coffee the texture you crave.
Why: These ingredients help you add flavor and richness to your coffee without any extra carbs or sugars.
What You Cannot Have in Keto Coffee Drinks
To ensure your coffee stays in line with your keto goals, avoid ingredients that can derail your progress. Here’s what to steer clear of:
Whole Milk and Sweetened Milk Alternatives
What You Cannot Have: Regular milk and sweetened nut milks (like sweetened almond milk or coconut milk) can contain hidden carbs and sugars that will add up quickly.
Why Not: These ingredients are high in carbs and added sugars, which will spike your blood sugar and kick you out of ketosis.
Added Sugars
What You Cannot Have: Regular sugar, honey, agave syrup, or any other sugar source.
Why Not: These are high in carbs and will prevent your body from entering or staying in ketosis. They can also promote fat storage and increase the risk of heart disease.
Artificial Sweeteners
What You Cannot Have: Sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose often have negative effects on your metabolism and appetite.
Why Not: Studies show that artificial sweeteners can interfere with ketosis, cravings, and blood sugar regulation.
Pre-flavored Coffees and Creamers
What You Cannot Have: Many pre-flavored coffee drinks and creamer options are loaded with added sugars or unhealthy fats.
Why Not: These products often contain hidden carbs that disrupt your keto meal plan and net carbs.
Pre-made Iced Coffees and Frappuccinos
What You Cannot Have: Drinks from a major coffee chain like Starbucks or Dunkin’ often contain syrups and whipped cream loaded with sugar and carbs.
Why Not: These drinks contain added sugars and can sabotage your efforts to stay in ketosis.
5 Keto Coffee Drink Recipes to Try
Here are five delicious and easy keto coffee recipes that you can whip up in no time! These recipes use only low-carb ingredients that fit perfectly within your keto meal plan.
1. Keto Butter Coffee (Bulletproof Coffee)
Bulletproof coffee is a must-try for coffee lovers looking for a high-fat, low-carb drink. To make this easy bulletproof coffee recipe, brew your favorite regular coffee (hot coffee) and blend in 1 tablespoon of grass-fed butter and 1 tablespoon of MCT oil. If desired, sweeten with monk fruit extract or stevia. The result is a creamy, frothy coffee that will keep you full and energized for hours. .
2. Keto Cold Brew Coffee
This refreshing drink is perfect for warm days or when you need an afternoon boost. Brew cold brew coffee and pour it over ice. Add 1 tablespoon of MCT oil and unsweetened almond milk. Sweeten with monk fruit extract or erythritol. Stir it all together, and you have a delicious, unsweetened iced coffee that’s perfect for your keto lifestyle.
3. Keto Chocolatey Cold Brew Coffee
For a richer, more decadent drink, try this chocolatey cold brew coffee recipe. Combine cold brew coffee with 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon of MCT oil, and ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream. Sweeten with your favorite free sweetener and enjoy a low-carb, chocolatey treat.
4. Keto Crack Coffee
Known for its ability to provide sustained energy and keep you in ketosis, keto crack coffee is made by blending hot water or plain black coffee with unsalted butter and MCT oil. This easy keto coffee recipe makes for a rich, creamy drink that promotes fat loss and boosts your energy levels.
5. Keto Pumpkin Spice Latte
This seasonal favorite is just as comforting as the regular version, but without the carbs! Heat up unsweetened almond milk, add a shot of espresso, and stir in pumpkin spice, stevia, and a dash of vanilla extract. Top it with a dollop of heavy cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice. Enjoy this comforting, sugar-free latte that’s perfect for fall.
With these delicious keto coffee recipes, you can enjoy your favorite coffee drinks while staying on track with your low-carb diet. These drinks will help you get the healthy fats you need to stay energized, focused, and in ketosis.
Whether you’re sipping keto butter coffee in the morning or enjoying a chocolatey cold brew coffee in the afternoon, these drinks offer the perfect balance of taste and nutrition. By cutting out added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and high-carb milks, you’ll enjoy your favorite brew without the carbs—keeping your body in fat-burning mode and your energy levels high!
