Sugar can be found naturally in food such as fruits, vegetables, dairy and some nuts; it can also be added to many products and beverages to sweeten their flavor or extend shelf-life. Sugar provides energy but no additional vitamins and minerals; the World Health Organization advises adults consuming no more than 10% of their total daily caloric intake from added sources – this would equal 48 grams or 12 teaspoons in an adult’s 2,000-calorie daily diet.

Though most coffee drinkers don’t consume an excessive amount of sugar, it is still wise to be aware of how much is present in each beverage they drink. A typical 150 ml cappuccino contains 25ml of coffee and 85ml of milk (with most being foam), or half a teaspoon in itself; adding additional items such as whipped cream or additional milk could significantly increase that figure.

An Annals of Internal Medicine study shows that moderate coffee intake (around two or three cups a day) was linked with lower mortality risk compared to non-coffee drinking individuals, regardless of whether the coffee contained added sugars. This decrease was not dependent on sugary drinks being added.

This research used data from national dietary surveys and linked it with the National Death Index. The findings demonstrated that those who consumed black coffee, or coffee with low levels of added sugar and saturated fat content, had 14% lower risks of mortality compared to people who didn’t drink coffee at all; however, its association with reduced cardiovascular disease risks became weaker with multiple cups per day being consumed.

As a family physician and coffee enthusiast who drinks two to three cups a day (black without sweeteners), I found this latest research fascinating. While its findings reinforce previous observational studies suggesting coffee may benefit our health, we must remember not to substitute coffee consumption with other healthy habits such as exercising regularly or eating healthily; we should instead aim to meet all our nutritional requirements from various food and beverage sources while limiting those high in sugar.