Sipping it black (sans creamer, sugar, etc.) is without a doubt the healthiest way to enjoy your brew. Unfortunately, though, the taste of plain joe isn’t for everyone.
If you simply must dress up your cup with some sort of add-in, that doesn’t mean all hopes of drinking java that’s good for you are dead. It just means you’ll have to brew strategically, using a few healthy recipes — like the ones listed below, for instance — as your guide.
Want to learn more about the pros and cons of coffee? Find out here!
Coffee Smoothie with Banana and Oats
Sometimes, there just isn’t enough time in the morning for a cup of coffee and a nutritious breakfast. You don’t have to skip one and pick the other, though; have both in the form of a high protein, fiber-filled smoothie
Easy Maple & Smoked Salt Oat Milk Latte
If you want a sweet and savory way to start your day, check out this maple and smoked salt oat milk latte recipe from Easy Chickpeasy. This mixture of strong coffee, maple syrup, smoked salt, and oat milk makes a solid beginner drink for someone just starting their journey with joe, but it will also impress a seasoned java drinker with years of bean expertise under their belt.
Cold Brew Coffee Banana Smoothie
As Kate at Babaganosh points out, it’s hard enough to brew your cup of coffee first thing in the morning, let alone make a full breakfast! That’s why we think her cold brew coffee banana smoothie recipe is a real lifesaver. It’s breakfast and coffee all in one, so if you can manage to wipe the sleep from your eyes long enough to start your blender, you’re all set!
Vegan Coconut Coffee Breakfast Shake
Put your days of skipping breakfast behind you with this coconut coffee shake. It doesn’t take very long to blend the black coffee, coconut milk, coconut yogurt, white beans, and cashews required to make this drink; even on your busiest mornings, you’ll have time to enjoy this shake.
Healthy Iced Coffee
Fewer things can get you going in the morning better than a refreshing glass of iced coffee can, and this recipe for healthy iced joe is no exception. A brewed batch of your favorite coffee beans, milk of your choice, and vanilla extract will perk you right up. Plus, it’ll save you a trip to the Starbucks drive-thru on your commute!
Bulletproof Coffee
If you’re a keto diet connoisseur, you’re probably no stranger to Bulletproof coffee. In case you haven’t heard of the stuff, however, we’ve got a full write-up and recipe for you to read here. This may seem like a strange hodgepodge of ingredients, but don’t knock it until you try it; the butter, oil, and coffee mixture works wonders!
Iced Ube Latte
The iced ube (pronounced ooh-beh) latte is a perfect pick for the at-home barista who has grown a bit bored with their daily brewing routine. It’s got the same ingredients as a typical latte — milk and espresso — but the addition of condensed milk and ube extract, taken from what’s essentially a purple sweet potato, makes the beverage a bit sweeter and a little more fun.
Healthy Peanut Butter and Maple Coffee
If you’re someone who thinks peanut butter makes everything better, you’re going to need to try this peanut butter and maple coffee ASAP. The nutty spread, sweet maple syrup, and your favorite brewed coffee come together to make a drink that’s creamy and delicious. Plus, it gives you a nice boost of fats and proteins, has no refined sugar, and is loaded with antioxidants.
Coffee Smoothie Recipe
Tired of sipping regular old cold brew? Spice it up by making a cold brew coffee smoothie instead! You still get the caffeine kick you need to survive the weekday, but almond milk and fruit add a little something extra.
Banana Coffee Smoothie
Are you looking for a fast way to get rid of that bundle of bananas in your fruit bowl before they go bad? We’ve got you covered, and so does the Cook at Home Mom blog! The site’s banana coffee smoothie makes a great breakfast for every coffee lover in your household.
Date Sweetened Iced Coffee
We’re as crazy for sweetened java as the next guy, but we’ll admit it: we don’t always like having to scoop spoonfuls of sugar into the cup to get it. That’s why we like this particular iced coffee recipe; it gets its subtle sweetness from dates, so it’s a healthier choice than some other alternatives.
Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
If you’re a regular at Starbucks, you know just how good the franchise’s shaken espresso with brown sugar and oat milk is. The problem, however, is that swinging by the drive-thru isn’t always the most efficient thing to do on your morning commute. Don’t worry, though; if you wake up with this drink on your mind, you can make it yourself.
Copycat Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte
Health-conscious Roasty readers, if you don’t have a good go-to skinny vanilla latte recipe on standby, you’re missing out...and probably spending way too much of your hard-earned cash buying them from the Starbucks downtown! This recipe from Joy Filled Eats is just what you need to make your own at home. Plus, it works well as a base for a skinny vanilla Frappuccino, too!
Keto Mocha
Get your coffee fix and keep up with your ketogenic diet with this keto-friendly mocha recipe. The resulting brew is creamy, chocolatey, and has enough caffeine to get you into gear on an early morning. Plus, it’s gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free, too! Intrigued? We thought you might be.
Skinny Pumpkin Spice Latte
That creamy pumpkin spice latte you buy from your favorite café every day in October is delicious, but it’s probably high in sugar. And despite what your taste buds are telling you, too much sugar can be a bad thing. You don’t have to give this fall-inspired java drink up, though. Just use this Baking Beauty recipe to make a skinny PSL. It’s healthier than the cup you’d buy from Starbucks but just as delicious.
Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Give yourself a taste of another country’s coffee by brewing a cup of classic Vietnamese iced joe. This recipe uses espresso, honey, and condensed coconut milk, resulting in a drink that’s creamy, sweet, and refreshing.
Iced Boba Coffee
Though the Taiwanese beverage has been around for decades, boba has experienced a recent resurgence in popularity. The little tapioca pearls can be put in a variety of drinks and treats, including milk tea, parfaits, and, in this case, iced coffee! Iced boba coffee makes a great breakfast beverage, but it tastes just as delicious when you need an afternoon pick-me-up, too.
Keto Vanilla Latte
Ever wish you could burn fat while doing something as simple as, say, sipping a cup of coffee? This keto vanilla latte allows you to do just that by increasing the body’s metabolism and kicking it into fat-burning mode. Plus, it tastes great!
Keto Whipped Cappuccino
Though Dalgona coffee has stolen the hearts of many java drinkers across the globe, more fitness-obsessed coffee enthusiasts couldn’t help but notice the beverage is full of sugar and carbs. Fortunately, How2DoKeto has created a recipe that tastes just as satisfying as the original but is approved for ketogenic dieters’ consumption.
Iced White Chocolate Mocha
Love a good old Starbucks white chocolate mocha but hate the long line you have to wait in to get it? Us, too. That’s why we’re so glad to have found this recipe. This creamy and sweet copycat beverage hits the spot anytime you need a caffeine kick on a hot day...plus, it saves you a few bucks, too!
Low-Calorie Peppermint Mocha
They say holiday calories don’t count, but just in case they’re wrong, we’ll be sipping this low-calorie peppermint mocha all season long. This recipe blends all the delectable flavors of coffee, chocolate, peppermint syrup, and almond milk into one 36-calorie package you won’t be able to get enough of
Golden Turmeric Latte
The turmeric latte is one of the latest coffee crazes, and with its bright and sunny color, impressive health benefits, and appetizing flavor, it’s not hard to understand why. Not every coffee shop has this beverage on the menu, though, so your best bet for tasting it yourself might be making it at home.
Dalgona Iced Coffee
We know we’ve already included a whipped coffee recipe in this roundup, but we couldn’t help but share this one from Recipe Pocket, too. Follow the link, and you’ll find a quick rundown of what Dalgona coffee is (though you’re probably already familiar with the South Korean drink) and five variations of the beverage you can use to start your day.
Iced Oat Milk Latte
When you need a dairy-free drink to help you start your day on the right foot, give the iced oat milk latte a try. The beverage is simple yet effective in providing a caffeine kick, and it tastes great, too!
Vegan Iced Coffee Frappe
A piping hot mug of coffee sounds awful during the hottest days of the year, doesn’t it? We couldn’t agree more. That’s why we’ll be drinking this creamy coffee frappé all summer long. It’s a non-dairy formula, as it’s made with oat milk, and instead of using refined sugars, it’s sweetened with dates.
Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Cold Brew
This recipe is for all of our Roasty readers who haven’t bitten the bullet and bought an espresso machine yet. (Seriously though...what are you waiting for? Do it! Read up on a few of our favorite models here.) If you love the brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso from Starbucks, you’ll love this copycat drink from Food Worth Feed. It uses cold brew instead of an espresso shot, so there’s no fancy machinery required!
Enjoy these healthy coffee recipes from hot to chilled and even iced.
Happy caffeinating!