Coffee calories: Sabotaging your weight-loss plans?

I'm trying to lose weight. Can I still drink coffee?

- Louise / Minnesota

Mayo Clinic dietitian Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

A plain cup of brewed coffee contains zero fat and only a couple of calories. It's how you dress up your coffee that makes a difference in the fat, sugar and calorie count — and your weight-loss plans.

Consider this: One tablespoon (about 15 milliliters) of whipping cream adds more than 50 calories and 5 grams of fat to a cup of coffee, and 1 tablespoon of sugar adds nearly 50 calories. One tablespoon of fat-free milk, on the other hand, adds only 5 calories. Carefully read product labels as you consider how to flavor your coffee.

What goes into the brew you order at your local coffee bar also matters. For example, at one popular coffee franchise, a 16-ounce (473-milliliter) caffe latte espresso made with fat-free milk contains 130 calories and 0 grams of fat. The same drink made with whole milk contains 200 calories and 11 grams of fat. Before ordering, check out the nutrition information provided by the coffee bar, either in person or online.

When it comes to weight loss, remember that all calories count — even calories in liquid form.