How to kick the habit of sugar and milk in coffee?

[Onynx]

Hi All, I've started following the low carb way of eating- I've managed a week without the obvious carbs- bread, pasta sugary treats etc. I simply cannot get my head around black coffee or even worse black sugar free coffee- and I love my coffee! Has anybody got any tips for making this a little less painful please?

[Pashazade]

So I would start by phasing out the sugar first, very slowly just steadily reduce the amount you have over a few weeks. Once you've settled to sugar free coffee then maybe switch your milk if you use semi down to skim and then again slowly but surely remove the milk. Or just go cold turkey and you'll eventually get used to it. My sister ended up drinking black tea because milk was a bad idea where she lived and she had no choice she just got used to it!

[IceIceLazy]

I think a splash of milk is totally fine since the amount of carbs is very low and the difference in taste is huge. You can also try almond milk or coconut milk which are virtually zero carb but they don't have the same creaminess.

I went low carb a few years ago and replaced my massive sugary lattes with an espresso topped up with milk in a small cup. Tastes fantastic, and you get used to it very quickly and will not miss the sugar at all. Nespresso is great since they have flavoured capsules and you have a huge range of tastes to try out. The dessert-y ones like almond cake, vanilla eclair, caramel creme brulee, chocolate nougat etc (those are usually limited edition so stock up if there's a good one) are fantastic and actually trick your brain into thinking it's a treat.

It's good to keep a few carb-containing foods as exceptions, since an absolute zero carb diet is bland, fatty and not really sustainable in the long term. I tend to go by portion size...if it's literally a spoonful of milk or a squeeze of ketchup then that's ok. The extra taste they add isn't worth the few grams of sugar to skip.

[oldwhyno]

If you find it a struggle I honestly wouldn't bother. There's almost always far easier ways to make a more significant reduction with changes to other parts of your diet.

But if you really want to, do you have any options to "change up" the coffee you're drinking? If you leave everything else the same and just take out the sugar, milk or both, you'll be hoping for a similar experience and getting a very different taste. Can you get a better brand of coffee? If you drink instant, can you upgrade to a cafetierre? Can grind your own beans? Get a nespresso machine etc?

[Onynx]

Thanks all😊 I have a Nespresso machine but I think @IceIceLazy had a good idea trying the flavoured coffees. Failing that I suppose one having one vice wouldn't be too bad 🤷🏻‍♀️

[BIWI]

Try using double cream instead of milk - you may find that this also gives you a sweeter taste so that you can do without the sugar.

But in order of priority, definitely ditch the sugar first!

[Crazycatstory]

Like BIWI says I use double cream and find it seems sweeter that way. I just stopped adding the sugar and lived with it tasting a bit odd for a few days, soon got used to it though.

[lazylinguist]

It just takes time with the sugar. I used to have sugar in tea and I absolutely hate it now. A splash of milk doesn't have much carbohydrate in it.

[lazylinguist]

Or you could use lactofree milk - that tastes like normal milk but has the milk sugars removed.

[minipie]

I agree ditch the sugar and use whole milk - tastes sweeter and is lower GI than semi or skimmed.

[Onynx]

I think I've conquered the sugar part! Managed two whole days with no sugar, put sugar in this morning without thinking and it didn't taste right! My other two coffees today had no sugar. I use low fat milk anyway so I'll start cutting that out next wk. Thanks everybody for the replies

[Gwenhines]

Honestly just go cold turkey and force yourself thru it. In two weeks you'll grow to like it and won't be able to go back easily.

[Argh3456]

Haven't read through the thread but when I tried to wean myself off sugar I tried half spoon sugar first as it was better for me. The half spoon was quite sweet so it helped and I put less into my tea.

[RandomMess]

Switch to oat milk?

[lazylinguist]

But the OP is trying to reduce carbs- surely oat milk is higher in carbs than cow's milk!

[BIWI]

It is - Oatly is 6.7g carbs per 100g compared with 4.7g for whole milk!

[Somethingkindaoooo]

I'd love great swap too....

Atm I've decided to have coffee at the weekend, but not in the week.

I have green tea, or a ' savoury' tea in the week ( like chai etc) which I can tolerate without sugar.

I do miss coffee though....

[Soontobe60]

Flavoured coffees often have sugar in them, so beware.
I weaned myself off my 2 sugars habit over about a month by just putting less and less in.
I drink black coffee now, but when I have a cappuccino from my espresso, I use BoB milk, which is skimmed but doesn’t taste it.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

I’d give up coffee for green tea- black coffee is so disgusting I’d rather not have it at all

[JurassicShay]

I drink black coffee no sugar and always have but it has to have a bit of cold water in.
Don't know why but it tastes better, not boiling.
Maybe worth a try.

[CreepyPasta]

This sounds really odd but try a tiny pinch of salt in your black coffee. It takes away the bitterness so it tastes slightly sweet.

[Girlintheframe]

I bought some Monin sugar free syrup on line.
I've actually gone off it now but DH has the caramel one. It definitely sweetens up coffee.
I used to take milk, then cream, now nothing. It's surprisingly how quickly your taste buds adjust

[Hollyhead]

Agree with above - pinch of salt and don't attempt drinking until only warm not hot. After a few days you'll find you can ditch the salt. Black coffee is lovely at lower temperature.

[RedHotChiliChips]

I ditched the sugar in my coffee about a year ago when one morning realised we had ran out. I grumbled about a day but quickly started to really like it without.

I echo the PP that a pinch of sea salt really works. I tried it this morning the first time as I did my first fasting morning and it amazingly works. I have bean to cup espressos though, not sure how it works with instant coffee.

[OhAnotherNameChange]

I switched from sugar to sweetener initially. It doesn't taste the same but I got used to it. Then when I started LCHF I gave up the sweetener and just had a splash of full fat milk or cream. Now I'm nearing my goal weight I have to be a lot stricter so I drink black coffee. Honestly I've just gotten used to it, its not as nice but I still need my caffeine fix! 😁 My once a day treat is a coffee with a splash of double cream and a bit of sugar free syrup if I'm feeling fancy.

If anyone can help me like plain black tea, I'm all ears! I miss my milky tea with 2 sweeteners but black tea is 😣

[Onynx]

@OhAnotherNameChange I was able to ditch the sugar in my tea far more easily than in my coffee. I did this last year but I cannot get my head around black tea- there's just no joy in it. I do like herbal teas and Lady Grey without milk though so maybe try giving that a go?