# US coffee caloric intake trends

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-coffee-caloric-intake-trends
> Updated: 2026-10-22T23:27:25.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

Research from Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy indicates that while the volume of coffee consumed by Americans remained stable between 2003 and 2018, the calories associated with that consumption increased by nearly 40 percent. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) involving over 30,000 adults showed average daily calories from coffee rose from 43 kcal to 60 kcal.

The increase is primarily attributed to the rising use of non-dairy creamer. By the 2017-2018 period, non-dairy creamers became the leading source of added calories in coffee, contributing approximately 18.5 to 19 kcal per day, which surpassed the caloric contributions of sugar and dairy milk. Researchers noted that the high levels of saturated fats in these creamers may offset the potential health benefits typically associated with moderate coffee consumption.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-22: Tufts University study finds coffee calorie intake rising in US

A Tufts University study shows US coffee drinkers are consuming more calories per cup, primarily due to an increase in non-dairy creamer use rather than sugar or dairy.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tufts-university-study-finds-coffee-calorie-intake-rising-due-to-non-dairy-creamers

### 2026-10-20: US coffee calorie intake rises due to increased additives

A Tufts University study shows that while American coffee consumption volume has remained steady since 2003, the calories per cup have risen by nearly 40%, driven largely by increased use of non-dairy creamer.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-coffee-calorie-intake-rises-due-to-increased-additives

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Cite as: US coffee caloric intake trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-coffee-caloric-intake-trends