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The Complete Guide to Keto Coffee & Keto-Friendly Coffee Syrups to Add to Your Favorite Recipes

Whether you’ve just started the keto diet or if you’re still in the research phase, you need to make sure a ketogenic diet can keep up with your coffee habits, right?

If you’re following this low-carb/high-fat diet, you might be wondering which coffees are compatible, how you can take your keto coffee, and how to jazz up your coffee (low-carb and sugar-free). You're probably also looking for some keto coffee recipes to start your day off without guilt or cravings!

We're happy to bring you a complete guide to keto coffee drinks – so you can still get your caffeine fix without ruining your diet! We offer a variety of different products that will not take you out of ketosis, but have also created a special line of products specifically for the keto diet! We’ve also included some coffee recipes that are delicious regardless if you’re eating keto or not!

What is Keto?

Before we start talking about keto coffee, let’s take a step back and remind ourselves what the Keto diet is all about – this will help us understand what we can and can’t put in our daily mocha or brewed coffee.

The keto diet – or ketogenic diet to give it its full name – is a low-carb, high-fat diet. In some ways, keto is similar to the Atkins diet or other comparable low-carb regimes.

The idea behind keto is that by reducing the number of carbs you consume, your body enters a state of Ketosis, a metabolic state that makes your body extremely efficient at burning fat and converting it to energy.

Keto diets also encourage the liver to turn fat into ketones which in turn are used to power your brain. This is a key part of the theory behind the Bulletproof diet, a mostly ketogenic diet in which your body burns fat as its main fuel source.

Health benefits of the keto diet:

  • Reduction of appetite
  • Aids in weight loss
  • Can reduce acne
  • Reduced blood sugar and insulin levels
  • Possible reduction in blood pressure
  • May protect brain functioning
thin woman measuring waist with tape measure

What are the Advantages of the Keto Diet?

Aids in weight loss. One of the most obvious benefits of switching to a low-carb keto diet is that it is said to be an extremely efficient way to lose weight. Although it might seem counterintuitive and against everything we thought we knew, weight-loss/keto studies say switching to a high-fat, low carb diet can actually help our bodies burn fat.

Curbs/reduces appetite. Studies consistently show that when people cut carbs and eat more protein and fat, they end up eating fewer calories.

Can reduce blood sugar and insulin levels. Studies prove that cutting carbs lowers both blood sugar and insulin levels drastically.

May help reduce the risk of diseases. The ketogenic diet has recently been investigated a great deal for how it may help prevent or even treat certain cancers, diabetes, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and more.

Aids brain function. Claims are also made that the keto diet helps power your brain more efficiently, in effect actually making you smarter and more able to concentrate.

Reduces acne. Based on the claim that many cases of acne are caused by excessive intake of carbohydrates, some studies support that the dietary restrictions of carbs in a ketogenic diet decrease the development of acne.

What To Eat and What to Avoid on the Ketogenic Diet

fork and knife ready for keto recipe

If you are considering going on the keto diet, there are some foods you should avoid and others you should favor.

Foods to eat on keto:

The type of food people following a keto diet can eat include meat, fatty fish, eggs, cheese, nuts, low carb vegetables, healthy oils, and avocados. As a basic beginner’s rule, keto dieters put greater emphasis on sticking to foods with fewer than 5% carbs. Low carb, keto friendly foods include:

  • Meats
  • Fish & Seafood
  • Eggs
  • Natural fat, High-fat sauces (butter/ghee, coconut, and olive oil, etc.)
  • Vegetables grown above ground (cauliflower, cabbage, avocado, broccoli, and zucchini, etc.)
  • High-fat dairy (butter, high-fat cheese for cooking, heavy cream for cooking)

Foods to avoid on keto:

Avoid anything high in carbs, like sugars, grains, starches, fruit, beans, and alcohol. You should also avoid unhealthy fats.

  • Fruits
  • Beer
  • Potatoes
  • Pasta, cooked
  • Rice, cooked
  • Bread
  • Soda / Juice
  • Donuts
  • Chocolate
  • Candy

Of course, you will also want to have your coffee. Thankfully, you can still have ketogenic coffee on keto. You can even have coffee every day. Let’s have a look at some suggestions and recipes for how to continue to make coffee part of your daily life while on keto.

keto friendly coffee with foam

What Kind of Coffee Drinks Can I Have on the Keto Diet?

So onto why we’re really here. What coffee drinks can you and can’t you drink when you’re on a keto diet?

It’s true that many people forget that coffee drinks can be a huge source of carbs if you order the wrong one. Since coffee can be high in carbs, you can undo all the hard work of sticking strictly to your diet with just one cup of mocha from your favorite coffee chain.

With this in mind, let’s now have a look at what is on the keto-coffee menu – and what’s off it.

Black Coffee

aerial shot of organized pink desk

Black coffee is a big yes! There’s nothing in black coffee that you can’t have if you’re following keto. The caffeine content is fine – and brings many additional health benefits of its own when taken in moderation – but of course, you can stick to decaf if you prefer. Your keto coffee preferences are up to you.

If you are just drinking plain black coffee, you have plenty of recipe options. On the keto diet, you can brew your coffee using whatever brewing method you prefer,

  • French press
  • Pour-over
  • Espresso
  • Cold-brew

The problem starts when you add more ingredients to your black coffee or make a coffee recipe that is high in carbs. Let’s move on to the subject of easy keto coffee add-ins.
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Keto Coffee Syrups

keto friendly hazelnut coffee recipe with sugar free syrup and cream

If you want to be more creative with your coffee, teas, and other drinks, there are plenty of keto coffee recipes to rival your favorite coffee shop drinks. There are many flavored syrups such as chocolate and caramel that are available and have been designed with the keto diet in mind. A good example of keto coffee syrups is the products from a company that specializes in producing a whole range of guilt-free syrups. Skinny Mixes syrups can be used to make all your favorite keto coffee recipes.

Skinny Mixes has a huge range of over 50 different flavors to help you get creative with your morning coffee recipe. For example, who needs a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato when you can make a Sugar-free Low-carb Skinny Iced Caramel Breve at home? Or how about making a Sugar-free Low-carb Skinny Cookie Dough Latte from a keto coffee recipe?

Can I add any sugar to my coffee on Keto?

colorful macaroons

No, of course not. If you are following a keto diet, you can’t sweeten your coffee with sugar. This is where keto all falls apart. If you’re addicted to those caramel macchiatos or vanilla lattes, keep in mind that the regular versions you buy from the coffee shop are packed full of sugar and you won't be drinking keto coffee. They’re best to be avoided. What’s the solution? Finding a keto-friendly coffee sweetener such as a low-carb, sugar-free coffee syrup. You can make keto coffee at home with the help of a recipe and keto syrup,

Keto-Friendly Coffee Sweeteners

colorful donuts framing image

Just because you can’t add sugar to your morning coffee on the keto diet doesn’t mean your coffee has to be bitter every day. Many sweeteners are keto-friendly, but a liquid stevia mix is a good choice for your coffee recipe. There are also plenty of recipes for the best keto coffee that offer low carb alternatives to your favorite brews.

Keto-Friendly Coffee Syrups

In the same nature of natural sweeteners being acceptable on the keto diet- there are hundreds of keto-friendly coffee recipes you can whip up in the morning. Just be sure you're using keto-friendly, low-carb, and sugar-free syrups. It seems too good to be true, right? Well, it’s not. Simply add 1 tsp or 1 tbsp to your coffee in the morning and you can have a guilt-free indulgence while staying in Ketosis! Pictured above are a few of the Skinny Keto Syrups from Skinny Mixes. They have 0 sugar, 0 carbs, and are sweetened with Stevia, Monk Fruit, Erythritol, and MCT oil. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to view keto coffee recipes that use these syrups.

Can I have Milk or Creamer on the Keto Diet?

foamy keto coffee recipe

If you want to add some creaminess to your coffee, the keto diet welcomes a big dollop of heavy cream, so go ahead, no need to feel guilty! Remember, the keto diet is focused on natural fat and high-fat foods that keep you full for longer. Another option (one that is considered essential to the bulletproof diet) is grass-fed butter or ghee. It might seem a bit strange adding butter to your coffee at first, but as it turns out, it’s actually quite delicious. Consider adding butter to your coffee recipes if you want to increase the calorie count or have a liquid breakfast. For an extra healthy option, you could add grass fed butter to your keto bulletproof coffee. Just make sure it’s not salted butter – that’s less delicious and just a bit weird. Scroll down for one of our favorite bulletproof coffee recipes sweetened with Skinny Mixes, low-carb coffee syrups.

Is Keto Coffee and Bulletproof Coffee the Same?

Bulletproof coffee is black coffee that contains medium-chain-triglycerides (MCT oil) and grass-fed butter, so yes, while bulletproof coffee is indeed a keto-friendly beverage, they aren't the same thing. There are many other coffee drinks that are keto friendly, with bulletproof coffee being just one of them.

Although bulletproof coffee might be perfect for a keto diet, too much bulletproof coffee isn’t beneficial to anyone. One cup of bulletproof coffee contains 450 calories and 14 grams of saturated fat. Thus, drinking two cups of keto butter coffee a day isn’t healthy. If you want to try keto bulletproof coffee, you can find a great bulletproof coffee recipe below.

What Can You Add in Coffee When on a Keto Diet?

If you want to get creative with your cup of coffee, many keto options can help you rival your favorite coffee shop drinks and recipes. Add-ins for the best cup of keto coffee include:

  • Heavy cream: Putting one or two tablespoons of heavy cream into your morning recipe is a better alternative for creamer if you can’t do away with it. If you like your daily creamer, two spoons of heavy cream contain only zero to two grams of carbohydrates, making it a perfect option when on keto.

  • Keto coffee creamers: There are many options for keto coffee creamers in the marketplace that are tasty and low carb. In addition, keto creamers made from coconut milk, almond, and oat are healthy substitutes for dairy creamers, which can often cause bloating in people who are lactose-intolerant.

  • Grass-fed butter: Adding grass-fed butter to your morning coffee will give you more focus, energy, and brainpower. Grass-fed butter is a healthy alternative for many breakfast foods, too. Just add butter to make bulletproof coffee.

  • MCT oil: This oil is flavorless, odorless, and clear; thus, adding MCT to your coffee won’t add extra flavors. In addition, adding MCT oil to your coffee suppresses your appetite, burns calories, and boosts endurance during workouts.

What Can I Use for Creamer in My Coffee on the Keto Diet?

If you’re planning to go on a keto diet or looking to shake things up, these five keto friendly coffee creamers will help you enjoy the light-and-sweet you love.

  • SuperCreamer: This keto friendly coffee creamer contains a significant amount of MCT oil, and it’s strengthened with milk protein concentrate, which builds bone strength while making you feel full. While this creamer is non-dairy, it’s not dairy-free. Also, it doesn’t have added sugars. It comes in seven natural flavors, including hazelnut, French vanilla, and sweet cream. This creamer can be a perfect addition to any coffee recipe.
  • PowerCreamer: Coming in liquid form, this keto creamer blends perfectly with your morning coffee. It contains quality grass-fed butter instead of regular butter, and it’s dairy-free. Also, it’s carb-free, making it ideal for a low carb diet.
  • Unsweetened Keto Coffee Creamer: A keto coffee creamer that is packed with whey protein, grass-fed butter, and MCT oil. It’s super versatile and sugar-free. Besides your morning coffee, you can also use it in smoothie recipes and tea.
  • Organic Creamer Coconut Milk: Like coconut milk, coconut milk creamer is keto friendly because it doesn’t have carbohydrates. But unfortunately, this creamer is low in fat - so it won’t encourage ketosis.
  • Skinny Mixes Keto Coffee Creamer: We saved the best for last - check out our recipe here to learn how you can make a healthy, keto friendly coffee creamer with just a bottle of our skinny syrups.
  • Understanding Keto-Friendly Coffee

    Understand keto, know what to avoid, and then set your imagination free! As you can see, if you understand what the keto diet is, how it works and what you can and can’t eat, there’s no reason why you need to deprive yourself of any pleasures. You can keep drinking a cup of coffee every day. There are so many great products available to liven up your coffee – so get out there, try new recipes and be creative! Check out some of our guilt-free, keto-friendly coffee syrups to sweeten your morning coffee and kick off your day to a great start! All of Jordan’s Skinny Mixes coffee syrups are keto-friendly and sugar free. Some of our most popular flavors are:

    Here are a few of our favorite Keto coffee recipes:

    You can make your own coffee recipes at home so that you can still enjoy your favorite flavors while sticking with a low carb diet. The following recipes are some of the best keto friendly coffee recipes. You'll find bulletproof coffee directions, a keto iced coffee recipe, and many more.

    Iced Keto Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

    Iced Bulletproof Keto Coffee Recipe

    Ingredients

    Directions

    • Blend the following in a NutriBullet (or blender) & enjoy!
    Keto-friendly Iced Caramel Coffee Recipe

    Keto-Friendly Iced Caramel Coffee Recipe

    Ingredients

    Directions

    • Simply add 1 cup chilled coffee, 2 tbsp of Sugar Free Salted Caramel Syrup and milk or cream to taste to a glass full of ice. Stir and top with a drizzle of caramel sauce (sugar-free). Enjoy!
    Keto-friendly Caramel Macchiato Recipe

    Keto-Friendly Caramel Macchiato Recipe

    Ingredients

    Directions

    • Combine 2 tbsp Sugar Free Caramel Skinny Syrup, 2 shots espresso, heavy cream (pour until it clouds or until the coffee is the color of your preference). Cap and shake vigorously. Pour into your serving glass and get ready to start your day!

    Keto-friendly Vanilla Almond Latte

    Keto-Friendly Vanilla Almond Latte

    Ingredients

    Directions

    • In a large glass filled with ice, combine all ingredients, stir and enjoy!

    Check out more of syrups our here!