This post takes a look at the typical things you might add to your morning coffee and determines which is better: creamer or half and half.
Let's look at what we put in our coffee. Some drink it black, and others like cream, half and half, or even heavy cream.
We’re going to look at all of these and figure out which one is the best for adding to coffee...but in particular, I want to break it down to which is better: creamer or half and half?
Is Creamer Bad For You?
Not all creamer is created equal. Store-bought brands of non-dairy creamer can have as much as a gram of fat per tablespoon. And sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to weight gain and obesity.
Not to mention, there are additives in creamer, like carrageenan, which is often used as a thickener in creamer. Carrageenan studies indicate it can have an inflammatory effect.
There are additives in the creamer that you'll likely want to avoid, such as:
Alternatives to Creamer
If you just want to add a little something to your coffee but don’t want to add cream and sugar, try these alternatives.
- Protein powder
- Spices, like cinnamon or pumpkin
- Vanilla or almond extract
- Cacao and honey
- Coconut milk
- Oat milk
- Cashew milk
- Almond milk
- Make your own homemade creamer!
CREAMER VS HALF AND HALF
So, which is better: creamer or half and half? I will also include heavy cream in the comparison because some people like to put that in their coffee.
TYPES OF CREAM
CREAMER
Typical coffee creamer is made without dairy ingredients. The creamer contains a lot of sugar (some brands have up to 5 grams per serving).
Some creamers will contain high-fructose corn syrup, which is one of the worst processed sugars out there. To find out more about hidden sugars in the food you eat, read my post on hidden sugars in foods.
As far as fat goes, creamer contains less than both half and half and heavy cream. One tablespoon of creamer has less than a gram of fat. But it’s important to point out that there is no protein, either.
As for vitamins and minerals, there is a bit of calcium, but not much else. There are 20 calories in the tablespoon serving.
HALF AND HALF
Half and half contains less than a gram of sugar and 20 calories per tablespoon. It has flavor, but is not overly sweet.
The full-fat variety of half and half has 1.7 grams of fat per tablespoon. And, you’ve got some minerals, vitamins and protein in there, too.
Sometimes, half and half contains carrageenan.
HEAVY CREAM
Heavy cream has the most fat of the three. You’ll find that one tablespoon contains 5.4 grams of fat. There are 51 calories, and that’s because of the thick cream content. Heavy cream is the high-fat cream skimmed from milk when processed.
The amount of sugar in heavy cream is less than a gram per tablespoon, and so it does not have a sweet taste at all.
WHICH IS BETTER: CREAM OR HALF AND HALF?
Based on the facts above, I believe half and half is the best option over creamer and heavy cream.
Coffee creamer is more processed and likely contains some pretty unhealthy additives and tons of extra sugar. That’s especially true if you are talking about creamers that are not really cream, like the store-bought versions that are so popular.
Half and half has healthy fats and most often does not have any additives. The sugar content is low.
So, in conclusion, I believe it’s best to choose half and half over creamer. But if you really like to have flavor and a bit of sweetness in your coffee or it’s just not the same, then make homemade creamer, which is a big step above store-bought products.
This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.
Eddely Aguilar
Thanks this really helps.
Vickie Anderson
Lacey, I love my coffee also. I have been looking for that perfect creamer that I don't feel guilty about. Your homemade condensed milk made from raisins is the winner! I luv it - I am go glad I found your recipe!
Diane
I am being very careful to not gain weight and mess up my improved Metabolism, it was suggested by my weight loss coach to use heavy cream for my coffee, but I like to have a few cups and as you have mentioned it is 50 or so calories a tbs.. I would prefer Half and Half., would half and half be better for weight management?
Shawna Tomashefski
Hi Lacey, this is an eye opener for me! Thank you for the article. I do think I’ll chuck my name brand creamers (not sure if I am allowed to name them!) down the sink! I do wondering if almond creamers are better or are they just as bad? I have peppermint mocha from Silk sitting in my fridge and now I’m wondering if they’re worth it? Thanks for any info! 😊
Shawna