Which is Better: Creamer or Half and Half?

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:

• Monoglycerides and Diglycerides
• Dipotassium Phosphate
• Artificial Flavor
• Added Sugar

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.

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