How to Make Coffee Good Without Creamer – 6 Tasty Alternatives

Creamers – something coffee lovers from all walks of life would do anything for. Unfortunately, as creamy and flavorful as they might be, they also have a myriad of downsides.

For instance, they are known to be full of sugars and trans fats – both of which no doctor will encourage you to binge on. Plus, they don’t always come cheap!

Whichever way you look at it, it makes sense to tone down or if possible, completely do away with this add-in. The good news? You don’t have to settle for plain coffee as a result. You can still enjoy many more flavorful cups of joe without gambling with creamers. Here are some alternative ways to do exactly that.

6 Ways to Make Coffee Taste Good Without Creamer

1. Real Maple Syrup, The Real Deal

Real maple syrup is one of the most authentic natural sweeteners you’ll ever come across. Unfortunately, the market is full of fake, artificially flavored syrups that just don’t cut it. So, if you’re looking for a way to make great coffee without creamer, the secret is to use the real thing.

One thing that makes maple syrup a perfect replacement for creamers is that it is very thin and mixes well with coffee. There are no blobs or clumps to worry about either.

Understandably, real maple costs slightly more than its artificial alternatives. But even then, it doesn’t take much syrup to make good coffee. So, if you’re on a tight budget it’s advisable to opt for small quantities of real maple syrup than the cheaper alternatives.

Here’s a straightforward recipe you can use to make a cup of nice maple coffee:

Recipe

Procedure

1. Brew your coffee just the way you like it to make one cup (or just enough for your household)
2. Put the syrup inside the mug (empty mug) and microwave it for 12 to 15 seconds
3. Pour the freshly brewed coffee into the syrup and stir until the syrup is well mixed with the coffee
4. Add milk to taste (if you don’t mind the extra calories that is)

Real maple syrup is really sweet on its own. But if you like, you can always add a few more spoons of sugar for an even sweeter flavor.

2. Skim Milk Never Disappoints

Skim milk is a fantastic low-calorie replacement for creamers. What’s more, because it’s really light, it doesn’t add much density to your coffee. Above all, skim milk beats whole milk hands down when it comes to foaming!

Skim milk generally contains lower amounts of calories than creamers. Unfortunately, unlike creamers, it doesn’t come with sugar incorporated and, therefore, you may need to add a sweetener for a richer taste.

You’d need to be extra careful to add just enough sugar if you still want to retain the low-calorie benefits of this milk type, though.

Milk is a fantastic replacement for creamers and presents nearly similar results. But one thing we absolutely love about skim milk over creamers is that it has the unique ability to soften the bitterness of the coffee and still deliver velvet-like smoothness.

Looking to do away with the creamers? Here’s a recipe to inspire you.

Recipe

Procedure

1. Prepare your favorite cup of coffee – whether be it drip or instant.
2. Add the skim milk to the cup of coffee while it’s still hot and stir together to perfection.
3. Break up the chunk of brown sugar into small-sized pieces and then add them to the cup containing coffee and skim milk.
4. Stir some more until the sugar is fully dissolved.
5. Enjoy your cup of low-fat skim milk coffee.

The low-fat nature of skim milk makes it perfect for providing a balance between thickness and sweetness without adding too many calories to your diet.

3. Proffee – What’s That?

The name “proffee” comes from combining protein shakes with coffee. As crazy as that may sound, it’s actually the in thing out there these days.

You can never go wrong with a cup of iced coffee protein shake especially if you’re looking to ditch your usual creamer.

Not only is this a fantastic post-workout drink but also a great pick-me-up.

And the fun part is that this beverage is really easy to make as no special ingredients are needed save for – you guessed it right – coffee and your favorite protein powder.

The result? A rich-tasting cup of coffee that also helps you meet your protein macros. Talk of hitting two birds with one stone. Let’s take a look at a simple recipe that you can bank on.

Recipe

Procedure

1. Mix 1 scoop of protein powder with ½ cup of water in a blender jar
2. Blend until smooth and put aside
3. Separately, put ice into the large glass
4. Pour the cold brewed coffee over the ice
5. Pour your protein shake blend onto the coffee + ice mixture
6. Stir to perfection & enjoy

Note: The protein shake’s flavor can significantly influence how this beverage ends up tasting. So, it’s always a good idea to choose a flavor that you like. Chocolate, vanilla, and caramel are our topmost preferred flavors to pair with coffee.

4. Try Almond Milk for a Nutty Flavor

Almond milk can never be a great substitute for your coffee creamer – said no one ever!

The truth is, almond milk is as close to perfection as possible as a non-dairy coffee creamer substitute. First, it has zero lactose. On top of that, it is guaranteed to enrich your favorite beverage with a nice nutty flavor. And don’t get me started on its creamy texture and protein-boosting benefits.

And the best part is you can always choose from the many flavors available including vanilla, chocolate, and unsweetened among others. That said, you might want to avoid the flavored varieties if added sweeteners are the reason why you’re keeping off coffee creamers in the first place.

Here is what you need to do to get your almond milk coffee combo right.

Recipe

Procedure

1. Place the almond milk in a saucepan and warm it to 150 degrees.
2. Put the heated milk, coconut oil, and dates in a blender jar and blend on medium speed until frothy.
3. Put the blended almond milk mixture inside the large glass.
4. Pour the double-shot espresso into the almond milk mixture.
5. Enjoy!

Almond milk has a slightly bitter flavor compared to dairy milk. This is why you need to add a sweetener to it – in this case, we added pitted dates to fill that gap.

5. Oranges to The Rescue

Looking to add a bit of zest to your morning coffee? Ripe oranges might be the only addition you need especially after doing away with the creamer.

When perfectly combined the two (coffee and oranges) tend to have a complex flavor, one that somehow leaves you craving for more.

Indeed, there is something about the citrussy sweet flavor of oranges that connects with the characteristic bitterness of black coffee that makes it an explosive flavor worth trying out.

Can you add some milk to this blend for a richer flavor? Well, one thing you need to keep in mind is that orange juice is acidic. The dairy might curdle. So, it’s advisable to simply take the mixture as orange-black-coffee instead. Here’s how to go about preparing it.

Recipe

Procedure

1. Wash the orange thoroughly and rinse with cool running water.
2. Place the orange on a clean cutting surface and slice it into thin slices.
3. Dust each slice generously with brown sugar.
4. For a sweet, nutty flavor, dry the orange slices in the oven for about 45 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Put hot water into your favorite cup and add 2 teaspoons of instant coffee to it. Stir well.
6. Take the orange slices from the oven and gently place them on top of your cup of black coffee.
7. Enjoy!

PS: Using full oranges instead of orange juice is a good way to keep the acidity levels in your final cup of coffee low. Extremely high acid levels can cause mild stomach cramps for some.

6. Oat Milk for a Thick Creamy Touch

Oat milk blends with coffee just the same way cow milk does – except that it’s lactose-free. If mixed right, oat milk can add a whole new layer of sweetness to your morning coffee.

And the best part – oat milk can be frothed just like ordinary milk and even used for coffee art. This is partly the reason why most coffee shops have been offering oat milk coffee lately as part of their non-dairy beverages.

And now, to the elephant in the room – what does oat milk taste like? Well, not all that different from cow milk. It has a rich creamy flavor with a slight hint of cereal milk. It’s also slightly sweet – and in our opinion better tasting than almond milk (though that’s purely subjective).

If you’d like to prepare a cup of oat milk coffee as a replacement for your usual creamer, here’s a simple recipe that you can start with.

Recipe

Procedure

1. Brew your favorite cup of coffee and put it in the coffee mug.
2. Pour the cold oat milk into the glass jar and after sealing tightly shake the milk until it foams.
3. Open the glass jar and put it inside the microwave for 30 seconds.
4. Repeat this for 10-second intervals until the milk is warm.
5. Add your favorite sweetener to coffee in the glass (optional) and stir well.
6. Pour the frothed oat milk into the glass with your favorite coffee.

Note: This method of frothing produces a rich foam that’s not only smooth but also fluid.

Other Ways to Make Coffee Good Without Creamer

You don’t always have to go out of your way to make great coffee. Sometimes, it’s the little things we do that make the biggest difference.

Think Beyond Your Conventional Drip Coffee Maker

Believe it or not, great coffee starts with great gear. So, if you have been using the same old drip coffee maker, it might be time for an upgrade.

For instance, a switch from a typical drip coffee maker to a pour-over one might make all the difference. Why so? Because it allows you to control the pace at which water goes into the coffee grounds (and even its temperature). Though involving, this method gives you greater flexibility over your coffee’s flavor and texture.

The French press method is yet another fantastic way to unlock a rich and delicious taste from your cup of coffee even after ditching the creamer.

Upgrade Your Coffee Beans

If you’re looking to channel your inner barista at home, it’s important that you begin by upgrading the quality of your coffee beans.

First off, it might be a good idea to start with a switch from Robusta to Arabica coffee (if you’ve been using the former that is). Robusta coffee tends to have a bitter flavor compared to arabica coffee known for its delicate flavor.

So, if you’re ditching the creamers, it’s advisable to go with the latter over the former.

Besides that, it’s always a good idea to invest in whole coffee beans as opposed to pre-ground coffee. Freshly ground coffee always tastes better!

Final Thoughts

Just because you’ve parted ways with coffee creamers doesn’t mean you have to settle for bad-tasting coffee. Simple tweaks and hacks are sometimes all it takes to add delicious flavor to your favorite beverage and balance out any bitterness.

However, at times, it takes a bit of trial and error to identify what creamer alternative works best for you.

Make that discovery and you could be well on your way to enjoying mind-blowing coffee without worrying about the downsides that creamers are known for.