Caramel frappés. Pumpkin spice lattes. Iced lavender oat milk matchas. Today’s coffee menu reads more like a dessert list than a morning ritual. Once valued for its strong bitterness and minimalism, coffee has evolved into a customisable, sugar-laden experience.
But how did this change take place, and what does it mean for our health, habits, and coffee culture?
When did coffee get so sweet? A timeline of taste
Despite seeming like a modern invention, flavoured coffee is far from it. In the Middle East, people used to add spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and clove to their coffee grounds while brewing — a tradition that still happens today in countries like Turkey and Saudi Arabia. These natural spices add warmth, flavour, and a lovely aroma to the strong coffee.
How coffee was discovered
Legend has it that coffee was discovered in Ethiopia’s Kaffa region way back in the 9th century. A goat herder named Kaldi noticed something odd: his goats were full of energy and wouldn’t sleep after eating some red berries from a nearby plant. Curious, he took the berries to some local monks.
The monks weren’t sure what to make of them and threw the berries into the fire, thinking they might be dangerous. But then something unexpected happened — the berries started to smell incredible as they roasted. So they gave it another go: they crushed the beans, added hot water, and ended up with a drink that was both delicious, and energising. And just like that, coffee was born!
For much of history, coffee remained a relatively simple drink: ground beans brewed with hot water, occasionally accompanied by a splash of milk or sugar. It wasn’t until the 1990s that global coffee chains revolutionised the beverage. By introducing flavoured lattes, blended chilled drinks, and seasonal specials, they turned coffee into something more fun, and, for many, much tastier too.
Following this trend, supermarkets began offering ready-to-drink (RTD) bottled coffees, often containing sweeteners, additives, and thickeners, turning what was once a straightforward morning brew into something more like a milkshake or even a dessert.
How does coffee become sweet?
Beyond added sugar, modern coffee drinks are sweetened in a few different ways, including:
- A process known as roasting, which brings out the naturally sweet flavours in coffee
- Flavoured syrups (such as vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut)
- Sweetened plant-based milks (such as oat, almond, or soy)
- Creamy foams and whipped toppings
- Dessert-style additions like chocolate drizzle or biscuit crumbs
These extras often mask the origin, taste, and quality of the underlying coffee beans.
The impact of sweet coffee on health
Coffee beverages do provide a short-lived energy boost, thanks to caffeine. But this can be followed by crashes in mood, focus, appetite control, and potentially increased anxiety.1 Added sugar in coffee can lead to increased risk of anxiety and depression.2 3 However, the effects of sugar-sweetened drinks have limited research.
Want to learn more about sugar and its effects on our health and energy levels? Read sugar 101: what it is, why it matters & healthier alternatives.
Hidden calories
If we take, for example, a large milky coffee with an added syrup, it can contain a surprising number of calories — often more than we realise.
What happens when we look at RTD (ready-to-drink) coffee? That’s chilled coffee, which you find on your supermarket shelves. If we take a chilled chocolate cappuccino as an example, this can contain around 143 kcal and 19.5 g of sugar per drink.6
To maintain a healthy daily sugar intake, you can opt for coffee drinks without added sugars. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you’re limited to plain espresso. There are plenty of delicious sugar-free options like cappuccinos or lattes made without sweeteners. These choices help you keep your sugar levels in check while still allowing room for the occasional treat, such as a caramel syrup latte or a cacao cappuccino.
Who drinks the most coffee?
Coffee consumption by country
Europeans are big coffee drinkers. They are among the top 5 coffee drinkers per person, worldwide.
Coming in at number 1 is Finland, with people drinking an average of 10 kg of coffee per year — that’s almost four cups a day per person. Following Finland are Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Poland ranks 11th globally, with just over 2 kg of coffee consumed per person each year.7
Coffee consumption by age group
The biggest coffee drinkers are Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964), with over 70% drinking coffee every day. Millennials (born 1981–1996) follow closely behind, with 60–65% enjoying a daily brew. Gen Z (born 1997–2012), however, has a noticeably different relationship with coffee. Only 47% drink it daily.8
For this younger generation, coffee isn’t just a morning pick-me-up — it’s more about the moment. Iced lattes, bottled brews, and bold flavours take the spotlight. It’s less about caffeine and more about the experience: something fun, customisable, and often shared on social media. Rather than sticking to a daily ritual, Gen Z sees coffee as an occasional treat: part drink, part lifestyle.
Coffee and sustainability: beyond taste
Coffee is more than a morning pick‑me‑up; it represents a global environmental challenge. As the world’s second‑most‑traded commodity, coffee supports around 125 million people, but at a cost:
- Deforestation, soil erosion and loss of animal habitats when creating big coffee plantations
- Water waste (about 140 litres used to produce one cup of coffee)
- Carbon emissions (roasting 1 kilogram of beans produces around 5 kilograms of CO₂)
- Millions of disposable coffee cups end up in landfills every year
- Shipping and global transport causing high levels of CO₂
Yet it’s not all gloomy. Sustainable practices like shade‑grown coffee, agroforestry, water‑saving processing, and ethical certifications can slash emissions by up to 75% and boost biodiversity.10 So every mindful sip, especially when you choose sustainable, shade‑grown beans and use a reusable cup, empowers positive change for farmers, forests, and our planet.
The benefits of shade-grown coffee
Shade-grown coffee is grown under trees, kind of like how it grows naturally in the wild. The trees do a lot of good — they help keep the soil healthy and stop it from washing away. Farms that grow coffee this way usually have more plants and animals around, which makes them better for the environment. They’re also great places for birds, especially ones that travel long distances and need a safe place to rest and find food. On the other hand, sun-grown coffee farms often cut down trees to grow more coffee, which means fewer animals and not much shelter for birds. So, shade-grown coffee isn’t just good coffee — it’s also better for nature.
Top tips for healthier, more mindful coffee drinking
1. Read the label
Check ingredients, sugar content, and portion size when purchasing RTD or flavoured coffees. Some drinks labelled as “healthy” or “plant-based” can be surprisingly high in sugar and additives.
Food and drink labels can be confusing. How to read food labels: your guide to better food choices, breaks down everything you need to know — from decoding health claims to understanding additives.
2. Flavour it naturally
Try adding cinnamon, cocoa powder, or nutmeg for extra flavour and use unsweetened plant milks to add creaminess without any added sugar.
3. Downsize, don’t deny
Choosing a smaller size or fewer pumps of syrup can cut sugar and calories significantly — while still satisfying your cravings.
4. Support ethical cafés
Opt for independent cafés that use ethically sourced beans, offer transparency about their origin, and minimise waste. Skilled baristas often know exactly where their grind comes from — and why it matters.
Coffee lends its bold taste to several well-known desserts, including:
- Tiramisu (espresso-soaked sponge layered with mascarpone)
- Affogato (a scoop of vanilla ice cream drowned in hot espresso)
- Coffee ice cream or mocha brownies
- Coffee-flavoured cakes, biscuits, or chocolates
These desserts celebrate the aroma, roast, and richness of coffee.
Conclusion: coffee as a daily choice, not just a habit
Coffee has always been more than just a pick-me-up — it’s a ritual, a way to connect, and a special part of many people’s day. Whether you prefer a strong espresso, a classic brew, or a flavoured latte, knowing what goes into your cup helps you make better choices.
While modern coffee drinks can be high in sugar and calories, which may affect your energy, mood, and appetite, you can still enjoy coffee by staying aware of what’s inside. Making simple swaps and using natural flavours can be a healthier option. Choosing ethically sourced, sustainable coffee will benefit your well-being and the planet.
