There is No Cream in 'Coffee Creamer'
Liquid or Powder - it's all Goo.
I was once addicted to coffee creamer.
My vice was International Delight French Vanilla in my freshly-ground Starbucks French Roast coffee, home-brewed in my beloved 6-cup Presto Percolator.
I’m an early riser.
4am, 5am, 6am…. depending on the season and weather.
So, that first cup of coffee with that yummy sweet flavor was my morning joy.
Just a tablespoon or so, did the trick in my special 16-oz insulated thermos.
Sip. Aaaaaaahhhh. Yum.
In 2008, I traveled to Italy for business for a little more than two months. That was the trip of a lifetime, but a story for another post.
Like so many other international travel virgins, I was dumb …and brought my percolator with me fully expecting to continue my morning routine from the hotel room.
I barely got it through airport security (it looked like a bomb in the airport security scanner) after being forced to open my luggage for passersby and security agents hoping to satisfy their curiosity. Oops.
After all of that effort, my percolator made this unforgettable ZAP! sound when I plugged it in for the first time before heading to work.
220V. Oops again.
With my morning routine dismantled, I quickly discovered what much of the rest of the world already knew about espresso, cappuccino, and all of the other wonderful caffeinated options found in Italian coffee bars.
Long story short, I quit my coffee creamer addition - cold turkey.
Thank Goodness!
There is no cream in coffee creamer
Even though coffee creamer has the word “cream” in it, and it’s roughly the same color as real dairy milk cream, it’s not cream at all.
In fact, most commercially produced coffee creamer products have zero actual cream and are not a real dairy product.
Instead of real dairy, they’re usually made from a combination of:
Water (as the base for liquid versions)
Vegetable oils (like soybean or palm oil, to mimic the texture of cream)
Corn syrup or sugar (for sweetness)
Thickeners and emulsifiers (like carrageenan, dipotassium phosphate, or cellulose gum)
Artificial flavors and colors (to mask other processed ingredients and make it taste like it does)
Even the "dairy-based" versions, like Coffee-mate Natural Bliss, still contain added sugar and gums.
And, powdered creamers are even worse! Many readily available brands contain corn syrup solids and hydrogenated oils instead of anything remotely related to milk.
Check The Goo Index to see if your preferred coffee creamer product is full of Goo:
Goo-Free Alternatives for Coffee (and Tea)
Here’s a list of healthy, goo-free coffee creamer alternatives that don’t contain artificial junk:
Dairy-Based Options
Whole Milk. Simple, natural, and lightly sweet on its own.
Half & Half. A mix of milk and cream with no additives.
Heavy Cream. Pure and rich, with no need for fillers.
Raw or Grass-Fed Milk. If available, this can be a great choice with more nutrients.
Non-Dairy, Minimal-Ingredient Alternatives
Coconut Milk (canned, full-fat). Just coconut and water, creamy and slightly sweet.
Almond Milk (unsweetened, no gums). Look for brands with only almonds and water.
Cashew Milk (homemade or minimal-ingredient store-bought). Naturally creamy and mild.
Macadamia Nut Milk. A smooth, low-carb alternative with no weird additives.
Organic Soy Milk (only soybeans & water). A protein-rich alternative without thickeners.
DIY Goo-Free Coffee Creamers
Blended Coconut Cream + Vanilla. Thick, natural, and a little sweet.
Cashew Cream (soaked cashews + water, blended). Velvety texture without any gums.
Homemade Almond Creamer. Almonds, water, and optional vanilla or cinnamon.
Butter or Ghee (for Keto/butter coffee fans). Rich, creamy, and satisfying.
Other Flavor Additions (Without the Junk)
Cinnamon. Adds natural sweetness without sugar.
Vanilla Extract. A splash enhances flavor without chemicals.
Cocoa Powder. For a mocha twist without artificial flavorings.
Maple Syrup or Raw Honey (in small amounts). If you want a touch of sweetness.
And don’t forget to read the labels!
If you’re not sure about a specific ingredient and want to learn more about whether it qualifies as Goo, leave a comment or reach out and ask me!
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(a Goo-Free coffee, of course!)