A national analysis found that Americans were drinking about the same amount of coffee in 2018 as in 2003, but getting more calories from what went into the cup. Non-dairy creamer accounted for the largest increase.
What changed
Researchers studied two-day food recalls from about 30,000 U.S. adults in eight NHANES survey cycles. Average coffee intake stayed near 13 ounces a day, while coffee-related calories rose from 43 to 60 per day. By 2018, non-dairy creamer contributed an estimated 18.5 calories per day, ahead of sugar or syrup at 16 and dairy milk at 11. The study was published online October 19, 2026; Tufts reported it October 20.
How strong is the evidence?
This is a large, nationally representative trend analysis. It describes what people reported consuming, but it did not test whether creamer caused weight gain, diabetes, or heart disease.
What remains uncertain
Two 24-hour recalls may miss day-to-day habits, and “non-dairy creamer” covers products with very different ingredients. The 17-calorie average increase may look small, but individual drinks can vary widely.
Why it matters
For regular coffee drinkers, checking the serving size, added sugar, and saturated fat on a creamer label may reveal calories that are easy to overlook. The study supports awareness, not a claim that everyone must drink coffee black.
Sources
Original study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Tufts University report.
Illustrative stock photograph by Yianni Mathioudakis on Unsplash; the image does not depict study participants or results.
