People often ask if adding milk to coffee lowers the caffeine levels.
I was skeptical at first, but then I wondered if there could be something to it. So I did some research. I’m a physicist, so you can trust me on this.
If you add milk to coffee, it does not reduce the amount of caffeine.
While milk won’t reduce the amount of caffeine in your coffee, it will weaken the concentration of it. So while you’ll have less caffeine per unit, you’ll still have the same amount in your cup.
Adding milk to coffee does not reduce the caffeine content. What effect does milk have on coffee and how can we control our caffeine intake?
Calories
The milk in coffee contains calories from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Black coffee has almost zero calories.
If you add a small amount of milk, about 1 ounce (30ml), of whole milk, you’ve only added 22 calories, which isn’t worth worrying about even if you’re trying to watch your calorie intake.
The three main components of milk that affect how it reacts when coffee are sugar, protein, and fat.
The milk’s fat content makes coffee’s texture more rich and creamy.
Baristas choose to work with whole milk because it is higher in fat, which gives coffee a finer texture.
The protein in milk works to reduce the bitter taste in coffee.
This is also a key factor in why milk with more protein creates more foam than milk with less protein.
When you heat milk, the lactose that is present in it breaks down into smaller sugar compounds which results in a sweet smell and taste.
The lactose in the milk sweetness to coffee.
Here are some other questions we’ve answered about how milk affects coffee.
Does adding milk lower coffee acidity
However, adding milk to coffee is found to have no statistically significant difference in the final pH. There is some debate online about whether milk affects the pH of coffee. Some people claim that proteins or calcium in milk neutralize the acid in coffee. However, studies have shown that adding milk to coffee does not have a significant effect on the pH.
I am not convinced that milk will neutralize acid. This is because milk has a pH of around 6.6, so it is slightly acidic itself.
Black coffee has a pH of around 5, so adding milk will lower the pH due to dilution.
Does milk in coffee make you sleepy
Dairy contains tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes sleep. Usually, milk contains only a small amount of tryptophan, but it can still be one of the reasons why you feel sleepy after having coffee with milk.
Try making your coffee without dairy milk, or using a plant-based milk instead. If you don’t feel drowsy after doing this, it’s likely that the dairy was causing your drowsiness.
Does adding milk cause less coffee stains
The coffee stains are caused by the compound tanin present in the coffee. This compound is responsible for giving the coffee its color as well as influencing its flavor.
The proteins in milk are said to bind to the tannins in coffee and reduce the staining of your teeth. This is supposedly improved by using coffee with a higher fat content.
This means that whole milk is less likely to cause stains than semi-skimmed or skimmed milk. Also, non-animal based milks don’t seem to have this effect at all.
Does adding milk to coffee provide more nutrients
If you combine black coffee with milk, you will end up with a drink that has more nutrients.
You won’t be getting your entire daily intake of any nutrient in one go from this. Most are present in relatively small amounts.
Black coffee contains very little calcium, whereas milk is a good source of calcium. One ounce of milk contains approximately 39mg of calcium, which is a significant amount compared to the recommended daily amount of calcium (1000mg).
This means that you are only receiving a fourth of the calcium that you are supposed to consume each day.
1. Milk lowers the temperature
If you add some cold milk to your hot milk, it will lower the temperature of the milk.
Drinking hot coffee isn’t good for you because it can burn your mouth.
If you spill boiling water on yourself or others, it will scald them. It is therefore safer to be careful with it. Nobody wants to burn themselves.
2. Antioxidants
Polyphenols are a type of antioxidant that is found in black coffee.
There is no difference in the amount of antioxidants your body absorbs from coffee, whether or not you add milk. However, non-dairy creamer slows down antioxidant absorption, but the same amount is eventually absorbed.
3. Milk lowers the acidity
As we discussed previously, milk will reduce the acidity. Although there is some disagreement on this topic, it will at least dilute the acidity. This is useful if acid bothers your stomach. If you have acid reflux, diluting the acidity can be a helpful solution.
The less acid in a person’s diet, the better it is for their teeth. Good dental health is important and should not be ignored.
4. Colder, so no scalds
Nobody wants to experience burns or scalds, as they are incredibly painful and can cause long-term damage.
Let the drink cool down a bit and you’ll be fine.
5. Keeps you full for longer
It is generally accepted that coffee with milk will satisfy hunger more than black coffee and because it is higher in calories it can contribute needed calories without adding extra calories.
A cup of coffee with milk has 20-30 calories, which is not high considering the benefits it provides such as energy and nutrition.
6. Added nutrients
How does combining milk with coffee make it more nutritious? When you mix milk and coffee together, you’re getting the benefits of both beverages. Milk is full of micronutrients that keep your body healthy, while coffee provides a boost of energy. The combination of the two makes for a more balanced drink that can help you power through your day.
This food is high in protein, fat, calcium, and carbohydrates, all of which are essential to our daily diet.
Adding milk to coffee increases its nutritional value, providing benefits such as better bone health, increased energy levels, mood enhancement, reduced anxiety, and more.
7. Reduces acidity
You are likely familiar with the fact that coffee can cause stomach acidity, which for many people leads to an upset stomach and causes other health issues.
The coffee’s high pH level means it is highly acidic. Adding milk to coffee has been said to help neutralize the coffee’s acidic pH.
8. Better tasting coffee
While there is no denying that coffee with milk tastes better than black coffee, some people prefer the latter because it has a stronger taste.
Although some people prefer black coffee, adding milk to your coffee provides a wholesome and delicious beverage. So go ahead and enjoy your cup of latte.
The best type of milk for coffee
The type of milk you choose to put in your coffee is entirely based on your diet and what kind of nutrients you are looking for.
The type of milk you use to make black coffee doesn’t affect its nutrient value or health benefits.
Although a non-dairy creamer is a common choice for those who are lactose intolerant, it still contains things like milk proteins and other strange ingredients.
If you are sensitive to things like food colorings and preservatives, you may still have a reaction to dairy products.
There are various milk substitutes that go well in coffee.
Although soya milk has been around for a long time, you could also try oat milk. It doesn’t contain any dairy, but is still creamy, smooth, thick, and rich. It has a similar taste and texture to full-fat milk, and can even be steamed in the same way.
How long does caffeine stay in our bodies
How long caffeine stays in your body depends on a lot of different factors. Things like your level of fitness, age, and genetics can all affect how long caffeine stays in your system.
Although it is an oversimplification to say that caffeine lasts a certain amount of time in your body, there are still some numbers available.
It typically takes about 45 minutes for the effects of the drug to be felt.
The half life of a drug is the time it takes for the drug to have decreased to exactly half of the original amount.
This means that half the caffeine you consume will be eliminated from your body within that time. The amount of time it takes for half the caffeine you consume to be eliminated from your body is called the half-life of caffeine. For most people, the half-life of caffeine is about 4 to 6 hours.
This means that if you drink caffeine at 8pm, by 2am you will have less than 35 mg of caffeine in your system. 140 mg of caffeine will result in less than 70 mg remaining in your body after 6 hours. Following another 6 hours, there will be less than 35 mg present. If caffeine was consumed at 8 pm, by 2 am there will be less than 35 mg of caffeine in the system.
The amount of caffeine you need is something you have to figure out for yourself. Try different amounts and pay attention to how you feel afterwards. As long as you’re enjoying your coffee, you’re doing it right.
Methods to reduce caffeine in coffee
1. Reduce the amount of coffee grounds
If you want to reduce the amount of caffeine you consume, an effective method is to use less coffee grounds when brewing, while keeping the amount of water the same.
We are not saying that your coffee will taste the same as it would if it were made with water from a different source.
If you want to reduce the caffeine content in your coffee, use less coffee grounds. This will result in a weaker cup of coffee.
2. Try a different ground size
If you coffee grounds are too coarse, you will be left with an under-extracted coffee. If you coffee grounds are too fine, you will be left with an over-extracted coffee.
We can use the knowledge that coffee grounds degrade over time to our advantage by using slightly coarser grounds. When you use coarse ground coffee, the extraction process is a little longer, which then means less caffeine.
The only thing to keep in mind is that you shouldnt use extremely course grinds, or else youll end up with a nasty-tasting under-extracted coffee.
3. Experiment with dark roast coffee
Another method of reducing caffeine consumption is to drink dark roast coffee. It is commonly believed that dark roast coffee has more caffeine than light roast coffee, but this is not the case.
This is not true, light and medium roast coffee actually contain more caffeine than dark roast coffee.
The density of the beans also increases. Now, what does it mean when we measure the caffeine by volume? The answer is YES, the caffeine will be higher if we measure it by weight. The reason is that when coffee beans are roasted, they lose their water content, which causes them to change size and density.
The more a bean is roasted, the more it increases in volume.
This means that, for a dark roast, you will get more coffee beans if you weigh it rather than scoop it.
In conclusion, use dark roast coffee and measure it with a scoop, to get a smaller amount of caffeine.
4. Reduce brewing time
This means there is less time for the water to interact with the coffee grounds, which leads to less caffeine in your cup. You can consume the same amount of coffee with less caffeine by reducing brewing time. This is because espresso shots and French presses are brewed much quicker than drip-brews, so there is less time for the water to interact with the coffee grounds and extract caffeine.
The less time you take to brew the coffee, the less caffeine it has. For example, a single shot of espresso has around 65 mg of caffeine, while 12 oz of drip brew has around 145 mg of caffeine.
Control the amount of caffeine you consume by switching up your brewing method or brewing for less time.
5. Use Arabica coffee beans
If the above methods for reducing the caffeine content in your coffee don’t work, try using Arabica coffee beans instead of Robusta beans. Arabica beans have about half the amount of caffeine as Robusta beans.
There is a difference in the amount of caffeine between Robusta and Arabica beans, with Robusta beans having more caffeine.